Sociology

Sociology at Aberdeen opens up your ‘sociological imagination’, as you explore how society shapes us as individuals in all sorts of ways, helping us to understand ourselves, our relationships, and the challenges we face in a changing world. Top-rated excellent teaching and a culture of dynamic research will give you the skills to be a sought-after graduate by employers in many sectors.

Sociology at Aberdeen is rated 3rd in Scotland in the Complete University Guide 2024.

Sociology at Aberdeen explores the issues and challenges of modern societies and how they have developed through time until the present day. You will gain a deep understanding of how society influences people and explore a range of different themes, including social awareness. You will study topics as wide-ranging as sociology of the family, work-life balance, crime, religion and the state. And you will become skilled in the social research methods used to gather the evidence to better understand aspects of society – which could be observation, interviews, large-scale surveys or analysing the content of documents and videos.

Your teachers have international reputations for conducting high-quality research in religion and secularisation, conflict and peace, social movements and global political sociology. The skills you will develop in thinking critically and posing probing questions – skills which have tremendous value to employers across the public, private and third sectors. Recent Aberdeen graduates are working in journalism, management, marketing and advertising, local and national government, social research institutions, teaching, health services, social work, charitable organisations, human resources, market research and university and college lecturing.

You will enjoy our special, warm welcome at the University of Aberdeen, benefit from excellent teaching, research with international impact and a truly global experience as part of our friendly and vibrant international community. You will love our beautiful campus, great facilities for learning, sports and leisure. There are many opportunities to develop the skills and attributes for a competitive advantage in the career you choose.