Studying sociology at LSBU means learning to see the world though a different lens. You will be guided to dig deep into contemporary social questions by expert, experienced and enthusiastic academics doing cutting-edge research. You will join an academic community committed to social justice and dedicated to helping students fulfil their potential. Sociology at LSBU provides you with the opportunity to grapple with many current issues such as globalisation, gender, religion, sexuality, identity formation, nationalism and more.
The Black Studies pathway is designed to enable you to develop a deeper understanding of race and racism which, thanks to the activism of the #Black Lives Matter movement and its allies, is now back on the political agenda. In Year 2 you will explore the history of empire and analyse its social, political and economic legacies. This will provide a solid basis for understanding the power dynamics of racial inequalities in the present. In Year 3 you will explore the ways in which Black communities have responded to racial injustice. Theories relating to the social construction of ‘race’ will also be explored, enabling you to engage with confidence with issues of identity – notably how identities are formed, lived and expressed.
Here at LSBU we help you focus on your future through our core work-experience module in Year 2. We develop your abilities as an investigator of society and we develop your skills and confidence in key areas to help you turn your degree into an excellent career.
By the end of your time at LSBU you will have a balance of theory, practice and experience that will deepen your understanding of yourself and the world, and, what is more, give you the tools to be an active agent for change across the globe.
ModeFull-time | Duration3 years | Start dateSeptember | Application code5783 | Application method Direct to LSBU |
London South Bank University student union is located at 103 Borough Rd, London SE1 0AA.
If you are visiting our Southwark Campus, you may wish to use our downloadable campus map (PNG File 466 KB). For information on accessibility, see our DisabledGo access guides. See our location page for more details.
We welcome qualifications from around the world. English language qualifications for international students: IELTS score of 6.0 or Cambridge Proficiency or Advanced Grade C.
Select country here:
If you have already completed some studies at another university, we may be able to consider you for advanced entry. Please see our advanced entry page for more information.
£9250.00
Tuition fees for home students
£15900.00
Tuition fees for international students
Tuition fees are subject to annual inflationary increases. Find out more about tuition fees
UK fee: £9250.00 | International fee: £15900.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 5783 | Session code: 1FS02 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £27750.00 |
International: £47700.00 |
UK fee: £9250.00 | International fee: £15900.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 5783 | Session code: 2FS02 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £27750.00 |
International: £47700.00 |
UK fee: £9250.00 | International fee: £15900.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 5783 | Session code: 3FS02 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £27750.00 |
International: £47700.00 |
For more information, including how and when to pay, see our fees and funding section for undergraduate students.
Please check your fee status and whether you are considered a Home, EU or International student for fee-paying purposes and for our regulatory returns, by reading the UKCISA regulations.
See our Tuition Fees Regulations (PDF File 391 KB) and Refund Policy (PDF File 775 KB).
The University reserves the right to increase its fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions.
The fees for international students are reviewed annually and the University reserves the right to increase the tuition fees in line with the RPIX measure of inflation up to 4 per cent.
We offer several types of fee reduction through our scholarships and bursaries. Find the full list and other useful information on our scholarships page.
The course is not currently open to international students.
International (non Home) applicants should follow our international how to apply guide.
Mode Full-time | Duration 3 years | Start date September | Application code 5783 | Application method Direct to LSBU |
Once we have made you an offer, you can apply for accommodation. You can rent from LSBU and you’ll deal directly with the university, not third party providers. That means we can guarantee you options to suit all budgets, with clear tenancy agreements and all-inclusive rents that include insurance for your personal belongings, internet access in each bedroom and on-site laundry facilities.
Or, if you’d rather rent privately, we can give you a list of landlords – just ask our Accommodation Service.
Read more about applying for accommodation at LSBU.
You don't need to wait for a confirmed place on a course to start applying for student finance. Read how to pay your fees as an undergraduate student.
After you’ve received your offer we’ll send you emails about events we run to help you prepare for your course.
Before you start your course we’ll send you information on what you’ll need to do before you arrive and during your first few days on campus. You can read about the process on our Welcome Week pages.
