Overview
Learn what role digital technologies and digital media plays in shaping our society and influencing peoples’ thoughts and behaviours by studying our new Sociology (Digital Media) BSc. We are rated the best Sociology department in London in the 2024 National Student survey, 6th best in the UK for our teaching.
By adding digital media studies to your study of sociology you’ll be able to explore and specialise in areas such as the social impact of social media, the internet and other information and communications technologies, media discourse, media policy and regulation.
The first year is designed to offer you a solid base in theoretical and methodological innovations in sociology and digital media. You will explore the similarities and differences in the methodologies used in sociology, media, and communications. The focus of study is upon all aspects of societal relations: it’s personal, social and cultural dimensions.
As you progress through the course, you will be able to choose modules you are interested in to actively shape and apply your learning to the issues you wish to interrogate. In your third year, you’ll work on a dissertation focusing on an area of interest of your choice. Your dissertation can be a theoretical or practical dissertation, so you can work to your own strengths.
Depending on the modules you choose, you may have the option go on fieldtrips where you will be able to apply your learning to current issues and broaden your theoretical imagination. Previous fieldtrips have included: Barbican; British Board of Film Classification; London Migration Museum; Museum of Comedy; Museum of London; regeneration areas (e.g. Spitalfields, Smithfield); and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
As you’ll be taught and supported by academics who are not only experts in their field but are actively engaged in research, you’ll develop skills that can be applied from the classroom to the workplace. They know the industry inside out, so you know you are learning from experienced professionals who will bring their unique insights into the classroom and will ensure your learning is up-to-date.
Gain an insight into life after your studies by putting your learning into practice by opting for a one-year work placement or two short placements for six months at a time. You will graduate with valuable work experience to enhance your employment prospects and will be able to develop an understanding the working world. We have excellent links with a wide range of notable external organisations, so you will have the opportunity to apply for high quality placements across London.
Some of our sociology and media students have undertaken placements in a variety of companies including the Ministry of Justice, the Home Office, the Prince’s Trust, the Crime Statistics Unit at the Home Office, Citizens Advice Bureau, the Department of Work and Pensions, as well as PR, local authorities and marketing.
This is a broad-based degree which will enable and encourage you to specialise in areas which particularly fascinate you. As a graduate of this dynamic degree, you will leave us with various transferable skills that are key to the contemporary employment market.
"The prospect of studying for four years instead of three was daunting at first, but I viewed it as an excellent opportunity to obtain hands-on experience in possible career paths" - Cheerese Whyte
"Brunel helped me to develop an interest in working as a part time Community Worker" - Suk Yan Agnes Shuen
"Brunel helped me figure out who I was and what I wanted to do. It gave me confidence and the drive to get what I want!" - Lily Quarton-Parsons
"The highlight of this experience was to be able to work with incredible and resilient women in Mayukwayukwa, Zambia on my project to develop reusable sanitary pads." - Martina Lastikova
"The prospect of studying for four years instead of three was daunting at first, but I viewed it as an excellent opportunity to obtain hands-on experience in possible career paths" - Cheerese Whyte
"Brunel helped me to develop an interest in working as a part time Community Worker" - Suk Yan Agnes Shuen
Course content
This innovative course focuses on social theory and method, and will enable you to develop specific skills in the practical methods associated with sociology and digital media.
Compulsory
- Digital Media Landscapes
The module introduces students to a range of concepts and issues that underpin the ways in which everyday social life is shaped by the digital technologies. Students will examine the implications of digital media environments for societies and journalism. Focus is placed upon the relationship between states, societies and the media in the digital age.
- Global London
Through focusing on the concept of ‘Global London’, this module shows you how the social sciences can enable you to better understand their lived social environment. It introduces you to the techniques used by a range of disciplines within social science for gaining and validating knowledge of the social world and equips you with an academic skill base appropriate for university study.
