Ranked Top 20 amongst English universities in the 2023 National Student Survey.
Make an Enquiry
Enquiry form could not be loaded
The BA (Hons) Criminology is an undergraduate degree designed to allow you to delve into the fascinating and diverse world of criminology, exploring areas such as drugs, cybercrime and terrorism. With this course you’ll be able to develop an understanding of contemporary criminology concepts and theories, looking at how they are viewed from a variety of perspectives. If you have aspirations of working in the criminal justice sector, or as a criminologist, and want to build a strong overview of criminology and its effects within modern society, then this course is an excellent place to start.
A Level: BBC
BTEC: DMM
UCAS Tariff Points*: 112
GCSE: English Language Grade C/4 or above, or equivalent
Requirements for the Foundation Year differ from those listed.
*From three A Levels or equivalent
Designed by expert criminologists, this three year degree programme will allow you to look at areas such as drugs, cybercrime, migration, mass incarceration, terrorism, and trafficking in detail. You’ll get to consider how these areas are viewed by groups from various backgrounds and with different outlooks, including how gender, race and cultural perspectives and issues can impact opinion.
This course is particularly interesting if you’re looking to work in the criminal justice sector or associated fields. You’ll benefit from learning in various ways, giving you a well-rounded understanding of both the theory and practice of criminology. This will enable you to develop a comprehensive understanding of criminology and apply this to current socio-economic policies and conditions.
You will learn through a variety of group sessions, workshops, digital media and a wide range of learning resources, completing a research methods module and a dissertation or research project in your final year. In addition to your knowledge of criminology, you will gain a wide range of analytical, research, problem solving and communication skills, which are in high demand by employers.
Statistics from the 2023 National Student Survey show that 96% of Policing and Criminology students were positive about learning opportunities on their course and 91% were positive about the teaching on their course.
You can choose to take an additional Foundation Year before you start your course. This introductory year focuses on developing the key skills required to study at degree level. You will study six modules and on successful completion progress onto any of our
three year degrees.
Semester 1
Semester 2
Choose one*:
*Options available are indicative and available subject to numbers and the campus chosen. Students will also complete the Shaping Skills for Success programme.
Semester 1
Semester 2
Semester 1
Semester 2
Semester 1
Semester 2
Choose two*:
*All options are indicative and subject to availability.
Foundations of Criminology
This module introduces criminology including the importance of early criminology concepts, theories and ideas.
Society and Punishment
Demonstrating the understanding and knowledge of theories, concepts and ideas related to punishment, by describing and locating them in a range of contexts. Also, how they can contribute to addressing social issues.
Media, Crime and Control
This module demonstrates the understanding and knowledge of the relationships between crime, criminalisation, victimisation and punishment within the context of media representations.
Drugs in the Criminal Justice System
Looking at the relationship between illicit drugs and crime. Also, the effect of drug policies on marginalised communities, and the links between illicit drugs and cultural contexts.
Criminal Justice in Modern Britain
This module will give an overview of the Criminal Justice System (including the police, prisons, probation service and the crown prosecution service) and its impact on marginalised communities and roles of victims in the system.
Contemporary Criminology
In this module we discuss and evaluate some of the challenges commonly encountered in the application of contemporary criminological theory. Including rural criminology, queer criminology, radical criminology, and cultural criminology.
Gender, Sexuality and Crime
This module helps to develop a critical understanding of traditional criminological theory through feminist critiques and perspectives, as well as of feminist critiques of criminology outside of the global Northwest. Also looks at the different patterns of victimisation and offending amongst women and men.
Evolution of the Prison System
This module covers the current crisis of imprisonment in Britain and evaluates the British prison system, specifically in the context of rehabilitation and resettlement. It also looks at penal populism, mass incarceration and the over-representation of ethnic minorities, and the mentally ill, all within a global context.
Research Methods
A module to look at conducting research in the field of criminology and criminal justice. As well as looking at the strengths and weaknesses of the application of quantitative and qualitative methods and the design of research to the study of criminological questions, including the consideration of ethical issues.
Youth and Crime
This module looks at youth justice issues such as issues of social control mechanisms and punishment in the context of youth. It also covers the criminalisation of young people through a prism of race, gender and socio-economic class, and the place of youth in the city and public space.
Zemiology
This is the study of social harms, which includes the role of the victim in criminal justice, the victimisation of women and girls and LGBTQ communities, the victimisation of the poor due to social policy and more.
Cybercrime
Looking at the impact of cyberspace on the globalisation of crime and the effect that cyberspace has had on enabling ‘traditional’ and creating new opportunities for criminal behaviour.
Urban Criminology
This module covers all aspects of urban criminology in the context of issues such as urban youth, segregation in the city, homelessness and marginalisation, protests and riots.
Migration
A module about the processes of migration, their diversity, and consequences for sending and receiving societies by synthesising and critically evaluating them in a range of different contexts.
Race, Ethnicity and Religion
We discuss topics including what is race and ethnicity, critical race theory, race and racism, religion and belonging, immigration and the modern invention of race.
Terrorism
This module looks at key definitions of terrorism, counter-terrorism and state terrorism. It also includes the emergence of terrorism and political violence in different parts of the world.
The Politics of Policing
We look at the role of the police, the historical development and contemporary transformation of the police, and the development of alternative policing provision.
The course demands show you the requirements, prior knowledge and commitments our course will involve.
To get a full picture of how studying this course works during the year, take a look at our course date breakdowns.
At the end of each semester you’ll get a week for revision before two weeks of assessments.
Exams: Two hours, ten multiple choice questions and two long-form questions
Coursework: Essay, project report or portfolio
Oral presentation
We run mock assessments to allow you to practise before too.
You must pass each module to be awarded your degree. A pass mark is 40% and above.
70% 1
60-69% 2.1
50-59% 2.2
40-49% 3
We care about your career, which is why we offer support with job applications and other work experience opportunities as soon as you accept your place.
Discover more
Applications for all our undergraduate courses are open.
2024/25:
UK - £9,250 per year
International (London) - £17,550 per year
International (non-London) - £16,700 per year
If you need to fund your studies with a student loan you can apply via Student Finance.
We have students from over 120 different countries throughout our campuses, with a dedicated team to help international students.