It is valuable to do some preparatory reading for the course, we suggest:
This course provides you with valuable knowledge and the ability to think critically about a range of topics within Sociology. You will also gain transferable skills, which will provide you with a solid background to starting your career in different fields.
We use a range of assessments that include essay writing, critical analyses of websites, blogs and presentations. The Sociology degree incorporates formative assessments in the form of a quizzes, peer assessed presentations and annotated bibliographies. About 75-90% of your assessment will be coursework depending on your year of study and option choices.
Optional modules
At LSBU, we want to set you up for a successful career. During your studies – and for two years after you graduate – you’ll have access to our Employability Service, which includes:
Our Student Enterprise team can also help you start your own business and develop valuable entrepreneurial skills.
A sociology degree gives you the freedom to choose any number of career paths, including, and media-related work, including journalism.
Our courses –prepare you for a range of careers in the media, education, local government, the civil service, research, public relations, advertising, management, marketing, teaching, social work, public administration, the voluntary sector and more. Enhance your employability by taking part in our employability events and choosing a work placement module in Year 2.
Our graduates have forged exciting careers in research, public relations, teaching, advertising, retail, management and the civil service. Others have continued their studies with Master programmes.
We’ll enhance your employability through our thriving volunteering project, where students can work for the police service, the prison service, legal advice, victim support, domestic violence and child abuse agencies, as well as for youth offending and youth mentoring schemes.
Recent graduates from this course have become Research Assistants, School Teachers, School Student Mentors, Charity Workers and Marketing Assistants.
Our academic staff actively network with external organisations to enable placement opportunities. We hold relationships with MP constituency offices and parliamentary offices, as well as various voluntary organisations. Relationships are being built with the likes of Lambeth Council and Race on the Agenda (ROTA).
Students will complete a work-based learning module as part of their second year where they will complete an optional work placement or take part in other forms of work-based learning. In the past, our students have volunteered with charities and criminal justice agencies, with local authorities, on programmes ranging from rehabilitation of offenders to victim support and campaigner groups. Through these, students contribute to real world situations linked to their subject of interest. In many cases, students maintain a relationship with the organisation they volunteer for. Placements ground a student's experience, provide confidence and bolster a CV immeasurably.
Our students have taken up work placements at:
Year 1 class contact time is typically 9 hours per week. In addition, you'll be expected to devote time to independent study and attend personal tutorials.
All modules are assessed by a combination of coursework, essays, exams, presentations, reports, case-studies, reviews and final year dissertation. About 75-90% of your assessment will be coursework depending on your year of study and option choices.
You'll be taught by research active academics whose work is internationally recognised and informs the course curriculum. Recent work includes work on identity, race and gender, and an investigation of the British Aristocracy that has had national media attention: https://inews.co.uk/news/long-reads/aristocrat-uk-britain-families-double-wealth-empire-exclusive-study-498179
You'll be encouraged to attend and participate in the research seminars and events organized by various different research groups including;
Sociology staff are actively engaged in research and organise research events, conferences and seminars at LSBU and other universities throughout the year. There are several research groups regular research discussion, and occasionally larger events open to the public. Over the past two years we have welcomed Prof. Alex Vitale from New York as a visiting professor and held a public event with Prof. Alex Vitale and Gary Younge, editor-at-large for The Guardian newspaper.
We also provide extensive virtual learning resources with access to core texts whenever you need it. You'll be assigned a personal tutor to help you settle in, and a wide range of support is available through LSBU's student services.
As an undergraduate Law and Social Science student, you will be allocated a named tutor during your first semester at LSBU. The role of your tutor is to be your primary contact for academic and professional development support.
Your tutor will support you to get the most of your time at LSBU, providing advice and signposting to other sources of support in the University. They should be the first person at the university that you speak to if you are having any difficulties that are affecting your work. These could be academic, financial, health-related or another type of problem.
You will have appointments with your personal academic tutor at least three times a year for 15 minutes throughout your course. You can contact your tutor for additional support by email or sign up for an appointment slots advertised outside your tutor's office.