- Global Sociology
This module will survey current debates around the idea of global sociology. It will address contrasting theories of global sociology as well as specific issues raised by the subject including the debates around the idea of sociology as a global discipline as opposed to one that takes nation-states as its starting point of analysis.
- Key Ideas in Media
This module provides an introduction to the main theories, approaches and concepts in media studies. It will introduce you to the critical canon, as well as drawing on case studies to illustrate key topics in media and research. Key Ideas in Media will provide you with a firm conceptual and methodological foundation in communication and media studies focusing on themes of power, identity and culture.
- Key Ideas in Sociology
Key themes in sociology are explored through theoretical and empirical analysis. You will do this by examining some of the most important ideas of leading sociologists and critically engage with their theories through empirical illustrations.
- Power, Inequality and Society
This module unpacks the definition, origins, evolution and trajectory of inequality in society through multiple empirical and theoretical angles. It also examines different manifestations of inequality including gender, income, educational and intersectional dynamics. Finally, it explores social mobility and how the state, charities as well as labour groups work towards redistribution of opportunities and resources.
Compulsory
- Digital Culture
This module considers the shape of new media technologies such as iPhones – it explores how new developments in media technology have changed the basis of contemporary social life and culture. This module will examine some of the key transformations that are taking place through digital culture.
- Global Communication
Examine the ways in which the globalisation of communication has transformed social, political, and economic relations. The following themes will be addressed in this module: the state, economy, power, globalisation, nationalism, identity, digitisation, culture and consumerism, media markets, public relations and politics, and political economy of communication.
- Researching Your World
This module provides an advanced understanding of research methodologies, with a particular focus on data analysis. Equipping students with an understanding and appreciation of the important theoretical paradigms that underpin qualitative and quantitative social and communications research traditions. Furnishing students with the tools and skills required to conduct and evaluate their own empirical social and communications research.
Optional
- Body, Media and Society
In this module we will examine many different aspects of embodiment and bodies in society, with a focus on the role of media in representing, stereotyping, and medicalising different kinds of bodies.
- Colonialism, Migration and Global Racism
This module explores the concept, meaning and practices of ‘race’, ethnicity, racialization, and global racisms. It identifies how ‘race’ and racism have evolved over time, and in different contexts - both nationally in the contemporary UK as well as in other parts of the world.
- Gangs, Street Culture and Crime
Students will be introduced to the history and the various theoretical debates surrounding the nature of street gangs and street cultural formation. Using a wide range of criminological and empirical research, the causes of gangs and street culture, and the responses to this global phenomenon will be considered.
- Gender, Sexuality and Feminism
This module will introduce students to core ideas in feminism via the key concepts of gender and sexuality. It will develop students’ understandings of social structures, human cultures, and economic inequalities and political relationships. The course will offer theoretical tools and historical insights into gendered, feminised, and sexualised socio-cultural worlds.
- Media Genres
This module will introduce you to the workings of various media genres and how these relate to themes of power, identify and culture and wider societal contexts.
- Popular Culture and Creative Industries
This module explores how meanings are developed through contemporary cultural representations, practices and processes, with a focus on creativity and the creative industries sector. It examines popular culture and the rise of the creative and cultural sector in late modernity drawing on relevant sociological, media and cultural studies debates and theories.
- Sociology of Everyday Life: Issues in Contemporary Culture
In this module you will consider the meanings of ordinary, ‘everyday’ processes and actions in society, by examining what everyday life consists of and the relevant academic debates and theories around it. The module will encourage you to reflect on your own everyday life through the lense of power, identity and gender in wider socio-cultural contexts.
Compulsory
- Advanced Research Skills for Sociology and Communication
Optional
- Apocalypse! Crisis and Society
Explore the social & political significance of representations of national and global crises, and public perceptions of controversies. Students analyse dystopian popular and scientific discourses that dwell on disorder and catastrophe. Indicative content includes risk, uncertainty, globalisation, the environment, disease, capitalism. Public understanding, perception and engagement with popular and scientific controversies and notions of crisis.
