BA (Hons) Sociology & Social Anthropology

Explore the social and cultural dimensions of human experience, and discover universalities and diversities in how humans live. Study identity, class, cultural practices and social change, and their impact on everyday life around the world.

UCAS Code:
LL36
Institution:
B50
Delivery:
Full time according to Funding Council definitions

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Why study BA (Hons) Sociology & Social Anthropology at BU?

This course emphasises contemporary social and political perspectives, discovering societies and cultures all over the world in the present and sometimes also in the past
Learn from expert sociologists and social anthropologists, as well as biological and archaeological anthropologists and criminologists
You’ll develop your skills, knowledge and employability through applying theory to contemporary, real world challenges
Choose from either a 30-week ‘sandwich’ placement, or a shorter four-week placement – which could give you a professional skillset and crucial contacts as well as potentially making you more employable
Develop your own piece of research based on a topic that interests you, or aligns itself with your future career or study plans, in your final year dissertation.
91% of graduates felt that they received sufficient advice and guidance in relation to their course.

Find out more about the content of this course.

What can you achieve with a sociology degree?

This course can open up a range of career options once you graduate. You’ll develop a variety of research and analytical skills, in addition to gaining detailed knowledge of current practical social challenges and civil, critical-thinking capabilities, all skills that are sought after by employers.

See what it's like to study on this course

Image description — Bournemouth Gateway building

Next start date:

September 2023, September 2024

Location:

Bournemouth University, Lansdowne Campus

Duration:

3 years, or 4 years including a minimum 30-week placement, Full-time

Required subjects:

All subjects considered

Entry requirements:

For September 2023 entry: 104 - 120 UCAS tariff points including a minimum of 2 A-levels or equivalent. BTEC Extended Diploma: DMM. For more information check out our full entry requirements.

International entry requirements:

For September 2023 entry: If English is not your first language, you will need IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with a minimum of 6.0 in reading or writing and 5.5 in all other components or equivalent. For more information check out our international entry requirements.

Course details

On this course you will be taught by a range of staff with relevant expertise and knowledge appropriate to the content of each of the units. This will include senior academic staff, qualified professional practitioners, demonstrators, technicians and research students. You will also benefit from regular guest lectures from industry.

This course has been created as part of a co-ordinated suite of social sciences courses which also includes the following specialisations: BA (Hons) Sociology, BA (Hons) Sociology & Criminology, BA (Hons) Criminology, BA (Hons) Criminology with Psychology, BA (Hons) Criminology with Law.

Contact hours and assessment

Details of the assessment methods and contact hours for each unit of the course can be found in the programme specification.

Download the programme specification (pdf 696kb)

Year 1

Core units:

Introduction to Social Theory: You’ll be introduced to key social theory that has informed classical and contemporary sociology, anthropology and criminology, and is embedded in the historical and philosophical context of the analysis of Western society and its social forms.
Introduction to Social Research: This unit offers a broad introduction to social scientific approaches and methodological issues in research. You will be introduced to the parameters and scope of social scientific enquiry, focusing on the relationship of individuals to society, explored using published examples, including those carried out by BU researchers. Various approaches will be examined and practised with a view to you gaining the ability to develop your own social scientific research.
Families & Kinship in Contemporary Society: The overall aim of this unit is to introduce you to the complexity of family constellations and their meanings in contemporary societies. You will be introduced to the sociology of families, competing definitions, social policies relating to families, and comparative international family practices as they constitute and are constituted by their members, drawn from sociological and anthropological research and literature.
Understanding Communities: This unit provides a broad overview of the development of urban and rural communities where you’ll explore recent social and cultural issues, changes and conflicts in rural and urban Britain and elsewhere. You’ll consider the ways in which ‘rural’ and ‘urban’ are represented in contemporary society, and how this impacts upon both individual and community identity and participation.
Social Inequality & Exclusion: Explore the nature, lived experience, impact and possible causes of discrimination, inequality and social exclusion, using sociological, criminological and social anthropological approaches. You’ll apply relevant sociological, criminological and social anthropological enquiry to explore social exclusion, community cohesion, inequality, discrimination, marginalisation and oppression, together with an understanding of how this might be addressed and tackled.
Introduction to Social Anthropology: This unit will develop your understanding of social anthropological concepts, questions and methods of investigation. You will explore what is distinctive and valuable about social anthropological ways of seeing the world and addressing global issues.

Year 2

Core units:

Students are required to complete all core units and choose two option units. Option units will run if selected by a minimum of 10 students. Some combinations of optional units may not be available depending on the semester of delivery and timetable configurations.

