Criminology and Sociology BA (Hons)
UCAS code: ML93
Immerse yourself in the study of crime, harm and the criminal justice system. Understand how society works and changes. Prepare for a wide range of potential careers and visit London and a European city as part of your course.
Overview
Course length: | 3 years full-time 5 years part-time |
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Start dates: | September 2022 September 2023 |
Location: | Edge Hill University |
Example offers: | BCC-BBC (A Level) or DMM (BTEC) View full entry criteria |
Subject(s): | Criminology and OffendingSociology and Social Sciences |
Department: | Law and Criminology |

What is the role and function of the criminal justice system? How does social status affect justice and rights? And how do social trends play their part? You’ll learn all of this and more on our criminology and sociology degree.
At Edge Hill, we examine sociological developments in cultural, political and historical contexts. You’ll learn about the social structures, institutions, processes, organisations and groups that frame our lives. You’ll explore issues including how societies generate social harms, criminalising some, but leaving others legal. Perhaps you’ll take the opportunity to join one of our educational trips to boost your experience even more – we visit London, Amsterdam and cities across Europe.
You’ll graduate with expertise in criminology and sociology. You’ll also gain lots of transferable skills that will set you up for a wide choice of potential careers. We’ll help you to build your experience through archival work or engaging in local community activism.
Course features
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Learn a Language
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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, 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’ll also have the chance to take part in an educational field trip to London.
In Year 2, you’ll continue to build on your theoretical knowledge. You’ll study critical criminological theory, armed conflict and political violence, racism, and the relationship between the media and criminal activity. 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. There’s also an optional field trip to Amsterdam.
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. Choose from modules on terrorism, sexual desires and arts in society. Perhaps you’ll focus on crimes of the powerful or the politics of policing and imprisonment. You’ll have the chance to join an optional field trip to a European city, where you’ll explore its history, culture, politics and social organisations.
Optional modules 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.
How you'll study
The main forms of course delivery are lectures and workshop seminars, including videos, presentations and small group work. You can choose to build a national and a European field trip into your optional studies. 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
Our experienced staff have designed this course and 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.
Members of the Department of Law and Criminology and the Department of Social Sciences are at the forefront of teaching, research and publication in a number of areas including desire and sexuality; 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.
Entry criteria
Entry requirements
Typical offer 104-112 UCAS Tariff points. No specific subjects are required.
Example offers
Qualification | Requirement |
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A Level | BCC-BBC. |
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 9 credits at Distinction and 36 credits at Merit or 15 credits at Distinction and 30 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.
If your current level of English is half a band or one band lower, either overall or in one or two elements, you may want to consider our Pre-Sessional English course.
How to apply
Apply full-time
Read our guide to applying through UCAS to find out more about the application process.
Apply part-time
Complete our online application form if you want to study this course on a part-time basis.
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.
Did you know?
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 £6million Law and Psychology building provides contemporary teaching and learning facilities for students in the Department of Law and Criminology and the Department of Psychology.
The Department of Law and Criminology is located on the first floor of the three-storey building which includes a 250-seat lecture theatre, seminar and tutorial rooms, and social learning areas which encourage a more informal and interactive style of learning.
Sociology modules are led by the Department of Social Sciences, based in Creative Edge, a state-of-the-art £17million building offering highly contemporary facilities. The building features a lecture theatre, seminar rooms, IT facilities, smaller tutorial spaces and social learning areas.
Where you'll study
Law and Psychology
Creative Edge
Finance
Tuition fees
UK Full-Time
£9,250
a year
UK Part-Time
£77 per credit
for 360 credits
International
£15,000
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. 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 should 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
- social work
- outreach
Other students continue onto postgraduate study, or train to become teachers.