Course in brief

Criminology is the study of crime, criminality and how it relates to social inequality, victimhood and different sections of society: the media, prisons and the courts.

As criminologists, it is our job to challenge received wisdom about crime and justice, and to seek an understanding of the offender while respecting the harmful effect that crime can have on individuals and communities. 

You will have the opportunity to take a voluntary work placement in the local community as part of your course, gaining valuable work experience and making professional contacts for your future career. 

There is an international exchange programme if you want to spend part of your degree abroad.

Key facts

Location Brighton: Falmer

UCAS code L611

Full-time 3 years

Clearing 2018

Places are available on this course to start in 2018.

01273 644000

Call us now for advice.

Autumn open days: register your interest

Apply now with UCAS for 2019 entry

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

A-levels or BTEC
Entry requirements are in the range of A-level BBC–CCC (112–96 UCAS Tariff points), or BTEC Extended Diploma DMM–MMM. Our conditional offers typically fall within this range. 

We will generally make you an offer if your predicted grades are at the top of this range. If your predicted grades are towards the lower end of this range we may still make you an offer if you have a good GCSE (or equivalent) profile or relevant non–academic achievements.

International Baccalaureate
28 points.

Access to HE Diploma
Pass with 60 credits overall. Sociology or law units preferred. At least 45 credits at level 3, with 18 credits at merit or above.

GCSE (minimum grade C or grade 4)
At least three subjects including English language, maths and science, social science or humanities.

Functional Skills will not usually be accepted but may be considered where the applicant has an otherwise good spread of GCSEs.

Studied before or got relevant experience?
A qualification, HE credits or relevant experience may count towards your course at Brighton, and could mean that you do not have to take some elements of the course or can start in year 2 or 3. 

English language requirements
IELTS 6.0 overall, with 6.0 in writing and a minimum of 5.5 in the other elements.

International equivalencies

International equivalencies by country
 
Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burma (Myanmar)
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guyana
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malawi
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian National Authority
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Syria
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Visit our language institute

For English language preparation courses.

Visit our International College

For academic preparation courses.

Course in detail

Course structure

The course covers the following areas of study:

  • definitions of crime and deviance
  • explanations of criminal behaviour
  • the criminal justice system
  • crime prevention
  • international differences in criminal law and
  • contemporary issues in criminal justice.

You will be taught through a mixture of lectures, seminars and workshops, but there is an increasing emphasis on independent study as the course progresses. Although assessment is split between essays and exams in Year 1, your second and final years consist mainly of coursework.

You have the opportunity to do a voluntary work placement in Year 2 and also to enrol on our international exchange programme, which allows you to study in Spain or Sweden for a part of your degree.

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up-to-date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, you will be told about any new developments through our applicant portal.

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Year 1

Year 1 will introduce you to the theoretical foundations of criminology and to the research methods used in social science.

Modules

  • Introduction to Research Methods
  • Introduction to Criminal Justice Studies
  • Explaining Crime and Criminals
  • Theories of Crime
  • Criminology in Action
  • Contemporary Social Inequalities
Peter Squires giving a criminology lecture

Year 2

In year 2, you will begin to learn about criminal law and the mechanisms by which it is enforced.

Through the community engagement module you will have an opportunity to do a voluntary work placement with a local organisation. Our students have worked with organisations including Sussex Police and Sussex Pathways, a mentoring scheme that aims to rehabilitate local offenders.

Modules

  • Researching Social and Cultural Life (20 credits)
  • Researching Social and Cultural Life (10 credits, for students going on Erasmus exchange)
  • Critical Perspectives on Criminal Justice

Options*

  • Inquiries in Crime and Deviance
  • inquiries in Crime and Deviance (10 credits, for students going on Erasmus exchange)
  • Cross-cultural Criminology
  • Community Engagement: Theory into Practice 
  • Punishment, Power and the State
  • Policing and Society

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Law Courts

Final year

In your final year at Brighton, you will write a dissertation about an area of criminology that you want to explore in depth. The dissertation is an opportunity to design and develop an idea independently, with the support of an academic supervisor throughout.

The Global Issues module focuses on environmental crime, trafficking and international conflict.

Modules

  • Dissertation
  • Contemporary Issues in Crime and Justice
  • Violence and Society

Options*

  • Criminology of Borders
  • Global Issues: Crime, Power and Harm
  • Critical Addiction Studies for Criminology

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

 

Peter Squires giving a criminology lecture

Volunteering

Volunteering is a great opportunity to develop your vocational skills and gain practical work experience while contributing to the wider community. Our award-winning Community University Partnership Programme (CUPP) can pair you up with a local organisation and find a volunteering placement that is right for you.

The optional Community Engagement module in year 2 allows you to incorporate volunteering in your degree programme. It involves 30 to 50 hours of work with a not-for-profit or community organisation that reflects your academic interests and career aspirations.

Previous students have had volunteering roles including:

  • activity volunteer for CCHF All About Kids
  • centre volunteer for the Centre for Ecotherapy
  • communication supporter for Connect
  • listening and support volunteer for the Samaritans
  • support volunteer for the MS Society
  • volunteer for Fresh Start
  • volunteer befriender for the Alzheimer's Society.

