English and Sociology

English and Sociology at Aberdeen combines all the advantages of the UK’s second most highly-rated research and creative hub for English literature, language and creative writing. The programme offers a fascinating awakening of your ‘sociological imagination’, exploring how the societies we live in shape us as individuals in all sorts of ways - with top-rated teaching and a culture of dynamic research giving you the skills to be a sought-after graduate by employers.

Aberdeen is a leading centre for the study of literature, language and creative writing, rated second in the UK for its research output. You will study poetry and prose through the dynamic relationship between author, reader and literary text, covering every period from Chaucer to contemporary English, Scottish, Irish, European and American writing and the cultural and critical impact of powerful and controversial modern works. You will be inspired by enthusiastic teachers and researchers, themselves acclaimed authors and poets and be encouraged to develop your own creative writing skills.

Sociology at Aberdeen gives you new insight into the lives and times of authors you are studying. You will explore how society shapes us as individuals in all sorts of ways and will study sociology of the family, work-life balance, religion and society. You will be taught by experts in social movements, conflict and peace, religion and secularisation and global political sociology and become skilled in the social research methods used to gather the evidence to better understand aspects of society – such as observation, interviews, large-scale surveys or analysing the content of documents and videos.

You will develop great skills in thinking critically and posing probing questions – which have tremendous value to employers, for example in journalism, management, marketing and advertising, local and national government, social and market research, teaching, health services, social work, charities and human resources.