About this course

Explore the relationship between social behaviour and crime with this fusion of 2 fascinating disciplines. On this BSc degree, you’ll examine our perception of what is right or wrong, and how this changes over time and between cultures. You’ll learn from expert tutors who are consulted by the government, criminal justice agencies and the media. A wide range of rewarding sociology and criminology-related careers await, including social and police work.

This programme is highly flexible, allowing you to develop your own specialist research interests in both sociology (examining the identities, relationships and practices within our world) and criminology (the study of crime, law enforcement and the criminal justice system).

You’ll find many optional modules to choose from, including:

Criminological Psychology
Race and Ethnicity
Violent and Sexual Offenders

Your core modules will help you develop key knowledge and skills in areas such as:

theoretical approaches and perspectives in sociology and criminology
the relationship between individuals, groups and institutions
research methods in social sciences, including quantitative and qualitative research

As part of your degree you can:

take an active part in seminars, workshops and lectures at our interdisciplinary hub, the Institute of Criminal Justice Research
develop your leadership skills and make a difference in our Social Impact Lab
study complementary modules from other areas, such as languages, anthropology or sustainability
study a semester abroad with one of our partner universities in Brazil, Canada or China

We regularly review our courses to ensure and improve quality. This course may be revised as a result of this. Any revision will be balanced against the requirement that the student should receive the educational service expected. Find out why, when, and how we might make changes.

Our courses are regulated in England by the Office for Students (OfS).

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.

Download

ODT

Download 2024-25 Course Description Document

Entry requirements

Academic year filter options

A-levels

ABB

A-levels additional information

Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking.

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: BBB 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.

or

International Baccalaureate Diploma

Pass, with 32 points overall with 16 points at Higher Level

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.

or

BTEC

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

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

DDM in the BTEC National Extended Diploma

Additional information

For BTEC Extended Diplomas, we can only consider these subjects along with specific modules:

Health and Social Care but only if you are taking these 3 modules (Psychological Perspectives/Sociological Perspectives/Policy in Health and Social Care),

Forensic and Criminal Investigation (no specific modules needed)

Uniformed Protective Services/Public Services but please check with us which modules you are taking before applying.

We strongly suggest BTEC applicants doing these subjects contact us before applying to check if you are doing the required modules.

or

Entry requirements filter options

Other requirements

GCSE requirements

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

A-levels

ABB

A-levels additional information

Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking.

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: BBB 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.

or

International Baccalaureate Diploma

Pass, with 32 points overall with 16 points at Higher Level

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.

or

BTEC

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

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

DDM in the BTEC National Extended Diploma

Additional information

For BTEC Extended Diplomas, we can only consider these subjects along with specific modules:

Health and Social Care but only if you are taking these 3 modules (Psychological Perspectives/Sociological Perspectives/Policy in Health and Social Care),

Forensic and Criminal Investigation (no specific modules needed)

Uniformed Protective Services/Public Services but please check with us which modules you are taking before applying.

We strongly suggest BTEC applicants doing these subjects contact us before applying to check if you are doing the required modules.

or

Entry requirements filter options

Other requirements

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

You’ll study a mixture of core and optional modules across sociology and criminology.

Each year you’ll also have the chance to choose modules from other courses at the University. This will give you valuable opportunities to expand your knowledge and create an impressive CV.

Year 1 overview

Your core modules will prepare you for successful study in both disciplines. Topics include:

Understanding Everyday Life
Introduction to Criminology
Criminal Justice Studies
Social Problems and Social Policy
Transformations of the Modern World
Foundations of Social and Anthropological Thought
Introduction to Quantitative Methods

Optional modules will allow you to delve deeper into some of the most relevant topics of our time. Choose from subjects like:

Population and Society
Global Health
Human Origins

Year 2 overview

Go broader and deeper into key areas, with core modules including:

Perspectives in Criminology
Social Theory
Research Methods in the Social Sciences
Qualitative Research: Foundations, Principles and Skills

Optional modules allow you to explore subjects that generate news coverage and debate, including:

Gender and Society
Criminological Psychology
Race and Ethnicity
Criminology: Policy and Practice
Globalisation, Inequalities and Power

Year 3 overview

You’ll put your research skills into practice by investigating and writing a 10,000-word dissertation on a subject of your choice.

