Study how we're pushing through traditional boundaries in today's world
Year of entry: 2025 (September)
Join us online or in person to find out more about postgraduate study at York.
Upcoming eventsDiscover how societies and cultures across the world are becoming increasingly connected.
On this course, you'll learn how people are shaped by their nationality, gender and ethnicity and explore the global effects of culture transformation.
You'll look into how social media impacts society on a global scale, and what this means for people's lives and identities.
You'll also develop advanced research skills to help you design studies, interpret findings and critically evaluate data.
The course helped me to discover a new field of research that I hope to continue with in the future. I am looking to work for an international charity working with people affected in different ways by globalisation.Harriet, MA student
You will learn to investigate social and cultural differences and transformations in the contemporary world and the international world of work. You'll develop an insight into the effect of social media on societies.
Our department has a reputation for cutting-edge research. We give you opportunities to connect with researchers and students in other parts of the world to share experiences and explore findings.
This course is not associated with a specific Study Abroad programme, but York offers a number of options through international partnering programmes.
You will also study four option modules, two in Semester 1 and two in Semester 2. Examples can be found below. Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
You will develop, design, implement and manage your own original research project, supervised by a member of staff with the relevant experience for your topic. You'll use this research as the basis for a 10,000-word dissertation.
Example dissertation titles include:
You'll attend seminars to guide you in:
Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.
| Study mode | UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (1 year) | £11,200 | £25,900 |
| Part-time (2 years) This is the year 1 fee. Fees for future years are subject to confirmation. |
£5,600 | £12,950 |
Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.
For courses which are longer than one year, the tuition fees quoted are for the first year of study.
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.
Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.
Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2025/26 throughout the year.
If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.
We are pleased to work with Chevening Scholars to offer funding for our Masters programmes. Chevening Scholarships provide one year of fully-funded postgraduate study in the UK for international (including EU) students. The scholarships are open to early and mid-career professionals who have the potential to become future leaders.
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.
You'll spend time working on your own, reading assigned texts and researching supporting materials, as well as working with others in seminars to discuss readings in a group and present your work. A member of the teaching staff will act as your supervisor throughout the degree, to help guide your studies and monitor progress.
You'll also attend seminars from visiting scholars on a wide variety of sociological topics.
You will be based in the Department of Sociology on Campus East. Most of your contact hours will be on Campus East.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
Core modules will be assessed by a mixture of ‘open’ essays (where an assignment is prepared in your own time) and presentations. Open assessments are released early in the term so you can select one or more essay titles to read around the topic and plan your chosen essay.
Towards the end of your studies, you'll complete a 10,000-word dissertation on an original piece of your own research.
This broad-based masters in sociology degree is an ideal grounding for postgraduate students looking to go on to further study such as PhD or for a career in an international organisation, government organisations or the third sector. The communication and cultural knowledge developed will be highly valued by any organisation with international interests.
| Typical offer | |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate degree | 2:2 or equivalent in a relevant social sciences or humanities discipline. |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Minimum requirement | |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic and Indicator) | 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component |
| Cambridge CEFR | B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component |
| Oxford ELLT | 7, minimum of 6 in each component |
| Duolingo | 120, minimum 105 in all other components |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert Academic | 70 with a minimum of 65 in each component |
| Kaplan Test of English Language | 459-494, with 426-458 in all other components |
| Skills for English | B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, minimum 55 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87, minimum of 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all requirements |
For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
We offer a range of campus accommodation to suit you and your budget, from economy to premium.
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