Reading to offer Sociology degrees from 2025

A suite of new Sociology degrees will launch in Autumn 2025, opening up opportunities to welcome more new students to Reading.

Almost 89,000 people applied for a Sociology programme at UK universities through UCAS in 2022-23, making it one of the most popular social science programmes in that application cycle.

The new subject will be based within the Department of Politics and International Relations.

Dr Vicki Harman will join Reading as our new Professor of Sociology from 1 October. Vicki was the programme director for BSc Sociology at the University of Surrey and Co-Director of the Centre for Research in Ageing and Generations. Her research centres around family life, gender, food practices, social inequalities and social identities.

With a focus on society and the ways in which people interact with one another, Sociology is a great complement to our existing programmes. As well as BSc Sociology, students will be able to apply for a joint degree in Sociology and Criminology. Both degrees will also be offered as a four-year programme with placement.

We will welcome our first prospective students to the new programme at our October Open Days.

Dr Adam Humphreys, Head of the Department of Politics and International Relations, said: “We are delighted to launch these new programmes and look forward to welcoming our first cohort of students in 2025. 

“The design of the new programmes has been informed by helpful discussions with colleagues from a number of Schools. In addition to developing exciting new modules within the Department of Politics and International Relations, we have ensured that Sociology students can make the most of the wide range of relevant modules already being offered around the University.”

Supporting student growth

The launch of the new undergraduate programmes comes as we seek to encourage more students to choose Reading as part of longer plan terms for growth.

Professor Dominik Zaum, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic Planning and Resource) said: “The introduction of the Sociology programmes builds on our existing strengths across the social sciences and will complement and enrich our programme offer.

“The investment in Sociology will help to support student growth, and further strengthen the research profile of the School of PPE. While the home for the new programmes is the School of PPE, they are a great example of how we can draw on the expertise across different Schools to offer rich and exciting new programmes.”