You’ll also consider the most important processes of social change taking place today in a core module in comparative sociology. Your last core module explores historical and contemporary issues in law enforcement and social control.

Prepare for your chosen career or onward study by selecting modules such as:

The Deserving and Undeserving: Victims and Scroungers in Criminology and Social Policy
Sexuality and Intimacy
Violent and Sexual Offenders
Global Crime and Justice

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

Modules

The modules outlined provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. As a research-led University, we undertake a continuous review of our course to ensure quality enhancement and to manage our resources. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand. Find out why, when and how we might make changes.

For entry in academic year 2025 to 2026

You must study the following modules in year 2:

Criminological Perspectives in Global and Post-colonial Contexts

This module provides you with a critical overview of criminological theory since 1980. It builds on and extends the foundational curriculum which introduced students to the field of criminology.

Introduction to Social Data Analytics

This module will develop understanding of how to quantitatively analyse data in the social sciences, building on the foundations from the research methods modules in the first year. It will be focused around the common methods for data analysis that are n...

Qualitative Research: Methods, Tools and Techniques

This module builds on year 1 research methods teaching. It aims to give students a rigorous critical understanding of a broad range of qualitative data collection and data analysis methods. It covers traditional methods such as interviews and focus groups...

Theorizing The Social World

This module focuses on how social theorists have tried to address particular questions and problems in the social world. What conceptual tools have they developed to help us understand various dimensions of our world from the 19th century through to the ...

What's the Solution? How to Become an Agent for Change in Public Policy

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...

Collective Action and Social Change

In this module you will be able to examine a variety of organisations involved in social change, such as governmental and non-governmental organisations, voluntary organisations, social movement organisations and charitable organisations. You will be help...

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...

Crime Scene Investigation: Methods and Applications

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...

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.

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 will also be used. The module will examine theoretical perspectives o...

Reinventing Democracy: Innovation, Participation and Power

All over the world the ideal of democratic government has higher support than at almost any time in human history. Yet many citizens of democracies are very frustrated with the way the democracy they live in works. It is one thing to recognise the contemp...

Social Enterprise

This is an interactive and practical module aiming to inspire students to social enterprise and entrepreneurship by giving them an experiential introduction to human centred design processes. The emphasis in this module is on the translation of knowled...

Techno Harms: Discrimination, Conspiracy Theories and Extremism

This module introduces you to the concept of ‘techno-harms’ from the disciplines of sociology, criminology, and social policy, with a particular focus on zemiology, to investigate the infliction and perpetuation of technologically induced social harms. Th...

Victims or Perpetrators? Social and Psychological Perspectives on Older People and Crime

This module combines the disciplines of social gerontology, social psychology, and sociology to address the intersection of crime and later life, including experiences of crime and criminal behaviour and social responses to these. It encourages students t...

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:

Study time

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

19%

Scheduled learning & teaching

81%

Independent learning

How we'll assess you

dissertations
essays
individual and group projects
oral presentations
written exams

Your assessment breakdown

Year 1:

63%

Written exam

37%

Coursework

Academic support

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

Course leader

Traute Meyer is the course leader.

Careers and employability

Employability skills

This degree will allow you to develop and evidence subject-specific and targeted employability skills. This includes the required skill set for a range of future careers, further study, or starting your own business.

The skills you can expect to focus on and gain from this course include:

Research
Critical thinking
Self-management
Confidence
Communication
Teamwork
Creativity
EDI leadership
Adaptability
Problem solving
Resilience

The employability and enterprise skills you'll gain from this course are reflected in the Southampton skills model. When you join us you'll be able to use our skills model to track, plan, and benefit your career development and progress.

