Politics and Sociology BA Honours

Clearing - How to apply

What is Clearing?

Each year, universities may have spaces left on their courses after the application window has closed in June.

UCAS Clearing is your opportunity to snap up one of these places, even if you didn't apply to the university prior to the June deadline.

It also gives you a second chance to go to university if you didn't get the grades you needed for your firm and insurance offers.

How do I get in touch?

Our Clearing entry requirements may differ from those advertised; contacting our friendly advisers is the best way to find out if you’re eligible for a place.

You can get in touch through live chat or our hotlines. Call us on 0800 073 5050, or if you’re an international student calling from outside the UK, call: +44 191 222 5000.

Not available in Clearing

This course is not available in Clearing 2024.

This means there are no spaces available for Clearing 2024. If you can't find vacancies in your original course or subject area, try exploring other subjects in a related field.

Search our courses in Clearing

Course overview

During this three-year degree, you will divide your time equally between politics and sociology – acquiring a rich theoretical understanding of both disciplines and a set of practical skills valued by employers. 

The course features regular fieldwork and hands-on workshops to ensure that you graduate as a practising sociologist and political scientist. You'll be trained to conduct surveys, evaluate statistics, and use SPSS – the professional-standard data analysis software.

With a wide choice of modules throughout, you can tailor your degree to your interests – whether it's the sociology of crime or race, or the politics of the UK parliament, international diplomacy or the far-right in Europe.

Download information about this course as a PDF

Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions  
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

Quality and ranking

Professional accreditation and recognition

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body.

Modules and learning

Modules

The information below is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Most degrees are divided into stages. Each stage lasts for one academic year, and you'll complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each stage. 

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content may change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Optional module availability
Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions

You will take a small number of core modules, learning how political and social forces interact, and acquiring some of the skills you will need in your studies.

You will then pick a larger number of modules, half in sociology and half in politics, covering subjects such as epistemology and social imagination, the foundations of modern political thought, Refugees and Displacement, Environment and Ethics, Hope and Despair, Health and Illness.  

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Becoming a Political Analyst	20
Politics and Society	20

Optional Modules	Credits
The Westminster System: the UK in comparative perspective	20
Key Concepts in International Politics	20
Order and Disorder: The Shaping of the 21st Century	20
Power and Inequality	20
Politics of Happiness	20
Comparing Cultures: An Introduction to Anthropology	20
The Sociological Imagination: An Introduction to the Discipline	20
Knowing in Sociology: An Introduction to Theory, Methods and Epistemology	20
Understanding Everyday Life	20
Investigating Inequalities and Crime	20

You will take at least one compulsory training module on sociological research methods, or more if you plan to write a sociology dissertation in Stage 3.

You will also choose a balanced blend of politics and sociology modules, on topics such as political violence, the politics of the Middle East, and identity in multicultural Britain.

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Researching Social Life	20

If you're planning to do a Dissertation in Sociology in Stage 3, you take the following compulsory module as a pre-requisite:

This is How We Do It: Sociology Research Design and Proposal(20 credits)

 

 

Optional Modules	Credits
Career Development for second year students	20
Politics of the Middle East	20
International Institutions and Organizations	20
Becoming a Political Researcher	20
Government and Politics of the USA	20
The Politics and Policy of the European Union	20
Power and Poverty in the Global Economy	20
A Global History of Political Thought	20
Political Violence and the Modern State	20
The Politics of Africa: Africa's place in Global Politics	20
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: Social Issues in Contemporary Political Philosophy	20
Critical Security Studies	20
Democracy or Dictatorship? What are the differences and how do we analyse them	20
Sex, Gender and Power	20
The Politics of Race	20
Comparing Cultures: Big debates	20
Sociology of Crime: Social Control in Neoliberal Societies	20
Sociology of Health and Illness	20
Understanding Social Change and Transformation	20
This is How We Do It: Sociology Research Design and Proposal	20
Refugees and Displacement: Borders, Camps, and Asylum	20
Identity and Difference in Multicultural Britain	20

You will choose an equal number of politics and sociology modules, plus a dissertation that counts for double. This involves writing a 10,000-word report based on your own research or conducting a team research project with a local community organisation.

Modules

Compulsory modules

You must take ONE of the following designated modules (shown in the optional list below):

Final Year Dissertation (40 credits)

OR

Dissertation in Sociology (40 credits)

OR

Community-based Research in Politics (40 credits)

Modules

Optional Modules	Credits
Advanced Career Development module	20
Final Year Dissertation	40
The Ethics of Killing	20
Cities and World Politics	20
Applied Data Science for Political Research	20
The Politics of Protest in the Middle East	20
International Political Thought	20
Political Parties and Elections in the UK	20
Community-based Research in Politics	40
Politics of Immigration	20
Politics of Citizenship	20
Apartheid regimes - from the local to the global	20
Gender and Sexuality Politics in the Middle East	20
Public Policy: Theories, Cases, Skills	20
Politics as a Way of Life	20
Public Policy Placement	20
Political Psychology and Experimental Methods	20
Regulating Sexuality	20
Critical Approaches to Policing and Security	20
States of Mind: Sociology and Mental Health	20
Exploring city life: an introduction to contemporary urban anthropology and sociology	20
Student Exchange	40
Investigating the Body	20
Class in Everyday Life	20
Dissertation in Sociology	40
Racism and Society	20

Information about these graphs

We base these figures and graphs on the most up-to-date information available to us. They are based on the modules chosen by our students in 2023-24.

