Politics and Sociology BSc (Hons) - 2026/7
Awarding body
University of Surrey
Teaching institute
University of Surrey
Framework
FHEQ Level 6
Final award and programme/pathway title
BSc (Hons) Politics and Sociology
Subsidiary award(s)
| Award | Title |
|---|---|
| DipHE | Politics and Sociology |
| CertHE | Politics and Sociology |
| Ord | Politics and Sociology |
Modes of study
| Route code | Credits and ECTS Credits | |
| Full-time | ULB10001 | 360 credits and 180 ECTS credits |
| Full-time with PTY | ULB10020 | 480 credits and 240 ECTS credits |
QAA Subject benchmark statement (if applicable)
Politics and International Relations, Sociology
Other internal and / or external reference points
N/A
Faculty and Department / School
Faculty of Arts, Business and Social Sciences - Politics & International Relations
Programme Leader
KITCHEN Nicholas (Politics IR)
Date of production/revision of spec
29/05/2026
Educational aims of the programme
- To enable students to understand and use a range of concepts, approaches and methods appropriate to politics, and to develop an understanding of their contested nature and of the problematic character of political enquiry.
- To provide students with a foundation of knowledge and understanding of theory and analysis, and to encourage them to apply these to issues in contemporary social and political affairs.
- To develop students' capacity to think critically about events, ideas, people and institutions at local, national, regional and international levels, opening up their cultural and global horizons.
- To assist students to develop a range of cognitive and social skills relevant to their intellectual, vocational and personal development.
- To give students opportunities to apply their theoretical knowledge and understanding to the resolution of real-life problems and so develop their skills in respect of professional as well as academic life.
- To provide a curriculum which encourages breadth and depth of intellectual enquiry and debate, supported by scholarship, a research culture, and staff reflection and development.
- To create a learning environment that is receptive to the needs and views of students and encourages them to achieve their full potential, even while fostering an atmosphere where students as independent learners can take responsibility for their own learning processes.
- To understand and respect issues related to diversity and to employ a range of methods and approaches in relation to diverse needs.
- To build students' understanding of two related but increasingly separately-studied disciplines, increasing the diversity of employment opportunities.
- To help students see the real-life connections between Politics and Sociology and to relate insights developed at the theoretical level to empirical evidence.
- To prepare students for life and work in a globalising world society with sustainable thinking where the political impacts upon the societal and the societal on the political.
- To provide students with a genuinely integrated approach to the two subject areas.
- To develop students' skills in respect of mixed research methods but with a particular emphasis on those methodologies that seek to deliver understanding (versus explanation).
- The programme is committed to developing graduates with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability and Resourcefulness and Resilience
Programme learning outcomes
| Attributes Developed | Awards | Ref. | |
| Identify and evaluate key concepts in the discipline. | KC | CertHE | |
| Construct reasoned argument, synthesise relevant information and demonstrate ability to evaluate material. | KCP | CertHE | |
| Apply conceptual frameworks to policy/empirical analysis. | KCPT | CertHE | |
| Employ basic digital and non-digital research skills. | PT | CertHE | |
| Engage with academic texts. | CT | CertHE | |
| Recognise the importance of academic integrity. | PT | CertHE | |
| Demonstrate the ability to work independently and in groups. | PT | CertHE | |
| Demonstrate in-depth knowledge and assessment of key concepts in the discipline. | KC | DipHE | |
| Develop more sophisticated argument, analyse significant information and demonstrate sound academic judgement. | KCP | DipHE | |
| Analyse conceptual frameworks and apply them to relevant policies/empirics. | KCPT | DipHE | |
| Build on digital and non-digital research skills, through engagement with qualitative and quantitative methods. | CPT | DipHE | |
| Evaluate academic texts. | CT | DipHE | |
| Demonstrate academic integrity. | PT | DipHE |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Programme structure
Full-time
This Bachelor's Degree (Honours) programme is studied full-time over three academic years, consisting of 360 credits (120 credits at FHEQ levels 4, 5 and 6). All modules are semester based and worth 15 credits with the exception of project, practice based and dissertation modules.
Possible exit awards include:
- Bachelor's Degree (Ordinary) (300 credits)
- Diploma of Higher Education (240 credits)
- Certificate of Higher Education (120 credits)
Full-time with PTY
This Bachelor's Degree (Honours) programme is studied full-time over four academic years, consisting of 480 credits (120 credits at FHEQ levels 4, 5, 6 and the optional professional training year). All modules are semester based and worth 15 credits with the exception of project, practice based and dissertation modules.
