At Newcastle we are proud of our interdisciplinary research tradition. We have expertise in sociology, social policy, political science, gender studies, criminology, anthropology, women’s studies and medical sociology.
We have three sociology research clusters that bring together our postgraduate students and staff, enabling them to share ideas and research experience. The three clusters are: contemporary social transformations; identities; and sociology of health and life sciences. We also work closely with colleagues from across the University. The post-socialist research network, the environment and society research cluster, the critical visual and discourse methodologies cluster, the anthropology of Britain network, and the Newcastle University research network on the Americas are just some of the cross- faculty research programmes and network initiatives we have launched or are very much a part of. We also have strong links with the Policy, Ethics and Life Sciences (PEALS) research centre and the Institute of Health and Society. This cross- University liaison provides us with the scope to supervise multidisciplinary PhDs.
We have a strong international focus, notably in several European countries and North and South America, including far-reaching links with organisations such as Oxfam and UNESCO. Both our staff and students come from a range of national backgrounds and our teaching and research interests reflect the cross-cultural nature of today’s global society. Our MA in Sociology and Social Research provides specialist research training and is recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) as offering the requisite skill training for preparation for a PhD. As part of the Durham– Newcastle Doctoral Training Centre, we are the only university in the north east of England able to offer 1+3 Sociology funding for MA and PhD studies.
If you prefer a non-research training Master’s programme, the MA in Sociology is designed to equip students from a range of academic and professional backgrounds with an awareness and understanding of the theoretical traditions and concepts that shape sociology. Postgraduate students in sociology have access to a dedicated postgraduate computer room with unlimited Internet access, postgraduate common room and postgraduate study rooms. They also play an integral role in organising and participating in a wide range of academic events and activities.