BA (Hons) Sociology and Psychology

Key information

Typical offer:
Entry requirements
Fees: See below
Full details
UCAS code: L3C8
Institute code: H36
Study a language option
Study abroad option
Work placement option
Find out more

The University of Hertfordshire is committed to welcoming students with a wide range of qualifications and levels of experience. The entry requirements listed on the course pages provide a guide to the minimum level of qualifications needed to study each course. However, we have a flexible approach to admissions and each application will be considered on an individual basis.

UCAS points	A Level	BTEC	Accepted T Levels	Access Course Tariff	IB requirement
120–128	BBB–ABB	DDM	Accounting; Agriculture, Land Management and Production; Animal Care Management; Building Services Engineering for Construction; Craft and Design; Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing; Design Production, Design and Development; Design Survey & Planning for Construction; Digital Business Services; Digital Support Services; Education and Early Years; Engineering. Manufacturing Processing and Control; Finance; Hair, Beauty and Aesthetics; Health; Healthcare Science; Legal Services; Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing; Marketing; Media, Broadcast and Production; Onsite Construction; Science.	Overall merit profile in 45 credits at Level 3	120–128 UCAS points

Additional requirements

GCSE: Grade 4/C in English Language and Mathematics.

All students from non-majority English speaking countries require proof of English language proficiency, equivalent to an overall IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each band.

If you do not have the required IELTS or equivalent for direct entry on to your degree programme, our Pre-sessional English and International Foundation courses can help you to achieve this level.

For more details on the University of Hertfordshire's entry requirements, please visit our Undergraduate Entry Requirements page.

Find out more about International Entry Requirements.

UCAS points	A Level	BTEC	Accepted T Levels	Access Course Tariff	IB requirement
112	BBC	DDM	Accounting; Agriculture, Land Management and Production; Animal Care Management; Building Services Engineering for Construction; Craft and Design; Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing; Design Production, Design and Development; Design Survey & Planning for Construction; Digital Business Services; Digital Support Services; Education and Early Years; Engineering. Manufacturing Processing and Control; Finance; Hair, Beauty and Aesthetics; Health; Healthcare Science; Legal Services; Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing; Marketing; Media, Broadcast and Production; Onsite Construction; Science.	Overall merit profile in 45 credits at Level 3	112 UCAS points

Additional requirements

GCSE: Grade 4/C in English Language and Mathematics.

All students from non-majority English speaking countries require proof of English language proficiency, equivalent to an overall IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each band.

If you do not have the required IELTS or equivalent for direct entry on to your degree programme, our Pre-sessional English and International Foundation courses can help you to achieve this level.

For more details on the University of Hertfordshire's entry requirements, please visit our Undergraduate Entry Requirements page.

Find out more about International Entry Requirements.

Why choose this course?

Explore the core issues shaping the world around you in the 21st century
3rd for counselling, psychotherapy and occupational therapy (Daily Mail University Guide, 2025)
A strong focus on sociology in the workplace designed to help you get a graduate job

Do you find yourself fascinated by human behaviour, both at the individual level (psychology) and within broader societal structures (sociology)? The BA (Hons) Sociology and Psychology course gives you the opportunity to turn that passion for social change into action, developing the transferable skills and expertise to make a real impact across a variety of fields.

A unique joint approach: The sociology and psychology programme is a true joint honours degree, designed specifically to explore the synergy between sociology and psychology. It offers a holistic understanding not available in single-honours degrees.

Expert teaching: Our teaching staff are expert researchers who actively publish across both subject areas, including health and social care, politics, migration and crime.

Learn in small, supportive groups: Benefit from tutors who know your name, understand your goals, and are genuinely invested in helping you succeed both academically and personally. Learning will be a mix of face-to-face and online teaching. There’ll be workshops to build practical skills, as well as seminars and lectures. You’ll be assessed through essays, exams, critical analysis, and practical tasks like storyboards and drafting policy papers.

On-campus facilities: Facilities include our Psychology observation room which will help bring the theoretical aspects of your learning to life and give you first-hand practical experience before you graduate.

Industry relevant skills valued by employers: You will graduate with a highly sought-after range of transferable skills and insights into how society works. Our existing industry connections alongside our dedicated Careers and Employment team will offer you support to help kickstart your career.

Typical areas of work for joint sociology and psychology graduates include:

public sector, social welfare and counselling
community and youth work
research and analysis
education
public relations
Journalism.

What's the course about?

As part of the Sociology and Psychology degree, you will take 50% of your modules in sociology and 50% in psychology. The course is part of our Applied Humanities programme. With this joint degree you will become the type of graduate employers are looking for: analytical thinking, creative communication, practical research abilities, ethical awareness, and the ability to collaborate inclusively.

