Bachelor of Science in Sociology

at University of Southampton - Highfield Campus United Kingdom

Make the music you're passionate about in a vibrant, cultural city with a great music scene. This 3-year BA Music degree provides a broad musical education across all forms and styles. You can specialise in areas including music performance, history, composition and technology. You'll then develop all the skills and experience you need for a successful career.

Our students sing opera and music theatre, play funk guitar and classical oboe. No matter what your musical background, we'll provide:

• Regular performance and composition workshops, including with guests from the industry
• Performance projects with world-renowned performers and recording artists
• Up to 20 hours of fully funded individual tuition per year
• Ensemble and conducting coaching

As part of this course, you can:

• Learn different approaches to musical topics, from the middle ages to global hip hop
• Work on projects with other students across classical, pop and jazz
• Study concert hall composition, commercial songwriting or film scores
• Experience advanced studio techniques, jazz theory and orchestration
• Spend a semester studying abroad
• Take your music to the local community, with school placements, therapy sessions and workshops

You'll also gain professional career skills. These may include arts administration or managing events.

Our excellent facilities include:

• Dedicated rehearsal spaces
• Electronic studios
• Networked multimedia workstations

Our Turner Sims concert hall supports the most extensive series of professional concerts and workshops of any UK university. You can also perform around the city in a range of different venues.

Develop a deeper understanding of the environment and our relationship with it on this environmental consultancy master's at the University of Southampton.

This master’s degree will give you in-depth knowledge of a variety of topics, including sustainability and environmental law. You’ll graduate with practical skills that will boost your job prospects in a growing field.

Social, technological and environmental change is forcing us to rethink how we live, consume resources, and manage issues like climate, globalisation and demographic change. The world needs experts who can advise large organisations on environmental challenges and opportunities.

On this master’s programme you’ll:

• Gain in-depth knowledge of the functioning and management of the environment
• Develop specialist knowledge in a chosen area of environmental sciences
• Explore the interactions between environment and society
• Complete a substantial research project
• Learn to think critically about the environment in the modern world and conduct independent study on the subject

We’ll teach you to evaluate challenges in the field using data analysis methods and analytical skills. On completion of the programme, you’ll be ready for a wide range of careers in environmental consultancy.

You’ll have opportunities to:

• Work directly with environmental organisations
• vVisit leading environmental and sustainability initiatives (e.g. infrastructure projects)
• Receive professional RGS-IVG accredited CPD training through the GeoData Institute
• Carry out independent project work in the UK

On this computer science degree, you'll learn how to design and build software programs and systems. You’ll find out about the latest advances in areas like machine learning, cyber security and computer vision. This will prepare you for success in a fast-moving industry.

This BSc Computer Science course will teach you about the essentials and give you the flexibility to follow your interests through specialist modules. You’ll gain the know-how to develop technologies that can make a difference to people’s lives in topics such as:

• Algorithmics
• Data management
• Software design and modelling
• Interaction design
• Cyber security

You don’t need any previous computing experience to join the course – you can choose your own level for the first programming module. We can give you plenty of support if you are a complete beginner, or set something more challenging if you’re already a proficient programmer.

You’ll study in state-of-the-art teaching labs with the latest equipment and high-quality displays, as well as dedicated labs for project work.

There’s also an informal lab, with group-work areas, projectors and whiteboards. This acts as the department’s social hub – a place where you can have lunch and meet up with students from across the department to work on academic or personal projects.

Our Southampton-based degree is accredited by the British Computer Society (BCS) and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of:

• Fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as an Incorporated Engineer
• Partly meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer

Through this optical fibre course, you'll gain specialist knowledge of technologies that harness the power of light, such as lasers and optical fibres. You'll also master the engineering skills and business insight to apply your knowledge in this growth sector.

You’ll be part of an active, research-focused, postgraduate-only community; the largest photonics group in the UK. You'll also have a rare opportunity to see firsthand how fibres are made, as we’re one of only a handful of universities with optical fibre production facilities.

During this MSc degree, you'll make photonic components and devices in our new 1,200m2 cleanroom complex. This is the largest multidisciplinary cleanroom of its type in the UK. 

Our inventions can be found on the Moon, on Mars and on the International Space Station. We built the foundations of the internet and our research is powering changes in medicine, telecommunications, defence, renewable energy and manufacturing.

Some of the best photonics researchers in the world will support you to develop your research skills and you’ll gain hands-on experience of the many practical applications of optical fibres and photonics engineering.

You'll gain practical insights into how to run a modern photonics business through our Industrial Showcase Week. During the week you’ll visit several businesses and learn from experienced photonics business leaders how to apply research and engineering skills to real-world problems.

Develop expertise in global relations and social science research methods on this International Politics (Research) MSc. This UK course is similar to our International Politics MSc, but allows you to specialise in research. It’s also accredited by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). If you’re funded by the ESRC and successfully complete the course, you might be eligible for a further 3 years’ funding for PhD research.

On this master’s degree at the University of Southampton, you’ll gain in-depth understanding of the effects of globalisation.

You’ll learn about the main issues and events in global politics, and examine the different  methods used in the study of issues such as:

• Global governance
• Human rights
• Migration
• The shift in power from ‘west’ to ‘east’
• Public administration
• Relationships between rich and poor nations

As well as boosting your knowledge of international and global politics, you’ll develop advanced skills in a range of research methods. You’ll learn how to:

• Collect and analyse data
• Apply qualitative and quantitative research methods
• Design and complete a research project
• Think critically

You’ll be able to apply these techniques to your own piece of in-depth research on a specific issue in international politics.