Core units:

Qualitative Research Skills: You will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to enable you to carry out entry-level qualitative research and analyse the qualitative research of others. The unit will assist you in your preparation for your final year dissertation.
Contemporary Social Theory: Introducing social theory that informs contemporary sociology, criminology and social anthropology, you’ll explore theories embedded in the contemporary and philosophical context of Western society and its social forms.
Understanding Cultures: This unit considers classic and contemporary debates about how culture should be understood, theorised and studied; and what theoretical concepts lend themselves to a critical and sensitive approach to understanding cultures and cultural practices considered different from our own. You’ll also explore cultures which are considered controversial or ‘deviant’ such as gang culture and cultures defining the body, personhood, life and death in different ways.
Doing Ethnographic Research: You’ll gain experience of designing and undertaking an ethnographic research project in the Bournemouth area, investigating sociological and anthropological research questions, and critically reflecting on the benefits and challenges of qualitative research. The skills and experience developed from this unit will assist you in your preparation for the primary qualitative research you may wish to carry out as part of your final year dissertation. You will also have the opportunity to present your research findings at BU’s annual Student Undergraduate Research Conference.

Option units (choose two):

Growing Up and Growing Old: This unit explores sociological and anthropological perspectives and theories of childhood, youth and ageing. You’ll examine the variety, changes, and categories of the life course and the impacts of these constructions on people’s experiences of growing up and growing old.
Understanding Globalisation: Globalisation is a concept that refers to economic, political and technological forms of global interdependence and alignment in today’s world. In this unit you’ll explore the debates about globalisation within sociology and associated social science disciplines.
Themes in Archaeology & Anthropology:* If there’s such a thing as ‘human nature’, then why are cultures across the world so different? Many things and practices that we think of as ‘natural’ or biologically given – for example, bodies, eating, shelter and the environment – are in fact thought about or performed in very different ways in different cultures across the globe today and in the past. You’ll consider how and why cultural differences come about and why might they change and will be introduced to the diversity of contemporary and past human cultures around the world, and to some of the methods anthropologists and archaeologists use to study these differences.
Crime, Health and Society: Discover the rich and complex findings of social science in the sphere of health and how it relates to crime. You’ll also investigate the sophisticated inter-relation between these fundamental concepts, and how their relationship continues to change.
Impact of Crime: Examine the various forms of crime, particularly criminal acts within relationships, as well as sex offending and sex work. Alongside the established ‘legal’ definitions of crime, you’ll also explore the broader concept of social harm and related theoretical frameworks such as zemiology, environmental criminology and risk society. Consider the obvious and less obvious ‘costs’ and impact of crime and harm on individuals, on communities and on society at large, as well as the role and impact of the media on social attitudes and stereotypes, which might determine how we perceive crime and harm.
Ethnographies of Crime and Policing: You’ll explore ethnographies of crime and policing. You will study critically how crime and ‘policing’ may be understood and approached within social worlds and will observe neighbourhoods and ‘policing’ behaviour in Bournemouth.
Human Trafficking and Criminality: You’ll consider the relationship between human trafficking, migration and criminality by looking at the different forms of trafficking across a number of countries. You will also explore human rights’ issues and develop critical skills in understanding migration, human trafficking, organised crime, as well as a series of emotions around trauma, violence and loss from criminological, sociological and social anthropological perspectives.
Quantitative Skills: You will develop your understanding and evaluation of a range of quantitative methods and the underlying philosophical and ethical principles of their application within social science research. This unit will assist you in your preparation for your final year dissertation, in case you wish to include quantitative, e.g. statistical, methods.
Societies of Prehistoric Europe:* This unit will introduce you to key thematic studies in archaeology concerning the evolution and development of humans, and the organisation and development of past societies. You’ll explore a range of archaeological, fossil, genetic and ethnographic evidence and develop core skills of analysis, interpretation, and reasoning using archaeological data.
Placement Learning Unit: You will have the opportunity to develop your graduate employability and career management capabilities by studying and experiencing an area of work relevant to your academic and professional interest in sociology and its relationship to wider society through participation in a 20-day or 150 hours placement-based learning unit.
Criminological Psychology: Develop your understanding of the contribution of psychology to issues relating to crime and criminal justice. You’ll be introduced to a range of theoretical perspectives on offending behaviour, drawing from cognitive, developmental, social and biological psychology. The unit will explore aspects related to criminal investigation and detection, such as offender profiling, eye-witness testimony, police interviewing and false confessions. It will also consider the psychological impacts of crime, through exploring issues such as fear of crime and the psychology of victimisation.

Please note that option units require minimum numbers in order to run and may only be available on a semester by semester basis. They may also change from year to year.

* units indicated with an asterisk may be discontinued subject to ongoing course modifications towards a more distinct sociological and social anthropological profile (rather than archaeological or biological specialisations in anthropology).

