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.
Entry requirements
For Academic year 202526
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.
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.
BTEC
RQF 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.
Access to HE Diploma
60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at Level 3, of which 30 must be at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit
Irish Leaving Certificate
Irish Leaving Certificate (first awarded 2017)
H1 H2 H2 H2 H3 H3
Scottish Qualification
Offers will be based on exams being taken at the end of S6. Subjects taken and qualifications achieved in S5 will be reviewed. Careful consideration will be given to an individual’s academic achievement, taking in to account the context and circumstances of their pre-university education.
Please see the University of Southampton’s Curriculum for Excellence Scotland Statement (PDF) for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.
Cambridge Pre-U
D3 M2 M2 in three Principal subjects
Cambridge Pre-U additional information
Cambridge Pre-U's can be used in combination with other qualifications such as A Levels to achieve the equivalent of the typical offer
Cambridge Pre-U Offer Contextual
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.
Welsh Baccalaureate
ABB from 3 A levels or AB from two A levels and B from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate
Welsh 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.
T-Level
There are no T levels accepted for this programme.
Other requirements
GCSE requirements
Applicants must hold GCSE English language (or GCSE English) (minimum grade 4/C) and mathematics (minimum grade 4/C)
Find the equivalent international qualifications for our entry requirements.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language, you must show that you can use English to the level we require. Visit our English language pages to find out which qualifications we accept and how you can meet our requirements.
If you are taking the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), you must get at least the following scores:
IELTS score requirements
- overall score
- 6.5
- reading
- 6.0
- writing
- 6.0
- speaking
- 6.0
- listening
- 6.0
If you do not meet the English language requirements through a test or qualification, you may be able to meet them by completing one of our pre-sessional English programmes before your course starts.
You might meet our criteria in other ways if you do not have the qualifications we need. Find out more about:
- our Ignite your Journey scheme for students living permanently in the UK (including residential summer school, application support and scholarship)
- skills you might have gained through work or other life experiences (otherwise known as recognition of prior learning)
Find out more about our Admissions Policy.
Mature applicants
We welcome applications from learners of all ages. Students who are aged 21 and over at the start of their undergraduate course are defined as mature by the University of Southampton. We take a holistic assessment of the application looking for academic ability and commitment to study. Typical entry requirements, which may vary from discipline to discipline, includes for example, evidence of recent formal academic qualifications or professional qualifications, relevant work experience or volunteering. You may also be invited to attend an interview with an Admissions Tutor. For some degree programmes, there may also be a Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) requirement. We accept many different academic qualifications. For more information, please contact the Admissions Team.
For Academic year 202627
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.
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.
BTEC
RQF 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.
Access to HE Diploma
60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at Level 3, of which 30 must be at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit
Irish Leaving Certificate
Irish Leaving Certificate (first awarded 2017)
H1 H2 H2 H2 H3 H3
Scottish Qualification
Offers will be based on exams being taken at the end of S6. Subjects taken and qualifications achieved in S5 will be reviewed. Careful consideration will be given to an individual’s academic achievement, taking in to account the context and circumstances of their pre-university education.
Please see the University of Southampton’s Curriculum for Excellence Scotland Statement (PDF) for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.
Cambridge Pre-U
D3 M2 M2 in three Principal subjects
Cambridge Pre-U additional information
Cambridge Pre-U's can be used in combination with other qualifications such as A Levels to achieve the equivalent of the typical offer
Cambridge Pre-U Offer Contextual
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.
Welsh Baccalaureate
ABB from 3 A levels or AB from two A levels and B from the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales
Welsh 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.
T-Level
There are no T levels accepted for this programme.
Other requirements
GCSE requirements
Applicants must hold GCSE English language (or GCSE English) (minimum grade 4/C) and mathematics (minimum grade 4/C)
Find the equivalent international qualifications for our entry requirements.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language, you must show that you can use English to the level we require. Visit our English language pages to find out which qualifications we accept and how you can meet our requirements.
If you are taking the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), you must get at least the following scores:
IELTS score requirements
- overall score
- 6.5
- reading
- 6.0
- writing
- 6.0
- speaking
- 6.0
- listening
- 6.0
If you do not meet the English language requirements through a test or qualification, you may be able to meet them by completing one of our pre-sessional English programmes before your course starts.
You might meet our criteria in other ways if you do not have the qualifications we need. Find out more about:
- our Ignite your Journey scheme for students living permanently in the UK (including residential summer school, application support and scholarship)
- skills you might have gained through work or other life experiences (otherwise known as recognition of prior learning)
Find out more about our Admissions Policy.
Mature applicants
We welcome applications from learners of all ages. Students who are aged 21 and over at the start of their undergraduate course are defined as mature by the University of Southampton. We take a holistic assessment of the application looking for academic ability and commitment to study. Typical entry requirements, which may vary from discipline to discipline, includes for example, evidence of recent formal academic qualifications or professional qualifications, relevant work experience or volunteering. You may also be invited to attend an interview with an Admissions Tutor. For some degree programmes, there may also be a Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) requirement. We accept many different academic qualifications. For more information, please contact the Admissions Team.
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
Year 1 modules
You must study the following modules in year 1:
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 ...
Historical Perspectives: Deviance, Conflict, Censure and Control
This interdisciplinary module is concerned with the interrelationships between society, social change, and social censure. A central theme running the module is that we can only make sense of contemporary social change (and responses to it) today if we ha...
Inequalities in Everyday Worlds
The module offers a firmly intersectional approach to inequality offering, week-on-week, multiple frames by which to consider experiences and meanings of inequality. By the end of the module, students will have been introduced to 8 key topics for understa...
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...