In your first year, you will focus on the core individual and social concepts, such as Crime and Culture and the Inner Workings of the Mind. You will also develop key skills in data analysis and effective communication.

In your second year, you will focus on applying critical analysis to contemporary society and individual behaviour. The emphasis will be on engaging with ‘real-world’ scenarios, while further developing your research capabilities and employability skills.

An optional placement year or study abroad is available, along with opportunities for shorter work placements. Recent students have worked shadowing barristers, in schools with children with special educational needs, and evaluating police behaviour at a non-profit organisation.

In your final year, you will get the chance to specialise in an area of your choosing. The theme will centre on social justice and professional practice. You will take a core module, Making a Difference, and have the option to complete a major research project on a subject of your choice, culminating in a solid understanding of how to achieve social change in a professional context.

Your main campus is College Lane

Your main campus is College Lane. This is where the creative arts, science and health-related subjects are based. This means you’ll share the campus with future nurses, doctors, scientists, artists and more. You can use the common rooms to relax with friends, work out in the 24-hour gym or have a drink in our on-campus bar or cafes. We also have restaurants for you to eat in or grab something on the go. Our Learning Resources Centres are open 24/7, which means you can study whenever suits you best. Want to pop over to the other campus? You can take the free shuttle bus or walk there in just 15 minutes.

What will I study?

Teaching will be delivered through a mix of face-to-face and online learning and will vary according to the characteristics of each module. Workshops are used for modules where practical skills are taught and enhanced by the supervision of experts, but there are also seminars and lectures. This course is 100% coursework based. Assessments will include critical news analysis, group projects, annotated source assignments and manifestos, and drafting critical policy papers storyboards.

In your first year, you will receive a secure grounding in necessary skills and knowledge necessary including core topics in sociology and psychology. You will engage in practical exercises and authentic assessment methods, building your ability to effectively.

In your second year, there is increasingly the opportunity to follow your own interests in Psychology and Sociology. You will develop core research and employability skills through a close examination of how individual motivations, feelings and behaviour is influenced by the wider social context at hand. You will also have the option to add on a beginner’s language aimed specifically at social sciences, with the option to choose from French, German, Spanish, Mandarin or Japanese.

In your final year, you will build on the skills gained in your previous years of study and will have the opportunity to choose modules that appeal to your specific interests. You will also have the option to work on a final year project where you will be able to carry out sustained research on a sociological subject of their own choice, supported by a supervisor. You will complete the Programme with an understanding of where you own values might take you in the next stage of their lives and give them an understanding of how social change and activism can be achieved in a professional context.

A BA (Hons) Sociology degree is also available which explores both the traditional and cutting-edge aspects of sociology, with a thread of activism connecting all modules.

Level 4

Module	Credits	Compulsory/optional
Crime and Culture	30 Credits	Compulsory
What makes a criminal? How do you find out about crime? Is it through the news? Social media? Television series or films? You will have the opportunity to look at the impact of culture on ideas about crime, criminality and justice, both of which are core subjects for sociologists. Ideas about crime and popular discussion of it have a crucial role in shaping society, politics and culture more broadly. On this module you will have a chance to explore motivations and narratives surrounding criminality and how this intersects with representations of other key issues such as youth, celebrity, gender and sexuality, race and racism.
Sociology in Practice	30 Credits	Compulsory
What do sociologists do? How do they do it? This module is designed to support your transition to learning at university, teaching you the skills required to succeed on your degree in a hands-on and relevant way, and building your understanding of the discipline of sociology in the 21st century, including subfields such as sociology of the body, social movements, and identity. It will introduce you to some key thinkers from around the world who have helped shape the field, and places particular emphasis on the practical application of these ideas and concepts.
Skills for Psychologists	15 Credits	Compulsory
The module will provide students with a range of study skills useful to those studying psychology. This will include coverage of general study skills for Higher Education as well as skills specific to psychology.
People in Society	15 Credits	Compulsory
Human beings engage with and spend their lives surrounded by other people from close family members to the wider society. This module is concerned with the many ways in which people's thoughts, feelings and behaviour can be affected by the real or imagined presence of others.
Understanding Child Development	15 Credits	Compulsory
The greatest changes in cognitive and social development arguably occur in childhood. This is therefore a period of particular interest in psychology. This module introduces students to topics in child development including language.
Inner Workings of the Mind	15 Credits	Compulsory
Every day our brain processes a multitude of information including thoughts, memories and feelings. It is responsible for maintaining attention, filtering irrelevant information and problem solving. This module will introduce students to fundamental topics in cognition and everyday mental processing.

