phd in sociology cambridge

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4 courses offered in the Department of Sociology

Sociology - phd.

The Department of Sociology at the University of Cambridge is a world-class centre for teaching and research in Sociology. It has a proud tradition of research grounded in engagement with contemporary real-world issues.  

Our Department is ranked first for Sociology in the Guardian's Best Universities league table and first for Sociology in the Complete University Guide League Table 2024 .

The Times Higher Education World University ranking 2024 rates our department second overall in the UK for the Social Sciences. And the QS World University rankings list our department as 2nd of 521 sociology departments across the world in 2023.  

Our PhD programme combines taught content in research methods and academic skills with independent study under the supervision of one or more experts in the student's chosen field.  

Many who graduate from our PhD programme go on to become professional researchers or academics; others work in national government, international organisations, NGOs, think tanks, and consultancies. 

More Information

Sociology (Political and Economic Sociology) - MPhil

Our Department is ranked first for Sociology in the  Guardian's Best Universities league table  and first for Sociology in the  Complete University Guide League Table 2024 .

The  Times Higher Education World University ranking 2024  rates our department second overall in the UK for the Social Sciences. The  QS World University rankings  list our department as second of 521 sociology departments across the world in 2023.  

This MPhil pathway is designed to give students an advanced understanding of major themes and debates in political and economic sociology.  The topics may vary from year to year and might include some of the following – state institutions, nationalism, capitalism, democracy, revolution, ideology, social movements and environmental catastrophe, among others. Prospective students are, therefore, encouraged to check if they are concerned about the coverage of specific topics in the year of entry. 

Sociology (The Sociology of Marginality and Exclusion) - MPhil

The MPhil in Sociology provides students with a firm grounding in theoretical and empirical analysis, which are at the core of understanding the workings of social inequality. 

The Sociology of Marginality and Exclusion pathway will equip students with a broad understanding of theoretical approaches to marginality and exclusion. It will also provide students with the ability to explore research-led areas of marginalization and forms of exclusion in-depth, examining their contextual specificity, transformations over time, and their impact on other aspects of social and political life.

Sociology (The Sociology of Media and Culture) - MPhil

1 course also advertised in the department of sociology, health, medicine and society - mphil.

From the Department of History and Philosophy of Science

The MPhil in Health, Medicine and Society is a full-time 9-month course run jointly by the Departments of History and Philosophy of Science, Sociology and Social Anthropology. It introduces students from a range of backgrounds to research skills and specialist knowledge relevant to their research interests and provides them with the opportunity to carry out focused research under close supervision by senior members of the University. Students will develop a critical and well-informed understanding of discourses of history, philosophy, sociology and anthropology of health and medicine, and those intending to go on to doctoral work will learn the skills needed to help them prepare a well-planned and focused PhD proposal.

Department Members

Professor sarah franklin head of department.

• 25 Academic Staff
• 9 Postdoctoral Researchers
• 87 Graduate Students
• 159 Undergraduates

http://www.sociology.cam.ac.uk/

Research areas.

• Economic and Political Sociology
• Gender and Family Life
• Media, Culture and New Technologies
• Health and Illness
• Social Theory
• Public Health and Biomedicine

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Application Information

Applications for the MPhil and PhD in Sociology are made via the postgraduate admissions website , simply search for "Sociology" in their course directory .

The Department of Sociology operates a “gathered field” admissions process in which applications are collected and processed in three rounds. All applicants are encouraged to apply early, if possible, as the availability of supervisors will decrease from round to round as places are awarded.

Entry Requirements

Applicants to our postgraduate programmes must meet the minimum entry requirements specified by the University of Cambridge. These requirements include:

• MPhil : A high 2.1 (3.6/4 GPA) or international equivalent , in a bachelor’s degree in Sociology or a related discipline (see " Requirements " FAQ).
• PhD : A Merit grade or international equivalent , in a master’s degree in Sociology or a related discipline (see " Requirements " FAQ). Students registered for an MPhil at Cambridge must achieve an overall mark of 70% for their MPhil, and a mark of 70% for their dissertation.
• English proficiency: If English isn’t your first language, you will be required to submit evidence that you meet the University’s English language requirement .

Research proposal

All applications should include a research proposal, the length of which, excluding references, should be approximately:

• 1,000 words for MPhil applicants
• 2,000 words for PhD applicants

The research proposal should contain:

• A clear, viable and well-motivated research question
• A brief literature review, outlining the state of knowledge in your chosen area and the gaps which your research is intended to fill
• The data and research methods you propose to employ
• You may also like to explain your own interest in the project, and any skills or experience which mean you are particularly well equipped to undertake the work.

No special formatting is required; please do not include appendices.

Nominating a supervisor

Postgraduate applicants are required to indicate a preferred supervisor in their application using the designated box on their application form.

Supervisors act as academic advisors that help students plan their individual study programmes and provide guidance throughout the course of study. As a result, it is important that there is some overlap between students and their supervisors in terms of research interests or approach. Applicants can find a list of supervisors, their research interests and availability in our list of available supervisors .

You will need to supply at least two academic references , and your referees will need to upload these before the application deadline. Please ensure that you contact your referees in plenty of time, because if the references are not received by the course deadline, your application will be withdrawn.

The Department of Sociology will usually interview all competitive PhD applicants. Topics to be covered in interviews will vary depending on the nature of particular candidates’ application, their proposed research project and their particular academic background.

Candidates need not prepare for these interviews but should anticipate a discussion pertaining to their research proposal and preparation for postgraduate study in the Department. These interviews also give candidates an opportunity to ask any questions they may have about the University, Department or course.

Sociology Seminar Series 2024-25

The latest research and thought on contemporary sociology presented by leading sociologists. All staff and students, graduate and undergraduate, are welcome!

The Department of Sociology University of Cambridge Free School Lane Cambridge CB2 3RQ

Tel: 01223 (3)34520

Contact: [email protected]

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PhD in Sociology

University of cambridge, different course options.

• Key information

Course Summary

Tuition fees, entry requirements, similar courses at different universities, key information data source : idp connect, qualification type.

PhD/DPhil - Doctor of Philosophy

Subject areas

Course type.

The PhD in Sociology offers a world-class programme of a research study in sociology supervised by world-renowned experts in their fields.

The course aims to provide all students with the skills they need to be professional researchers and academics. There is an organised programme of courses for first-year PhD students, which has three major components: Basic academic and research skills, designed to provide the essential tools of academic work. The core training programme, which covers issues of social science research in general; Issues of research specific to particular disciplines or areas of interest, and research design, including the integration of methodological, theoretical and substantive issues.

You will be expected to participate fully in the core training programme, and in the departmental seminar series. At the beginning of your third term, your progress is examined on the basis of a 10,000-word piece of written work to determine whether you can proceed to a full programme of PhD research.

Part-time PhD studies are possible for home/EU students only. Part-time applicants must contact a potential supervisor before applying.

UK fees Course fees for UK students

For this course (per year)

International fees Course fees for EU and international students

Applicants for this course should have achieved a UK Masters (Merit).

MA Criminal Justice

Liverpool john moores university, msc forensic anthropology, msc criminal psychology and criminal justice, doctor of policing and criminal justice, ma criminology.