Key Thinkers and Big Ideas: Foundations in Social Theory
The module introduces you to key thinkers and their contributions to social theory, their ideas about the social world and the way it works. These ideas provide the building blocks for your degree whether you are studying sociology or criminology. Differ...
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, international relations, politics, population sciences, social policy and sociology. The module will present a r...
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...
Year 2 modules
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...
Education Policy and Reforms: Global Experiences and Local Contexts
Hardly any country is not undergoing or has not undergone education reforms at various levels today. In that case, how is school-based management implemented similarly or differently in the Philippines and that in Columbia? What are the best ways to suppo...
Gender and Society
The module will introduce perspectives on gender drawn from social theory, and explore contemporary debates about gender and society.
Gender, Power and Politics
How can we understand the role of gender in political systems? Why is it important to acknowledge the intersections of gender with race, class, sexuality and disability? What can/should be done about male over-representation in legislatures worldwide? Why...
Geographies of Wellbeing, Inequality and Place
In contemporary neoliberal societies individuals are increasingly positioned as responsible for their own wellbeing. In the first half of this module we look at how health and wellbeing are often reduced down to a lifestyle choice. But is health and wellb...
Intersectional Perspectives on Modernisation Processes
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...
Introduction to Experiments in Social Science
This module introduces the students to the theory and practice of experimental methods in Social Sciences. It delivers an overview of prevalent approaches, specifically lab, field, and survey experiments, providing a solid introduction to experimental met...
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.
New Cultural Geographies
The module will look at key concepts in cultural geography.
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...
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...
Social Stratification, Divisions and Resilience
This module looks at the changing nature of material, social and cultural inequalities in contemporary societies, how they affect our everyday lives, and how we respond to them.
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...
Year 3 modules
You must study the following modules in year 3:
Dissertation
Your dissertation will give you an opportunity to conduct a small-scale, independent empirical research project on a topic which you choose relevant to your particular degree programme. Guided by an academic supervisor, you will use appropriate methodolog...
Real World Research: Designing Your Dissertation
This module provides students with the practical foundations for designing and planning the empirical research for their final year dissertation. It does this supported by research insights and examples from staff from their own research experience. The ...
You must also choose from the following modules in year 3:
Applied Social Quantitative Analysis
This module will develop the skills of the student as a social researcher to conduct in depth analyses of secondary, large scale datasets, leading up to the use of these techniques in the final year dissertations and ensuring that students have appropriat...
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
Education Policy and Reforms: Global Experiences and Local Contexts
Hardly any country is not undergoing or has not undergone education reforms at various levels today. In that case, how is school-based management implemented similarly or differently in the Philippines and that in Columbia? What are the best ways to suppo...
Employability: Successful futures in Sociology and Criminology
This module provides students with the practical foundations for identifying, reflecting and putting into action the key skills and competencies they have gained through their degree and mapping these to real-world postgraduate opportunities. It does this...
Exploring the Hidden Assumptions in Education
Education is closely connected to some of the most profound questions of the human experience and social life more broadly. In this module you are invited on an exciting journey to explore the ethical assumptions, truth claims, and purposes that underlie ...
Gender and Society
The module will introduce perspectives on gender drawn from social theory, and explore contemporary debates about gender and society.
Gender, Power and Politics
How can we understand the role of gender in political systems? Why is it important to acknowledge the intersections of gender with race, class, sexuality and disability? What can/should be done about male over-representation in legislatures worldwide? Why...
Geographies of Nature: food, animals and other nonhuman life
This is a Module not about learning new facts or figures, or necessarily huge swathes of substantive knowledge about food consumption and food production (a dominant theme). Rather it invites you to develop a repertoire of theories and concepts to think c...
Geographies of Social Justice, Welfare and Rights
The module will introduce students to critical geographical themes as they relate to welfare, rights and social justice, including the state and territorialisation, community, confinement, deinstitutionalisation, landscapes of care, fragmentation and loca...
Global Terrorism and Political Violence
The module will introduce you to some of the central themes and concepts in the study of terrorism, extremism, and political violence – spanning history, geographies, and the ideological spectrum.
Intersectional Perspectives on Modernisation Processes
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...
Introduction to Experiments in Social Science
This module introduces the students to the theory and practice of experimental methods in Social Sciences. It delivers an overview of prevalent approaches, specifically lab, field, and survey experiments, providing a solid introduction to experimental met...
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.
Migration and Development
GGES3020 is a multidisciplinary unit designed for students with an interest in human migration and development and the interaction between the two. The module will emphasise the importance of place and scale in its approach to these themes, although it wi...
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...
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 b...
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 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...
Social Stratification, Divisions and Resilience
This module looks at the changing nature of material, social and cultural inequalities in contemporary societies, how they affect our everyday lives, and how we respond to them.
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...
The Creative Economy
GGES3021 is a module designed for students who are interested in the creative economy and how it is being shaped by geographical processes related to globalisation, digitisation and flexibilisation. The module will cover topics that are central to underst...
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...
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)
Course time
How you'll spend your course time:
Year 1
Study time
Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for year 1:
How we'll assess you
- dissertations
- essays
- individual and group projects
- oral presentations
- written exams
Your assessment breakdown
Year 1:
Year 2
Study time
Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for year 2:
How we'll assess you
- dissertations
- essays
- individual and group projects
- oral presentations
- written exams
Your assessment breakdown
Year 2:
Year 3
Study time
Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for year 3:
How we'll assess you
- dissertations
- essays
- individual and group projects
- oral presentations
- written exams
Your assessment breakdown
Year 3:
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.
- Advice worker
- Community development worker
- Housing manager
- Police officer
- Policy officer
- Social researcher
- Youth worker
- Detective
- Prison officer
- Probation officer
- 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
- 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
*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.
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.
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Bursaries, scholarships and other funding
If you're a UK or EU student and your household income is under £36,200 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
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
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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:
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