About this course

Explore the fascinating worlds of crime, the criminal mind and deviant behaviour. Examine the different, and sometimes contradictory, views on the psychology behind our nature and the choices we make. These are complementary subjects, which often feature in the media and popular culture.

Criminology looks at the origins and patterns of criminality, the justice system and the reasons for committing crime. Psychology examines the mind to try to explain and predict human interaction and behaviour choice.

On this criminology and psychology course, you’ll study:

criminal behaviour
victimisation and society's reaction
the socio-legal context of crime
the future of social control

You’ll also examine the major views and topics within psychology, including:

cognitive psychology
developmental psychology
social psychology

As part of your degree you can:

use our research facilities, which include eye-movement recording and virtual reality labs
examine cyber and international crime
study abroad for a semester in Brazil, Canada or China
challenge yourself and help make a difference with our Social Impact Lab
take specialist modules from other disciplines to unlock a range of career options

The University is also home to the Institute of Criminal Justice. You can take part in seminars, workshops and lectures, and explore the relationships between criminal justice scholarship, research, policy, and practice.

This programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society. It will open the door to further research or careers in public service, criminal justice and beyond.

Accreditations

British Psychological Society (BPS)

Course location

This course is based at Highfield.

Awarding body

This qualification is awarded by the University of Southampton.

Download the Course Description Document

The Course Description Document details your course overview, your course structure and how your course is taught and assessed.

Changes due to COVID-19

Although the COVID-19 situation is improving, any future restrictions could mean we might have to change the way parts of our teaching and learning take place in 2022 to 2023. This means that some of the information on this course page may be subject to change.

Find out more on our COVID advice page.

ODT

Download 2022-23 Course Description Document

Entry requirements

A-levels

AAB

A-levels additional information

Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking.

More information about A-levels

A-levels with Extended Project Qualification

If you are taking an EPQ in addition to 3 A levels, you will receive the following offer in addition to the standard A level offer: ABB and grade A in the EPQ

A-levels contextual offer

We are committed to ensuring that all applicants with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise an applicant's potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme, as follows: ABB

International Baccalaureate Diploma

Pass, with 34 points overall with 17 points at Higher Level

More information about International Baccalaureate Diploma

International Baccalaureate contextual offer

We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

International Baccalaureate Career Programme (IBCP) statement

Offers will be made on the individual Diploma Course subject(s) and the career-related study qualification. The CP core will not form part of the offer. Where there is a subject pre-requisite(s), applicants will be required to study the subject(s) at Higher Level in the Diploma course subject and/or take a specified unit in the career-related study qualification. Applicants may also be asked to achieve a specific grade in those elements. Please see the University of Southampton International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (IBCP) Statement for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.

BTEC

D in the BTEC National Extended Certificate plus AA from two A levels

DD in the BTEC National Diploma plus A from one A-level

DDD in the BTEC National Extended Diploma

RQF BTEC

Additional information

For BTEC Extended Diplomas, we can only consider these subjects: Health and Social Care, Public Services, or Forensic and Criminal Investigation as these include certain relevant modules.

We strongly suggest you check with us if your BTEC qualification is in a different subject before applying.

More information about BTEC

QCF BTEC

D in the BTEC Subsidiary Diploma plus AA from two A levels

DD in the BTEC Diploma plus A grade from one A-level

DDD in the BTEC Extended Diploma

Entry requirements filter options

Other requirements

UK students

International students

Other ways to qualify

GCSE requirements

Applicants must hold GCSE English language (or GCSE English) (minimum grade 4/C) and mathematics (minimum grade 4/C)

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

Course structure

Each year, you’ll study modules in both criminology and psychology, and specialised modules that span both disciplines.

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 and compulsory crime and psychology modules. These will introduce you to criminology and the workings of the criminal justice system, and to some of the most important findings, theories and research in psychology.

You’ll study:

Introduction to Psychology
Understanding Everyday Life
Behavioural Neuroscience
Criminal Justice Studies
Individual Differences
Introduction to Criminology
Research Methods and Data Analysis

Year 2 overview

You’ll study qualitative and quantitative research methods in detail, and learn about context and policy in criminology.

