UCAS code
L3C8Mode of Study
Full-time, Full-time sandwich with work placementDuration
3 years full-time, 4 years sandwich with work placementStart date
September 2023, September 2024Overview
Prepare to lead the world into a more positive future.
Human thought and behaviour shapes our society, which in turn shapes our experience as global citizens. Take a sociological and social psychological approach to the most pressing social issues of our time, from global economic inequality and the migrant crisis to world hunger, climate change and gender equality - and see how our actions interact with and influence social justice and wellbeing in the world.
While developing your sociological imagination, you'll also study social psychological concepts such as prosocial behaviour, intergroup dynamics and social influence. On this BSc (Hons) Sociology with Psychology degree, you'll conduct your own research into societal issues that matter most to you, developing the skills to influence positive change such as critical thinking, leading on research projects, analysing data and communicating proposals for change effectively.
Course highlights
- Learn from leading academics actively researching solutions to social inequalities and exploring the social structures that shape our lives, including researchers from our Sociology and Social Theory Research Group
- Tailor your studies to topics that match your ambitions from a diverse range of specialist modules, including social justice, gender and sexuality, race and racism and global inequality
- Use social psychological theory to address one of three 'unsolvable issues' (homelessness, domestic violence or unemployment), simulating projects you'll work on in future health-related careers
- Hear from industry specialists on topics such as racism, asylum and gender-based violence – recent guest speakers have come from Friends Without Borders and Portsmouth Abuse and Rape Counselling Services (PARCS)
- Discover how to present your knowledge and research to a wider audience, through the production of a video or podcast on an optional module
- Learn to use software to analyse complex data with ease, such as SPSS (for statistical analysis) and NVivo (for qualitative data analysis)
The psychological approach on this course is designed to enhance your understanding of sociology beyond sociological theory – it doesn't offer British Psychological Society accreditation (BPS) but strongly prepares you for further study or training related to the psychological and social sciences.
Every lecturer has a clear passion for what they are teaching us and it really shows in all the support they give to us students. This extends to outside the classroom as well. I have taken on volunteering through the University's careers service to help build up my CV and due to me looking into a Social Work Masters. My lecturers, Rusten and Sue really helped me to gain those opportunities.
Entry requirements
BSc (Hons) Sociology with Psychology
Typical offers
- A levels – ABB–BBC
- UCAS points – 112-128 points to include a minimum of 2 A levels, or equivalent. (calculate your UCAS points)
- T levels – Merit
- BTECs (Extended Diplomas) – DDM–DMM
You may need to have studied specific subjects – see full entry requirements and other qualifications we accept
English language requirements
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.
See alternative English language qualifications
We also accept other standard English tests and qualifications, as long as they meet the minimum requirements of your course.
If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Typical offers
- A levels – ABB–BBC
- UCAS points – 112-128 points to include a minimum of 2 A levels, or equivalent (calculate your UCAS points)
- T-levels – Merit
- BTECs (Extended Diplomas) – DDM–DMM
- International Baccalaureate – 25–26
You may need to have studied specific subjects – find full entry requirements and other qualifications we accept at UCAS.
English language requirements
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.
See alternative English language qualifications
We also accept other standard English tests and qualifications, as long as they meet the minimum requirements of your course.
If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Why study a course with Psychology?
Hear our students and lecturers explain the benefits of studying a 'with Psychology' course at the University of Portsmouth.
Dr Jacqueline Priego: Students who take a degree that combines a social science with psychology are typically interested in both societal and behavioural approaches to the human condition. They are interested in what triggers our thinking, our emotions, our behaviours and how we see that we can shape our ideas, values and practices so that we can make this world a better place.
Dr Alexander Bradley: I think the nice aspect of studying a with psychology course is it both opens up both psychology, but also sociology or criminology, child and youth studies. So it gives you two job markets to aim for.
Jonathan: What made me want to do a course with psychology is, it gives me a bigger variety and dig deeper into each subject. Doing a degree with combined honours allows me to pick and choose from whichever career choice I choose to make.
Eleonora: Because I'm currently studying criminology with psychology, it really gives you the opportunity to study many different topics at once. Like, I'm studying state crime at the same time I did psychological science. You have two different types of knowledge. You have the criminological one and the psychological ones - you can merge them together to actually do what you want to do.
Joshua: I went for a course with psychology because I wanted to have something extra as well, and I think that's shown definitely while being at the university because it gave an extra layer to the degree which I wasn't expecting.
Jonathan: If you're not sure, if you just want to do psychology or just want to do sociology, choose this degree. It will give you the best of both and you get to focus on whatever you find most fascinating and interesting.
Joshua: The career I'm looking into is to join the Royal Navy first and then afterwards teaching. But I still think this course does help me with that because there was one point of like stages of group development and that was part of the psychology course. So I can use that when running a team within the Royal Navy and then after that, hopefully the course as a whole will help me in my teaching.