Practice placement year (Sandwich option)

Final year

Core units:

Students are required to complete 2 core units equivalent to 20 credits each, and the dissertation unit, which runs over two semesters and carries 40 credits. Additionally, students are required to choose 2 option units. Option units will run if selected by a minimum of 10 students. Some combinations of optional units may not be available depending on the semester of delivery and timetable configurations.

Core units:

Dissertation: The final-year project provides you with an opportunity to demonstrate your intellectual, analytic and creative abilities and research competence through sustained, independent inquiry into a chosen topic within the broad parameters of sociology or social anthropology.
Anthropology of International Intervention: Following crises, conflict, war or regime change, many populations and states become subject to large-scale military or humanitarian interventions, global knowledge transfer and development projects, which has led to a recognition of the importance of understanding local knowledge and involving local stakeholders in order to ensure the success of projects intending securitisation and democratisation, peace and state-building. During this unit, you’ll be familiarised with critical anthropological and multi-disciplinary debates and insights on international intervention policies and practices in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and you’ll also develop your critical and creative thinking for improving such development projects.
Politics & Ideology: To improve, change and transform the situations and lives of individuals and communities, it may be necessary to influence government and decision makers in order to seek positive change. Therefore, this unit will provide you with an understanding of politics, political processes and the ideologies that may be key drivers in the development of policy and governance at the local, societal and global level.

Option units (choose two)

Drugs, Crime and Society: Examines the phenomenon of illicit drug use and drug supply within the UK and internationally. It critically evaluates policing and policy regimes that have attempted to reduce the availability and consumption of drugs, whilst considering possible alternatives. The module explores theoretical explanations around drugs and drug addiction and considers the benefits of harm reduction and treatment programmes.

Seekers, Believers and Iconoclasts: Explore belief systems as a sociological phenomenon contextualised within a cultural and social analysis, as well as a philosophical and historical one. You’ll also consider belief systems as phenomena subjects to social change and transformation in terms of influencing social structures, interactions and shared or diverse social and cultural understandings, influencing societies in transition.
Terrorism, Protection and Society: The aim of this unit is to introduce you to many of the complex issues involved in conceptualising and responding to terrorism and protection in contemporary societies. You will be introduced to protection and counter terrorism as a form of social regulation and control of individuals and ‘deviant’ groups (micro and meso issues) and ways in which society is ordered in an age of terrorist threat (macro-political issues). You will develop a deep critical understanding of the ways in which meanings are constructed and how these impact on social life.
Cultural Ecology:* Adaptations of human populations to their respective habitats always embrace cultural strategies and their biological conditions and consequences. By considering an ecosystems approach, you will discuss the diversity and correspondence of biocultural solutions developed by human populations in response to a variety of existing or changing natural environments.
’Troubling’ Gender: This unit will explore gender as socially constructed and historically variable aspect of societies, past and present. You will examine the ways in which gender informs and structures social inequalities, and analyse the interrelationships between gender, power and other social categories (e.g., class, sexuality, race, ethnicity, religion, age, and nationality).
Crime and Criminal Justice in the 21^st Century: Build on your understanding of how crime is differentially defined within different sociological traditions, its possible causes, and how crime and criminal acts can impact on individuals, communities and societies. You’ll consider how crime can be addressed and whether wider policy changes in education, mental health, and drug policy can make a difference.
Intersectional Criminology: This unit will introduce you to the intersecting relations of crime between different social groups. You’ll critically explore the social construction of crime by looking at the media and the creation and construction of divergent images, identities and attitudes towards different social groups, together with social policies and laws relating to crime and victimisation. You’ll consider the representation of marginalised communities within the criminal justice system and the contribution of intersectionality to criminological research.
Criminology of Organisations: This unit will introduce you to organisational crime and how this type of crime is currently being policed and regulated through means of law and social control. You’ll explore critically, the reasons why only a small percentage of this type of crime is prosecuted and adjudicated by the criminal justice system.
Animals & Society:* This unit aims to provide you with a detailed critical understanding of humans’ interactions with animals in Britain from the Palaeolithic through to the early Post-medieval period. These interactions include the exploitation of animals for meat and other products and how animals were incorporated into burial practices and other rituals.

Please note that option units require minimum numbers in order to run and may only be available on a semester by semester basis. They may also change from year to year.

Programme specification

Programme specifications provide definitive records of the University's taught degrees in line with Quality Assurance Agency requirements. Every taught course leading to a BU Award has a programme specification which describes its aims, structure, content and learning outcomes, plus the teaching, learning and assessment methods used.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the programme specification, the information is liable to change to take advantage of exciting new approaches to teaching and learning as well as developments in industry.

If you have been unable to locate the programme specification for the course you are interested in, it will be available as soon as the latest version is ready. Alternatively please contact us for assistance.