Teaching time is made up of:

• scheduled learning and teaching activities. These are timetabled activities with a member of staff present.
• structured guided learning. These are activities developed by staff to support engagement with module learning. Students or groups of students undertake these activities without direct staff participation or supervision

Teaching and assessment

Teaching methods

Your work is divided between lectures and seminars, with around 10 hours a week devoted to large and small group study. You will supplement this with a maximum of 28 hours’ private study.

Assessment methods

You'll be assessed through a combination of:

• 

  Dissertation or research project

• 

  Dossier

• 

  Essays

• 

  Examinations – practical or online

• 

  Presentations

• 

  Projects

Skills and experience

Practical skills

You will be trained to conduct interviews, evaluate surveys and statistics. You'll get training in SPSS software, a world-leading statistical software that helps you to understand data, analyse trends, and make informed recommendations.

Business skills

To approach your plans beyond university with real focus, know-how and experience, you can choose to take our career development module in Stage 2.

You will also be able to put your learning into practice further by conducting real-world political research for a local organisation in Stage 3.

Research skills

You will receive practical training in the qualitative and quantitative methods used for political and sociological research, such as designing questionnaires, conducting interviews and analysing data.

You will then conduct your own original research to produce a dissertation, or join a policy research group to address a real-life local issue.

Opportunities

Work placement

Get career ready with a work placement and leave as a confident professional in your field. You can apply to spend 9 to 12 months working in any organisation in the world, and receive University support from our dedicated team to secure your dream placement. Work placements take place between stages 2 and 3.

You'll gain first-hand experience of working in the sector, putting your learning into practice and developing your professional expertise.

If you choose to take a work placement, it will extend your degree by a year, and your degree title will show you have achieved the placement year. A work placement is not available if you're spending a year studying abroad. Placements are subject to availability.

Find out more about work placements

Study abroad

Experience life in another country by choosing to study abroad as part of your degree. You’ll be encouraged to embrace fun and challenging experiences, make connections with new communities and graduate as a globally aware professional, ready for your future.

You may choose to spend either one or two semesters on an international exchange at a partner institution. The exchange usually takes place at Stage 3 with either the first semester (September to January) or the full year being the period of the exchange.

Find out more about study abroad

Facilities and environment

Facilities

You'll be based in the School of Geography, Politics and Sociology's Henry Daysh Building, which has recently undergone a £60-million refurbishment.

Support

You will have one-to-one academic and pastoral support from a personal tutor and from a student.

A tutor in the department has twice won a student-nominated award for pastoral care in recent years. 

Your future

The nature of the course makes our graduates a good fit for roles in the Civil Service, social welfare, education, human resources, politics, customer services and other roles that require an understanding of political and social mechanisms and an informed interest in other people.

You'll graduate trained to think critically and strategically, and equipped with the skills and knowledge to pursue a range of careers.

Read what our graduates have to say about studying Politics and Sociology at Newcastle University

Make a difference

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Careers support

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Tuition fees and scholarships

Tuition fees for 2025 entry (per year)

The 2025 home fees have not yet been confirmed (see ‘Home Fee Students’ information below).

Qualification: BA Honours
Home students full time 3 years	Tuition fees (per year) Not set
International students full time 3 years	Tuition fees (per year) 23800

Home Fee Students

Home students starting in 2024 entry
£9,250 is the maximum fee that we are currently permitted to charge for home fee-paying students. This is set by the UK government.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Home students starting in 2025 entry

In November 2024 the government increased the maximum fee level to £9,535 for 2025/26. It is expected that Parliament will approve the Government’s proposed increase in January and we intend to confirm our Home fees at this higher level following this.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

 

Read more about fees and funding

International Fee Students

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Read more about fees and funding

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our undergraduate scholarship page for more information.

Year abroad and additional costs

For programmes where you can spend a year on a work placement or studying abroad, you will receive a significant fee reduction for that year. 

Some of our degrees involve additional costs which are not covered by your tuition fees.

Scholarships

Find out more about:

• scholarships for UK, EU and international students
• Student Loans and Government financial support for UK and EU students

How to apply

Apply through UCAS

To apply for undergraduate study at Newcastle University, you must use the online application system managed by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). All UK schools and colleges, and a small number of EU and international establishments, are registered with UCAS. You will need:

• the UCAS name and institution codes for Newcastle University (NEWC/N21)
• the UCAS code for the course you want to apply for
• the UCAS 'buzzword' for your school or college

If you are applying independently, or are applying from a school or college which is not registered to manage applications, you will still use the Apply system. You will not need a buzzword.

Apply through UCAS

Apply through an agent

International students often apply to us through an agent. Have a look at our recommended agents and get in touch with them.

Visit our International pages