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Department of Sociology

In our rapidly changing global environment, there has never been a more important time to look at the world through a social lens and engage in theoretically driven research and teaching that makes a difference.
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Welcome to the Department of Sociology at Durham

Our Department members, postgraduate researchers, and students collectively develop ‘sociological imagination’ and apply it to contemporary processes and issues. These include social inequality and its implications for social mobility, education and health; violence, abuse, and the role of help-seeking and state responses.
Find out more about us
1st for Criminology Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024
20th in the UK QS World University Subject Rankings 2024
4th in the UK for research impact in REF 2021
Athena Swan Silver Award in Gender Equality

  

Study with us

  • Undergraduate study

    Find out more about our undergraduate degrees in Sociology, Criminology and Joint Honours in Sociology and Anthropology.

    Students reading and discussing a book with their tutor

  • Postgraduate study

    Explore our postgraduate study options in Sociology, Criminology, Social Research Methods and Social Work.

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Undergraduate study

Find out more about our undergraduate degrees in Sociology, Criminology and Joint Honours in Sociology and Anthropology.

Students reading and discussing a book with their tutor

Postgraduate study

Explore our postgraduate study options in Sociology, Criminology, Social Research Methods and Social Work.

Someone having a coffee break

Our research

We work in collaborative and participative ways with communities, both within and external to the university, locally, nationally and internationally to effect social justice and social change.

Underpinning our work is a concern to understand the similarities and differences arising from people’s intersecting identities, especially of gender, sexuality, ‘race’, social class, faith and age.
Research areas
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Find out more about our Department

What's new?

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People with health issues denied medication in police custody

People in police custody with health issues are regularly put at risk because medication is delayed or unavailable.

Research news
Old-fashioned police lantern sign

Researchers collaborate on new app to improve support for hate incident victims

Researchers at Durham and Northumbria Universities have helped develop an app to better equip frontline practitioners to identify hate incidents and ensure victims get the right support.
Research news
The logo for the Hate ID app features three circles and the words Hate ID underneath

New book explores domestic abuse-related deaths and how to bring change

A new book by Dr James Rowlands of our Department of Sociology focuses on the complex issue of domestic abuse-related deaths.
Research news
James Rowlands wearing an orange top smiling with his arms folded

The Davis Scholarship launches for care-experienced PhD applicants

Our Department of Sociology has launched a new PhD scholarship on contextual safeguarding aimed at candidates with experience of care.
Research news
A head and shoulders picture of Jahnine Davis who is smiling at the camera.

Loneliness in old age and the role of social workers

Loneliness has been identified as a major challenge for social work because of its significant impact on health and social care services, particularly for older people. It is linked to conditions like heart disease, stroke and Alzheimer’s disease.
Research news
Three older women chatting to each other.

Master of Social Work Celebrates 20 Years

The Department of Sociology’s Master of Social Work (MSW) is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.
Durham news
a lady with a blue top and white hair talking to a woman with short blind hair

New study finds policing of county lines 'criminalises' minority youth

A new research report has raised concerns that policing efforts targeting 'county lines' drug operations in the UK rely on discriminatory assumptions about minority groups and contribute to the criminalisation of minoritised communities.
Research news
Picture of sirens in a police car
More news

People with health issues denied medication in police custody

People in police custody with health issues are regularly put at risk because medication is delayed or unavailable.

Old-fashioned police lantern sign

Researchers collaborate on new app to improve support for hate incident victims

Researchers at Durham and Northumbria Universities have helped develop an app to better equip frontline practitioners to identify hate incidents and ensure victims get the right support.
The logo for the Hate ID app features three circles and the words Hate ID underneath

New book explores domestic abuse-related deaths and how to bring change

A new book by Dr James Rowlands of our Department of Sociology focuses on the complex issue of domestic abuse-related deaths.
James Rowlands wearing an orange top smiling with his arms folded

Student updates

Find out what our students get up to at Durham University.

Highlights

Studying for an MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice

Jagraj Singh gives us an insight into studying for an MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice in the Department of Sociology
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A day in the life of a criminology student

Olivia Gough gives us an insight into a day in the life as a Criminology student
Exterior shot outside the entrance to Hatfield College

Get in touch

To find out more about our undergraduate and postgraduate options, please contact us using one of the buttons below.

Department of Sociology

Durham University
32 Old Elvet
Durham
DH1 3HN

+44 (0)191 33 41400

Questions about studying here?

Check out our list of FAQs or submit an enquiry form.

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