- Cities, Power and Social Change
An introduction to urban sociology and will develop the students understanding of urban development, cultures, and representation. The course will offer theoretical tools and provide practical applications for the relationship between space, culture, and social life in contemporary cities.
- Comedy, the Media & Society
This module provides a serious critical consideration of the role of comedy in contemporary media and society. This role is explored in relation to comedy’s institutional, historical, social and textual conventions. The module also explores comedy as it exists in a broad range of texts and examines the role of comedy in the construction and transmission of social difference and issues of identity.
- Digital Audiences and Identities
This module provides students with a critical overview of key debates about media audiences and identities. Students will engage with key contemporary debates about media influence and be able to apply theoretical concepts to a range of contemporary sites.
- Digital Media Career Development
This module will provide students with the opportunity to gain a critical overview of working in the media and cultural industries from direct encounters with creative industry professionals, companies or institutions. It will support students’ understanding of, competence and confidence in working independently in a professional manner appropriate to the media and cultural industries.
- Global Migration
Equips students with an understanding of the key concepts in global migration including the causes and consequences of migration, national and international responses to migration and the diversity of migrant flows within a global context, using cases from both Global North and Global South contexts.
- Lawyers, Guns and Money: Making the modern world-system
This module will explore issues raised by historical and political sociology regarding the development of the modern world-system. In particular the course will focus upon the rise to dominance of Europe in the building of the modern world-system and the explanations offered for this.
- Making the Social
An introduction to core concepts in social theory. The emphasis is on concepts through which students can relate to the worlds they inhabit and the lives they live, connecting these to a broad canvas: the diversity of social existence and the sweep of human history. The focus is on basic building blocks of social existence.
- Media Empires
The module explores the role played by the media in the development and maintenance of ‘empires’, and examines how we can understand media ‘empires’ via key concepts such as ‘media/cultural imperialism’, ‘public diplomacy’ and ‘intellectual property rights’.
- Media, Social Movements and Change
The module provides students with an understanding of how social movements occur, succeed, or fail in bringing social and/or political change. By focusing on empirical cases, students will study the use of old and new media tools, the role of leaders and collective identity formation during the social movements, as well as governmental and international responses to these developments.
- Social Media and Society
This module will enable students to critically engage and analyse the historical and current impact of social media on social relations and contemporary culture. It will allow students to develop a critical understanding of social media in the context of broader changes in the media landscape, and how it impacts identity, power and everyday life.
- Social Reproduction and Care
This module aims to introduce students to theoretical debates in feminism about social reproduction and care. It will offer a broad history of such debates and update these with new theoretical interventions in this field that have arisen in recent times, particularly in the context of the pandemic.
- Sociological Career Development
This module will provide students with a critical overview of working in industries that draw on or are connected with sociological knowledge from direct encounters with industry professionals, companies or institutions. Drawing on a variety of formats, the module will support students’ understanding of, competence and confidence in working independently in a professional manner appropriate to ‘sociological’ industries.
- Sociology (Digital Media) Dissertation
- Sociology (Digital Media) Major Final Project
This course can be studied 3 years full-time or 4 years full-time with placement, starting in September.
This course has a placement option. Find out more about work placements available.
Careers and your future
Graduating with Sociology and Digital Media Studies degree from Brunel is your passport to a wide variety of roles including digital marketing and advertising, management, media, and more.
You have the opportunity to build your knowledge in an area you love without limiting your job prospects.
As well as gaining excellent academic knowledge throughout your studies, emphasis is placed on gaining transferable employment skills. You will develop communication, report writing and presentation skills to an excellent level, equipping you for a range of subsequent professional careers.
Brunel’s Professional Development Centre is a dedicated service that are committed to increasing our students' employability, helping you to develop the skills and experience you need to stand out in the job market. They will help you with placements, CV writing and interviews during your time with us, and will still be on-hand to help you for two years after you graduate.
