Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Sociology

at University of Bath United Kingdom

Prepare yourself for a career in specialist language work including translation, editing and précis-writing.

If you're interested in working as a professional linguist or working with the written word to provide translations and specialised language services, this course is an excellent option.

With a growing demand for highly trained speakers of English in the UK and abroad, this specialist master's will equip you to set up your own freelance business or work in-house for an international organisation or language service provider.

Unlike other courses of its kind, ours covers a wide variety of skills, including editing, revision, précis-writing and proofreading. Employers and agencies have told us they’re looking for these services, so having the right skills will place you in a strong position for securing work. You'll have the opportunity to gain skills in public service and commercial interpreting, and you will learn about setting up your own translation business.

In some cases, we can arrange external translation training. This may be in international organisations, such as the EU and UN, or an independent translation agency, and will give you first-hand experience of the workplace and valuable contacts for building your career.

The course is taught by qualified tutors. While some have worked for international organisations, others have developed their careers as freelance linguists. All bring extensive experience to the classroom to give students invaluable advice.

Develop a strong foundation in the theory and practice of data science, and learn specialist skills in statistics.

Data science is increasingly important to the global economy and is influencing scientific progress across numerous fields from bioscience, to energy and telecommunications. We'll provide you with the tools to become an industry expert with a strong mathematical foundation.

Who is this course for?

This course is designed for graduates who have limited experience of statistics and would like to develop their knowledge in this area. The first semester will give you general programming and machine learning development skills. The second semester is focused on statistics, and will give you the skills and knowledge to challenge real-world data using more advanced analytical techniques.

Develop core knowledge of systems engineering across both mechanical and electrical engineering to boost your career prospects in industry.

Our course gives you a unique chance to balance an understanding of mechanical, electrical and electronic engineering sciences with a focus on systems engineering. You’ll develop a comprehensive knowledge of mechanics, materials, electrical and electronic systems and circuits. And you’ll explore the theory and practice of the latest mechanical and electrical technologies.

Being able to apply what you’ve learnt is an important part of your study at Bath. You’ll use theory in coordinated projects and laboratory work where you’ll design and develop products and systems.

Achieve a grounding in economic theory while learning different statistical approaches for the analysis of economic data.

This course is for those who want an understanding of the tools and key theories within economics and mathematics. You'll use these skills to analyse contemporary problems and policy. On this course, you’ll study the core elements of economics, including microeconomic theory, macroeconomic theory and econometrics.

You will develop methodological and statistical tools for the analysis of complex data. Throughout your studies, you will be immersed in a wide variety of quantitative topics. This will enable you to develop and apply your advanced mathematical skills.

In your first year you'll study key concepts in microeconomic and macroeconomic theory, and develop your skills in mathematical and statistical theory and applications.

In your second year you'll continue with more advanced study of economic theory, mathematics and statistics. You'll acquire a deep understanding of economic relationships.

In your final year, you'll study topics and techniques in advanced economic theory and mathematics to critique and contribute to current debates. You can tailor your choice of optional units to your personal interests

By the end of the course, you’ll be able to understand the complexities of global economic problems and data, and you will possess advanced quantitative skills and tools to create innovative solutions.

Placement Year

Taking a placement in your third year enables you to use the theory you have learnt in a practical context. You will learn about an organization and its area of work in the UK or overseas. This is an excellent opportunity to test potential career paths. Sometimes permanent jobs are offered to our students. You’ll develop skills such as teamwork, planning, problem-solving, decision making and project management.

Employers value a year of professional work and you’ll gain an advantage in the job market. Sometimes it is possible for you to acquire additional professional qualifications, particularly in accountancy, whilst on placement.

The modern world needs thoughtful, politically-conscious, questioning economists. Become a professional who understands how economics and politics intertwine.

In this course, you’ll examine the challenges facing individuals, countries and the international community. You will develop an understanding of government and society through core concepts such as power, justice, conflict, accountability, obligation, sovereignty and decision making. You will develop strong analytical skills which will aid your understanding of the institutional, UK and global context within which economic decisions and policy formation takes place.

In your first year you'll study key concepts in microeconomic and macroeconomic theory. You'll explore political theory and analysis, introducing central subjects such as power and the state, democracy and the climate crisis.

In your second year you'll continue with more advanced study of political and economic theory. You'll study the exercise of power in societies and economies through an engagement with themes such as democratic theory, populist and nationalist politics, and the politics of race and gender.

In your final year you'll explore your interests through a range of optional units in both economics and politics.

By the end of the course, you will have an appreciation of the interface between economics and political science.

Year abroad

You can broaden your horizons with a year studying at a university abroad. You’ll experience another culture whilst studying a course that complements your studies at Bath. You could combine study abroad with an international work placement.