How you will be assessed

Placements

At BU, we recognise that placements are extremely valuable and can give you a head start when it comes to your future career. That’s why we offer every new student the opportunity to undertake a work placement as part of their course.

The programme offers two opportunities for you to undertake a placement, an optional Placement Learning Unit (20 days or 150 hours) in Year 2 and the Practice Placement (Sandwich option), a 30-week placement taken over the course of a full academic year between Year 2 and your Final Year.

You could even choose to undertake your placement abroad in locations such as Kosovo where the Department has established links with partners, giving you the opportunity to develop yourself personally, academically and professionally, and gain skills to help you stand out in the job market.

Find out about BU students’ experiences on placements All you need to know about placements

Our students have completed placements with

SCA (Social Care Agency Social Enterprise, Hampshire)
Monkton Wyld (an education centre for sustainable living)
Insight & Engagement Team, Hamshire County Council
Bournemouth Foodbank
Bournemouth Churches Housing Association (BCHA)
Citizens Advice, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Footprints Project (supporting men and women leaving prison)
Independent age
Microsoft, as a Marketing Intern.
House of Fraser, as a Training Support Administrator
Universiti Sains Malaysia, partner university
Civil Society organisations in Malaysia (the Peace Learning Centre; House of Hope; AIDS Action and Research Group).)
Programme for Gender Studies and Research, University of Prishtina, academic partner in Kosovo
Civil Society organisations in Kosovo (Association for Regional Development, ARDA North; Humanitarian Law Centre; Action for Mothers and Children)

Placement duration

What our students say

"Since starting at university I always wanted to take part in a placement. The main reason for this is because the skills and experience you can gain from the opportunity can really increase your employability and make you stand out to future employers.

"I was given the opportunity to become part of the Training Support Team at House of Fraser for a year’s placement. Over my time in the company I was able to contribute to the administrative role and also to the product academy. My duties included working with the team on ad hoc projects and hosting Virtual classrooms that were attended by staff in every store. I have also had the opportunity to travel across the UK meeting people from all parts of the business- from the CEOs to the distribution centres. I had the chance to be involved in exciting projects within all areas of the business, resourcing, learning and development and also training.

"Overall I have had a fantastic time working at House of Fraser and I believe it has provided me with invaluable experience and would recommend anyone to undertake a placement. In the future I see myself in a similar role in a fashion orientated company or back with HOF- fingers crossed!

"I think the placement will impact my degree as I will be able to see the impact of research and policy development in real life scenarios."

Amy Donelan, former student.

A placement year is a vital part in developing well-rounded and industry-ready graduates. Why not read about some of our students’ experiences?

In addition, students can get involved in other projects such as the British Conference of Undergraduate Research (BCUR). Read more about some of our students experiences.

Help and support

The faculty running your course will offer the support of a Placement Coordinator.

They’ll help you plan your placement so you get the right experience for you. That includes offering help and support if you need to move to another part of the UK – and even another country – to get the most out of your time.

We’ve also built close industry links over the years – so our network of employers that are keen to work with placement students is always growing.

Entry requirements

For 2023 entry: This course requires 104–120 UCAS tariff points including a minimum of 2 A-levels or equivalent. We are happy to consider a combination of qualifications and grades to meet the overall tariff, for example A-levels A*CC, ABC, BBB or BCC, BTECs DDM or DMM. You can use the UCAS calculator to see how your qualifications equate to UCAS tariff points.

Calculate your UCAS tariff points

2023 entry
Numeracy and literacy requirements (e.g. GCSEs)	GCSE English Language or English Literature and Mathematics grade 4 (or grade C in the old grading system). We also accept iGCSEs, Key Skills and Functional Skills and other qualifications at Level 2 of the National Qualifications Framework. See all of the equivalencies.
A-level and AS levels	104–120 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of two A-levels.
Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate – Skills Challenge Certificate	We accept this qualification, but it must be accompanied by an A-level sized qualification to meet the overall UCAS tariff.
Access to HE Diploma	102–118 UCAS tariff points with any combination of Distinction, Merit, Pass grades.
BTEC National	Extended Diploma: Distinction, Merit, Merit (112 UCAS tariff points) Diploma: Distinction, Distinction (104 UCAS tariff points) Foundation Diploma/90-credit Diploma:* We accept this qualification, but it must be accompanied by an A-level sized qualification to meet the overall UCAS tariff Extended Certificate/Subsidiary Diploma: We accept this qualification as part of the overall tariff.
Cambridge International Pre-U Diploma	104–120 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of two principal subjects.
Cambridge Technical	Extended Diploma: Distinction, Merit, Merit (112 UCAS tariff points) Diploma: Distinction, Distinction (104 UCAS tariff points) Subsidiary Diploma:* We accept this qualification, but it must be accompanied by an A-level sized qualification to meet the overall UCAS tariff Introductory Diploma: We accept this qualification, but it must be accompanied by an A-level sized qualification to meet the overall UCAS tariff.
Extended Project Qualification	We accept this qualification, but it must be accompanied by two A-level sized qualifications to meet the overall UCAS tariff.
International Baccalaureate Certificates	104–120 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of two Higher Level certificates.
International Baccalaureate (Diploma)	An overall score of 28–31 points.
Scottish Highers	104–120 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of four Scottish Highers.
Scottish Advanced Highers	104–120 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of two Scottish Advanced Highers.
T Levels	Merit (120 UCAS tariff points).