Download skills overview

Career pathways

Graduates commonly work in a range of organisations or sectors including:

charitable,

counselling and voluntary organisations,

Law Firms,

local and central government,

media companies,

marketing and PR firms,

the NHS,

police and probation services,

schools,

colleges and universities,

social and market research organisations,

the police,

<br>prison and probation services,

the court services,

security services.

Careers directly related to this course:

Advice worker
Community development worker
Housing manager
Police officer
Policy officer
Social researcher
Youth worker
Detective
Prison officer
Probation officer

Wider career opportunities:

Charity officer
Human resources manager
International aid worker
Journalist
Probation officer
Public relations officer
Social worker
Special educational needs coordinator
Border force officer
Intelligence analyst

Example job titles of Southampton BSc Sociology and Criminology graduates*:

Social worker
Custody case worker
Data analyst
Home prevention assistant
Legal assistant
Paralegal
Recruitment consultant
Researcher in background screening
Youth worker

Job prospects for BSc Sociology and Criminology graduates

£26k

Average professional salary

75%

In a skilled profession or further study

98%

Graduate employment rate

*Example graduate job titles and job prospect statistics taken from The Graduate Outcomes Survey, which gathers information about the activities and perspectives of graduates 15 months after finishing their course.

Year in employment

You can apply for a year in employment placement on this course. This is a great way to improve your employability and confidence in your career prospects. Recommended by 100% of students who've taken part, you can apply for a UK or global placement in any sector.

Careers services and support

We are a top 20 UK university for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022). Our Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise team will support you. 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.

Your career ideas and graduate job opportunities may change while you're at university. So it is important to take time to regularly reflect on your goals, speak to people in industry and seek advice and up-to-date information from Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise professionals at the University.

More about careers support

Fees, costs and funding

Tuition fees

Fees for a year's study:

UK students pay £9,535.
EU and international students pay £24,200.

What your fees pay for

Your tuition fees pay for the full cost of tuition and standard exams.

Find out how to:

Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. There may also be extra costs for retake and professional exams.

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 Hub 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.

How to apply

When you apply use:

UCAS course code: LL63
UCAS institution code: S27

Apply for this course

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

Related courses

Sociology and Criminology (BSc) is a course in the Sociology, social policy and criminology subject area. Here are some other courses within this subject area:

c

BSc

Criminology

BSc

Criminology and Psychology

l

BA

Liberal Arts

s

BSc

Sociology and Criminology (BSc)

About this course

Learn more about this subject area

Sociology, social policy and criminology

Course location

Awarding body

Download the Course Description Document

Entry requirements

For Academic year 202526

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

Additional information

Access to HE Diploma

Irish Leaving Certificate

Irish Leaving Certificate (first awarded 2017)

Scottish Qualification

Cambridge Pre-U

Cambridge Pre-U additional information

Welsh Baccalaureate

Welsh Baccalaureate contextual offer

T-Level

Other requirements

GCSE requirements

English language requirements

IELTS score requirements

For Academic year 202627

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

Additional information

Access to HE Diploma

Irish Leaving Certificate

Irish Leaving Certificate (first awarded 2017)

Scottish Qualification

Cambridge Pre-U

Cambridge Pre-U additional information

Welsh Baccalaureate

Welsh Baccalaureate contextual offer

T-Level

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

For entry in academic year 2025 to 2026

Year 2 modules

Criminological Perspectives in Global and Post-colonial Contexts

Introduction to Social Data Analytics

Qualitative Research: Methods, Tools and Techniques

Theorizing The Social World

What's the Solution? How to Become an Agent for Change in Public Policy

Children and Society

Collective Action and Social Change

Comparative Youth Justice

Crime Scene Investigation: Methods and Applications

Criminological Psychology

Issues in Law Enforcement and Social Control

Race and Ethnicity in Society

Reinventing Democracy: Innovation, Participation and Power

Social Enterprise

Techno Harms: Discrimination, Conspiracy Theories and Extremism

Victims or Perpetrators? Social and Psychological Perspectives on Older People and Crime

Year 3 modules

Dissertation