Jonathan: Why someone should choose University of Portsmouth? It gives extremely good facilities.
Dr Jacqueline Priego: In relation to our courses, all of our students have access to the latest research through the university library. That gives you the potential for a great student experience.
Dr Alexander Bradley: The city is a lovely place to be: it's friendly, it's warm, you have the sea. We do a lot and put a lot of effort into our students to help them make not only a good time and to make the most of their time at university, but also beyond university as well.
Eleonora: You have career support for many years after you graduate. Thanks to the University of Portsmouth, I was able to work in some research with my lecturers as well, which is something that other students are not able to do. It's a great opportunity to make me stand out.
Dr Alexander Bradley: I think one of the really nice features about my role is when I do see students that make that transition and are happy in the world of work, in the places they've ended up and are making a contribution to society, that's really good. In fact, sometimes when I get those emails that come back, it just makes my day.
Careers and opportunities
The course provides a solid foundation for moving into a variety of people-focused careers, from community development and careers advice, to teaching and charity work. You'll have the communication, research, critical thinking and analysis skills employers look for to lead on complex projects, convert report findings into manageable insights and manage people with an understanding of how the mind works.
After the course you could also continue your studies to a PhD or other postgraduate qualification, following in the footsteps of your lecturers.
From Portsmouth, I went straight into employment with my current employer. I have met several people who also went to Portsmouth and they have all said what a good practical course it is. I have managed to quickly progress through the business which was because of the good footing Portsmouth University gave me.
What sectors can you work in with a sociology with psychology degree?
Many of our sociology graduates go into people-focused roles, or in roles that allow them to do research, shape social policies or bring about social change.
Areas you could go into include:
- teaching and lecturing (with additional training or further study)
- research and policy
- health and social care
- advertising, marketing and media
- local government
- careers advice, human resources and recruitment
- charity work and community development
What jobs can you do with a sociology with psychology degree?
Roles you could go onto include:
- peer support and young persons service manager
- youth worker
- school teacher or college lecturer
- research executive
- fundraising and project manager
- hr adviser
- social worker
- evidence and evaluation manager
Graduate destinations
Graduates from our sociology courses have worked for companies such as:
- Solent Mind
- Chance UK
- The Prince's Trust
- NHS Foundation Trust
- Chance UK
- Enham Trust (disability charity)
Ongoing career support – up to 5 years after you graduate
Get experience while you study, with support to find part-time jobs, volunteering opportunities, and work experience.
Towards the end of your degree and for up to five years after graduation, you’ll receive one-to-one support from our Graduate Recruitment Consultancy to help you find your perfect role.
Placement year opportunities and work experience
Taking an optional placement year after your second year of study will give you the experience you need to increase your chances of landing your perfect role after graduation. You'll get valuable work experience and the chance to grow your professional network and enhance your CV.
We'll work with you to identify placements, internships, voluntary roles and freelancing opportunities that will complement your studies and allow you to use the skills you've learnt. Our students also regularly work on research projects for the local community.
Potential destinations
Previous students have taken placements roles at organisations including:
- National Museum of the Royal Navy
- Portsmouth Abuse and Rape Counselling Service (PARCS)
- New Theatre Royal
- GlaxoSmithKline
- Solent Recovery College
- Volkswagen
- local government departments
Get credit towards your degree for work, volunteer and research placements
You have the option to take the Learning From Experience (LiFE) module – getting credit from paid/unpaid work, volunteering, research placements, internships and other work related learning, including self-employment. You'll have the freedom to arrange your own activities, and we'll support your achievements through workshops, events and tutorials.
What you'll study
Each module on this course is worth a certain number of credits.
In each year, you need to study modules worth a total of 120 credits. For example, four modules worth 20 credits and one module worth 40 credits.
The modules are set up to relate to real people in real-life situations at the same time as looking at the wider theories, and the lecturers are great at being approachable as part of their teaching.
Modules
Core modules in this year include:
- Developing Your Sociological Imagination – 40 credits
- Psychology for the Social Sciences – 20 credits
- Research Design and Analysis – 20 credits
- Social and Cultural Psychology - 20 credits
- Theorising Social Life – 20 credits
There are no optional modules in this year.
