A polygraph machine drawing test results on paper.

BSc(Hons) Psychology with Criminology

Entry year
2024/25
Course code
C8M9
Application
UCAS
Level
Undergraduate
School
School of Social Sciences
Tariff points
128
Campus
Frenchay
Duration
Three years full-time; four years sandwich
Delivery
Full-time; sandwich; part-time
Programme leader
Dr Cody Porter

This course is open for applications

Page last updated 5 March 2024

Introduction

This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society and has a strong practical focus that will build your professional skills, enhance your CV and get you noticed by employers.

Accreditations and partnerships:

Why study psychology with criminology?

By studying crime, along with a deep insight into human thought, action and behaviour, we can get a better understanding of how crime impacts individuals and society.

Blending the benefits of a scientific approach, with the ability to think creatively, these disciplines develop skills that will put you in a strong position for progressing in a broad variety of careers.

Why study at UWE Bristol?

BSc(Hons) Psychology with Criminology is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), so if you major in psychology you'll get the Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC) with your degree. That's the initial recognised standard you need to become a practising psychologist.

Built around the core BPS curriculum, the course will help you apply academic knowledge to real-world situations learning from internationally-recognised researchers and practitioners.

You'll study advanced psychological methods and gain valuable transferable skills, becoming a strong communicator and problem solver.

Hands-on experience with contemporary topics and approaches in practical sessions will deepen your knowledge further.

You'll be mentored by a personal tutor, take part in research projects and complete an independent research project in an area of interest in your final year.

Where can it take me?

The course will equip you with the strong transferable skills employers are looking for.

You could work in healthcare, law enforcement, finance, IT, research, government, education, the creative industries or the legal sector.

Structure

Content

The optional modules listed are those that are most likely to be available, but they may be subject to change.

Year one

You'll study:

  • Introduction to Criminal Justice
  • Introduction to Criminological Theory
  • Introduction to Psychology
  • Research Design and Analysis 1
  • Understanding Crime.

Year two

You'll study:

  • Identities in Psychology
  • Mind, Brain and Development
  • Research Design and Analysis 2.

Plus, optional modules (the number depending on credit requirement) from:

  • Angels or Demons?: Understanding and Managing Youth Offending
  • Crime, Media and Culture
  • Difference': 'Race', Ethnicity and Diversity in Contemporary Society
  • Drugs, Crime and Society
  • Mental Health, Crime and Criminal Justice
  • Policing and Crime Prevention.

Placement year (if applicable)

If you study on the four year (sandwich) course, you'll spend a year away from the University on a work or study placement after Year two.

Depending on which you choose, you'll either complete a placement learning or learning and development module.

See the placements and fees sections for more information.

Final year

You'll study:

  • Psychology Project.

Plus, optional modules (the number depending on credit requirement) from:

  • Animal Behaviour and Cognition
  • Clinical Aspects of Mental Health
  • Cognitive Neuropsychology
  • Constructing Gender in Society
  • Developmental Psychology: Contexts, Neorodoversity and Complexities
  • Forensic Psychology
  • Health Psychology in Practice
  • Human Sexuality
  • Methods in Neuroscience
  • Principles of Counselling and Psychotherapy
  • Psychology and Social Justice
  • Psychology in the Community
  • Psychology of Addiction
  • Psychology of Appearance and Embodiment
  • Psychology of Sport and Exercise
  • Psychology of Work
  • Psychopharmacology
  • The Arts and Mental Health.

Plus, optional modules (the number depending on credit requirement) from:

  • Gender, Sex and Social Control
  • Green Criminology: Environment, Crime and Justice
  • Hate Crime:Offending, Victimisation and Policing
  • Missing People: Lost Identities and Social Harm
  • Organised Crime
  • Prisons, Punishment and Human Rights
  • Protest, Policing and Public Order
  • Risk and Risk Management
  • Terrorism: History, Myths and Policy
  • Victims and Victiminology.

You can study psychology at UWE Bristol as either a major or minor accredited course, with criminology, sociology or law. If psychology is the major subject, you'll receive the Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC).

This structure is for full-time students only. Part-time students study the same modules but the delivery pattern will be different.

The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we'll inform you.

Learning and Teaching

The course covers the core British Psychological Society content areas in psychology. You'll study social, developmental and cognitive psychology, individual differences, biological psychology, conceptual and historical issues, statistical analysis and research design.

The course is taught by internationally acclaimed psychologists and researchers. Over 40 members of academic staff will be available to you for questions and support.

Learn through a mix of traditional lectures, seminars, and online learning in our virtual learning environment, Blackboard. Gain hands-on experience with psychological topics and approaches through regular practical sessions in our psychology labs.

Engage with learning materials, and other students and staff, through this online system - submitting assignments online, taking quizzes, and accessing blogs, videos, podcasts and discussion boards.

Our lecturers incorporate their research into their teaching. Participate in student and staff research projects through our research centres such as the Psychological Sciences Research Group and the internationally- renowned Centre for Appearance Research.

For more details see our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.

Percentage of time you'll spend in different learning activities, each year:

YearScheduled learning and teaching studyIndependent studyPlacement study% check
126%74%0%100%
224%76%0%100%
319%81%0%100%

Assessment

We'll assess you using coursework, such as essays, journal articles, book reviews, research reports, literature reviews, computer-based tests, personal reflective journals and group presentations. We'll also use controlled assessments such as unseen and seen examinations, timed assignments, and group and individual presentations.