International entry requirements

You can find details of the international qualifications we accept, and what level of study they apply to, on our entry requirements for non-UK students' page.	Please see below some examples of the qualifications for entry onto Year 1 for September 2023 entry: Chinese Senior High School Graduation Certificate (Huikao) average 80%, or Gaokao 61-71%. Grade depends on the course Hong Kong HKDSE Diploma (4,4,3 to 4,4,4 from three subjects). Grade depends on the course All India Senior School Certificate Examination (Standard XII) 60-70% Italian Esame di Stato with 60-70%. Grade depends on the course Titulo de Bachillerato with 6 or 7. Grade depends on the course We offer a number of preparatory programmes through Bournemouth University International College. These courses offer you progression from High School in your home country to a Bachelor’s degree at BU. Options include: Foundation Certificate for Media & Communications Foundation Certificate in Business, Law and Finance English language requirements If English is not your first language, you will need to provide evidence that you can understand English to a satisfactory level. English language requirements for this course are normally: For September 2023 entry: IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with a minimum of 6.0 in reading or writing and 5.5 in all other components, or equivalent. View further information about our English language requirements. If you do not meet the English language requirement for your degree then why not join our Pre-Sessional English course? Successful completion of our Pre-Sessional English course will meet your English language requirement.

You can find details of the international qualifications we accept, and what level of study they apply to, on our entry requirements for non-UK students' page.

Please see below some examples of the qualifications for entry onto Year 1 for September 2023 entry:

Chinese Senior High School Graduation Certificate (Huikao) average 80%, or Gaokao 61-71%. Grade depends on the course
Hong Kong HKDSE Diploma (4,4,3 to 4,4,4 from three subjects). Grade depends on the course
All India Senior School Certificate Examination (Standard XII) 60-70%
Italian Esame di Stato with 60-70%. Grade depends on the course
Titulo de Bachillerato with 6 or 7. Grade depends on the course

We offer a number of preparatory programmes through Bournemouth University International College. These courses offer you progression from High School in your home country to a Bachelor’s degree at BU.

Options include:

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you will need to provide evidence that you can understand English to a satisfactory level. English language requirements for this course are normally:

For September 2023 entry: IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with a minimum of 6.0 in reading or writing and 5.5 in all other components, or equivalent.

View further information about our English language requirements.

If you do not meet the English language requirement for your degree then why not join our Pre-Sessional English course? Successful completion of our Pre-Sessional English course will meet your English language requirement.

Other useful information

AccessBU: AccessBU provides you with the opportunity to tell us about your circumstances that are not always evident in your UCAS application. This widening access initiative also considers relevant criteria such as being in care or if you live in an area with a low participation rate in Higher Education - if you are eligible, your offer could be up to 16 UCAS tariff points below the published tariff.

Apprenticeships: We recognise the transferable knowledge and skills gained through apprenticeships and welcome applications from students with a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship recognised by the Institute for Apprenticeships. Each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Deferred entry: We are happy to consider eligible applicants for deferred entry. If you have already submitted your application, please submit your deferral request through our website.

Direct entry: We welcome applications from students who have previously studied at degree level at other institutions and wish to transfer onto a BU course. Our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) procedure enables credit awarded from one institution to contribute to a BU award, subject to an application process. Please visit our RPL webpage for more information.

Mature applicants: We recognise that mature applicants may have a wealth of experience rather than formal qualifications, so we’ll consider your application on these merits if included in your application. You’ll need to apply to BU in the usual way through UCAS and you may be invited to an interview to discuss your suitability for the course based on the experience you tell us about in your application.

Your application

We are looking for applicants who:

Have an interest in the subject as well as the motivation and commitment to undertake the course
Can demonstrate personal skills and qualities relevant to the course
Have an ability to read, digest and analyse information
Can work independently as well as in groups

How to apply

IT Skills

Selection methods

How we assess your application

We look at individual applications and make a tailored offer based on your potential to succeed on the course considering a range of factors, including your academic achievements, work and other experience, reference and personal statement, and in some cases, your performance at an interview or a portfolio review. Typically, we make an offer at the bottom of the tariff range.