Core modules in this year include:
- Critical Psychology – 20 credits
- Discursive Psychology - 20 credits
- Doing Sociological Research – 20 credits
- Modernity and Globalisation – 20 credits
Optional modules in this year include:
- Challenging Global Inequality – 20 credits
- Consumer Society: Critical Themes and Issues – 20 credits
- Digital Cultures: Exploring the Digital in the Humanities and Social Sciences - 20 credits
- Emotions and Social Life – 20 credits
- Empire and its Afterlives in Britain, Europe and Africa - 20 credits
- Engaged Citizenship in Humanities and Social Sciences – 20 credits
- Equality or Liberation? Theorising Social Justice – 20 credits
- Family, Career and Generation – 20 credits
- Food, Culture, and Society – 20 credits
- Gender and Sexuality – 20 credits
- Global Security - 20 credits
- Health, Wellbeing, and Happiness – 20 credits
- Intercultural Perspectives on Communication - 20 credits
- Marketing and Communication - 20 credits
- Modern Foreign Language (Institution-wide Language Programme) – 20 credits
- Modernity and Globalisation - 20 credits
- Nationalism and Migration: Chaos, Crisis And the Everyday – 20 credits
- News, Discourse and Media - 20 credits
- Principles of Economic Crime Investigation - 20 credits
- Professional Experience L5 - 20 credits
- Race and Racism – 20 credits
- Risk and Society – 20 credits
- Social Power, Elites and Dissent – 20 credits
- Sociology of Culture: Taste, Value and Celebrity – 20 credits
- Space, Place and Being - 20 credits
- The Sociology of Education – 20 credits
- Transitional Justice and Human Rights - 20 credits
- Understanding Personal Life – 20 credits
- Wildlife Crime: Threats and Response - 20 credits
After your second year, you can do an optional work placement year to get valuable longer-term work experience in the industry.
Examples of placement organisations include:
- Portsmouth Abuse and Rape Counselling Service
- Why Me? Restorative Justice
- SEK International School, Spain
- Aurora New Dawn – a charity giving safety, support, advocacy and empowerment to survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence and stalking
We’ll help you secure a work placement that fits your aspirations. You’ll get mentoring and support throughout the year.
Core modules in this year include:
- Community Psychology - 20 credits
- Creative Research Methods in Psychology – 20 credits
- Sociology Dissertation / Major Project – 40 credits
Optional modules in this year include:
- Challenging Global Inequality – 20 credits
- Consumer Society: Critical Themes and Issues – 20 credits
- Emotions and Social Life – 20 credits
- Equality or Liberation? Theorising Social Justice – 20 credits
- Family, Career and Generation – 20 credits
- Food, Culture and Society – 20 credits
- Gender and Sexuality – 20 credits
- Health, Wellbeing and Happiness – 20 credits
- Introduction to Teaching – 20 credits
- Nationalism and Migration: Chaos, Crisis And the Everyday – 20 credits
- Professional Development: Recruiters and Candidates – 20 credits
- Professional Experience – 20 credits
- Race and Racism – 20 credits
- Social Power, Elites and Dissent – 20 credits
- Sociology of Culture: Taste, Value and Celebrity – 20 credits
- Understanding Personal Life – 20 credits
Changes to course content
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.
Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry. If a module doesn't run, we'll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.
Alternative sociology courses
Not quite sure this course is right for you? Take a look at our other sociology courses to compare your options.
If you want to build a solid foundation in classic sociological theories, learn how to apply them to produce social change and develop competent research skills, take a look at our Sociology degree.
If you want to explore how human relationships and social structures influence behaviour and discover how power dynamics and inequalities create crime, take a look at our Sociology with Criminology degree.
If you want to study specialist areas of sociological study while developing the knowledge and skills to expertly dissect the media, take a look at our Sociology with Media Studies degree.
Teaching
Teaching methods on this course include:
- lectures
- seminars
- tutorials
- workshops
There's an emphasis on participation with lots of group debates and discussions. You'll also take control of your own learning by doing research, surveys and interviews.
You can access all teaching resources on Moodle, our virtual learning environment, from anywhere with a Web connection.
How you're assessed
You’ll be assessed through:
- written essays
- group and individual projects
- seminar participation
- a 10,000-word dissertation in year 3
Coursework typically makes up around 100% of your final mark.
You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.
You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.
How you'll spend your time
One of the main differences between school or college and university is how much control you have over your learning.
We use a blended learning approach to teaching, which means you’ll take part in both face-to-face and online activities during your studies. As well as attending your timetabled classes you'll study independently in your free time, supported by staff and our virtual learning environment, Moodle.
A typical week
We recommend you spend at least 35 hours a week studying for your BSc Hons Sociology with Psychology degree. In your first year, you’ll be in timetabled teaching activities such as lectures, seminars and workshops for about 10 hours a week. The rest of the time you’ll do independent study such as research, reading, coursework and project work, alone or in a group with others from your course. You'll probably do more independent study and have less scheduled teaching in years 2 and 3, but this depends on which modules you choose.
Term dates
The academic year runs from September to June. There are breaks at Christmas and Easter.
Supporting your learning
The amount of timetabled teaching you'll get on your degree might be less than what you're used to at school or college, but you'll also get support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:
Types of support
Your personal tutor helps you make the transition to independent study and gives you academic and personal support throughout your time at university.
