Our Criminology and Criminal Justice with Youth Justice course, will allow you to ask questions about the causes and consequences of youth crime.

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Key Course Details

We live in a world whereby crime is frequently depicted through movies, dramas, documentaries, news and social media. Our courses in Criminology will allow you to ask questions about the causes and consequences of crime.

USW is the only university in Wales and the South West to operate a Cold Case Unit. Our students have the opportunity to work on live cases and aid police investigations. Students will also have a chance to take part in Innocence Project, examining real cases where potential miscarriages of justice have taken place to establish reasonable grounds for appeal.


DESIGNED FOR

As well as understanding criminal behaviour in people of all ages, you will explore the main issues around youth crime and the youth justice system, as well as how society responds to young offenders.

Career Paths

  • Probation Officer
  • Criminologist
  • Youth Worker
  • Social Justice
  • Youth Justice Service

Skills taught

  • Critical Thinking
  • Analytical Skills
  • Problem Solving Skills

Course Highlights

Placements Opportunities

Our courses are designed with over 40 industry partners, so that you will graduate with the skills and knowledge you need for employment.

Outstanding Facilities

USW is one of the few universities in the world to have an integrated immersive learning facility – the Hydra Simulation Centre.

Interactive Learning

Our degrees will give the opportunity to learn in technology-enhanced and innovative ways, including crime scene simulations and working on real world investigations.

Life-Changing Research

The Centre for Criminology has a long history of research on a number of critical and topical criminal justice issues.

Module Overview

Our Youth Justice degree is multidisciplinary, involving the study of social policy, sociological, psychological and criminological perspectives. You'll explore why young people offend, and the impact their families and communities have upon their personal development and criminal behaviour. Throughout the course you'll consider comparative practices of managing offending behaviours, and initiatives for reducing offending. Students on this course will complete a subject-specific research project and have the opportunity to complete a subject-specific placement.

Students will study six modules, which will be assessed via a number of examinations, assignments and presentations. The study skills module is designed to help you with examinations and revision techniques, as well as skills including note-taking, essay writing, referencing and planning assignments.

  • Study Skills
  • Investigative Project
  • Digital Capability
  • Foundations In Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Social Policy
  • Exploring Crime and Deviance
  • From Theory to Impact: Essential Research in Criminology
  • Crime Unmasked: Contemporary Crime and Challenges
  • Inside the criminal justice system
  • Beyond the Books: Academia, Employment and Professionalism in Criminal Justice
  • Diversity, Crime and Justice
  • The Real Impact of Crime: Vulnerability and Victims
  • Beyond the Headlines: In-depth Understanding of Youth Crime and Juvenile Justice
  • Public Protection and Safeguarding: The Challenge of Keeping People Safe
  • Researching Crime, Security and Justice
  • Unmasking Violent Crime
  • Substance Use and Misuse: A line too far?
  • Beyond Borders: Serious, Organised, and Transnational Crime
  • Work Experience 
  • Working with Young People and Young Adults in the Justice System
  • Trauma and Youth Offending
  • Criminal Justice Inquiry: Dissertation
  • Behind Bars and Beyond: Exploring Prisons, Probation, and Resettlement
  • Exploring Homicide: From Corporate Homicide to Serial Killers
  • Breaking the Silence: Examining Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence

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ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

UCAS points: 48 (or above)

Typical qualification requirements:

  • A Level: DD, 48 tariff points to exclude General Studies.
  • BTEC: BTEC Extended Diploma Pass Pass Pass.
  • Access to HE: Pass the Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 48 UCAS Tariff points
  • T Level: Pass (D or E)

Additional requirements include:

GCSEs: The University normally requires a minimum 3 GCSEs including Mathematics and English at Grade C/Grade 4 or above, or their equivalent but consideration is given to individual circumstances.

International applications welcomed:

We welcome international applications with equivalent qualifications of our entry requirements. For more details related to your country of residence, please view our dedicated country pages.

