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Sociology looks systematically at the social lives of humans—giving new perspectives on the major issues of our world and the way that humans deal with these.

Explore how and why society arranges itself as it does, and how human behaviour and social relationships have changed over time. Find out how individuals are shaped by the social groups they belong to—families, peer groups, cultures, nations and societies. Learn to analyse and explain changes in social systems at different levels, from relationships between individuals to larger societal changes like migration.

Globally ranked

This programme is ranked in the top 150 universities worldwide in the QS World University Rankings 2024.

The QS World University Rankings is an annual global publication that gives overall rankings and subject rankings for more than 1,500 universities worldwide.

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For people interested in politics, there’s no better place to be than Wellington.

Elspeth Mack

Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Sociology

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Examine social changes in areas like gender, class, ethnicity, sexuality, sport, and leisure. Find out how governments, social movements, and individuals attempt to solve some of today's complex social issues like unemployment and poverty, healthcare, and education.

Get the skills

Improve your reading, writing and analytical skills. You'll learn to think creatively and develop your research abilities—conducting interviews and surveys, and gathering and evaluating different kinds of information.

Active in the field

You will learn from lecturers who are widely-published researchers—in topics that include medical sociology, migration and statelessness, gender and sexuality, critical race studies, responses to climate change, ethics, social movements, and social theory.

After you graduate

The perspectives you develop through Sociology are useful for a whole range of careers, including jobs in social work, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), local government administration, policy analysis, psychology, and the health professions. Use your skills in information gathering and analysis to help you in your career as a journalist, market researcher, or in advertising or public relations.

Social Policy is directly applicable to careers in NGOs, and local and central government.

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I learned how to both question cleverly and write intelligently, which will be fundamental skills in my developing career.

Lee Gerrard

Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Sociology

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Wellington is New Zealand's creative capital. It’s at the centre of government and is home to some of the country’s most important research collections, like those at Archives New Zealand and the National Library. And you can walk almost everywhere—whether you are getting a cheap eat on Cuba Street, going to the waterfront market, or exploring one of Wellington's exciting cultural institutions like Te Papa.

Support for students

Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington is a welcoming place with great student support. There are all sorts of resources available to help you get the best out of your time at university.

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Related subject areas

  • Anthropology

  • History

  • Māori Studies