Studying sociology at Goldsmiths

As a sociology student at Goldsmiths, you will:

• Enhance your skills and knowledge by managing your own projects and benefiting from key events and talks
• Be taught by experts who specialise in key areas of sociology, relevant today
• Gain transferable skills to enhance your career prospects

Teaching and learning

Students have many opportunities to become involved in the academic life of the department in some of the following ways:

• Attend talks, events and film screenings organised by the Unit for Global Justice, Centre for Feminist Research, Centre for Urban and Community Research, Centre for Invention and Social Process, Sociology Methods Lab and the Unit of Play
• Choose optional modules focused on creating sociological exhibitions, urban walks and simulations, with students encouraged to work on their own projects
• Regular seminars
• A student-led Sociology Society
• Paid research internships via the GRIP scheme
• Hear guest speakers from civil society and criminal justice agencies to speak to students. Past visitors have included Rape Crisis South London, Carl Cattermole (author of Prison: A Survival Guide), Release (the drugs and human rights charity), Inquest and more

Previous students have attended performances and discussions with Clean Break Theatre Company (which works with women with experience of criminal justice).

Developing your skills

As a Goldsmiths sociology student, you will learn to think critically about the world around you and become equipped with the practical skills to enable you to make change in the future.

You will:

• Gain hands-on research methods training, giving you the chance to try out different ways of exploring the world around you, while gaining skills in data analysis, designing and managing projects, and teamwork
• Learn how to question the status quo, to be socially responsible, and to take the lead on creating sustainable change in key areas, such as the climate crisis
• Have access to various module options focusing on sensory and visual methods
• Apply practical research skills to exploring a topic of your choice when you lead your own project in year 3 (undergraduate)
• Have the opportunity to go on a work placement that reflects your own interests and career ambitions

Our teaching experts

Our staff are experts in the subjects they teach, so you will be learning from academics working at the cutting-edge of their disciplines.   

Departmental specialisms include:

• Culture
• Identity and inequalities
• Law
• Human rights and justice
• Health, environment and social change
• Crime and criminalisation
• Racial justice
• Faith and religion
• Urban studies

Dr Vik Loveday is the Head of the Sociology Department. Vik's research is primarily focused on the UK's higher education sector, and she has recently conducted British Academy-funded research utilising qualitative longitudinal methods to explore academic identities and the casualisation of labour in universities.

The convenors and teachers who teach on the postgraduate sociology programmes are established specialists and leaders in the field relevant to the masters' programmes available.

Opportunities for sociology students

Sociology students can benefit from opportunities available within the department and Goldsmiths, to enhance their studies.

Studying and working abroad

A dedicated team will support you to gain international experience by studying and working abroad or undertaking virtual global opportunities. You can apply for student exchanges, and funding towards the costs of international placements.

In recent years students have spent time studying at the University of Copenhagen, the University of Vienna, Gothenburg University, and Science Po-Toulouse. Funding is reviewed on a yearly basis.

Paid internships

Second year students can gain first-hand experience of research via the GRIP scheme which offers students paid internships of 6-8 weeks in the summer. Previous research projects have examined gender and drug purchasing during the pandemic and children’s photography.

The Gold Award

The Gold Award, our personal and professional development programme, is designed to help students identify their current skills and gain new experiences through co-curricular activities.

Careers and support

You will develop an appreciation of a range of career progression pathways and gain transferable skills during your time in the department.

This will include:

• An awareness of different careers available to sociology graduates and further study on our postgraduate degrees
• Access to elite placement opportunities in a variety of different employment sectors, including in the creative and cultural industries
• Connecting with local urban regeneration initiatives to enhance your career options
• Linking with employment opportunities in non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and public sector administration
• Keeping attuned to new challenges in the labour market with the growth of digital media, artificial intelligence (AI) and social media
• Work placements designed to promote equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) through access to a broad range of networks providing insight into potential work environments
• Inter-disciplinary work on entrepreneurial skills to enable you to develop your employability potential

Facilities and resources

Goldsmiths Library

As a member of the Sociology Department, you will have access to Goldsmiths Library which has an expansive collection that covers the arts, humanities and social sciences.

All required reading materials for your courses (selected by your lecturers) are available as well as a Goldsmiths’ unique audio-visual collection along with special collections and archives.

The Goldsmiths Library has many opportunities that sociology students are encouraged to take advantage of including:

• Specialist workshops on your course topics
• Assistance from a dedicated sociology librarian when researching your own topic of interest
• Specialist events, for example ‘Be part of the creative celebration of LGBTQ+ lives at Goldsmiths Library’ 
• Applying for a Positive Action Graduate Traineeship, which seeks to address the underrepresentation of people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds working in higher education libraries
• A lively social space on the ground floor where you can meet with other students to exchange ideas, work on projects and relax over a coffee, etc

Personal Tutor support

Throughout your time as an undergraduate in sociology, you will have your own Personal Tutor who will support you in gaining academic skills, helping you negotiate any additional personal support you may need and supporting you in gaining employment skills and/or choosing to go on to further study.