In September 2022, I started my degree in MSc Sociology. Having studied History before, I didn’t really know what to expect but was extremely excited. I have since seen that I made a good choice indeed and come to appreciate my programme tremendously. I would definitely recommend it to any prospective applicants – and here is why:

MSc Sociology is the most general programme offered by the Department of Sociology (see here for a list of other master’s degree offered by the department). This is its great strength – it allows you to curate your own programme of study according to your unique interests.

The only compulsory module apart from the dissertation is research methods – you can choose between quantitative and qualitative. This allows you to get rigorous and in-depth training in methodology which is the basis of any good sociological work. There is also an option to take both as well as more focused courses on a particular method such as interviews or social network analysis which are offered by the Department of Methodology.

Apart from that, you have a wide variety of courses to choose from. This is what is particularly valuable in this degree – you can create your own mix that suits your interests, timetable, and future plans. There are three courses in sociological theory focused on classical, modern and contemporary social thought. The rest concerns specific areas of sociology, for example “Fascism, Authoritarianism, Populism”, “Technology, Power and Culture”, or “The Sociology of Consumption”. As MSc Sociology students, we are truly spoilt for choice. Indeed, the problem for me and most of my friends was that we wanted to take much more courses than we were allowed.

Notwithstanding the academic aspects of the degree, a great advantage of the Department of Sociology is its social life. At the beginning of the year, there’s a freshers’ week with a range of events including the welcome event organised by the department. It’s in the form of a drinks reception so it’s a perfect opportunity to mingle, get to know your fellow students better and have a chat with members of staff. In the Michaelmas Term this year, there were also the Board Games and Arts and Crafts Social and the Winter Party. They provide a chance to meet friends and professors in a less formal environment and thus greatly enrich the experience of studying at LSE.

There are also events focused on a broad spectrum of sociological topics organised by the department which supplement the academic content of the programme. Events in this Michaelmas Term included the panel discussion “Social Science is Explanation or it is Nothing” and the talk given by Louise Ashley on her new book Highly Discriminating: Why the City isn’t Fair and Why Diversity Doesn’t Work. These events are a unique chance to participate in some of the most relevant contemporary discussions in Sociology, broaden your horizons and meet researchers in real life.

All of these reasons testify to why I definitely made the right choice to study MSc Sociology.