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BA (Hons) Criminology

Take a fresh look at crime and disorder

Year of entry: 2025/26

UCAS code

L611

Institution code

Y50

Length

3 years full-time (plus optional placement year)

Typical offer

AAB (full entry requirements)

Start date

September 2025 (semester dates)

UK (home) fees

£9,250 per year

International and EU fees

£25,800 per year

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in the UK for Criminology

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025.

in the UK for Sociology research impact

Times Higher Education’s ranking of the Research Excellence Framework 2021

Explore what crime means in our culture and society and how it affects our lives.

Look beyond traditional views and develop new ways of thinking about the effects of crime, how it impacts individuals and societies and how we respond to it.

Challenge your own opinions about the nature of crime and disorder and learn to evaluate evidence, think critically and craft arguments – attributes valued by employers. After a core introduction to Criminology you can tailor your degree to your developing specialist interests.

 

I have gained real-world experience on the course - during my second year we visited the York Crown Court where we investigated the varying roles within a legal court case. We've also got to meet inspirational guest speakers, such as prison directors and forensic psychologists.
Mark, BA Criminology. More student views.

Course content

The course progresses from broad to specialised topics. Core modules in the first year introduce you to the breadth of Criminology.

You'll study the social, economic and cultural aspects of crime and criminal justice before developing your preferences and expertise in the following years, leading up to your dissertation.

Study abroad

There are opportunities for you to spend time abroad during your course:

Placements

There are opportunities to spend time in industry as part of this course.

Year 1

You'll be introduced to the core aspects of criminology, policy, crime and criminal justice.

Core modules

Academic integrity module

In addition to the above you will also need to complete our online Academic Integrity module.

Year 2

You'll learn how social, cultural and policy changes shape criminal activities and you'll develop social research skills. You can also choose an area of interest from a range of options.

Core modules

Option modules

You will study one option module. Examples can be found below. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.

Elective modules

You may be able to replace one option module with an elective module, studying a complementary subject, a language or an interdisciplinary topic.

Year 3

Core modules

Option modules

You will also study three option modules. Examples can be found below. Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.

Elective modules

You may be able to replace one option module with an elective module, studying a complementary subject, a language or an interdisciplinary topic.

Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.

Learning by design

Every course at York has been designed to provide clear and ambitious learning outcomes. These learning outcomes give you an understanding of what you will be able to do at the end of the course. We develop each course by designing modules that grow your abilities towards the learning outcomes and help you to explain what you can offer to employers. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.

Students who complete this course will be able to:

  • Interpret, explain and analyse offending behaviour through a critical understanding of criminological theory and criminal justice institutions, policies and practices.
  • Confront and analyse real-world social and crime-related problems via criminological debates and criminal justice institutions, agencies and policies to critically assess the complexity of societal transgressions.
  • Work creatively in teams by cooperating with others in a manner which is respectful of diverse views, values and the cultural position of others.
  • Design and undertake ethical criminological research projects which draw upon appropriate qualitative and/or quantitative skills to produce empirically rigorous analysis of social issues upon which future actions can be based.
  • Synthesise complex arguments about crime and deviance in order to challenge assumptions and misperceptions about offending behaviours and criminal justice system.
  • Critically communicate information and well-reasoned arguments in appropriate formats concerning matters of crime and deviance, using a range of media and digital technologies.

Fees and funding

Annual tuition fees

UK (home) International and EU
£9,250 £25,800

Fees for students starting in the 2025/26 academic year.

UK (home) or international fees?

The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.

Fees for subsequent years

  • UK (home) fees may increase within the government fee cap in subsequent academic years. We will notify you of any increase as soon as we can.
  • International fees are subject to increase in subsequent years in line with the prevailing Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate (up to a maximum of 10%).

More information

For more information about tuition fees, any reduced fees for study abroad and work placement years, scholarships, tuition fee loans, maintenance loans and living costs see undergraduate fees and funding.

Additional costs

You may choose to buy textbooks, but this is not required. You may also incur some minor costs through occasional printing or photocopying, and the production of your final year dissertation.

Funding

We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2025/26 throughout the year.

Living costs

You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.

Teaching Excellence Framework Gold Award

Gold-standard education

Our teaching, learning and student experience is outstanding, recognised by a Gold rating from the Office for Students in the 2023 national assessment (Teaching Excellence Framework).

Why we’re gold-rated

Teaching and assessment

You’ll study and learn with academics who are active researchers, experts in their field and have a passion for their subjects. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.

Teaching format

Our sociology-focused courses consist of a mixture of classroom-based lectures, seminars, and supervisor meetings.

Our research-informed curriculum will provide you with the ability to think critically, develop effective solutions to various work-based problems, and work both independently and as part of a team.

You’ll be taught in a range of specialist subject areas, allowing you to delve deeply into complex topics, explore a whole spectrum of social issues, and develop a resilient, adaptable and challenging mindset that will aid you both within, and beyond, your study. 