Learn more about assessments.

Percentage of time you'll spend on different assessment methods, each year:

YearWritten exam assessmentCoursework assessmentPractical exam assessment% check
145%55%0%100%
232%54%14%100%
347%53%0%100%

Features

Professional accreditation

BSc(Hons) Psychology with Criminology is accredited by the British Psychological Society which means if you study psychology as your major subject, you'll receive the Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC).

This is the initial recognised standard you need to become a practising psychologist.

Placements

Students who go on work experience tend to graduate with better degrees. Experience also hones your skills, industry knowledge and professional network, making you a sought after graduate.

If you choose the four year (sandwich) course, you'll spend a year away from the University on a work or study placement after Year two.

You'll get help to find a placement and support throughout from staff within the School and our award-winning careers service.

Study year abroad

You'll also have opportunities to study overseas on courses that are taught in English and are relevant to your degree. The study year abroad is not a paid placement.

Study facilities

Learn in our modern, well-equipped facilities to support your study of psychology, including our dedicated psychology undergraduate lab equipped with Biopac amplifiers for psychophysiological teaching and research.

Our specialist psychology labs include EEG labs, a sport and exercise lab and interview rooms that are available to psychology students for their own research. We also have modern computing facilities with qualitative and quantitative statistical and specialist software for psychology including SPSS, NVivo, SuperLab and E-prime.

Carry out psychological experiments using the latest technology and analytical instrumentation, supported by dedicated psychology technicians.

Investigate perception and eye-movements related to psychological experiences in our eye-tracking labs. Use our advanced driving simulator to assess the impact of different factors on driving performance and access our health and social care library, one of the largest in the UK. 

Our virtual learning environment is a big part of all our courses too. You'll get to engage online with study materials, students and staff, and access blogs, videos, podcasts and discussion boards. 

Take a Virtual Tour of the Psychology, Sociology and Criminology facilities and see what's on offer here for you.

Life

Accommodation

An excellent range of options for all of the Bristol campuses and the city centre.

Bristol

A stunning city for student living with all the qualities to make you want to stay.

Sports, societies and activities

There is more to your experience here than study. Choose to make the most of it and try new things.

Health and Wellbeing

We provide support in the way you need it.

Campus and facilities

Discover our campuses and the wealth of facilities provided for our students.

Careers

Careers / Further study

BSc(Hons) Psychology with Criminology gives you the strong blend of knowledge, skills and experience essential for a career as a chartered psychologist.

As a well-organised, confident communicator, with excellent analytical and critical thinking skills, you'll also be well suited to careers in healthcare, law enforcement, finance, IT, research, government, education, the creative industries or the legal sector. 

Many students also progress to postgraduate study and research degrees.

Get inspired

Our award-winning careers service will develop your employment potential through career coaching and find you graduate jobs, placements and global opportunities.

We can also help find local volunteering and community opportunities, provide support for entrepreneurial activity and get you access to employer events.

Visit our employability pages to learn more about careers, employers and what our students are doing six months after graduating.

Additional resources

UWE - careers in psychology

The Guardian - what to do with a degree in psychology

Fees

Supplementary fee information

Your overall entitlement to funding is based on how long the course is that you're registered on. Standard funding is allocated based on the standard number of years that your course lasts, plus one additional year.

You'll apply for funding each year that you study and Student Finance will take into account how long the course is in each year that you apply. So if you register for the four year course and then transfer to the three year course, the number of years you can apply for funding will change. Student Finance will reassess your funding based on how many years you have been in study, not just those years for which you received student finance.

Always seek advice before taking any action that may have implications for your funding.

Learn more about funding.

Additional costs

Additional costs are for items you could need during your studies that aren't covered by the standard tuition fee. These could be materials, textbooks, travel, clothing, software or printing.

Learn more about costs.

Entry

Typical offers

  • Tariff points: 128
  • Contextual tariff: See our contextual offers page.
  • GCSE: Grade C/4 or above in English, Mathematics and Double Science, or equivalent.
  • English Language Requirement: International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*).

    *The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language section. Please visit our English language requirements page.

  • A-level subjects: Grade B in one A2 subject.
  • EDEXCEL (BTEC) Diploma: No specific subjects required.

    For information on required Guided Learning Hours please see our minimum entry requirements page.

  • Access: No specific subjects required.
  • Baccalaureate IB: A minimum Grade 6 in a Higher Level subject.
  • Irish Highers: H1 in one subject.
  • T Levels: No specific subjects required.

Entry requirements

If you don't meet the entry requirements, you may be eligible for BSc(Hons) Psychology with Criminology (with Foundation Year).

International applicants

For country specific entry requirements please find your country on the country information pages. If you are an international student and do not meet the academic requirements to study this course, you can qualify by completing preparatory study at our International College.

If you are applying to study at UWE Bristol and require additional support to meet our English language requirements, you may be able to attend one of our pre-sessional English courses. Read more about our Pre-Sessional English Programme.

Read more about entry requirements.

How to apply

Read more about undergraduate applications.

Read more about international applications and key international deadline dates.

For further information

Unistats

UWE Main Campus

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