Programme Specifications

Details

Professional accreditation

Admission criteria

• A-levels: BBB - BBC or 120 - 112 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of 2 full A-levels.
• BTEC: DDM - DMM or 120 - 112 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of the equivalent of 2 full A-levels. The acceptability of BTECs is dependent on subject studied and optional units taken - email ugquery@essex.ac.uk for advice.
• Combined qualifications on the UCAS tariff: 120 - 112 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of 2 full A levels or equivalent. Tariff point offers may be made if you are taking a qualification, or mixture of qualifications, from the list on our undergraduate application information page.
• IB: 30 - 29 points or three Higher Level certificates with 555-554.
• IB Career-related Programme: We consider combinations of IB Diploma Programme courses with BTECs or other qualifications. Advice on acceptability can be provided, email Undergraduate Admissions.
• QAA-approved Access to HE Diploma: 6 level 3 credits at Distinction and 39 level 3 credits at Merit, depending on subject studied - advice on acceptability can be provided, email Undergraduate Admissions.
• T-levels: We consider T-levels on a case-by-case basis, depending on subject studied. The offer for most courses is Distinction overall. Depending on the course applied for there may be additional requirements, which may include a specific grade in the Core.

Contextual Offers:

We are committed to ensuring that all students with the merit and potential to benefit from an Essex education are supported to do so. If you are a home fee paying student residing in the UK you may be eligible for a Contextual Offer of up to two A-level grades, or equivalent, below our standard conditional offer.
Factors we consider:

• Applicants from underrepresented groups
• Applicants progressing from University of Essex Schools Membership schools/colleges
• Applicants who attend a compulsory admissions interview
• Applicants who attend an Offer Holder Day at our Colchester or Southend campus

Our contextual offers policy outlines additional circumstances and eligibility criteria.

For further information about what a contextual offer may look like for your specific qualification profile, email ugquery@essex.ac.uk.

If you haven't got the grades you hoped for, have a non-traditional academic background, are a mature student, or have any questions about eligibility for your course, more information can be found on our undergraduate application information page or get in touch with our Undergraduate Admissions Team.

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code

English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 6.0 overall, or specified score in another equivalent test that we accept.

Details of English language requirements, including component scores, and the tests we accept for applicants who require a Student visa (excluding Nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries) can be found here

If we accept the English component of an international qualification it will be included in the academic levels listed above for the relevant countries.

English language shelf-life

Most English language qualifications have a validity period of 5 years. The validity period of Pearson Test of English, TOEFL and CBSE or CISCE English is 2 years.

If you require a Student visa to study in the UK please see our immigration webpages for the latest Home Office guidance on English language qualifications.

Pre-sessional English courses

If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.

Pending English language qualifications

You don’t need to achieve the required level before making your application, but it will be one of the conditions of your offer.

If you cannot find the qualification that you have achieved or are pending, then please email ugquery@essex.ac.uk .

Requirements for second and final year entry

Different requirements apply for second and final year entry, and specified component grades are also required for applicants who require a visa to study in the UK. Details of English language requirements, including UK Visas and Immigration minimum component scores, and the tests we accept for applicants who require a Student visa (excluding Nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries) can be found here

Additional Notes

If you’re an international student, but do not meet the English language or academic requirements for direct admission to this degree, you could prepare and gain entry through a pathway course. Find out more about opportunities available to you at the University of Essex International College

Course qualifiers

A course qualifier is a bracketed addition to your course title to denote a specialisation or pathway that you have achieved via the completion of specific modules during your course. The specific module requirements for each qualifier title are noted below. Eligibility for any selected qualifier will be determined by the department and confirmed by the final year Board of Examiners. If the required modules are not successfully completed, your course title will remain as described above without any bracketed addition. Selection of a course qualifier is optional and student can register preferences or opt-out via Online Module Enrolment (eNROL).

• Applied Data Science: In order to be eligible for the qualifier, you must successfully complete the following modules: Year Two: SC202 (15 credits) Researching the Real World: Quantitative Approaches to Studying Crime and Society and SC208 (15 credits) Quantitative Research: Crime and Inequality Across the Life Course. Final Year: SC385 (30 credits) Modelling Crime and Society and SC830 (30 credits) Quantitative Research Project For details of further recommended modules please web search “Essex Q-Step”.