Level 5

Module	Credits	Compulsory/optional
Moving Stories: Migration, Society and Belonging	30 Credits	Compulsory
This module considers the different sociological theories informing how migration is framed and understood, and the impact it has on society and belonging - for individuals and groups worldwide. We will be evaluating different sources of qualitative and quantitative data along with visual, oral, material and digital evidence to gain insight into the political and ethical considerations surrounding migration. This module will ask you to reflect on and challenge your own understanding and experiences of migration, society and belonging.
Doing Sociology: Preparation for Research and Employability	30 Credits	Compulsory
This module will prepare you to conduct independent research in the field of sociology. It introduces you to the different methodological underpinnings of the field and help you choose the approach that best suits your research interests, including how to develop your own research questions and how to use qualitative and quantitative tools of data collection and data analysis to understand the results. You will see examples of how sociologists design their research, the problems they face and how they engage with the public and policymakers.
Cyberpsychology	15 Credits	Optional
The module will introduce students to a variety of key theoretical concepts and empirical evidence in the field of Cyberpsychology and how these may be relevant in various settings. The module will also consider the similarities and differences between online and comparable face-to-face behaviours.
Social and Developmental Psychology	15 Credits	Compulsory
The module covers key topics in both social and developmental psychology supported by seminar sessions. Students will be introduced to age-related development in specific cognitive and social areas, and extend their knowledge and understanding of principles, processes and applications in social psychology.
Developing Interventions for Behaviour Change	15 Credits	Optional
This module focuses on behaviour change and understanding how behaviour change interventions are developed. Theoretical approaches and determinants of behaviour will be explored, alongside frameworks for developing interventions. The module will explore behaviour change in different contexts and will consider how behaviour change interventions can be implemented successfully in practice.
Mindfulness and Wellbeing	15 Credits	Compulsory
This module will explore theories and research on mindfulness using a positive psychology framework of health and well-being. Mindfulness will be explored within the context of mental health, physical health, and emotional well-being, and links will be made between positive psychology models and mindfulness-related practice.
Diversity and Individual Differences	15 Credits	Compulsory
This module focuses on the scientific method of studying individual differences including topics such as personality, intelligence, mental health, psychometrics, emotion and motivation. Students also gain awareness of the strengths and weaknesses of theoretical and research approaches related to individual differences, and the historical origins of thinking in this area.