You’ll also examine:

Criminological Psychology
Crime and Criminal Justice: Historical Perspective
Developmental Psychology
Language and Memory

You can also choose from optional modules such as:

Criminology: Policy and Practice
Perception
Gender and Society
Cognitive Neuroscience

Year 3 overview

You’ll put your academic skills into practice with a dissertation that combines psychology with criminology. With help from an experienced supervisor, you'll prepare original research that meets the requirements of the British Psychological Society.

You’ll study law enforcement, social control, and controversial issues like domestic violence and policing minority groups. You’ll also look at current issues in clinical psychology.

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
Intergroup Relations and Interpersonal Influence
Globalisation, Inequalities and Power

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

Modules

Changes due to COVID-19

Find out more on our COVID advice page.

For entry in Academic Year 2022-23

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

You must study the following modules in year 1:

Behavioural Neuroscience

The module aims to develop the themes introduced in the Introduction to Psychology Module in semester 1. The module integrates the approaches and findings of biological psychology in an attempt to understand the biological factors that explain why people...

Delivering Justice: Mapping the Criminal Justice System

In this module you will develop an understanding of the England and Wales criminal justice system, with a particular focus on its philosophies, institutional practices and processes and outcomes. You will gain an understanding of how the criminal justice ...

Individual Differences

The course covers the topics of personality and intelligence from the perspective of individual differences. Some research psychologists explore the ways in which people are the same and seek to draw general conclusions about human nature. However...

Interrogating Crime: An Introduction to Criminology

This module provides you with an introduction to the field of criminology including its origins and how subject areas such as sociology and psychology inform criminological study and our understanding of crime. The module explores the different ways in wh...

Introduction to Psychology

Introduction to Psychology will touch on a number of different topics including The Science of Psychology, Sensation, Perception, Memory, Metacognition, Social Cognition, Attitudes and Emotions, Interpersonal processes, Development & Health Psychology, an...

Simple Liars, Damned Liars and Experts: the use of empirical research in social science

A key skill of a social scientist is to be able to assess the quality of evidence presented based on strong methodological foundations. We need to understand what constitutes evidence, including how it can be produced, agreed, disputed, disseminated and m...

Understanding the Social World

This module lays down the foundations for conducting social research in any discipline within the social sciences, focused around criminology, economics, international relations, politics, population sciences, social policy and sociology. The module will ...

What's the problem? Debating responses to Contemporary Social Challenges

The analysis of social problems is a key area of sociological and criminological investigation. However, not all problems experienced by individuals are recognised as social problems by society and not all publicly recognised social problems are also disc...

You must study the following modules in year 2:

Criminological Psychology

This module encourages you to take an in-depth look at the way psychology has been used to explain and control crime. We will explore the way psychological principles can be applied to such issues as violence, murder, serial killing and the role of the c...

Culture, Communication and Resistance

Anthropology actively studies people in real-life settings in order to investigate the crucial roles that culture and social organisation play in their lives. Sociology actively pursues strong theoretical perspectives which further explores the relationsh...

Developmental Psychology

This module will develop your understanding and knowledge of development across childhood, adolescence and adulthood. We will present historical and current research studies and explain how these link to related theoretical frameworks. The module will e...

Perspectives in Criminology

This module focuses upon the contemporary development of criminology as a discipline and the range of perspectives and theories that form part of it. These include traditional and more radical sociological and criminological theories. One of the pre-re...

Qualitative Research: Foundations, Principles and Methods

This module has two goals. First to teach students the foundations, principals and methods of qualitative research. Second to support students in identifying a topic and designing a research project for their third year dissertation. One of the pre-req...

Research Methods and Data Analysis III

The lectures cover theory, terminology, calculations for statistical tests, concepts relating to research methods and the use of SPSS. This module will focus on understanding rationale behind different statistical procedures, discriminating between di...

You must also choose from the following modules in year 2:

Children and Society

This module is designed to introduce you to some of the key concepts and debates surrounding children and childhood. It will provide you an opportunity to develop an analytical and critical understanding of the theoretical frameworks, research, policy and...

