Sociology and Demography (Taught)

The information provided on this page was correct at the time of publication (November 2025). For complete and up-to-date information about this course, please visit the relevant University of Oxford course page via www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ucas.

The MPhil in Sociology and Demography is a taught course combining sociological theory and demographic analysis, with topics like fertility, migration, health, and inequality, and training in life course research and advanced statistics.

The course will introduce you to contemporary theories and research methods on the intersection of sociology and demography. This advanced 21-month programme takes a life-course and multilevel approach, aiming to integrate micro and macro issues in analysing social problems and the causes and consequences of population change.

The MPhil will provide you with a solid foundation for a wide range of careers, including those in academia, preparing you for doctoral work in sociology and demography and research-intense jobs.

The curriculum emphasises:

• population-level analysis and demographic measures

• a life course approach

• sociological analysis as the key approach to explanation

• advanced quantitative methods.

This emphasis is reflected in the compulsory papers.

Course structure
The course consists of five core papers in the first year, two option papers over both years of the course, a replication project in the second year and a MPhil thesis, a new and substantial analysis of up to 30,000 words on a sociological and/or demographic topic.

There is a significant element of self-directed study, including further reading and research, that will complement the hours of teaching. The time spent on further research will be determined partly by your academic background so far, and partly by your own interest in and curiosity for the subject.

Most of the classes and lectures will take place at the Department of Sociology. You will have the opportunity to attend regular weekly lunchtime sociology seminars with many interesting speakers participating.