Rules of assessment

Rules of assessment are the rules, principles and frameworks which the University uses to calculate your course progression and final results.

Additional notes

None

External examiners

External Examiners provide an independent overview of our courses, offering their expertise and help towards our continual improvement of course content, teaching, learning, and assessment. External Examiners are normally academics from other higher education institutions, but may be from the industry, business or the profession as appropriate for the course. They comment on how well courses align with national standards, and on how well the teaching, learning and assessment methods allow students to develop and demonstrate the relevant knowledge and skills needed to achieve their awards. External Examiners who are responsible for awards are key members of Boards of Examiners. These boards make decisions about student progression within their course and about whether students can receive their final award.

eNROL, the module enrolment system, is now open until Monday 26 January 2026 8:59AM, for students wishing to make changes to their module options.

Exit awards

A module is given one of the following statuses: 'core' – meaning it must be taken and passed; 'compulsory' – meaning it must be taken; or 'optional' – meaning that students can choose the module from a designated list. The rules of assessment may allow for limited condonement of fails in 'compulsory' or 'optional' modules, but 'core' modules cannot be failed. The status of the module may be different in any exit awards which are available for the course. Exam Boards will consider students' eligibility for an exit award if they fail the main award or do not complete their studies.

Programme aims

• To provide students with an understanding of the distinctive character of sociological thinking (S) and of political analysis (P)
• To provide students with a knowledge of the main theoretical traditions of sociology (S) and of politics (P)
• To provide students with an understanding of either the main sociological methods (S) or the main methods of political analysis (P)
• To develop students' capacity for critical enquiry, argument and analysis (P)
• To develop students' capacity for independent learning
• To provide students with the knowledge and skills to enable them to proceed to furtherstudy and research

Reference to the QAA Benchmarks for Sociology are indicated by the (S) and for Politics (P)

Learning outcomes and learning, teaching and assessment methods

On successful completion of the programme a graduate should demonstrate knowledge and skills as follows:

A: Knowledge and understanding

Learning methods

Both Departments use lectures to present material - ideas, data and arguments - in a clear and structured manner using examples, mapping the field and the contours of debates.

Lectures are also used to stimulate students' interest in the area under discussion.

In each course the issues and arguments covered in lectures are explored further through weekly classes or workshops for which students have to prepare.

The curriculum is designed to involve clear progression between the foundational work in the first year and the subsequent compulsory courses.

In particular there is a strong emphasis on developing students theoretical understanding through the progressive structuring of the material in SC111, SC201 and SC301, and betweenGV100 and GV200 or GV201.

Their sociological and political knowledge and understanding is further enhanced by the work that they do for their options.Classes, and preparation for classes, provide the opportunity for students to develop their knowledge and understanding of the content of the courses.

In addition student learning takes place through the work they do preparing essays and assignments.

In the first year students have to produce a glossary of sociological concepts and a sociological journal on a topic of their choice for SC111 and have a required examination question on key concepts.

SC111 also specifically introduce students to examples of ongoing research in the Department.

On the politics side GV100 exposes students to the theory and practice of democracy in a number of countries through a combination of lectures, specific class work and essays.

In the second year political theory course, GV201, students gain knowledge of political theory through the study of key masterworks of the past.

In the second year sociological theory course, SC201, there is a particular focus on reading key sociological texts.

On SC203 students gain knowledge of sociological research methods through workshops and small groups, or in GV200 they acquire a knowledge of the basic statistical methods required for political enquiry.

In their third year all students on the degree have to produce an essay on epistemological issues for SC301, while they are offered a range of options in political science.

In the course of their second and third year all students acquire specialist knowledge in at least one area of both sociology and politics through their options.

In both departments all course work receives detailed feedback in the form of written comments.

Assessment methods

Outcomes A1 to A8 are assessed through coursework and unseen written examinations inthe relevant discipline.

Coursework in Sociology includes essays, a sociological journal, the glossary.

