MA Sociology (Inventive Urban Research)​

This MA is designed for students interested in new ways of exploring and understanding the social world through visual, sensory, and other experimental approaches. You will draw on urban sociology to examine the meaning of cities, urban life and culture.

• Combining lectures and seminars with practical sessions and workshop-based projects, this MA will help you develop a hands-on approach to sociological research. You’ll gain skills in methods which could be used in public sector contexts, art or media research, design or commercial application
• You’ll develop the ability to carry out empirical research and present it publicly in a variety of media and materials. You’ll engage with sociology as an inventive research practice, using creative research methods to address classic and changing sociological problems 
• You’ll engage in current debates about sociological methodology, including the impact of visual, digital and other technologies and will be encouraged to build to on these debates through your own inventive practice
• As well as presenting your ideas through writing, you’ll have the opportunity to produce different outputs, including film/video, photography, sound and multimedia pieces
• You’ll design and reflect on your own research projects. The dissertation allows you to complete a substantive research project on your individual interests, supported by one-to-one supervision with a member of staff
• You’ll have access to post-production and editing stations, as well as equipment for photography and video. You can also borrow audio-visual and media equipment
• You’ll be part of a lively community of researchers and urban practitioners, including the Centre for Urban and Community Research and will join students who have a range of experiences and interests in communication, management, politics, design and cultural industries
• We use research-led teaching to explore the importance of sociological knowledge in understanding cities, urban economies, culture, politics and social justice. Our department is world-leading. We've been rated top 20 in the UK for sociology in the QS World University Rankings 2025