Explore strategies for change. Research an area of inequality to specialise in by the end of the course. Gain a career in the public, voluntary or education sectors or take your studies to PhD level. Be a part of changing the world.
Register your interestWhy does inequality exist and what can we do about it? In this theoretical and research-based course, you'll examine the major causes of inequalities in our world. You'll explore the nature of intersectionality, including how factors such as gender, sexuality, ethnicity, age and others come together and how certain groups face unique forms of disadvantage. You will develop as a researcher and work out strategies that can be used to change the unequal world in which we live in order to help to achieve equity and social justice.
Take advantage of a broad range of optional modules which explore the nature of inequality further, examining topics such as; activism and social justice, mental and physical health, sexualities and gender identities, gender and violence, media exclusions, childhood inequalities and socio-economic inequalities. You will have opportunities to develop your own employability skills from core modules and your chosen options.
You will have the opportunity (module dependent) to learn skills such as conference speaking, using social research software like Nvivo and SPSS, writing a report for global bodies such as the United Nations, writing a campaign strategy for an activist movement, creating a domestic violence intervention and developing electronic resources such as blogs, podcasts and YouTube clips.
This route is taught over one year from October to September. The course runs on a Tuesday with modules in three-hour blocks to fit around work and childcare commitments and to reduce the number of days that you are in university. The course will typically be taught as the following:
All classes are on a Tuesday. These are held in the afternoon (1-4pm for the first core module) and on an evening (5-8pm for second core module).
Study Skills sessions support your academic work. They will offer online and physical workshops on topics such as: understanding academic language, interpreting statistics, constructing an argument and critical thinking and wiring. This will help to smooth your transition to master’s level study.
All classes in semester two are also on a Tuesday. Depending on your option choices, these will typically run in the timeslots of: 9-12pm, 1-4pm or 5-8pm.
Alongside writing your dissertation, there will also be two mandatory ‘dissertation days’ to prepare you for your dissertation research which will typically be a full day (10am-4pm) over two Saturdays between October and September.
This route is over two years and follows the same day and time slots as full-time students. However, in your first year you will study a core module in semester one and an optional module in semester two. In your second year, you will complete your second core module in semester one, an optional module in semester two and your dissertation module over the year.
An ‘Employability conference’ is held once a year and you must also take part in an ‘MSc Inequality and Society Dissertation conference’ toward the end of the course.
We would also encourage you to attend other voluntary training courses and opportunities where possible.
A typical week for you, whether full-time or part-time, will include interactive lectures, seminars, workshops, blended learning, group and individual work, and computer-based learning. Throughout the course, you'll have one-to-one support from academic staff, and you'll also be assigned a tutor to offer you pastoral support.
We usually require applicants to hold at least a second class honours degree (usually a 2:1 or above) or equivalent.
Experience may be counted towards your application. We welcome applicants with degrees in areas such as social sciences, psychology, business, law, education, humanities, health, arts, technology and the sciences.
Applicants whose first language is not English must achieve a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 in all four areas.
Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)
If you feel you already know some of the topics covered in this course, either due to previous learning or from experience of work, then you may not need to study all of the course.
Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) is the name given to the process of gaining credit towards a qualification because of something you have learnt in the past. If you are eligible for APL you won't have to learn the same topic again, so you can be exempt from a module, set of modules or year of a course.
The annual, full-time fee for this course is:
Part-time fees are £375 per 10 credits. Please note that part-time courses are not available to international students who require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK.
If you are not sure whether you qualify as a UK, EU or international student, find out more in our Help and Advice article.
Take a look at the Your Finances section to find out about the scholarships and bursaries that may be available to you.
Use our scholarships calculator to see what you may be entitled to.
This information was correct at the time of publication.
An MSc in Inequality and Society creates a number of career options. Your expert knowledge of equality and diversity, data analysis and strong research skills will be highly prized by employers. You'll become a specialist in your chosen area of inequality, as well as other areas that you choose to study.
Many University of Sunderland postgraduates now work in the fields of human rights, equality and diversity, education, the criminal justice system, the private sector and business, international development, campaign work, advocacy and social research. Many of our graduates also go on to study a postgraduate research qualification such as a PhD.
Graduates of this course will be able to forge careers:
At the end of the course, you will take part in arranging and presenting your dissertation findings in front of your peers and staff members. This is a supportive experience that allows you to familiarise yourself with presenting research and associated findings in a conference setting, which will enhance your confidence, CV and career development.
The University of Sunderland’s Centre for Applied Social Studies (CASS) combines original academic research with practice-based collaborations and reach-out activities, often working directly with practitioners, policymakers and front-line delivery staff regionally, nationally and internationally. According to the most recent National Research Excellence Framework Exercise, almost half of our outputs are either 'world leading' or 'internationally excellent'.
The mission of CASS reflects that of the University's aim as a civic university: to take an active interest in the social issues that affect the region and beyond by engaging in research and practice-based collaborations that aim to improve living conditions, address inequalities and social exclusion and promote social justice.
Currently our research focuses around three strands: children, young people and families; communities, health and social exclusion; and crime, victims and social justice. CASS regularly hosts visiting speakers and holds events that you will be invited to. This can be an excellent way to learn from the real-life experience of people who already have a strong track record in sociological and social policy related social research. This is a great way to learn from experts in their field.
PhD options include:
In the 2019 Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES), Social Sciences research degrees were ranked 1st (out of 86 institutions) for the question ‘Overall, I am satisfied with the experience of my research degree programme’.
The University was ranked 11th globally (out of 103 institutions) for the same question.
Drew Dalton, Programme Leader for the course and a Senior Lecturer in Sociology, talks about how welfare reforms and the rising cost of living, coupled with the concerning rise of hate crime and the far right as well as the impact of Brexit, led a team of social scientists to introduce this inequality-focused course. Learn more about how the course came about, its intention, and hear from an applicant in our ‘Solving inequalities in society’ news article.
I have never been made to feel I am too old for school!
I aspire to be a lecturer at the University of Sunderland one day
The course is highly engaging - there hasn't yet been a lecture I haven't enjoyed
Believe, Persevere, Achieve. For me, the University embodies that ethos
If you love something and enjoy learning about it, go for it!
I’m looking forward to doing more of what keeps the fire in my belly burning!
The course allows me to talk about topics that I’m really passionate about
Studying here was one of the best decisions I have ever made
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