University of Aberdeen
Politics and Sociology MA (Hons)
University of Aberdeen

Key Course Facts

Student Reviews

Below you can see course specific reviews of 40 graduates of Politics and Sociology MA (Hons) and other courses in Sociology at University of Aberdeen for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in Sociology.

Overall student satisfaction
86 /100
40 total respondents

Primarily based on data from undergraduate degree students.

The NSS is commissioned by the Office for Students

Salary

Salary of Graduates in Sociology

Important: Salary data below is not course specific, but contains data of all students of Sociology at the university. Due to data collection methodology, salary data is mainly based on data related to undergraduate students.

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £25000 £22000 £28000
25-75 percentile range £20500 - £28000 £18500 - £25500 £22500 - £33500


Salary of all UK Graduates of Sociology

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £24194 £22194 £26480
25-75 percentile range £20896 - £27999 £16966 - £27560 £20209 - £34141

Course Description

Politics and Sociology at Aberdeen is an excellent combination which gives you solid grounding in politics and political systems across the world and adds deeper study of the societies we are part of and how they shape us as individuals in all sorts of ways including the political decisions that we make. Top-rated teaching and a culture of dynamic research will make you a sought-after graduate by employers in many sectors, and with strong options in politics.

In Politics, you will be right at the front of debate on current world events – including Britain’s relationship with its European neighbours and movements of regionalisation within the EU and UK. You will explore voting behaviour, different political systems, making and implementing policy, nationalism, concepts of democracy and ever-present concerns of conflict and peace. You can also take advantage of unique options made possible by the research pedigree of our academic team with a strong track record in publishing international papers and articles.

Sociology at Aberdeen will complement and add depth to your study of political systems and behaviour. You will explore how society shapes us as individuals in all sorts of ways and 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 have great career options in politics, media, local and national government, NGOs and international affairs and also marketing and advertising, social and market research, teaching, health and social services, charities and human resources.

We are ranked 8th in the UK for Politics by the Guardian University Guide 2023. Sociology at Aberdeen is rated 4th in Scotland in the Complete University Guide 2023. Sociology at Aberdeen is ranked 10th in the UK and 2nd in Scotland by The Guardian’s Best UK Universities, 2021.

Jobs & Career Perspectives

15 months after graduation, graduates of this course were asked about what they do and, if they are working, about their current job and their perspectives.

Current jobs

Required skill level of job after 15 months

Jobs of graduates of this course (15 months after graduation)

Example below based on all graduates of Politics and Sociology MA (Hons) at University of Aberdeen

30% Information Technology Professionals
20% Process, plant and machine operatives
15% Quality and Regulatory Professionals
5% Leisure, travel and related personal service occupations
5% Business, Research and Administrative Professionals
5% Finance Professionals
5% Administrative occupations
5% Business, Research and Administrative Professionals

Grading & Study Time

**Students are assessed by any combination of three assessment methods:** coursework such as essays and reports completed throughout the course; practical assessments of the skills and competencies they learn on the course; and written examinations at the end of each course. The exact mix of these methods differs between subject areas, years of study and individual courses. Honours projects are typically assessed on the basis of a written dissertation.

Entry Requirements / Admissions

UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for this course

English language requirements

test Grade Additional Details
IELTS (Academic) 6

Overall - 6.0 with: Listening - 5.5 or above; Reading - 5.5 or above; Speaking - 5.5 or above; Writing - 6.0 or above.

IELTS Indicator or IELTS General Training are not accepted

TOEFL (iBT) 78

TOEFL iBT and TOEFL Home Edition (online) - DI code is 0818: Overall 78 with: Listening - 17 or above; Reading - 18 or above; Speaking - 20 or above; Writing - 21 or above.

PTE Academic 59

Overall - 59 with: Listening - 59 or above; Reading - 59 or above; Speaking - 59 or above; Writing - 59 or above.

Online Test is not accepted

Trinity ISE

Pass overall at ISE II with a distinction in writing and merit in the other three skills.

Institution's Own Test

Academic English Pre-sessional Programmes - Pass (valid for one year) OR Academic English Preparation Programme - Pass at Level Four (valid for one year)

Cambridge English Advanced

Overall - 169 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 162; Speaking - 162; Writing -169.