English language requirements

International applicants will need to have achieved an overall of IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component/TOEFL 72 overall and a minimum of 18 in reading, 17 in listening, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing or equivalent.

Equivalents can be located on our English Language pages.

If you have previously studied through the medium of English, IELTS might not be required, please visit our country specific page for further details. If your country is not featured, please contact us.

If you do not meet the English entry criteria, please visit our Pre-Sessional course pages.

Contextual offers

We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (where you live and the school or college that you attended, for example), your experiences and individual circumstances (as a care leaver, for example). This is referred to as a contextual offer, and we receive data from UCAS to support us in making these decisions.

USW prides itself on its student experience and we support our students to achieve their goals and become a successful graduate. This approach helps us to support students who have the potential to succeed and who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university.

 

We're here to help

Whether you a have a question about your course, fees and funding, the application process or anything else, there are plenty of ways you can get in touch, and we'd love to talk to you. You can contact our friendly admissions team by phone, email or chat to us online.

 

Fees and Funding

Further Information

Studying at university is one of the most significant investments you'll ever make. Whilst you’re studying, you’ll have two main financial obligations – tuition fees and living costs. There’s lots of financial help available from the University of South Wales and external funding sources, that may provide loans (which have to be paid back) and grants, scholarships and bursaries (that don't).

*Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee is anticipated to remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course except as described below.

Please be aware that we may increase the maximum fee for home students on full-time undergraduate courses only where the Welsh Government increases the permitted level of inflation of fees. Fees for all students (including part-time, postgraduate and international students) may be amended in accordance with our applicable Fees and Debt Management Policy.  We will ensure that students are given clear, intelligible, unambiguous and timely information about our courses and costs in good time, ahead of the next academic year.

 

Fees and Funding Scholarships and Bursaries Cost of Living Support

Additional Costs

Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of stationery, printing, or equipment during your foundation year.  For costs after you progress to year 1 of your degree programme, please see the list below.

Textbooks will be available in the library, but students may wish to purchase their own copies.

Cost: £0-200

2nd-year students can undertake a period of work placement if they take the Professional Practice module. Students undertaking placement may incur costs associated with travel, and expected workplace attire will vary according to the placement.

Cost: £0-300

For 2nd year students electing to do the Professional Practice module where their placement requires it. The fee covers the cost of the enhanced check, online admin fees and the post office checks.

Cost: £55.42

Course Highlights

How you'll learn

We work closely with our industry partners to ensure that our teaching practices and assessments are realistic, authentic, and prepare you for your future career. We believe that assessments should be diverse and shouldn't solely be focused on essays and exams.

We have strong links with criminal justice agencies and offer modules that reflect the current nature of this subject, often inviting guest speakers to talk to you about their work.

Teaching staff

Our internationally recognised and renowned teaching team will mean that you will be taught by some of the best in the business. Sstudents are taught by a team of active researchers with expertise in homicide and violence, youth justice, policing, drug use, crime prevention, Probation and more.

Criminology at USW has an established record of excellence in teaching and research, and this is because we ensure that the content you are taught is current, stimulating and informed by our research.

Placements

We have designed our Courses with over 40 industry partners, so that you will graduate with the skills and knowledge you need for employment. As well as volunteering opportunities, you can complete a work placement module, which could help your secure employment when you graduate.

Facilities

We truly believe that you can't learn everything in the Classroom. This is why we have invested in our facilities, because we know that they’ll help you put your knowledge into practice in realistic settings. Our Facilities that include the Crime Scene House, Mock Court Room and Hydra Minerva.

Careers and Employability

Graduate careers

Our Criminology graduates have gone onto a range of related careers in criminal justice.
Others have followed a variety of career paths including research, teaching, policing, legal professions, social work and social care, administration and management.

Possible career paths

  • Probation Officer
  • Criminologist
  • Youth Worker
  • Social Justice
  • Youth Justice Service

Careers support

We also offer bespoke career support to our students at every stage of study as well as after they have graduated with us. Our dedicated careers advisors deliver a tailored range of careers events throughout the year.