The study abroad option is available at the National University of Singapore, The University of Hong Kong and Stellenbosch University (South Africa), as well as others. We seek to further expand on these. Study abroad opportunities are limited and are subject to availability at our partner institutions.

Explore issues facing us in the 21st century relating to crime and criminal justice. Develop research and data handling skills relevant to a range of careers.

This degree has a strong global focus. You’ll explore crime and related topics from around the world, including human rights and terrorism, social justice, contemporary social problems, and the globalisation of crime.

You’ll develop an in-depth knowledge of how the various components of the criminal justice system work, from the police through to prison and probation. As well as a strong theoretical grounding, the course is designed to equip you with practical skills in critical enquiry, research and data generation.

Studying at Bath means you’ll get to work with a leading team of criminal justice researchers and criminologists, with significant global expertise. There’s also the chance to hone your skills further by doing a placement year in a relevant setting.

Placement Year

The placement year will give you valuable practical experience and is an excellent opportunity to try different careers. It enables you to leave university with a strong CV and may set you apart from other graduates entering the job market. You can take placements in commercial, voluntary or government organisations, or in a research setting.

Delve into the exciting field of health psychology on our BPS-accredited course, one of the only master's of this kind to include a compulsory 16-week placement.

Our MSc Health Psychology course is designed to give you a solid grounding in all the main areas of health psychology.

Taking a multidisciplinary approach to the subject, we look at how psychology can be used to help us better understand health and health behaviours. You'll study everything from preventing ill health to managing long-term conditions and developing effective healthcare provision.

You will gain hands-on experience of methods for conducting research in diverse research and healthcare settings before going on to apply those skills during the placement.

Placement Year

Choose Bath for one of the only BPS-accredited courses to offer a 16-week placement as an integral part of its master's. You'll be based in an academic, public health or health-related setting and will work on a piece of empirical research, using your knowledge of health psychology theories, models and approaches to tackle a particular issue in your placement setting.

As well as gaining invaluable experience, you'll see first-hand how health psychology can be applied in diverse contexts and ways. For example, you might be using research to inform policy around health promotion or disease prevention; or helping a service to use evidence-based models and approaches to develop more effective health interventions.

Study a master’s that focuses on giving you the technological skills to be part of the sustainability transformation in the automotive sector.

Our course teaches you how to use the knowledge from your first degree to further your education and specialise in automotive technology. The sector needs to find more sustainable technological solutions for the future of vehicle engineering. And as it evolves, it needs people with the skills to not only keep up with change but also to lead it. Our course develops your knowledge and skills for this including areas such as advanced propulsion systems, sustainable mobility and innovation.

We’ll introduce you to key scientific principles and give you specialist insight into the subject to help you build on your existing skills. Exploring a range of automotive engineering applications and technologies, you’ll consider their impact, analysing past failures and predicting future challenges and successes. You’ll develop systems-thinking approaches to understand the breadth of challenges faced in the sector such as moral, ethical and sustainability issues.

A group project and your dissertation will give you the space to explore the application of one or more technologies in depth. You’ll focus on technology roadmapping, supported by holistic assessments such as life-cycle analysis. A further part of your studies gives you an understanding of current and future business models, considering how to balance economic growth with impact on society.

Gain a critical appreciation of the sports industry and develop the skills and knowledge necessary to lead organisations affiliated with sport across private, public, and voluntary sectors.

The MSc Sport Management has been co-developed by the Department for Health and the School of Management. Through the course, you'll cover the diverse theories and methods relevant to the Sport Management industry. The course will draw upon expertise from industry partners to deliver content with real-world application.

You'll also cover core management concepts and practices focusing on the types of business involved in sport and exercise provision.

Integrate structural, architectural and environmental principles to advance the creative and sustainable design of our built environment.

Our course is for creative engineers who want to develop a holistic approach to designing buildings and structures. As a graduate, your imaginative approaches, ingenuity and communication skills will help you develop responsible solutions for the engineering challenges you will face.

In your first two years, you will learn the foundations of materials, geotechnics, structures and digital design. Once you have developed your fundamental engineering design skills, you will then explore aspects of sustainable building and structural design in later years.

Our courses draw on the strengths of a joint department with architecture, offering you a different experience from most universities. You’ll work with architecture students to prepare you for the professional relationships you'll experience in your career.

At Bath, you will have the opportunity to experience studio-based projects and gain insight from industrial guest lecturers, preparing you to tackle the range of structural engineering projects you will meet in your career.

We also offer this course with a placement year, giving you the opportunity to gain work experience as part of your degree. You can move between our Civil Engineering and Structural and Architectural Engineering courses, as well as decide whether you want to go on placement, up to the end of your second year.