What Degree Programmes in Sociology Are Offered at Oxford?

Updated

Oxford's Department of Sociology offers one undergraduate route and three graduate programmes: the MSc in Sociology, the MPhil in Sociology and Demography, and the DPhil in Sociology. Which one fits you depends mainly on your current level of study and whether you want a taught master's, a research master's, or a doctorate. The department's site groups these under its Study section, alongside pages on funding, FAQs, and student profiles.

Undergraduate Study

The department lists Undergraduate Study as a distinct entry under its Study menu, separate from the graduate degrees. If you are looking for a first degree in sociology, that is the page to check — the site does not spell out the specific undergraduate course title or admissions requirements in the material available here, so treat the department page as the starting point rather than the final word.

Graduate Programmes

Three graduate degrees are named on the site:

Programme Level What it appears to be for
MSc in Sociology Master's (taught) Students seeking a one-year-style master's in sociology
MPhil in Sociology and Demography Master's (research-oriented) Students wanting sociology combined with demographic study
DPhil in Sociology Doctoral Students pursuing original research toward a doctorate

The department describes its graduate community as "vibrant" and links each programme from the Study menu and from its courses section. Note that the site does not publish duration, entry requirements, or fees in the text captured here — confirm those on the individual programme pages before applying.

Choosing Between Them

  • If you have not yet completed a bachelor's degree, start with Undergraduate Study.
  • If you want a taught master's and a broad grounding in sociology, the MSc in Sociology is the listed option.
  • If your interests sit at the intersection of sociology and population studies, the MPhil in Sociology and Demography is the one that names both fields.
  • If you intend to produce a substantial independent thesis and pursue an academic or research career, the DPhil is the doctoral route.

The distinction between the MSc and MPhil matters: the MPhil title usually signals a heavier research component, but the site as captured does not state the exact structure of either, so check each programme page rather than assuming.

Funding and Prospective Student Questions

The Study menu includes a Funding page and an FAQs page aimed at prospective students. These are the two places to look for cost and application questions. The material available here does not list specific scholarships, stipend amounts, or deadlines, so no figures should be assumed — go to those pages directly.

Getting a Sense of the Student Experience

The department publishes Meet Our Students profiles, including MSc and DPhil student spotlights. These are useful for judging what the programmes feel like in practice, though they are promotional in nature and reflect individual experiences rather than programme-wide facts.

Practical Next Steps

  1. Open the Study section of the department site and pick your level (undergraduate or graduate).
  2. Read the specific programme page for the degree you are considering.
  3. Check the Funding and FAQs pages for cost and application details.
  4. Use the site search and the department's contact page if a detail is missing.

The department is based at 42–43 Park End Street, Oxford, OX1 1JD, and the site provides a Contact Us page plus social channels (X, Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube) for updates.