With this degree you’ll be in an ideal position to move into a career in national or international politics, especially in roles that need strong independent research skills. It’s also a great choice if you want to continue your research at PhD level.

Gerontology examines ageing and its impact. On this MSc Gerontology: Research you’ll learn about the effects of ageing populations on social institutions, labour markets, welfare systems, families and individuals. The course also places a strong emphasis on qualitative and quantitative research methods.

You’ll graduate in an ideal position to pursue doctoral level studies or for a career in local or national government.

Understanding the process of population ageing can benefit areas such as health and social care, research, local and national policy. On this course, you'll study a range of perspectives, including policy, demography, sociology, biology, healthcare sciences, psychology and economics.

This UK master’s in gerontology research is recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP). The ESRC DTP can offer funding if you're interested in progressing to PhD training.

If you already have research methods skills you may be able to study more advanced modules in quantitative or qualitative research methods.

You’ll develop:

• Understanding of key theories in gerontology and how they apply to the analysis of ageing and life course issues
• Knowledge of global debates around the lives of older people, their families and societies
• The ability to assess policies and initiatives about population ageing, welfare provision and quality of life of older people, their families and carers
• Competence in qualitative and quantitative research methods and how they apply to key research in gerontology questions
• The ability to design and conduct independent research in gerontology using appropriate research methods
• Skills for a career in the field of gerontology and applied health and social sciences

On this MMath Mathematics degree, you’ll work with leading researchers who’ll introduce you to pure and applied maths. Learn advanced mathematical and statistical concepts, covering topics from cryptography to black holes. You’ll graduate with the technical skills sought after by employers in finance, commerce, industry and research.

The first 3 years of this integrated master's degree are similar to both the Mathematics and the Mathematics with Statistics courses, covering:

• Algebra
• Calculus
• Number theory
• Statistics
• Mathematical modelling

In the fourth year, you’ll study advanced concepts such as representation theory, harmonic analysis, advanced general relativity or Lie groups.

There is also an MMath Mathematics with Statistics pathway available as part of this programme. Following the Statistics pathway you could study topics such as machine learning, survival analysis and other modern applications of statistics.

As part of this course you’ll:

• Study advanced research methods in algebra, analysis, geometry and topology
• Have the option to specialise in statistics
• Undertake an individual research project in a field of your choice
• Use our student centre, a dedicated learning and social space for maths students
• Use mathematical and computational packages such as Python and the statistics package 'R'

You’ll be taught through a combination of lectures and workshops, by leading researchers in fields, such as group theory, the mathematics of nature and experimental design.

Enhance your understanding of computers with a master's in computer science at the University of Southampton.

This flexible programme allows you to choose modules from our master’s degrees in:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Cyber Security
• Data Science
• Software Engineering
• Web Science and Technology

By the end of your studies, you will have developed a set of specialised skills in several computer science disciplines. Many of our graduates become software developers, but you could also apply your talents as a consultant, project manager or technical specialist.

Computer science involves the study of computers and the design of software systems. It also informs the fundamental technologies and computing equipment of today’s connected world. At the University of Southampton, we’ve pioneered many of the most important advances in this area over the last 10 years. We’re partnered with the Alan Turing Institute, recognised as an Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security by the UK government, and our researchers helped to establish the European Data Science Academy.

Our researchers create modules based on their own research, which means you’ll get the latest insights and information from the field. We’ll give you access to specialist project labs, computer workstations and online tools to support your learning in an ideal environment.

Our MSc Mobile Communications and Smart Networking master's programme prepares you to become a capable wireless engineer. We'll help you build core areas of expertise, from understanding the fundamentals of wireless transmission, coding and signal processing, to building wireless transceivers and designing intelligent wireless networks.

Wireless communication has had an enormous social impact on our civilisation, and the need for wireless engineers with advanced skills will continue to grow as our world becomes more connected. Future wireless networks will have to intelligently manage a massive number of 'Internet of Things (IoT)' devices in a highly complex environment and in real-time.

This programme will prepare you to become a proficient wireless engineer with in-depth knowledge and the ability to apply it. You'll gain an advanced understanding of areas such as:

• Transmission and coding
• Signal processing
• Transceiver design
• Network design

You'll also have access to outstanding experimental research facilities, including our world-class high-voltage lab and a £110m interdisciplinary clean room.

The key strength of this programme is that we place an emphasis on fundamental concepts and how they relate to recent advances in wireless system and network design. We use real-world examples to emphasise the relevance and importance of these concepts.

Gain the skills to analyse governance, policy-making and administration across different areas of government on our 1 year Master of Public Administration (MPA) course.

Explore public policy design and learn how organisations deal with major policy problems and the societal effects of policy choices. You’ll cover local, national and global perspectives.

Understanding the role of public administration in implementing government policy can benefit both individuals and society, on a local to global scale.

On this flexible UK master’s in public administration you’ll explore:

• Modern policy-making and administration
• Public policy design and delivery
• Public and non-profit organisations and their approach to major policy challenges
• The effects of policy choices on society

You’ll develop understanding of the:

• Core public administration theoretical and practice-related perspectives
• Main issues and events shaping public administration in national and regional settings
• Central philosophical and methodological debates related to the study and practice of public administration
• Ways in which governance systems differ
• Skills to design and complete a dissertation on a specialist topic in the field of public administration

You'll also receive training in research design and will carry out individual, original research as part of your dissertation.