UK entry requirements
2024/25 entry
- GCE A-level ABB-BBC.
- BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma DMM in any subject.
- BTEC Level 3 Diploma DM in any subject, with an A-Level at grade C.
- BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma M in any subject, with A-Levels grade BB.
- International Baccalaureate Diploma 29 points.
- Obtain a minimum of 112 UCAS tariff points in the Access to HE Diploma (subject) with 45 credits at Level 3.
- T levels : Merit overall
A minimum of five GCSEs are required, including GCSE Mathematics grade C or grade 4 and GCSE English Language grade C or grade 4 or GCSE English Literature grade B or grade 5.
Brunel University London is committed to raising the aspirations of our applicants and students. We will fully review your UCAS application and, where we’re able to offer a place, this will be personalised to you based on your application and education journey.
Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants as well as our full GCSE requirements and accepted equivalencies in place of GCSEs.
EU and International entry requirements
English language requirements
- IELTS: 6.5 (min 5.5 in all areas)
- Pearson: 59 (59 in all subscores)
- BrunELT: 63% (min 55% in all areas)
- TOEFL: 90 (min R18, L17, S20, W17)
Fees and funding
2024/25 entry
UK
£9,250 full-time
£1,385 placement year
International
£19,430 full-time
£1,385 placement year
Teaching and learning
You'll be taught by world leading experts in your field of study, and have the opportunity to interact with fellow students on London’s leading campus University.
Your programme will consist of various learning and studying activities, including lectures, seminars and discussions. Students will study six modules during two terms across the academic year (4 modules and a dissertation in the third year). Each module will have on average two-to-three hours in person contact time per week in lectures, seminars and workshops in the teaching terms. There will also be the opportunity for a further six hours per week to seek guidance during module lecturers’ feedback and consultation hours. Additionally, students can seek support in individual meetings with their personal tutors, both on campus and online. There will also be regular cohort meetings and student society events, at both programme and departmental levels. Field trips and excursions to support students’ learning will be organised throughout the year.
All lectures, seminars, cohort meetings and other social activities will occur in person on the Brunel campus. It is expected that students will regularly attend these events, as sustained engagement with a learning community is a central dimension of the Brunel experience. Online provision of some activities will be made available when it is appropriate to the learning outcomes of your programme.
Students are strongly advised to purchase core texts from module reading lists, although copies are also available via Brunel Library.
Access to a laptop or desktop PC is required for joining online activities, completing coursework and digital exams, and a minimum specification can be found here.
We have computers available across campus for your use and laptop loan schemes to support you through your studies. You can find out more here.
You’ll benefit from lectures, group tutorials, workshops and seminars, as well as one-to-one supervision in your final year project.
Group seminars allow you to learn in smaller groups and to partake in discussions with your peers. Should you need guidance on the module, coursework and any other matters that may wish to discuss, module tutors are available for one-to-one tutorials.
You'll also undertake research methods modules which include exploring methods such as surveys, interviewing techniques and discourse analysis. You'll have more freedom and less direction over the design and implementation of projects as you progress through the course.
Should you need any non-academic support during your time at Brunel, the Student Support and Welfare Team are here to help.
Assessment and feedback
Assessment will be through completing coursework essays and projects, seminars, producing films, documentaries, journals and blogs, and presentations. However, some methods of assessment vary and depend on which modules you select. Some modules are assessed on coursework only, some by (seen or unseen) examination only, and some by a combination.
All final-year students are required to complete a dissertation or project under the supervision of a member of the teaching team. This may take the form of a practice-based project with an accompanying analysis or a written piece on a subject of your choice.
Although Level 1 does not count towards your final degree mark, you must pass this level to continue with your course. Level 2 is worth a third, and Level 3 is worth the rest, with the final year dissertation worth a third of Level 3 marks.