Timetabled activities

In your first year, you can expect:

Lectures6-7 hours per week
Seminars4 hours per week

These figures are representative of a typical week. Your contact hours will vary throughout the year due to your module choices, non-compulsory classes, exam periods and changes to scheduled activities.

Outside your timetabled hours, you'll study independently. This may include preparation for classes, follow-up work, wider reading, practice completion of assessment tasks, or revision.

In the UK, full-time students are expected to spend 1,200 hours a year learning. That's about 40 hours of classes and independent study each week during semesters. Everyone learns at a different rate, so the number of hours you spend on independent study will be different to other students on your course.

Teaching location

You will be based in the Department of Sociology on Campus East. Most of your teaching will take place at various locations across Campus East.

About our campus

Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can use the fast and frequent bus service. Take a campus tour.

Assessment and feedback

As you progress through your course, you'll complete a range of assessments designed to help you develop the skills you need to be an effective scholar. Most of your assessments will be essays, with a few closed exams depending on what modules you take. 

You’ll submit summative work, which counts towards your final degree score, and formative work, which doesn’t count towards your final grade but gives you the chance to practice techniques and identify areas to improve. We’ll provide detailed feedback on the work you submit, supporting you to develop your academic skills.

  • Essays are extended pieces of writing. Essay questions in your earlier years will usually be set by your tutors. As you progress through your course, you’ll have the opportunity to set your own essay questions.
  • Closed exams take place within a set time limit (usually a few hours) under set conditions in the presence of invigilators.
  • Presentations are an assessment of how well you can present your ideas or your argument to your coursemates and tutors. Sometimes, you might be asked to lead a seminar or a lecture.
  • Some option modules use other types of assessment such as blogs, podcasts and portfolios.

Careers and skills

We’ll help you focus your career goals, gain valuable experience, and meet the right employers. You’ll also have the opportunity to undergo internships, take part in volunteering, and even pursue a year away from York, either as a placement year or studying abroad.

Our dedicated Placements Coordinator, Employability Manager and our Careers and Employability Coordinator for Sociology will help you work out what you want to do and how you’re going to get there. By the time you finish your course, you’ll have a whole host of skills, experience and contacts that will prove invaluable in any workplace.

Career opportunities

  • Criminal justice, policing and law
  • Social research
  • Education
  • Media and creative industries
  • Health and cultural services
  • Charity sector

Transferable skills

  • Problem-solving
  • Evaluating evidence
  • Forming reasoned arguments
  • Thinking creatively
  • Considering different viewpoints

Entry requirements

Typical offer
A levels

AAB

Access to Higher Education Diploma 36 credits at Distinction and 9 credits at Merit or higher
BTEC National Extended Diploma DDD
Cambridge Pre-U D3, D3, M2
European Baccalaureate An overall average of 80%
International Baccalaureate 35 points overall
T levels We will consider a range of T Level qualifications for entry. Please visit our dedicated T Levels page for a full list of accepted T Levels.
Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers Scottish Highers - AABBB

Advanced Highers - not required for entry

We may also be able to consider three Advanced Highers or a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers, where an applicant does not meet the grade requirement through Highers alone. Please contact us to discuss your qualifications.
International foundation programme Foundation Certificate from our International Pathway College or an appropriate alternative.
Other international qualifications Equivalent qualifications from your country

Alternative offers

Meeting the following additional criteria may qualify you for an alternative offer.

Criteria Adjustment
Widening participation If you successfully complete one of the following programmes, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to two A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer: Black Access Programme, Next Step York, Realising Opportunities. More about widening participation.
Contextual offers If you have experience of local authority care or live in an area with low progression to university, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to two A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer. More about contextual offers.
EPQ If you achieve C or higher at EPQ, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer.
Core Maths If you achieve B or higher in Core Maths, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer.

English language

If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:

Minimum requirement
IELTS (Academic) 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component
Cambridge CEFR 176, with a minimum of 169 in each component
Oxford ELLT 7, with a minimum of 6 in each component
Oxford Test of English Advanced 136, with a minimum of 126 in each component
Duolingo Integrated subscores: 120 overall, with a minimum of 105 in each component
GCSE/IGCSE/O level English Language (as a first or second language) Grade C / Grade 4
LanguageCert SELT B2 with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component
LanguageCert Academic B2 Communicator with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component
Kaplan Test of English Language 478 Main Flight score with 444 in each component
Skills for English B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component
PTE Academic 61, with a minimum of 55 in each component
TOEFL 87 overall, with a minimum of 21 in each component
Trinity ISE III Merit in all components
Other English language qualifications We also accept other English Language qualifications, including various school-leaving certificates.

For more information see our undergraduate English language requirements.

If you haven't met our English language requirements

You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.

The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.

After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.

Applying

To apply to York, you will need to complete an online application via UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service).

We consider applications for deferred entry, including requests made after taking up an offer.

We encourage mature students to email the Admissions Tutor for consultation and advice.

Next steps

Contact us

Get in touch if you have any questions

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Department of Sociology

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