Cambridge English Proficiency

Overall - 169 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 162; Speaking - 162; Writing -169.

When you are thinking about studying overseas, it is important that you understand all the costs involved and budget accordingly. It is essential to budget for your studies prior to leaving your home country and to arrange all your funding for BOTH your tuition fees and your living costs.

View the University of Aberdeen Online Prospectus programme page to find out about any scholarships and funding you may be able to apply for.
Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still study Politics and Sociology, MA (Hons), if you do not meet the minimum requirements in terms of UCAS score, A levels, or English language requirements.

Costs

Tuition Fees Politics and Sociology MA (Hons)

Ireland £9250 year 1
EU £21900 year 1
Scotland £1820 year 1
England UK £9250 year 1
Northern Ireland £9250 year 1
Wales £9250 year 1
Channel Islands £21900 year 1
International £21900 year 1
EU £20800 year 1
Channel Islands £9250 year 1
International £20800 year 1

Additional fee information

EU/International Applicants: When you are thinking about studying overseas, it is important that you understand all the costs involved and budget accordingly. It is essential to budget for your studies prior to leaving your home country, and arrange all your funding for BOTH your tuition fees and your living costs.

Average student cost of living in the UK

Rent £518
Water, gas electricity, internet (at home) £50
Supermarket shopping £81
Clothing £35
Eating out £33
Alcohol £27
Takeaways / food deliveries £30
Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food) £24
Holidays and weekend trips £78
Transport within city £17
Self-care / sports £20
Stationary / books £13
Mobile phone / internet £13
Cable TV / streaming £7
Insurance £51
Other £95
  
Average student cost of living £1092

London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.

How to apply

Application deadline:

January 1, 2025

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Possible Entry Points:

  • year 1 (Default entry point)
  • year 2

University Rankings

Positions of University of Aberdeen in top UK and global rankings.

Rankings of University of Aberdeen in related subject specific rankings.

Social Studies & Humanities

    • #4 
    • #176 
    Social Sciences
    THE World University Rankings by Subject
    [Published 26 October, 2022]
    • #3 
    • #211 
    Social Sciences
    NTU Rankings by Subject
    [Published 11 July, 2023]

See all 28 university rankings of University of Aberdeen

About University of Aberdeen

Dating back to the year 1495 we find the University of Aberdeen, located in the Scottish city of the same name. The main site of this ancient institution is Old Aberdeen, where students in the arts and social sciences as well as the physical sciences carry out their learning. Meanwhile on the significantly more modern campus site Foresterhill, learners in the medical and research fields occupy their own purpose-built buildings, such as Suttie Centre.

List of 511 Bachelor and Master Courses from University of Aberdeen - Course Catalogue

Where is this programme taught

Main Site
map marker Show on map

Similar courses

Program University Student satis­faction Unem­ployed Drop­out Tuition (UK) Tuition (Inter­national) UCAS Tariff City
Arabic and Politics MA (Hons) The University of Edinburgh 64% 5% 2% £9250 £26500 197 Edinburgh On campus Full-time
French and Politics MA (Hons) The University of Edinburgh 64% 5% 0% £9250 £26500 195 Edinburgh On campus Full-time
Legal Studies and Politics MA (Hons) University of Aberdeen 87% 5% 5% £9250 £21900 £20800 194 Aberdeen On campus Full-time
Politics with Quantitative Research Methods MSc University of Bristol - 7% 1% £9250 £23900 170 Bristol On campus Full-time
English and Politics MA (Hons) University of Dundee 75% 5% 6% £9250 £20900 173 Dundee On campus Full-time
Business Economics with Marketing and Politics MA (Hons) University of Dundee 68% 10% 0% £9250 £20900 174 Dundee On campus Full-time
History and Politics MA (Hons) University of Aberdeen 87% 0% 0% £9250 £21900 £20800 214 Aberdeen On campus Full-time
Gaelic Studies and Politics MA (Hons) University of Aberdeen 87% 5% 5% £9250 £21900 £20800 185 Aberdeen On campus Full-time
Anthropology and Politics MA (Hons) University of Aberdeen 93% 0% 0% £9250 £21900 £20800 178 Aberdeen On campus Full-time
Business Management and Politics MA (Hons) University of Aberdeen 87% 5% 5% £9250 £21900 £20800 178 Aberdeen On campus Full-time