Possible exit awards include:
- Bachelor's Degree (Ordinary) (300 credits)
- Diploma of Higher Education (240 credits)
- Certificate of Higher Education (120 credits)
Programme Adjustments (if applicable)
N/A
Modules
Year 1 - FHEQ Level 4
| Module code | Module title | Status | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOC1052 | CONCEPTUALISING THE SOCIAL WORLD | Compulsory | 15 | 1 |
| SOC1058 | RESEARCHING THE SOCIAL WORLD | Compulsory | 30 | Year-long |
| POL1028 | INTRODUCTION TO POLITICS | Compulsory | 30 | Year-long |
| SOC1057 | SOCIAL DIVISIONS AND CONTEXTS | Compulsory | 30 | Year-long |
| POL1027 | POLITICS OF CRISIS | Compulsory | 15 | 2 |
Module Selection for Year 1 - FHEQ Level 4
N/A
Year 2 - FHEQ Level 5
Module Selection for Year 2 - FHEQ Level 5
Students should take 30 credits of sociology options and 45 credits of politics options.
Students can select only one of:
POL2028 RESEARCH METHODS
SOC2102 QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS
As part of your optional module selection, you are able to choose up to 15 credits from our range of interdisciplinary modules (subject to availability). For more information please refer to the website (https://www.surrey.ac.uk/personalising-your-degree-university-surrey)
Year 3 - FHEQ Level 6
Module Selection for Year 3 - FHEQ Level 6
Students can mix and match from either offering, but should at the end of the year have 4 Politics and 4 Sociology modules on their diet.
Year 1 (with PTY) - FHEQ Level 4
| Module code | Module title | Status | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOC1052 | CONCEPTUALISING THE SOCIAL WORLD | Compulsory | 15 | 1 |
| SOC1058 | RESEARCHING THE SOCIAL WORLD | Compulsory | 30 | Year-long |
| POL1028 | INTRODUCTION TO POLITICS | Compulsory | 30 | Year-long |
| SOC1057 | SOCIAL DIVISIONS AND CONTEXTS | Compulsory | 30 | Year-long |
| POL1027 | POLITICS OF CRISIS | Compulsory | 15 | 2 |
Module Selection for Year 1 (with PTY) - FHEQ Level 4
N/A
Year 2 (with PTY) - FHEQ Level 5
Module Selection for Year 2 (with PTY) - FHEQ Level 5
Students should take 30 credits of sociology options and 45 credits of politics options.
Students can select only one of:
POL2028 RESEARCH METHODS
SOC2102 QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS
As part of your optional module selection, you are able to choose up to 15 credits from our range of interdisciplinary modules (subject to availability). For more information please refer to the website (https://www.surrey.ac.uk/personalising-your-degree-university-surrey)
Year 3 (with PTY) - FHEQ Level 6
Module Selection for Year 3 (with PTY) - FHEQ Level 6
Students can mix and match from either offering, but should at the end of the year have 4 Politics and 4 Sociology modules on their diet.
Professional Training Year (PTY) -
| Module code | Module title | Status | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| POLP025 | PROFESSIONAL TRAINING YEAR MODULE (FULL-YEAR WORK) | Core | 120 | Year-long |
| POLP026 | PROFESSIONAL TRAINING YEAR MODULE (WORK-STUDY 50/50) | Core | 120 | Year-long |
| POLP027 | PROFESSIONAL TRAINING YEAR MODULE (FULL-YEAR STUDY) | Core | 120 | Year-long |
Module Selection for Professional Training Year (PTY) -
Students select one of POLP025, POLP026, POLP0276 depending on the type of PTY year they are engaging in.
Opportunities for placements / work related learning / collaborative activity
| Associate Tutor(s) / Guest Speakers / Visiting Academics | Y | |
| Professional Training Year (PTY) | Y | |
| Placement(s) (study or work that are not part of PTY) | N | |
| Clinical Placement(s) (that are not part of the PTY scheme) | N | |
| Study exchange (Level 5) | Y | |
| Dual degree | N |
Quality assurance
The Regulations and Codes of Practice for taught programmes can be found at:
Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2026/7 academic year.