Criminology (BSc)

Got a question?

Please contact our enquiries team if you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.

Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000

You’ll take 8 modules per year, which consist of contact time (lectures, seminars, workshops), preparation for classes, and independent study.

In years 2 and 3, you can choose optional modules from related disciplines or other faculties. You can even learn a new language. You can also choose from a range of interdisciplinary modules, including Business Skills, Life in the Cosmos or Understanding Modern China. These are a great opportunity to expand your knowledge and create an impressive CV.

Year 1 overview

You’ll take core criminology modules, which introduce you to criminal behaviour and the workings of the justice system. You’ll also take modules on how social sciences understand everyday life and an introduction to quantitative methods.

Typical optional modules in this year include:

• Transformations of the Modern World

• Social Problems and Social Policy

• Exploring Other Cultures

• Foundations in Social and Anthropological Theory

Year 2 overview

You’ll study qualitative and quantitative research methods in detail. You'll also look at perspectives and policy in criminology.

 You can also take 1 optional module in the first semester and 3 in the second. These include:

• Criminological Psychology

• Crime and Criminal Justice: Historical Perspective

• Globalisation, Inequalities and Power

• Gender and Society

Year 3 overview

You’ll put your research skills into practice by writing a dissertation on a subject of your choice.

You’ll study law enforcement, social control, and controversial issues like domestic violence and policing minority groups.

The rest of the year’s content consists of optional modules, including:

• The Deserving and Undeserving: Victims and Scroungers in Criminology and Social Policy

• Violent and Sexual Offenders

• Penology

• Global Crime and Justice

Want more detail? See all the modules in the course.

The learning activities for this course include the following:

• lectures
• classes and tutorials
• coursework
• individual and group projects
• independent learning (studying on your own)

Course time

How you'll spend your course time:

Course leader

Paul Bridgen is the course leader.

You’ll develop the knowledge and skills required for criminological and psychology research, including:

• methods and techniques

• ethical principles

• evaluation of results

• communication

• problem solving

This course can lead to management, planning and delivering social and public services and criminal justice. It also offers an excellent foundation for professional training or postgraduate study.

Our graduates embark on diverse career pathways including:

• academia

• community development

• criminal justice

• government

• police

• research and education

• social services and welfare

Contact us to speak to a careers advisor.

Careers services at Southampton

We are a top 20 UK university for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022). Our Careers and Employability Service will support you throughout your time as a student and for up to 5 years after graduation. This support includes:

• work experience schemes

• CV and interview skills and workshops

• networking events

• careers fairs attended by top employers

• a wealth of volunteering opportunities

• study abroad and summer school opportunities

We have a vibrant entrepreneurship culture and our dedicated start-up supporter, Futureworlds, is open to every student.

Work in industry

You’ll have the opportunity to take a Year in Employment, which is a paid work placement between your second and third year.

Tuition fees

Fees for a year's study:

• UK students pay £9,250.
• EU and international students pay £20,340.

What your fees pay for

Your tuition fees pay for the full cost of tuition and all examinations.

Find out how to:

• pay your tuition fees

• calculate your student finances

Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. Explore:

• accommodation costs

• living costs

• budgeting advice

Bursaries, scholarships and other funding

If you're a UK or EU student and your household income is under £25,000 a year, you may be able to get a University of Southampton bursary to help with your living costs. Find out about bursaries and other funding we offer at Southampton.

If you're a care leaver or estranged from your parents, you may be able to get a specific bursary.

Get in touch for advice about student money matters.

Scholarships and grants

You may be able to get a scholarship or grant to help fund your studies.

We award scholarships and grants for travel, academic excellence, or to students from under-represented backgrounds.

Support during your course

The Student Services Centre offers support and advice on money to students. You may be able to access our Student Support fund and other sources of financial support during your course.

Funding for EU and international students

Find out about funding you could get as an international student.

When you apply use:

• UCAS course code: L611
• UCAS institution code: S27

Apply for 2023 entry

What happens after you apply?

We will assess your application on the strength of your:

• predicted grades
• academic achievements
• personal statement
• academic reference

We'll aim to process your application within 2 to 6 weeks, but this will depend on when it is submitted. Applications submitted in January, particularly near to the UCAS equal consideration deadline, might take substantially longer to be processed due to the high volume received at that time.

Equality and diversity

We treat and select everyone in line with our Equality and Diversity Statement.

Got a question?

Please contact our enquiries team if you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.

Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000