Criminology
Dive deep into the causes and consequences of crime, uncover the inner workings of the criminal justice system, and put your skills to the test with real-life cases.
How to apply Apply through UCAS Book an Open Day Chat to us/filters:format(webp)/prod01/channel_2/media/university-of-south-wales/site-assets/images/03-courses/criminology/bsc-criminology-and-criminal-justice.jpg)
UCAS Code
M900
Start Date
September 2027
Location
Pontypridd
Campus Code
A
UCAS Points
96
International students: £17,600*
Course Overview
Studying Criminology at USW allows you to explore crime as one of society’s most complex and challenging issues.
You will examine why crime happens, how society defines and responds to criminal behaviour, and how victims, offenders, communities and institutions experience the criminal justice system.
The Criminology course connects academic study with real-world issues, using applied learning, case-based teaching and specialist facilities to help you understand how crime, harm and justice are experienced in practice.
Why study this course?
What you'll study
In your first year, you will gain an in-depth understanding of the English and Welsh legal system, explore the history of crime and deviance, and develop your research skills to equip you for your academic journey.
Explore the legal system in England and Wales and gain an understanding of criminal law, criminal justice agencies and crime statistics reporting. Examine court procedures, the judicial system, and key organisations like the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Police, Courts, Probation, and Prison Service.
This module can be studied 100% through the medium of Welsh
Deepen your understanding of criminological theory, from the evolution of crime to its contemporary contexts. Engage in current debates and apply criminology concepts to explore how crime is socially, culturally, and historically constructed and perceived.
This module can be studied 100% through the medium of Welsh
Cultivate essential research skills within the context of Crime and Justice. Gain a comprehensive understanding of the role of research and research skill development in both an academic and professional context.
Enhance your knowledge and understanding of contemporary and technological developments within the Criminal Justice sector, such as human trafficking, cyber-crime, and digitally facilitated offences.
Explore the intricate dynamics of crime governance in England and Wales, and learn how opportunities, advantages, and disadvantages shape the criminal justice landscape. Delve into theories around inequalities and discover the disparities within criminal justice policies, spanning social class, location, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, and age.
Beyond the Books: Academia, Employment and Professionalism in Criminal Justice*
Develop your academic and professional skills for success in the criminal justice sector. The module includes time management, writing, and referencing, along with digital competency and critical analysis.
This module can be studied 100% through the medium of Welsh
Study the evolution of Victimology in England and Wales and examine major theoretical concepts within the field. The module delves into the nature and extent of victimisation, critically analysing the changing role of the victim within the criminal justice system.
Master quantitative and qualitative data analysis and map the relationship between crimes occurring and the justice system.
You will also have the option to specialise in different types of crime through optional modules, including practical work experience. You will be able to choose three optional modules.
Delve into modern policing in England and Wales, from historical perspectives to diverse policing styles, and the influence of cultural and political factors. Understand policing through legal, sociological, and political lenses, including issues like 'cop culture' and police corruption are also explored.
Study the practical aspects of complex investigations in policing, including legislation, ethical considerations, and interviewing skills. Learn about evidence techniques, methods used for gathering evidence and the subsequent legal processes.
Develop an understanding of the role of research and evaluation within the Criminal Justice Sector, while building your research skills and knowledge of formal research methods in preparation for your final year research project.
Develop your comprehensive understanding of violence and violent crimes. From the historical evolution of violent crime in the UK to definitions and typologies of violence, root causes and risk factors. You will also explore prevention strategies and early intervention techniques.
Deepen your understanding of substance misuse by examining its historical context, types of substances, causative factors, addiction, societal perceptions, and health consequences. The module explores the supply of substances, analysing drug supply chains and media portrayals.
Study the areas of Serious and Organised Crime (SOC), Transnational Crime, and Terrorism within the UK context. Examples include money laundering, fraud, modern slavery, and terrorism. The module also examines extremism, radicalisation, far-right groups, and the role of the dark web and social media.
Put your theory into practice and develop your critical thinking, teamwork, and communication in a professional setting. This module requires a minimum 70-hour placement for hands-on experience
In your final year you will focus on more advanced investigative techniques and enhance your research skills through your dissertation or dedicated internship project.
Get to grips with practical challenges and real-world applications and select between two specialisms: Homicide and Domestic Abuse.
Explore cold case investigations and miscarriages of justice, and understand why some cases remain unresolved. You will engage with real cases, learn about forensic techniques, legal and ethical considerations, and Police investigations.
Explore the changing threat of terrorism, security and extremism in society, examining radicalisation in the UK, the expansion of surveillance, and how the dark web and social media platforms disseminate hate.
Design and conduct a social science research project in criminal justice. Develop your competence in research design, data collection, and analysis for contributions to evidence-based practices in the criminal justice sector.
This module can be studied 100% through the medium of Welsh
Delve deep into homicide, covering its social and legal aspects, patterns, and characteristics both in the UK and internationally. Gain insights into homicide investigative process, including evidence production, potential challenges, and failures.
