Criminology and Sociology BA (Hons)
UCAS code: ML93
What is the relationship between power, harm and social change? How does society work? Are you interested in challenging how ‘crime’ is understood in society? If you want to find the answers to those questions, then the criminology and sociology degree might be for you.
Overview
| Course length: | 3 years full-time |
|---|---|
| Start dates: | September 2026 |
| Location: | Edge Hill University |
| Example offers: | BBC-BBB (A Level) or DMM (BTEC) |
| Subject(s): | CriminologySociology and Social Sciences |
| Faculty: | Arts and Sciences |
| Department: | History, Geography and Social Sciences |
At Edge Hill, we offer more than just theory. You’ll examine real-world issues in rich cultural, political, and historical contexts, gaining insight into how social forces shape everything from the legal system to everyday life. Our programme uniquely combines cutting-edge criminological theory with deep sociological analysis, giving you the tools to critically engage with complex social issues like inequality, justice, and marginalisation.
You’ll investigate how societies define crime, produce social harms, and enforce laws that often reflect structural power rather than fairness. This means questioning the status quo and learning to think like a changemaker.
Experiential learning is at the heart of your journey. You’ll have the opportunity to enhance your studies through exploring historical perspectives through archival work, and engage directly with local communities through activism and outreach projects. These experiences will build your confidence, expand your worldview, and give you real-world insight into the systems you’re studying.
By the time you graduate, you’ll have more than just a degree. You’ll have dual disciplinary expertise, a strong portfolio of research and analytical skills, and a passion for social justice that’s backed by practical experience. Whether you’re aiming for a career in social research, criminal justice, policy, advocacy, or postgraduate study, this course opens the door to a wide range of impactful futures.
Course features
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International students can apply
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Sandwich year option available
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Studying abroad option available
What you'll study
In your first year, we’ll introduce you to the core themes across criminology and sociology. You’ll study the criminal justice process, criminological and sociological theory and political sociology and cultural studies. We’ll look at criminology in the context of a number of case studies of significant changes in society. You may also have the chance to take part in an educational field trip.
In Year 2, you’ll continue to build on your theoretical knowledge. You’ll study critical criminological theory, and learn about armed conflict and political violence, racism, and the relationship between media and our understanding of ‘crime’. We’ll look at class, culture and conflict in British society. You’ll develop the skills that will set you up for a successful graduate career, including getting involved with community activism.
In the final year of your criminology and sociology degree, you’ll be able to bring specialism to your knowledge and skills by shaping the course to your own interests. Explore critical autism studies or issues around childhood and sexuality. Perhaps you’ll choose to focus on crimes of the powerful or the politics of policing and imprisonment.
How you'll study
The main forms of course delivery are lectures and workshop seminars, including videos, presentations and small group work. Students will typically be required to attend for three full days per week.
How you'll be assessed
Assessment methods on this degree include the use of portfolios, essays, information retrieval exercises, seminar presentations, case studies, article reviews and examinations. The range of assessments has been creatively designed to encourage the potential of all students.
Who will be teaching you
The teaching on our course is underpinned by the extensive research activity and field experience of our team.
Members of the criminology and sociology teams in our Department are at the forefront of teaching, research and publishing in a number of areas including states, violence and terrorism; cultural and social theories and perspectives; culture and arts in society; crimes of the powerful and the politics of policing and imprisonment; criminology, human rights and social justice; and the criminological imagination. Our strong levels of student support ensure your time with us is an enjoyable, rewarding experience, underpinned by the extensive research activity and field experience of our team.
Where your course includes optional modules, these are to provide an element of choice within the course curriculum. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by timetabling requirements. Some restrictions on optional module choice or combinations of optional modules may apply.
Entry criteria
Typical offer 112-120 UCAS Tariff points plus at least 3 GCSE’s at Grade C or above (or equivalent) including GCSE English.
Example offers
| Qualification | Requirement |
|---|---|
| A Level | BBC-BBB. |
| UCAS Tariff points | 112-120 points. |
| BTEC Extended Diploma (or combination of BTEC QCF qualifications) | Distinction, Merit, Merit (DMM). |
| T Level | Overall grade of Merit. |
| International Baccalaureate (IB) | We are happy to accept IB qualifications which achieve the required number of UCAS Tariff points. |
| Access to Higher Education Diploma | 45 credits at Level 3, for example 15 credits at Distinction and 30 credits at Merit or 24 credits at Distinction and 21 credits at Merit. The required total can be attained from various credit combinations. |
Please note, the above examples may differ from actual offers made. A combination of A Level and BTEC awards may also be accepted.