Cognitive Neuroscience

This second-year module will present a broad introduction to the field of cognitive neuroscience. This module will focus on how psychological theories of the mind are informed by neuropsychological and neuroscientific evidence. Topics covered include: hem...

Comparative Youth Justice

The youth of today' has long been a source of curiosity to older generations, and sociologists and criminologists are no exception to this trend. Over the past 100 years, there have been attempts both to explain society's fascination with the younger gene...

Gender & Society

The module will introduce sociological perspectives on gender and to contemporary debates about gender and society.

Race and Ethnicity in Society

This module will explore the issues of race, racism, racial conflict, and race relations in contemporary Britain and worldwide. Although we will mainly refer to Britain, global examples from Europe, the US, the Caribbean, Africa, and South America will be...

You must study the following modules in year 3:

Current issues in Clinical Psychology

The module will provide an introduction to adult psychopathology, to present the psychological and biological models that have been developed to explain a variety of psychological disorders, and to examine both the empirical foundation of these models and...

Dissertation (CrimPsych)

This module provides students with an opportunity to conduct a small-scale, independent research project, working under the guidance of an experienced supervisor. Students will: - Conduct an in-depth literature review combining both Criminological and...

Issues in Law Enforcement and Social Control

This module considers a range of issues in the area of the sociology of the policy and policing and more broadly the sociology of social control - issues, include domestic violence, public order and policing minority groups.

You must also choose from the following modules in year 3:

Advanced Quantitative Research Skills

The Advanced Quantitative Research Skills module is focused on extending existing skills in analyzing data from quantitative research. The module consists of two parts. In the first part programming skills in R are being learned. In the second, students w...

Children and Society

Class Structure and Social Inequality

This module looks at the changing nature of material, social and cultural inequality in British society, and how it affects our everyday lives.

Comparative Sociology

This module is concerned with the development of modern societies and the nature of 'modernity'. It will draw on the writings of contemporary sociologists in order to consider what the most important processes of social change taking place are and how the...

Intergroup Relations and Interpersonal Influence

This is an advanced module that exposes students to the scientific study of intergroup relations and interpersonal influence. The module will cover research illustrating the psychological underpinnings of persuasion, conformity, obedience, group/group-mem...

Introduction to Educational Psychology

This module aims to provide a descriptive and critical overview of the practice of educational psychology in the UK and to highlight some of the key debates.

Multisensory Perception in Real and Virtual Worlds

This course explores the fascinating world of perception, within the natural world and in virtual and augmented environments. Students will understand how we use our senses - vision, sound, touch and taste - to decipher information about the objects, scen...

Penology

Penology is the study of punishment, in prison and in the community. Students are encouraged to think critically about the multiple purposes and debatable effectiveness of our contemporary modes of punishment, and to understand why this 'end product' of t...

Perspectives in Human Animal Interactions

The module will draw on the student’s prior learning with regard to various psychological areas; including but not restricted to, learning , attitude, attachment, Clinical and behaviour change. An introduction to animal behaviour and welfare will be provi...

Project-Based Introduction to Web Programming for Behaviour Researchers

This module adopts a project-based approach. Through building the first project, the basic rules and syntax of the five web technologies (HTML5, CSS, PHP, MySQL, and JavaScript) are gradually introduced as they are used in the project. Subsequent projec...

Psychology of Advertising

Advertising is an everyday and significant phenomenon. Sponsors hire agencies to inform us about, and persuade us to buy, innumerable branded products and services on the market, though a variety of mass media. Advertisements also urge us to donate to cha...

Race and Ethnicity in Society

Sexuality and Intimacy

This module is concerned with different anthropological and sociological approaches to studying two important areas of human experience, namely sexuality and intimacy. We explore the relationship between sex, love and intimacy, taking into consideration ...

Social and Affective Neuroscience

Humans are adapted to be highly social. We interact with a number of other people everyday, and successful social interactions depend on the ability to infer other's mental and emotional state from limited cues. Social and affective neuroscience applies t...

Social and Psychological Approaches to Understanding Sexual Health

This module will help you to develop graduate attributes, including: - academic attributes – ability to critically appraise knowledge claims based on qualitative and quantitative methods; and - communication skills – ability to communicate research desi...