Coursework in Politics includes essays, in class tests and exercises in GV200 designed to enhance in-depth and practical understanding.

Written examinations not only include standard essay type questions, but SC201 involves a compulsory question interpreting a passage of textfrom a sociological classic, while GV200 sets questions that test practical as well as theoretical knowledge.

B: Intellectual and cognitive skills

Learning methods

Students enhance the above intellectual skills primarily through the work they do for their courses, although lectures and classes provide a means of teachers demonstrating these skills through example, and in the first year staff give specific presentations on their ongoing sociological research.

Preparation for classes and class presentations involve the reading, interpretation and evaluation of original sociological texts and the collection and evaluation of empirical data.

Class tutors provide feedback on class presentations and contributions to classes through comment and discussion.

Similarly the preparation of essays and other assignments also develops the listed intellectual skills.

Students are provided with feedback on all assessed work and this is crucial to their intellectual development.

In both departments study skills advice is available, from the student support officer (Sociology) and the study skills officer (Politics).

Assessment methods

Outcomes B1 to B5 are judged and evaluated in every piece of assessed work for the respective disciplines.

B1 is specifically assessed through a coursework essay for SC201 and a compulsory examination question requiring the interpretation of a passage from a classic text.

B2 is assessed through assessed work on GV100.

Not all assignments require the evaluation and interpretation of empirical evidence (B7) though many do, and the ability to formulate an appropriate research question (B6) is taught in the relevant methods course for each discipline.

On all courses students are required to marshal material in order to expound an argument.

C: Practical skills

Learning methods

In the first year assignments cover tasks such as producing a bibliography on a sociological topic, producing a glossary, describing and evaluating a sociological text and producing a sociological journal.

In addition students do an employability module which consists of a work placement or volunteering, reflections on which inform career decision making.

Throughout the three years of the degree practical skills are developed through preparation for classes, preparing essays and other assessed assignments, giving presentations and doing written examinations.

In SC101, students carry out an observational study and SC111 requires students to produce a journal which demonstrates reflexive awareness in interpreting sociological material.

The work for SC 201 includes the detailed examination and interpretation of key sociological texts and in SC203 students frame a research proposal and select the appropriate research methods.

In addition the third year project for SC831 is particularly valuable in developing students practical sociological skills.

Some of these skills are further developed through the work students do for their optional courses.

Students receive detailed feedback on all their coursework and presentations.

Study skills advice and training is available from the Student Support Officer in the Resource Room, which is dedicated to this purpose.

Assessment methods

Skill C1 is specifically assessed in a first year assignment for SC111 and in assignments for GV100, but also forms part of the assessment of almost every piece of assessed coursework.

Skills C2 and C4 are assessed in the majority of pieces of assessed coursework and written examinations, though C4 is particularly addressed in the assignments for SC201, including a compulsory question unseen examination question on interpreting a passage from a classic text.

C3 is assessed in the key theory courses (SC201, SC301 and GV201).

C5 and C6 are assessed in the appropriate methods course SC203 or GV200.

D: Key skills

Learning methods

Generic skills are taught and learned throughout the degree through a range of strategies, for example, requiring students to give oral presentations, through giving them specific assignments such as carrying bibliographic and web searches, through specific assignments requiring numerical skills, and through class discussion and class and essay preparation.

Students have the opportunity to discuss essay plans with staff and are given clear deadlines for their work, which they must meet.

They are given feedback on all their coursework and are encouraged to reflect and improve upon their work.

Students also have the opportunity to develop skills in working in groups through their participation in the classes for every course.

Assessment methods

Communication skills are assessed throughout the degree through continuous assessed coursework and examinations.

IT skills are a component in the evaluation of most assessed work which require bibliographic and web searches, but there is a particular focus on them in first year assessments such as the sociological journal and in the literature review assignment for SC203.

Problem solving skills are also assessed in the relevant methods course (SC203, GV200 and GV201) and more generally in all assessed work.

Since the curriculum is structured in a progressive manner, students' skills in improving learning and performance are also assessed through the related structured progression of formal assessed work.