Sociology with Foundation Year BSc (Hons)

University of Surrey

Foundation courses

A foundation year can develop your skills and make it easier to get started at university. It is an extra year of study at the start of your course that leads in to a full degree programme. It’s a great option if:

You don’t have the grades for a full degree course

You have non-traditional qualifications or experience

You’re starting university after some time away from education

You’re looking for more support during the transition into university study.

Life as a foundation year student

During a foundation year you’ll learn about your chosen subject, develop your study skills and get used to university life. On successful completion of your foundation year, you’ll be ready to progress to the first year of your degree course.

As a foundation year student, you’ll be a full student of the University and part of our community. You’ll have access to all our campus facilities and support.

Why choose this course

On our BSc Sociology course we’ll encourage you to apply your intellect to the study of large-scale social trends, the significance of key social institutions and the subtleties of everyday behaviour, lifestyles and identities.

You’ll gain a thorough grounding in theoretical and empirical debates within sociology and be trained to apply this understanding to current issues. You will also be equipped with an understanding of social divisions and social inequalities. Through research methods training from your first year onwards, you will gain an understanding of qualitative and quantitative methods which is valued by many employers.

We are ranked 2nd in the UK for sociology in the National Student Survey 2022. We are ranked 7th in the UK for sociology in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023.

Study with us, and you’ll join one of the most prestigious sociology departments in the UK, which is also well known for its friendly and supportive nature.

What you will study

Our highly varied BSc Sociology course is taught by world-leading experts who continually keep the content and approach up-to-date.

You’ll develop a detailed understanding of sociological explanations for micro and macro social processes and understand how sociologists from different perspectives have conceptualised the social world.

You’ll have the opportunity to engage with a range of topics such as family life, consumption, travel and tourism, migration, gender, sexuality and mental health. Your studies will help you to question common assumptions and to see current issues in a new light.

We will share our renowned knowledge of research design and methodology on the course, allowing you to become confident in observation, interviews, statistics and textual analysis. You’ll also gain an understanding of research ethics and develop skills in writing up research.

We put your learning into context using a range of teaching and assessment methods, such as individual and group projects that will give you the opportunity to adapt and develop your sociological imagination and approach to the discipline.