State and Society in Contemporary Russia

This module explores the evolution of state and society in Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union, focusing both on state-society relations and on wide-ranging social divisions . The early post-Soviet period was characterised by massive social, pol...

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

Societal sensitivity regarding victims in the UK has grown in recent decades. In the UK new policies and legislation have emerged at all levels in the criminal justice system with the aim of putting the victim at the centre of the criminal justice process...

Violent and Sexual Offenders

Would you like to understand why people - mostly men - are violent, or commit rape, or sexually abuse young children? Are people who do such things mentally ill? What might have happened to them in their lives that makes them commit such serious offences...

Learning and assessment

The learning activities for this course include the following:

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

How you'll spend your course time:

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Study time

Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for year 1:

18%

Scheduled learning & teaching

82%

Independent learning

How we'll assess you

dissertations
essays
individual and group projects
oral presentations
written exams

Your assessment breakdown

Year 1:

59%

Written exam

41%

Coursework

Academic support

You’ll be supported by a personal academic tutor and have access to a senior tutor.

Course leader

Michelle Newberry is the course leader.

Careers

When you pass your final dissertation module and complete this course with at least a 2:2 degree, you’ll be eligible for graduate Chartered Membership with the British Psychological Society (BPS). This stands out on a CV and provides access to career and training events at the BPS, which will widen your criminology and psychology career options.

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
clinical, forensic and occupational psychology
criminal justice
government
health and occupational psychologies
police
research and education
social services and welfare

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

We offer internships and placement opportunities to help our graduates gain valuable work experience. Our students recently took paid internships with the Office for National Statistics.

You could also choose to take a Year in Employment, which is a paid work placement between your second and third year.

Fees, costs and funding

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:

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

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.

Criminology and Psychology (BSc)

About this course

Accreditations

British Psychological Society (BPS)

Course location

Awarding body

Download the Course Description Document

Changes due to COVID-19

Entry requirements

For Academic year 202324

A-levels

A-levels additional information

A-levels with Extended Project Qualification

A-levels contextual offer

International Baccalaureate Diploma

International Baccalaureate contextual offer

International Baccalaureate Career Programme (IBCP) statement

BTEC

RQF BTEC

Additional information

QCF BTEC

Access to HE Diploma

Access to HE additional information

Irish Leaving Certificate

Irish Leaving Certificate (first awarded 2017)

Irish Leaving Certificate (first awarded 2016)

Scottish Qualification

Cambridge Pre-U

Cambridge Pre-U additional information

Welsh Baccalaureate

Welsh Baccalaureate additional information

Welsh Baccalaureate contextual offer

Other requirements

GCSE requirements

English language requirements

IELTS score requirements

Got a question?

Course structure

Year 1 overview

Year 2 overview

Year 3 overview

Modules

Changes due to COVID-19

For entry in Academic Year 2022-23

Year 1 modules

Behavioural Neuroscience

Delivering Justice: Mapping the Criminal Justice System

Individual Differences

Interrogating Crime: An Introduction to Criminology

Introduction to Psychology

Simple Liars, Damned Liars and Experts: the use of empirical research in social science

Understanding the Social World

What's the problem? Debating responses to Contemporary Social Challenges

Year 2 modules

Criminological Psychology

Culture, Communication and Resistance

Developmental Psychology

Perspectives in Criminology

Qualitative Research: Foundations, Principles and Methods

Research Methods and Data Analysis III

Children and Society

Cognitive Neuroscience

Comparative Youth Justice

Gender & Society

Race and Ethnicity in Society

Year 3 modules

Current issues in Clinical Psychology

Dissertation (CrimPsych)

Issues in Law Enforcement and Social Control

Advanced Quantitative Research Skills

Children and Society

Class Structure and Social Inequality

Comparative Sociology

Intergroup Relations and Interpersonal Influence

Introduction to Educational Psychology

Multisensory Perception in Real and Virtual Worlds

Penology

Perspectives in Human Animal Interactions

Project-Based Introduction to Web Programming for Behaviour Researchers

Psychology of Advertising