AccessBU gives you the chance to tell us more about you and your life experiences if you haven’t had the same educational opportunities as other applicants. If you are eligible for AccessBU, your offer could be up to 16 UCAS Tariff Points below the published tariff.

Our offer-making process

Our offer-making will typically be based on your most recent qualifications, including any required subjects where applicable. We'll consider all qualifications when assessing your application, although these may not be part of our offer.

If you do not meet the criteria of your original offer, we may still offer you a place. We will review your whole application and consider all academic qualifications (including those not in the offer) to see if you have the academic potential to succeed on the course. If we feel the answer is yes, we will confirm your place.

Types of anthropology degree

Choosing the right course

We have three different anthropology courses at BU, which offer a balanced foundation in the discipline at large. The three anthropology courses differ only in the weighing of the archaeological, biological, or social and cultural perspectives on studying human life and human experience in past and present.

When making your choice, we suggest that you consider the following specialisations:

BSc (Hons) Anthropology: emphasises historical, biological and environmental perspectives
BA (Hons) Archaeology & Anthropology: emphasises human history and prehistoric perspectives
BA (Hons) Sociology & Social Anthropology: emphasises contemporary, social and political perspectives.

Want to study an Anthropology course but not sure which pathway to take? Watch this video to hear what students Nura and Alex have to say about the similarities and differences between their two Anthropology courses and why they chose to study them.

Careers

Sociology & Social Anthropology is a natural pairing, with each discipline complementing the other and opening up a range of career options once you graduate. You’ll develop a variety of research and analytical skills, in addition to gaining detailed knowledge of current practical social challenges and civil, critical-thinking capabilities, all skills that are sought after by employers.

Within fifteen months of finishing their course, 95% of our students are in work or further study.

Sectors our graduates work in

Further study

Costs and fees

All fees are quoted in pounds sterling and are per year. Your tuition fees will be the same for each year of your course. You can find full information about funding your studies and paying your fees in our undergraduate fees and funding section. That’s also where you’ll find information about the scholarships and bursaries on offer.

Fees quoted are for tuition only unless stated otherwise, and we’re committed to ensuring there are no hidden extra costs while you’re at university – that’s why we’re clear about what you can expect us to cover, and what your cost of living will be.

No hidden extras

What’s included in your tuition fee?

Your tuition fee covers expenses associated with your course including tuition materials, access to facilities, mandatory field trips and the following:

Materials for laboratory and mandatory field-based teaching activity
Support for finding placements (UK or abroad) and fieldwork, and non-financial support whilst on placement if this is part of your course of study
A range of student services – advisors, help desks, counsellors, placement support and careers service
The Library – access to a wide range of electronic resources (databases, e-journals and e-books), print and multimedia collections, subject librarians and study spaces
Access to Brightspace, our virtual learning environment, which offers a responsive and personalised learning experience with powerful learning analytics capabilities, integrated social media and advanced video features.
IT labs (some open 24/7), wireless network, AV equipment to borrow
Disability and additional learning support, according to individual circumstances
The BU Language Centre to help you develop/improve foreign or English language skills
24 hours a day, 365 days a year security team.

Costs of living and other expenses you need to consider

Additional costs

We are committed to offering you value for money and ensuring there are no hidden costs while you are studying with us, therefore we have listed below any additional costs you may incur that are not covered by your tuition fee:

Laptops, tablets and mobile devices and any software used on personal devices. Access to a personal computer is strongly recommended for your study. If you are experiencing financial difficulty, visit our website for information regarding hardship funds
Accommodation and living costs. Our accommodation price guide can be found on our website
Travel costs, outdoor wear and footwear for optional field trips (where applicable)
Textbooks, general stationery and other supplies. Our award-winning library is stocked with a large range of textbooks and online resources, free of charge. The Students’ Union shops stock a wide range of stationery supplies on both campuses
Travel costs to and from the University campus. An annual bus pass can be purchased alongside your rent if you are living in halls of residence/Unilet accommodation or may be purchased separately
Travel costs to and from your placement (both in the UK and overseas) if this is part of your course of study
Information about funding your placement year can be found on our website
SportBU membership.

Repeat units

Our staff

On this course you will be taught by staff with relevant expertise and knowledge appropriate to the content of the unit. This could include senior academic staff, qualified professional practitioners and research students, many of whom are actively engaged in research and/or professional practice which is integrated into the teaching of this course. Please note that staff can change.

Dr Rosie Read – Programme Leader and Principal Academic (Social Anthropologist)

A core theme in Rosie’s work has been anthropological exploration of care in different social and cultural contexts. Much of her research is how people come to have ideas about what defines good care, who is most deserving of it, and who should have responsibility for providing it, along with all the implications this carries for social identities and inequalities, particularly of gender and class.

