BSc (Hons) Criminology and Criminal Justice

Clearing places are still available for this course. Call us on 03455 76 06 06

If you’re interested in studying crime, criminality, victimisation and the criminal justice system, the BSc (Hons) Criminology and Criminal Justice is for you. You will develop a critical awareness of theory and practice in criminology, and understand the social context of crime and how it is managed. You will also learn how agencies operate within the criminal justice system.

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. As well as volunteering opportunities, you can complete a work placement module, which could help you secure employment when you graduate.

Find us on Twitter @USWCriminology

Get a glimpse of what it's like to study at USW before you apply

Introduction to Criminology - Free Online Taster Course

Introduction to Criminology

2023
2024

UCAS Code	Study Mode 2023	Duration	Start Date	Campus	Campus Code
M901	Full-time	3 Years	September	Treforest	A

UCAS Code	Study Mode 2024	Duration	Start Date	Campus	Campus Code
M901	Full-time	3 Years	September	Treforest	A

Year One: Criminology Degree

Applied Crime and Justice 1
Perspectives In Criminology: Developmental Criminology
Becoming a Criminologist
Inside the criminal justice system
Perspectives In Criminology: Power and Society
Diversity, Crime and Justice

Year Two: Criminology Degree

Inside Justice: Unresolved Major Crime
The Politics of Policing
Prisons and Imprisonment
Contemporary Issues in Substance Misuse (Optional)
Applied Criminological Inquiry
Understanding VAWDASV
Work Experience (Optional)

Year Three: Criminology Degree

Applied Criminal Investigation
Understanding Homicide

You will also have the opportunity to choose optional modules from the below:

Dissertation
Working in Industry
Social Justice Internship
Green Criminology: Animal abuse and Environmental harms
Transnational Organised Crime: Contemporary Perspectives
Terrorism, Security & Extremism

Mae modiwlau cyfrwng Cymraeg yn cynnwys | Welsh Module options are:

Blwyddyn Un

Dod yn Droseddegwr
Amrywiaeth, Trosedd a Chyfiawnder

Blwyddyn Dau

Carchardai a Charchar
Ymholiad Troseddegol Cymhwysol

Blwyddyn Tri

Traethawd Hir
Gweithio mewn Diwydiant
Interniaeth Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol

Foundation Year

The BSc (Hons) Criminology and Criminal Justice is also available as a four year course including an integrated foundation year, and is designed for students who do not currently meet admissions criteria for direct entry onto the degree. You will start by completing a foundation year, which provides well structured support, allowing you to develop your skills and knowledge before continuing onto the three year degree programme.For more information please email [email protected]

Teaching

Most modules involve a combination of lectures and discussion-based or practical seminars, which will develop your ability to form arguments and tackle specific problems. You will also complete reading, library and topic-related research, project work, and preparation for presentations.

We have expert practitioner guest speakers and encourage students to attend British Society of Criminology (Wales and West) branch talks.

Studying through the medium of Welsh

At least 40 credits of this course can be studied through the medium of Welsh, and specific scholarships, including the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol Scholarships are available to students who choose to do so.

Research-informed teaching

The Centre for Criminology has a long history of research on the probation service and custodial institutions, and related topics such as the rehabilitation and resettlement of offenders, effectiveness and accountability in policy and practice, inter-agency partnerships and relationships between the criminal justice system, the Third Sector and the UK and Welsh governments. It also conducts high-quality research into the use of drugs and alcohol, violence and homicide, and criminal investigation.

Assessment

Students will be assessed through a combination of approaches including coursework; vlogs; academic posters; presentations; essays; reports; interviews; portfolios; laboratory reports; written examinations; multi-choice questions and interactive assessment exercises

Placements

The University also offers a work experience placement module to help to enhance your employability which could include opportunities through a range of voluntary and statutory criminal justice agencies.

Featured Lecturer:
Dr Cheryl Allsop

Dr Cheryl Allsop's research focuses on cold case investigations, missing people investigations, vulnerable missing people, no-body murders and unidentified found remains. She leads the USW Innocence Project and the USW Cold Case Unit, working with and on behalf of the families of the missing. Dr Allsop is the author of Cold Case Reviews: DNA, Detective Work and Unsolved Major Crimes which analyses how long-term unsolved murders and unsolved stranger rapes are investigated years after the crimes were committed. The book examines how and why cold case investigations have become an established component of police investigative practice, the role of specialist expertise used, in particular DNA profiling techniques and technologies, and the investigative skills required to finally detect cold cases. The book is based on original fieldwork with one major crime review team as they investigated cold case murders and cold case stranger rapes.

We regularly revalidate courses for quality assurance and enhancement

At USW, we regularly review our courses in response to changing patterns of employment and skills demand to ensure we offer learning designed to reflect today’s student needs and tomorrow’s employer demands.