Level 6

Module	Credits	Compulsory/optional
Making a Difference: Social Justice and Activism	30 Credits	Compulsory
This module will challenge you to evaluate how traditional and new methods of activism are impacting the way we live our lives. Through campaigns such as #MeToo, Black Lives Matter or Marga, activism is an integral part of life and the development of new technologies and the impact of social media is changing the way activists operate. You will critically analyse methods used by activists and assess the ethical implications of new methods such as 'hacktivism', considering concepts such as 'activism fatigue'. You will develop your understanding of what works, and explain the value of engaging in activism to achieve change.
Everyday Violence	15 Credits	Optional
"The practice of violence, like all action, changes the world, but the most probable change is to a more violent world." - Hannah Arendt, On Violence Violence is a ubiquitous part of everyday life. We can find it in many kinds of social relations: in familial and sexual relationships; in relations within and between social groups, tribes, or gangs; in class struggles, ethnic conflicts, and wars. We also find stylized violence performed in mediated or controlled settings, in sport or the media. Such widely different categories of violent behaviour require different approaches in their analysis and understanding. Assault against an individual, a boxing match, football hooliganism, terrorist attacks, genocide – all are indisputably violent, but all have different legal status and cultural meaning. In this module you will explore the wide-ranging sociological discussion of the many kinds of violence that characterize social relations, from face-to-face interactions to the realm of geopolitics.
Seeing Sex: Gender and Sexuality through the Global Cultural Lens	15 Credits	Optional
Human identity has always been shaped by 'gender and sexuality', but what do these terms actually mean? Is the condition of the sexual human in the twenty-first-century intrinsically or only superficially 'different' to that of the past? This interdisciplinary module considers the evidence by surveying global cultural production – from social media, literature, and visual cultures to historical artefacts, politics, and personal experience – as observed through the analytical lens of contemporary sociological theory. Exploring a range of issues ranging from civil partnerships to sexual role play, queer movements to taboos, you will question how cultural differences shape – and in turn are shaped by – the human experience of gender and sexuality. Drawing on established and emerging sociological research, you will interrogate how prevailing cultural notions and practices pertaining to gender and sexuality operate in order to uncover deeper human truths about fundamental power dynamics and hierarchies within and across societies.
Our House is on Fire: Humanity and Environmental Crises	15 Credits	Optional
Are humans part of nature? How could the way humans create knowledge influence human action in the natural environment? Why is it that humans know so much about the environmental devastation of our time and yet it feels like nothing is being, nor can be, done about it? In this module you will explore and challenge a range of ways in which humanity has engaged with, and responded to, the more-than human world. You will look at the impact of global intellectual movements, evaluate historic and recent activism, and consider and devise research-informed ways to sensitively respond to environmental crises. In undertaking this module, you will engage with a range of theoretical and practical learning experiences to see the theory come to life. You will be able to explore socio-cultural, economic and politic features that influence negative and positive change on human and more-than-human relationships.
Race and Racism	15 Credits	Optional
In this module, you examine the concepts of 'race', racism, and culture, both historically and in contemporary society. You will study a range of empirical examples to see 'race' and racism as dynamic, engaging with them in specific spatial and temporal contexts. By using theories in cultural studies, sociology, critical race theory, and decolonial studies, you will develop the skills to critically discuss and analyse how 'race' and racism are expressed through and shaped by popular cultural texts, policy, arts, and digital media technologies. Following this theoretical grounding, this module explores a number of contemporary debates, including, but not limited to the explorations of the urban multiculture, immigration, intersectionality, and the debates on post-race.
States of Emergency: Nation, Politics and Culture	15 Credits	Optional
Are we permanently in a state of emergency? And if so – what does this look like, and what can be done about it? This module aims to introduce you to a range of contemporary debates related to the impact of identity and identity formation on domestic political phenomena concerning governing in modern nation states from all over the world. You will then use theoretical readings and sociological frameworks to reflect on the importance of culture in shaping representations of the nation state as an invented space. You will also consider the range of tools and justifications employed by the state apparatus to justify the establishment of states of exception through which to govern a multiple and often fragmented polis, through a number of case studies from public and private domains.
Health Psychology	15 Credits	Compulsory
Health psychology is the practice and application of psychological research to the promotion and maintenance of health; prevention and treatment of illness; the analysis and improvement of the health care system and health policy formation. This module introduces some of the key theories and principles of health psychology.
Counselling	15 Credits	Compulsory
The module introduces the historical and professional basis of counselling and routes into the profession. Theories of counselling may typically include humanistic, psychodynamic, and CBT approaches. Ways of working with client groups will be covered, including where clients present with either mental health problems or a range of life issues
Culture and Psychology	15 Credits	Compulsory
This module will explore the impact of culture on human cognition, emotion and behaviour in different subject areas in psychology, such as social psychology, health psychology and clinical psychology. The module will also examine issues related to equality, diversity and inclusion in psychology.
Occupational Psychology	15 Credits	Optional
This module will provide an introduction to some of the key topics relating to people's behaviour in the workplace. This module will also introduce students to the routes for professional practice in Occupational Psychology.
Clinical Psychology	15 Credits	Optional
The module begins by providing an overall conceptual framework for considering traditional and contemporary theories relevant to clinical psychology. In the following sessions, the module addresses substantive and methodological issues relating to mental illness from a cognitive perspective. This will be achieved by exploring a range of mental health disorders.

Study abroad

An opportunity for an amazing experience, which will help make you stand out from the crowd. With more and more companies working internationally, experience of living in another country can make a great impression on future employers.

This course offers you the opportunity to enhance your study and CV with a sandwich year abroad. The University has partnerships with over 150 universities around the world, including the USA, Canada, Asia, Africa, Australia, South America and closer to home in Europe.

If you study abroad between your second and third year of study, you’ll pay no tuition fee to the partner university and no tuition fee to us either. We’ll ask you to make your decision in your second year, so there is plenty of time to think about it. Find out more about study abroad opportunities.
Work placement

Graduate with invaluable work experience alongside your degree and stand out from the crowd.

A placement year allows you to apply your skills in a professional environment, whether in heritage, government, education, charities or business. You pay no tuition fees during the placement year and graduate with valuable contacts and experience.

Our dedicated Careers and Employment team are here to help guide you through the process. Find out more about work placements.
What if I need support?

You might also want or need extra support during your time with us. Rest assured, no matter what you study, we’ve got you covered. For help with study skills, including referencing, essay writing and presentations, you’ll have access to our academic support services. You can attend workshops, 1-to-1 sessions and online tutorials. Both our LRCs (Learning Resources Centres) run drop-in study skills sessions. Careers services and the Heritage Hub can help secure placements and build networks and wellbeing and disability services provide confidential support and adjustments where needed. And the best thing is, it’s all free.