As well as regular scheduled meetings with your personal tutor, they're also available at set times during the week if you want to chat with them about anything that can't wait until your next meeting.
You'll have help from a team of faculty learning development tutors. They can help you improve and develop your academic skills and support you in any area of your study.
They can help with:
- Improving your academic writing (for example, essays, reports, dissertations)
- Delivering presentations (including observing and filming presentations)
- Understanding and using assignment feedback
- Managing your time and workload
- Revision and exam techniques
As well as support from faculty staff and your personal tutor, you can use the University's Academic Skills Unit (ASK).
ASK provides one-to-one support in areas such as:
- Academic writing
- Note taking
- Time management
- Critical thinking
- Presentation skills
- Referencing
- Working in groups
- Revision, memory and exam techniques
If you have a disability or need extra support, the Additional Support and Disability Centre (ASDAC) will give you help, support and advice.
Our online Learning Well mini-course will help you plan for managing the challenges of learning and student life, so you can fulfil your potential and have a great student experience.
You can get personal, emotional and mental health support from our Student Wellbeing Service, in person and online. This includes 1–2–1 support as well as courses and workshops that help you better manage stress, anxiety or depression.
If you require extra support because of a disability or additional learning need our specialist team can help you.
They'll help you to
- discuss and agree on reasonable adjustments
- liaise with other University services and facilities, such as the library
- access specialist study skills and strategies tutors, and assistive technology tutors, on a 1-to-1 basis or in groups
- liaise with external services
Library staff are available in person or by email, phone, or online chat to help you make the most of the University’s library resources. You can also request one-to-one appointments and get support from a librarian who specialises in your subject area.
The library is open 24 hours a day, every day, in term time.
If English isn't your first language, you can do one of our English language courses to improve your written and spoken English language skills before starting your degree. Once you're here, you can take part in our free In-Sessional English (ISE) programme to improve your English further.
Course costs and funding
Tuition fees (2023 start)
- UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £9,250 per year (may be subject to annual increase)
- EU students – £9,250 a year (including Transition Scholarship – may be subject to annual increase)
- International students – £17,200 per year (subject to annual increase)
Tuition fees (2024 start)
- UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £9,250 per year (may be subject to annual increase)
- EU students – £9,250 a year (including Transition Scholarship – may be subject to annual increase)
- International students – £18,100 per year (subject to annual increase)
Funding your studies
Find out how to fund your studies, including the scholarships and bursaries you could get. You can also find more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.
Applying from outside the UK? Find out about funding options for international students.
Additional course costs
These course-related costs aren’t included in the tuition fees. So you’ll need to budget for them when you plan your spending.
Additional costs
Our accommodation section show your accommodation options and highlight how much it costs to live in Portsmouth.
You’ll study up to 6 modules a year. You may have to read several recommended books or textbooks for each module.
You can borrow most of these from the Library. If you buy these, they may cost up to £60 each.
We recommend that you budget £75 a year for photocopying, memory sticks, DVDs and CDs, printing charges, binding and specialist printing.
If your final year includes a major project, there could be cost for transport or accommodation related to your research activities. The amount will depend on the project you choose.
You’ll need to cover additional costs, such as travel costs, if you take an optional placement or placement abroad.
These costs will vary depending on the location and duration of the placement, and can range from £50–£1000.
During your placement year or study abroad year, you’ll be eligible for a discounted rate on your tuition fees. Currently, this discount amounts to 90% of the year’s fees.
Tuition fees for that year are:
- UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £925 a year (may be subject to annual increase)
- EU students – £925 a year, including Transition Scholarship (may be subject to annual increase)
- International students – £1,800 a year (subject to annual increase)
The costs associated with your specific destination will be discussed during your second year, as well as possible sources of additional funding.
Apply
How to apply
To start this course in 2023, apply through UCAS. You'll need:
- the UCAS course code – L3C8
- our institution code – P80
If you'd prefer to apply directly, use our online application form.
You can also sign up to an Open Day to:
- Tour our campus, facilities and halls of residence
- Speak with lecturers and chat with our students
- Get information about where to live, how to fund your studies and which clubs and societies to join
If you're new to the application process, read our guide on applying for an undergraduate course.
To start this course in 2024, apply through UCAS. You'll need:
- the UCAS course code – L3C8
- our institution code – P80
If you'd prefer to apply directly, use our online application form.
You can also sign up to an Open Day to:
- Tour our campus, facilities and halls of residence
- Speak with lecturers and chat with our students
- Get information about where to live, how to fund your studies and which clubs and societies to join
If you're new to the application process, read our guide on applying for an undergraduate course.
How to apply from outside the UK
See the 'How to apply' section above for details of how to apply. You can also get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region.
To find out what to include in your application, head to the how to apply page of our international students section.
If you don't meet the English language requirements for this course yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Admissions terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.