If you have a minimum of two A Levels (or equivalent), there is no maximum number of qualifications that we will accept UCAS points from. This includes additional qualifications such as Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), AS Levels that haven't been continued to A Level, and General Studies AS or A Level awards.
English language requirements
International students require IELTS 6.0, with a score no lower than 5.5 in each individual component, or an equivalent English language qualification.
Fair Entry Criteria
Our new Fair Entry Criteria is a Contextual Admissions Policy that takes an applicant’s personal and educational background into account. This policy will allow eligible applicants to receive up to a two-grade reduction in their entry requirements for this course. Find out more and see if you qualify.
How to apply
Apply full-time
Read our guide to applying through UCAS to find out more about the application process.
International
Please see our international student pages for further information about how to apply as a prospective international student.
Should you accept an offer of a place to study with us and formally enrol as a student, you will be subject to the provisions of the regulations, rules, codes, conditions and policies which apply to our students. These are available at www.edgehill.ac.uk/studentterms.
If you join a full time undergraduate degree at Edge Hill University, we will guarantee you the offer of a room in our halls of residence for the first year of your course.
Discover our accommodation
Facilities
The Department of History, Geography and Social Sciences is based in the Geosciences building. The contemporary facilities combine with a friendly and supportive learning environment to ensure that your studies are a rich and rewarding experience.
The Geosciences building features a large lecture theatre, small group teaching rooms, IT facilities and smaller tutorial spaces. There is also a large social area which encourages a more informal and interactive style of learning.
Where you'll study
Finance
Tuition fees
UK Full-Time
£9,790
a year
UK Part-Time
TBC
a year
International
£18,000
a year
EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, as well as Irish nationals, may be eligible for the UK tuition fee rate.
Financial support
Subject to eligibility, UK students joining this course can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan from the Government to cover the full cost of tuition fees. UK students enrolling on the course may also be eligible to apply for additional funding to help with living costs.
Scholarships
We offer a range of scholarships, which celebrate the determination, commitment and achievement of our students. Many of our scholarships are awarded automatically. There are some however, where you will need to be involved in an application or nomination process. To find out more about our scholarships and check your eligibility, please visit our dedicated scholarships pages.
Money Matters
Please view the relevant Money Matters guide for comprehensive information about the financial support available to eligible UK students.
EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme may be eligible to apply for financial support. Irish nationals can ordinarily apply to Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). If you are an EU student who does not have settled or pre-settled status, or are an international student from a non-EU country, please see our international student finance pages.
Tuition fees
UK Full-Time
£9,535
a year
UK Part-Time
£79 per credit
for 360 credits
International
£17,000
a year
EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, as well as Irish nationals, may be eligible for the UK tuition fee rate.
Financial support
Subject to eligibility, UK students joining this course can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan from the Government to cover the full cost of tuition fees. UK students enrolling on the course may also be eligible to apply for additional funding to help with living costs.
Scholarships
We offer a range of scholarships, which celebrate the determination, commitment and achievement of our students. Many of our scholarships are awarded automatically. There are some however, where you will need to be involved in an application or nomination process. To find out more about our scholarships and check your eligibility, please visit our dedicated scholarships pages.
Money Matters
Please view the relevant Money Matters guide for comprehensive information about the financial support available to eligible UK students.
EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme may be eligible to apply for financial support. Irish nationals can ordinarily apply to Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). If you are an EU student who does not have settled or pre-settled status, or are an international student from a non-EU country, please see our international student finance pages.
Your future career
By the time you achieve your criminology and sociology degree, you’ll have a wide range of transferable skills that will equip you for a graduate role or further study.
Our graduates go on to have exciting careers in the police, HM prison service and the Home Office, as well as in these areas:
- criminal or youth justice agencies
- youth and community work
- law and research
- offender management
- outreach
Other students continue onto postgraduate study, or train to become teachers or social workers.
Course changes
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, however our courses are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may necessitate alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses.
Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of professional bodies, revisions to subject benchmarks statements, to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.