What's next for my career?

The programme provides insight into the issues, inequalities and lines of contestation that shape modern societies in a globalising world, including gender, race, ethnicity, religion, and sexuality. This awareness, and the skills in gathering and analysing both qualitative and quantitative data and clear written and oral communication of these findings that are developed over the course of the programme, are highly valued by employers.
As a Sociology and Psychology graduate, you will be able to go into a very wide range of careers, fuelled by the training in social research that gives insights into different subjects. Typical careers have involved working in some form of public sector or welfare role but could also involve graduate trainee programmes, the police or probation services, civil service or local government, marketing, journalism and so on. This can include, after further study, professions such as social work, nursing, or teaching in schools and/or further education.

Programme specifications
BA (Hons) Sociology and Psychology with a Year Abroad - Full Time, Sem A	Download
BA (Hons) Sociology and Psychology - Part Time, Sem A	Download
BA (Hons) Sociology and Psychology with Placement Year - Full Time, Sem A	Download
BA (Hons) Sociology and Psychology - Full Time, Sem A	Download
BA (Hons) Sociology and Psychology with a Study/Year Abroad - Full Time, Sem A	Download

Additional information
Sandwich placement or study abroad year	Optional
Applications open to international and EU students	Yes
Course length	Full Time, 3 Years Part Time, 6 Years Sandwich, 4 Years
Location	University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

International/EU applicants without pre-settled status in the UK

Apply through our international/EU application portal

Home and EU applicants with pre-settled/settled status in the UK

Apply using the links below:

2026

Start Date	End Date	Year	Location	Link
22/09/2026	31/05/2027	3	UH Hatfield Campus	Apply online (Full Time)
22/09/2026	31/05/2027	1	UH Hatfield Campus	Apply online (Part Time)
22/09/2026	31/05/2027	1	UH Hatfield Campus	Apply online (Full Time/Sandwich)
21/09/2026	31/05/2027	2	UH Hatfield Campus	Apply online (Full Time/Sandwich)

2027

Start Date	End Date	Year	Location	Link
20/09/2027	31/05/2028	3	UH Hatfield Campus	Apply online (Full Time)
22/09/2027	31/05/2028	1	UH Hatfield Campus	Apply online (Part Time)
22/09/2027	31/05/2028	1	UH Hatfield Campus	Apply online (Full Time/Sandwich)
21/09/2027	31/05/2028	2	UH Hatfield Campus	Apply online (Full Time/Sandwich)

2028

Start Date	End Date	Year	Location	Link
21/09/2028	31/05/2029	2	UH Hatfield Campus	Apply online (Full Time/Sandwich)

Fees and funding
Fees 2026
UK Students
Full time
- £9790 for the 2026/2027 subject to secondary parliamentary process
Part time
- £1190 per 15 credits for the 2026/2027 subject to secondary parliamentary process
EU Students
Full time
- £17450 for the 2026/2027 subject to secondary parliamentary process
Part time
- £2180 per 15 credits for the 2026/2027 subject to secondary parliamentary process
International Students
Full time
- £17450 for the 2026/2027 subject to secondary parliamentary process
Part time
- £2180 per 15 credits for the 2026/2027 subject to secondary parliamentary process
*Tuition fees are charged annually. The fees quoted above are for the specified year(s) only. Fees may be higher in future years, for both new and continuing students. Please see the University’s Fees and Finance Policy (and in particular the section headed “When tuition fees change”), for further information about when and by how much the University may increase its fees for future years.

View detailed information about tuition fees

Read more about additional fees in the Programme Specification.

Other financial support

Find out more about other financial support available to UK and EU students

Living costs / accommodation

The University of Hertfordshire offers a great choice of student accommodation, on campus or nearby in the local area, to suit every student budget.

View detailed information about our accommodation

Book your Open Day

Apply now

What type of applicant are you?

Sign up for Clearing VIP Access

Get info and updates

Sign up for updates

BA (Hons) Sociology and Psychology

Key information

Typical offer:

Fees: See below

UCAS code: L3C8

Institute code: H36

Study a language option

Study abroad option

Work placement option

Additional requirements

Additional requirements

Why choose this course?

What's the course about?

Your main campus is College Lane

What will I study?

International/EU applicants without pre-settled status in the UK

Home and EU applicants with pre-settled/settled status in the UK

2026

2027

2028

Fees 2026

UK Students

Full time

Part time

EU Students

Full time

Part time

International Students

Full time

Part time

Other financial support

Living costs / accommodation