Cupp teamCUPP is an award-winning project tackling disadvantage and promoting sustainable development through partnership with local organisations

Staff profile

Greta Squire Course leader

"I joined the University of Brighton in 2009 after working as a doctoral student at Plymouth University. My research examines the role of voluntary and community agencies in crime and disorder reduction partnerships (CDRPs).

"Previously, I have looked into the use of screening and intervention tools, as well as the impact of street pastors in Plymouth.

"I have lectured on topics across the criminology degree, with a particular focus on feminist criminology and victims of crime. My subject interests include domestic violence, gender, faith, public policy and the night-time economy."

Greta Squire

Course statistics

Unistats and key information sets

Unistats enable you to compare information when choosing a UK university course. All UK universities publish Unistats data on their website.

Programme specification

The programme specification is the approved description of each course. They are updated following course changes, and give a detailed breakdown of the content and structure of the course.

Programme specification

These charts give an indication of how much time you will spend on different activities at each level of the course, and an indication of the balance of assessment by coursework, and written and practical exams. For courses with option modules, actual proportions will depend on the modules you choose.

Find out more about how the academic year and degree courses are organised, and about learning and assessment activities you might get to grips with at Brighton. More specific information about this course is detailed in the programme specification (linked above). You can find out also about the range of support we offer to help you adjust to university life.

Overall workload

Assessments

Careers and employability

Alongside an understanding of the causes, control and prevention of crime, the Criminology graduates are equipped with transferable skills in research and analysis that are useful for most career paths. It also offers several opportunities to gain work experience and professional contacts to improve your chances of employment following graduation.

Typically, criminology graduates pursue careers in crime prevention, criminal justice, community development, local government, security, social research and the police.

Brighton police station

Fees and funding

Your fees

UK/EU (full-time) 9,250 GBP

International (full-time) 14,040 GBP

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2018–19.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK/EU students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full- or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

What's included in the fee?

When costs such as health or DBS checks, or use of specialist materials are incurred as a mandatory requirement of the course they are included in your tuition fee.

You may incur additional costs depending on the optional modules or activities you choose. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. Before you apply check with the school that provides your course using the contact details in the Find out more tab (at the end of this page) for advice about what is included and what optional costs you could face so you can budget accordingly.

See our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Location and living here

Location

About Brighton

Forward-thinking and welcoming, the city of Brighton & Hove is a community of creative and diverse people who share values like sustainability and inclusivity – just like its university.

Miles of pebble beaches, hundreds of bars, restaurants and clubs, a packed calendar of culture, music and sport and great independent and high street shopping attract visitors from all over the world. By the end of your course you’ll still be finding new things to enjoy about the city.

The Brighton Festival, England’s largest arts festival, takes place every May – as does the Great Escape Europe’s leading industry showcase for new music, 300 bands perform over three days at venues across the city. Major events celebrate Pride, digital culture, cinema, photography, food and the winter solstice. Our own Brighton Graduate show is a highlight, turning the university into the largest exhibition space in the south east as we celebrate the outstanding creativity of our students.

As a student here you’ll have a unique opportunity to experience what the city has to offer. Volunteering and placement opportunities enable you to play your part in the events, organisations and communities that make Brighton such a compelling place to be.

i360 and ticket booth on the seafront What to expect enriching experiences

Campus where this course is taught

Falmer campus

Surrounded by the South Downs National Park and just five miles from the centre of Brighton, our Falmer campus has benefited from over £60million of investment over the past 10 years. 7,000 students are based here, studying subjects including English, education, social science, nursing and medicine.

Recent developments include the Falmer Sports Centre – with its fitness suites and sports hall – and the innovative Checkland Building, which has natural ventilation systems and an insulating green roof.

Falmer has also recently installed more than 600 solar panels, which reduce the campus’s carbon emissions by more than 80 tonnes. The renovation has made us one of the top universities in the UK for on-site renewable energy production.

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Accommodation

Brighton: Falmer

We have halls of residence across the city in Grand Parade, Moulsecoomb, Varley Park and Falmer.

  • Eligible students can apply for any of these options. Find out if you are eligible…
  • You’ll be prioritised for accommodation in the halls that are linked to your teaching base, subject to availability.
  • Falmer campus is linked to halls on the Falmer campus and Varley Park.
    • Varley Park offers a mix of rooms and catering options. Varley Park is less than a mile from Falmer and four miles from the city centre. Public transport in the city is excellent, and there’s a shuttle bus between our Brighton campuses during term time.
    • Paddock Field and Great Wilkins halls are on campus and offer a range of room types and catering options.

We also offer Unihomes and Unilets, student houses that we let out to our students on behalf of private landlords. This option offers the most choice and flexibility and can work particularly well when you’re balancing learning with placements and other commitments.

There’s plenty of support if you choose private rented accommodation. We manage our own studenthomes database of properties. And we run our housemates service over the summer for students, new and returning, looking for a place to live.

Find out more on our accommodation webpages.

Hillside hall of residence at Varley Park

Varley Park accommodation near to the Falmer campus

Student in our Moulsecoomb Place hall of residence

Maps

house Accommodation
campus University building

Falmer campus

Find out more

Sociology and criminology news

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Autumn open days: register your interest

Call our Clearing hotline
01273 644000

If you have a question about this course, our enquiries team will be happy to help.

01273 644644

Visit the School of Applied Social Science blog. 

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