Combine law and criminology to address social injustice and inequality
Year of entry: 2025/26
M1L6
Y50
3 years full-time
AAA (full entry requirements)
September 2025 (semester dates)
Tackle social injustice and inequality to bring about positive societal change through legal and criminological approaches.
On this course, you'll engage with issues of social justice through a distinctive approach combining law, policy and the study of the social construction of crime. You'll work collaboratively to analyse real-world problems, as well as undertake individual legal research, all while drawing on the expertise of criminologists and world-leading legal researchers.
Our graduates are skilled written and oral communicators, coordinators and team players. You'll be well-placed to contribute to society as a creative, ethical and robust problem-solver within a range of roles in the social and criminal justice system, in the wider legal profession and beyond.
This degree meets requirements that can enable you to progress to the next stages of professional qualification as a barrister or solicitor in England and Wales. In addition, it may also contribute to the entry requirements of qualification in other jurisdictions.
Throughout the course, you'll learn about inequalities and discrimination in society and the criminal justice system, and evaluate how these can be challenged. You'll choose from a range of modules across Sociology, Law and Social Policy, drawing on expertise from each subject to enhance your knowledge and skills. You may also have the opportunity to gain practical experience of the impact of law and criminology on particular sectors of society.
In your final year you'll apply your skills to a major group project by collaborating with individuals within criminal justice institutions on a legal and criminological issue of your choice. Together, you will develop a means of effectively communicating the critical aspects of that issue to a wider and more diverse audience.
For this programme, we offer the opportunity to spend an additional year abroad, studying at one of our partner universities in Europe and Asia. This will usually be in year 3 of your degree, after which you will return to complete your final fourth year with us.
There are opportunities to spend time in industry as part of this course.
In addition to the above you will also need to complete our online Academic Integrity module.
This module covers some of the essential skills and knowledge which will help you to study independently and produce work of a high academic standard which is vital for success at York.
This module will:
You will also study four option modules, including one from each Option List A, B and C. 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.
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.
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.
| UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|
| £9,250 | £25,800 |
Fees for students starting in the 2025/26 academic year.
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.
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.
You may choose to buy books or textbooks, but this is not required. You may also incur some minor costs through occasional printing or photocopying as part of your learning and assessment.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2025/26 throughout the year.
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.
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).
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.
Our teaching is designed to help you develop yourself as a critical thinker and researcher. You'll take part in sociological debates and develop your ability to craft arguments and express complex ideas.
Across a large part of your course you'll be taught through lectures that will introduce you to the main themes of each module, and small seminar groups, working with a member of staff who's an expert in the topic you're studying.
The law elements of your course are delivered through problem-based learning (PBL). This method will develop your skills of analysis, reasoning and judgement. Through this approach you'll also develop communication and project management skills that will enhance your effectiveness in the world of work. This learning will be supported through large group plenary sessions to embed your understanding and develop your critique of legal concepts.
Our staff are ready to offer support and guidance throughout your studies; you'll also be allocated a personal supervisor who's there to make sure you're making the most of your time at York. We also run a regular Sociology and Criminology Hour - an informal session that covers topics relating to your skills and future career, as well as events for you to engage with our academic community, alumni and partners from outside the University.
In your first year, you can expect:
| Lectures and plenary sessions | 7-8 hours per week |
|---|---|
| Seminars and workshops | 6.5 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.
York Law School is located on Campus East, the Department of Sociology will be on Campus East from 2020. The School for Business and Society is on Campus West. Your teaching will take place mostly on Campus East, there may be some additional teaching on Campus West.
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.
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 open and closed exams or presentations depending on what modules you take. You will also be expected to show the development of your legal learning through a reflective portfolio.
You will have two main forms of assessment, formative and summative.
You will sit all examinations (and assignments generally) as an individual. However the law modules have been specially designed to reflect the PBL learning process and so facilitate group work as a means of preparation.
Our Careers and Development programme, dedicated Employability Tutor for Law and Placements Coordinator for Sociology, will help to ensure you are ready to pursue your chosen career path. Created through collaboration with leading local, national and international firms and key vocational providers, the programme includes professional skills workshops, personal development, mentoring schemes and link days, with practical, work-based learning opportunities.
Typical career paths in crime and criminal justice systems include: police, probation officer, prison service, courts service, youth offending teams, and government departments and agencies.
If you wish to qualify as a solicitor or a barrister (in England and Wales) your Qualifying Law Degree* from YLS is recognised by the Bar Standards Board and the Solicitors Regulation Authority as fulfilling the academic stage of training. Many of our graduates build careers as solicitors or barristers undertaking the LPC or BPTC.
If you want to qualify as a lawyer in another jurisdiction your Qualifying Law Degree* from YLS may be recognised as contributing to the entry requirements of the professional stage of legal training.
| Typical offer | |
|---|---|
| A levels | AAA |
| Access to Higher Education Diploma | 39 credits achieved from units awarded Distinction and 6 awarded Merit or higher. Please note that all Access Diploma and Foundation Degree applications are considered in light of all academic achievement. |
| BTEC National Extended Diploma | D*DD |
| Cambridge Pre-U | D3, D3, D3 |
| European Baccalaureate | 85% overall |
| International Baccalaureate | 36 points |
| 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 - AAABB 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 |
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 | We recognise the value of this qualification although it will not be included as a condition of entry. It may be taken into consideration when you receive your results. |
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.
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.
Get in touch if you have any questions
Department of Sociology, School for Business and Society, York Law School
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