If during a review process course content is significantly changed, we’ll write to inform you and talk you through the changes for the coming year. But whatever the outcome, we aim to equip our students with the skillset and the mindset to succeed whatever tomorrow may bring. Your future, future-proofed.

The entry criteria below reflect our standard entry requirements for the course for September 2023. However, all applications received by the University are reviewed holistically and individually. Entry criteria for September 2024 is changing and will be published on ucas.com from 8th May 2023. Entry criteria for September 2024 will be updated on our website from the end of October 2023.

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. Here is a link to our Contextual Admissions Policy.

Other qualifications and experience

We can also consider combinations of qualifications and other qualifications not listed here may also be acceptable. We can sometimes consider credits achieved at other universities and your work/life experience through an assessment of prior learning. This may be for year one entry, or advanced entry to year two or three of a course where this is possible.

To find out which qualifications have tariff points, please refer to the UCAS tariff calculator.

If you need more help or information or would like to speak to our friendly admissions team, please contact us here

Typical A-Level Offer

BCC - CDD (this is equivalent to 104-80 UCAS tariff points).

Typical Welsh BACC Offer

Pass the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Diploma with Grade C/D in the Skills Challenge Certificate and BC - CD at A Level (this is equivalent to 104-80 UCAS tariff points).

Typical BTEC Offer

BTEC Extended Diploma Distinction Merit Merit - Merit Merit Pass (this is equivalent to 112-80 UCAS tariff points).

Typical Access to HE Offer

Pass the Access to HE Diploma and obtain a minimum of 80 UCAS tariff points.

Additional Requirements

GCSEs: The University normally requires a minimum 5 GCSEs including Mathematics/Numeracy and English at Grade C or Grade 4 or above, or their equivalent, but consideration is given to individual circumstances.

International Entry Requirements

We also welcome international applications with equivalent qualifications. Please visit the country specific pages on our international website for exact details.

English Requirements

In general, international applicants will need to have achieved an overall IELTS grade of 6.0 with a minimum score of 5.5 in each component.

However, if you have previously studied through the medium of English IELTS might not be required, but please visit the country specific page on our international website for exact details. If your country is not featured please contact us.

Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee will remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course

August 2023 - July 2024 Fees

Full-time UK: £9000
Full-time International: £14400

August 2024 - July 2025 Fees

Full-time UK: TBC
Full-time International: £15260

Student Perks

At the University of South Wales, you’re investing in so much more than a degree. We strive to provide our students with the best possible experience, no matter what you chose to study. Whether it’s access to top of the range mac books and PCs, state-of-the-art facilities packed with industry-leading equipment and software, masterclasses and events led by industry experts, or a wide range of clubs and societies to meet likeminded people, better tomorrows start with extra perks.

Each course also has their own unique student benefits to prepare you for the real word, and details of these can be found on our course pages. From global field trips, integrated work experience and free course-related resources, to funded initiatives, projects working with real employers, and opportunities for extra qualifications and accreditations - at USW your future, is future-proofed.

Click here to learn more about student perks at USW.

Additional Costs

As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. 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 travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment.

* Obligatory

Item	Cost
DBS	£55.42	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.
Placement expenses: work placement	£0 - £300	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.
Other : Text books	£0 - £200	Text books will be available in the library, but students may wish to purchase their own copies.

Funding

Funding to help pay for (or cover) course tuition fees and living costs

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).

To learn about course fees, funding options, and to see if you are eligible for financial support, visit our Fees and Funding pages.

How to write a personal statement for Criminology

UK students

Apply via UCAS if you are a UK residing applicant, applying for year one of a full-time undergraduate degree, Foundation Year, Foundation Degree or HND and you have not applied through UCAS before. If you are applying to study part-time, to top up your Foundation Degree or HND, or to transfer to USW from another institution, please apply directly.

International and EU students

Apply directly to the University if you live outside the UK.

Apply now

Admissions statement

Criminology graduates have gone on to successful careers in the criminal justice system across the UK. Popular routes include the police, prison, probation, protection and victim support services. There are also opportunities in areas related to the justice system such as social work, drug and housing agencies, and pupil referral units. Many graduates also progress to postgraduate study and research in the social sciences.

This criminology degree is designed to develop a range of transferable skills that can be applied in a variety of related working environments. These include: the ability to present arguments orally, visually and in writing, the ability to analyse quantitative and qualitative data, and the ability to evaluate reports and other research publications. As a graduate with a criminology degree you will be eligible for membership of the British Society of Criminology. The Society aims to further the interests of people who are engaged in criminology in the UK.

Many students progress on to a criminology PhD or criminology research degree.

Our Careers and Employability Service

As a USW student, you will have access to advice from the Careers and Employability Service throughout your studies and after you graduate.