This module can be studied 100% through the medium of Welsh
Develop your understanding of violence against women, domestic abuse, and sexual violence within the context of England and Wales. Explore theoretical perspectives, policy responses, and practical implications and delve into legal and policy responses within the criminal justice system.
This module can be studied 100% through the medium of Welsh
We regularly review our courses to keep pace with changing skills and employer needs. If a review leads to significant changes, we’ll contact you to explain what’s changing for the coming year.
Teaching and Assessment
Learning at USW is hands-on and immersive. You will be encouraged to debate complex issues, analyse evidence, consider different perspectives and develop informed responses to the social problems linked to crime and justice. You’ll also step into realistic environments that mirror professional practice, building confidence, experience and decision-making skills before you graduate. These industry-standard facilities bring theory to life and prepare you for the realities of modern policing, crime and justice and public services.
Experience an immersive learning environment on the BSc Criminology course through practical seminars, discussion-based sessions and lectures. We regularly host guest speakers with expertise in a wide range of Criminology-related topics and encourage our students to attend talks off-campus at sites such as Prisons or Courts. You will also learn independently in this course through reading, research and project work.
Assessment on the BSc Criminology course is designed to move beyond traditional essays and exams, giving you opportunities to apply criminological knowledge to real-world problems, cases and scenarios. You will be assessed through a range of innovative and practice-informed tasks, including case analyses, simulated criminal justice exercises, policy briefings, presentations, research projects, reports, reflective portfolios and scenario-based activities.
These assessments are designed to help you think like a criminologist: analysing evidence, questioning justice responses, understanding harm, evaluating different perspectives and communicating your ideas clearly. Through practical and case-based assessments, you will develop the confidence, critical thinking and professional skills needed for your future.
Boost your CV and enhance your employability on placement through our wide range of partner institutions. You might get to work on real-life missing people investigations with USW’s Cold Case Unit, discover potential miscarriages of justice with the Innocence Project or spend your placement alongside local agencies solving crime in South Wales.
Work experience in Criminology allows you to familiarise yourself with professional environments, explore your different areas of interest and network with potential future employers. Your tutors and the USW Careers team will support you in finding work placements while you study.
Our specialist learning facilities give you hands-on experience in realistic professional environments. Rather than simply learning about crime and justice in the classroom, you will have opportunities to engage with applied activities that develop your analytical, communication and problem-solving skills.
From investigating simulated crime scenes and analysing live case evidence in the Cipher Room, to testing decision-making in the Hydra Simulation Centre and presenting cases in our immersive Moot Court, you’ll develop practical skills alongside academic knowledge.
Designed to mirror real-world policing, criminology and legal settings, these facilities help build the confidence, communication and critical thinking skills needed for careers across the criminal justice sector.
Course Leader
Daniel Welch
Daniel Welch is Head of Subject for Policing, Criminology and Public Services, and Course Leader for the undergraduate Criminology courses at the University of South Wales. His academic interests focus on the police service response to domestic abuse, particularly victim experience, Coercive Control and related police policies. Daniel is passionate about applied, scenario-based learning and helped develop CIPHER, USW’s interactive learning space for crime, justice and public service education.
“The strong networking opportunities at USW were invaluable - securing a job as a prison officer straight from a lecture was an unexpected but welcome start to my career.”
Euan Thomas, Criminology graduate
Entry Requirements
Additional
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.
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.
How to applyContextual admissions policyAsk us a question96 UCAS points or above
Typical qualification requirements
A Level:
CCC
Welsh BACC:
Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales Grade C and CC at A Level
BTEC:
BTEC Extended Diploma Merit Merit Merit
Access to HE:
Pass an Access to HE Diploma and obtain a minimum of 96 UCAS tariff points
T Level:
P
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.
International studentsPre-Sessional EnglishEnglish 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 4 overall and a minimum of 4 in each component 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.
Fees and Funding
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.
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.
Text books
Textbooks will be available in the library, but students may wish to purchase their own copies. Up to £200
Work Placement
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. Up to £300
DBS
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. £55.42
per year
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.
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.
Text books
Textbooks will be available in the library, but students may wish to purchase their own copies. Up to £200
Work Placement
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. Up to £300
DBS
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. £55.42
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Explore our facilities
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How to apply
All applications for full-time undergraduate courses or foundation degrees should be made via UCAS. Take the next step: Apply through UCAS
You can apply to us directly for all part-time undergraduate courses, if you’re seeking advanced entry or you’re an international student. To apply directly, please choose the application form below for your preferred start date and mode of study (full-time or part-time).
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Apply direct
Criminology
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Full-time, 3 years
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September
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Pontypridd
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If you already have a relevant qualification or experience related to the course you're applying for, you may be eligible to start at a later stage of the course. For example, students from partner colleges can ‘top up’ their qualifications to a degree by joining us in Year Two or Year Three of a course. This process is known as ‘advanced entry’, you can apply directly to the University for 'advanced entry' using the application forms provided above.
Applicants accepted through advanced entry may study a different combination of modules to those advertised, as they will be joining a course already in progress. You will be contacted and advised about these modules once your application has been processed and an offer made.
International applicants can apply to us directly. If the University has an in-country team in your region, your application will be assigned to them for assistance.
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