Rosie has explored the social boundaries between paid and unpaid care work, and how those boundaries change over time. She is interested in how ageing societies, restructured welfare systems and globalised labour markets create new challenges for the provision of care in the contemporary world.

Rosie gained her doctorate in social anthropology from Manchester University in 2002. Her PhD study explored the involvement of religious groups in Czech elderly care provision, following the privatisation of health care in the 1990s. More recent research projects, funded by the British Academy, the NSPCC and UK Research Councils, have explored various forms of volunteering and community action in the Czech Republic and Britain.

Since 2006, Rosie has worked as a Senior Lecturer at Bournemouth University. She has taught undergraduate courses on Globalisation and Marginalisation, Culture and Society and Introduction to Anthropology, amongst others.

View Dr Rosie Read’s staff profile

Professor Sam Porter - Professor and Head Of Department Social Work and Social Sciences

Sam Porter is a sociologist by academic training and a nurse by profession. His wide research interests reflect this combination. His main areas of interest are palliative and end-of-life care; supportive care for cancer survivors and carers; maternal and child health; the sociology of health professionals; and the use of arts-based therapies. Recently, he has combined his interests through leadership of a randomised controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of music therapy in improving the well-being of children with behavioural problems, and a current pilot trial examining whether music therapy can reduce the anxiety of people reaching the end of their lives. In line with existing research strengths in the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences relating to the experiences of older people, he is taking an increasing interest in issues around palliative care for the elderly.

Sam has adopted a wide range of methods in his research, ranging from the above-mentioned randomised controlled trials to the use of qualitative approaches such as ethnography. He is a strong advocate of realist approaches to knowledge, which provide a robust rationale for the use of mixed methods. In his advocacy of a realist philosophy of science, he has enjoyed a number of contentious debates.

Sam teaches on social theory, research methods and the sociology of health.

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Dr Jane Healy - Deputy Head Of Department For Social Sciences and Social Work

Dr Jane Healy joined BU in 2017 as a Lecturer in Sociology and Crime & Deviance. Prior to this, Jane completed a PhD in disability hate crimes at Middlesex University, as well as Masters degrees in Social Science Research Methods and Criminology with Forensic Psychology. Jane also has an undergraduate degree in Psychology and worked as a Researcher at Middlesex University on a number of different projects within psychology, sociology and criminology.

Jane is currently co-investigator on the Respect at BU Hate Crime Project, which has engaged in forum theatre events for undergraduate and postgraduate students in hate crime awareness. She is also supporting a group of Anti-Slavery Student Ambassadors, who work in the local Bournemouth community to promote awareness of modern slavery and human trafficking. Jane is Chair of the CPS Wessex Modern Slavery Scrutiny Panel, and is an independent Panel member of the CPS Wessex Hate Crime Panel and the Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner's Stop and Search Panel.

Dr Healy teaches across sociology courses, as well as representing Criminology courses on the department's Placement Committee.

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Dr Hyun-Joo Lim – Senior Lecturer in Sociology

After teaching at the University of Bath for four years whilst doing her PhD, Joo joined the Sociology team at Bournemouth in 2012. Since then, she has been teaching a range of undergraduate courses, as well as developing her research, exploring issues around identity, ethnicity/’race’, culture, and gender, focusing on East Asians in the UK.

Joo has conducted a number of research projects inspired by her personal experiences of migration to Britain from South Korea in 2000. Thanks to her cross-cultural experience, she has become fascinated by the considerable cultural differences between Korea and Britain and how these impact on individuals’ lives within these countries, as well as on those who cross cultural boundaries.

Joo’s PhD, titled: ‘The Intersection of Motherhood Identity with Culture and Class: a Qualitative Study of East Asian Mothers in England’, explored the accounts of first generation East Asian mothers living in England by using life history interviews. It aimed to examine how these women perceived their national and/or cultural heritage to have affected their experiences and identity formation, focusing on the gendered division of household labour within the family and discourse around motherhood and employment

Joo is currently working on her next research project on North Korean defectors in the UK.

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Dr Stephanie Schwander-Sievers – Associate Professor in Applied Anthropology (Social Anthropologist)

Stephanie studied social anthropology and Balkan studies at Free University Berlin, conducting her first ethnography in Albania in 1992, when the country had only just emerged from isolation and state socialism.

Stephanie became fascinated with the translocal evocations of local pasts in the rapidly, often violently, changing period of post-socialist transition. Social actors mobilised these pasts to construct new identities and social statuses and to negotiate conflicts over scarce resources. From 2000, Stephanie extended her research to the politics of memory and identity in post-war Kosovo.

