Sociology (PhD)
Learn advanced techniques in qualitative and quantitative methods. You’ll pursue coursework and candidacy examinations to supplement your independent research. Your expertise in sociology will help you research and create a dissertation that will add significantly to a field of sociology.
Our research strengths include:
- ecology, global issues and social movements
- gender, racialization and ethnicity
- sociology of crime and law
- health, aging and society
You have the option of combining this program with the interdisciplinary Cultural, Social and Political Thought PhD.
Admissions
Learn everything you need to know about becoming a UVic grad student, from finding a supervisor to submitting your application.
Sociology PhD admission requirements
Meet our current grad students
Funding
Every year, UVic awards $12 million to help fund graduate students through a combination of:
- UVic fellowships and awards
- teaching assistantships
- research assistantships
Consideration for funding is automatic. A funding offer is normally included with an offer of admission. Doctoral students are normally funded for 4 or 5 years.
Our department offers a limited number of graduate awards and fellowships each year to incoming students. These range from $1,000 to $20,000. Most funding offers include a combination of teaching assistantships, graduate awards and/or fellowships. Sessional teaching may be available for doctoral students in their third or fourth year of study.
Program options
Regular PhD program
You’ll take 7.5 units of coursework (5 courses) and write a thesis in this program. There is a 3-part candidacy examination.
Cultural, Social & Political Thought option
In this program, you’ll complete coursework from across the university to address key issues in the fields of culture, society and politics.
You can take this interdisciplinary program option in addition to your conventional thesis project.
Participating departments include Anthropology, English, Environmental Studies, French, Germanic and Slavic Studies, History, Political Science and Sociology.
Co-op
UVic is home to the largest co-op graduate program in Canada. Learn about combining co-op placements with your PhD on the co-op for graduate students site.
Grad students are also eligible for the shorter Work Experience Program.