From 1997 to 2003, Stephanie served as the first Nash Fellow for Albanian Studies at SSEES, UCL. Subsequently, she worked as an independent academic consultant with international agencies including the OSCE, World Bank, NATO, IOM and the ICTY. Stephanie was also called upon as an academic expert by police and social services, the Crown Court and immigration tribunals in the UK in cases involving blood feuds, homicide, war rape, trafficking, ethnic and sexual minorities and migrant family conflicts. This work sharpened her interests in applied anthropology, ethics and the relation between local and global culturist representations and their impact on social realities in practice.

Stephanie’s current research investigates local responses to the international paradigms of peace-building and state-building in post-war Kosovo. She explores how pre-war and war experiences in Kosovo are symbolically and ritually codified and transmitted through the generations; how these cultural reproductions underpin private and public memory, emotions, ideals and perceptions in the present; and who contests these.

Stephanie joined Bournemouth University in autumn 2013. She teaches undergraduate units on gender, childhood and youth, the life course, kinship and family.

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Dr Jayne Caudwell - Associate Professor in Social Sciences, Gender and Sexualities

Dr Patrick Neveling - Lecturer in Social Science

Patrick completed a Magister Artium (pre-Bologna reform) in Cultural Anthropology, Indonesian Philology, and Philosophy from the University of Cologne and a PhD in Social Anthropology from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg. His research, writing and teaching seek to advance our understanding and critique of colonial, plantation-driven racialised capitalism and postcolonial, sweatshop-labour driven neoliberal capitalism. Patrick works on the historical political economy of colonial plantation regimes, racialised capitalism, gendered super-exploitation, and neoliberalism in postcolonial special economic zones. His publications further cover the invention of tradition debate, the anthropology of tourism, secular rituals, and prospects for an antifascist anthropology.

Patrick is lead-editor of FocaalBlog, one of the longest-running blogs in social anthropology, and serves on the editorial boards of Focaal – Journal for Global and Historical Anthropology and Social Analysis as well as for Marxism & Sciences, a journal edited by colleagues in Turkey and across the Global South. He is also co-founder and current President of the Commission on Global Transformations and Marxian Anthropology in the International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences/World Council of Anthropological Associations.

View Dr Patrick Neveling's staff profile

Course changes

Changes for 2022 entry

Date	Changes to this course
01/10/2021	Where the change was made: Fees box. Change: Placement fee for September 2022 entry amended to £1,850. Previous text: £850.
26/11/2021	Where the change was made: Course details final year. Change: Drugs, Crime and Society optional unit added. Previous text: N/A
14/12/2021	Where the change was made: Course details year 2 Change: Criminological Psychology optional unit added. Previous text: N/A

Changes in 2019

Date	Changes to this course
13/08/2019	Change made: course validation Where the change was made: programme specification, units specification, contact hours, assessment, placement information, course title Previous course title: BA (Hons) Sociology and Anthropology

Changes in 2017

Date	Changes to this course
15/11/2017	Where the change was made: Fees Change: After an annual review of the placement year tuition fee, a price increase in line with current inflation, equating to 3% has been introduced. Previous text: £790
23/03/17	Where the change was made: Course details Change: Year 3 Core unit 'Cultural Ecology' changed to an Option unit, making the current Year 3 Option unit 'Anthropology of International Policy and Intervention' a Core unit instead. Previous text: Year 3 previous Core unit was Cultural Ecology. Year 3 previous Option unit was Anthropology of International Policy and Intervention
6/9/2017	Where the change was made: Key Information and 2018 Requirements Changed to: 104 - 120 tariff points including a minimum of 2 A-levels or equivalent Previous text: The entry requirements for this course are 120-128 tariff points from 3 A-levels. BTEC Extended Diploma: DDM.<
6/9/2017	Where the change was made: 2018 requirements Changed to: GCSE English and Mathematics grade C (or grade 4 in the reformed GCSE grading) or equivalent qualifications. Previous text: This course requires a minimum of 4 GCSEs grades A* - C (or grade 4 or above in the newly reformed GCSE grading) including Maths and English or equivalent qualifications.

Statistics shown throughout this page are taken from Unistats and BU institutional data unless otherwise stated.

BA (Hons) Sociology & Social Anthropology

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Dr Rosie Read – Programme Leader and Principal Academic (Social Anthropologist)

Professor Sam Porter - Professor and Head Of Department Social Work and Social Sciences

Dr Jane Healy - Deputy Head Of Department For Social Sciences and Social Work

Dr Hyun-Joo Lim – Senior Lecturer in Sociology

Dr Stephanie Schwander-Sievers – Associate Professor in Applied Anthropology (Social Anthropologist)

Dr Jayne Caudwell - Associate Professor in Social Sciences, Gender and Sexualities

Dr Patrick Neveling - Lecturer in Social Science

Course changes

Changes for 2022 entry

Changes in 2019

Changes in 2017