BSc(Hons) Criminology with Psychology (with Foundation Year)

Entry year
2024/25
Course code
M98F
Application
UCAS
Level
Undergraduate
School
School of Social Sciences
Tariff points
48
Campus
Frenchay
Duration
Four years full-time; four years sandwich; part-time
Delivery
Full-time; sandwich; part-time
Programme leader
Dr Darren Ellis

This course is open for applications

Page last updated 5 March 2024

Introduction

BSc(Hons) Criminology with Psychology at UWE Bristol gives you the applied knowledge, practical experience and transferrable skills to rapidly progress in the career of your choice.

Why study criminology with psychology?

By studying crime, with the science of the mind, we can get a deeper understanding of how crime impacts individuals and society.

Exploring people's attitudes, beliefs and behaviour by looking at the theories, policies, processes and relationships that influence them is a crucial part of helping us develop better forms of crime deterrent, support and rehabilitation.

The knowledge base and skills these subjects give you will set you up strongly for many careers.

Why study at UWE Bristol?

BSc(Hons) Criminology with Psychology is split equally between criminology and psychology, so you'll study both before choosing which to major in.

Supported by staff who are leading practitioners and active researchers, you'll study specialist modules, and get a deep understanding of crime, criminal justice, offenders and victims.

Apply theories and the latest research to real, contemporary issues.

Learn how to think critically, write reports, interpret data, formulate arguments, and make ethical judgements.

You'll carry out your own research, hear from guest speakers, and take part in work-based learning through our links with organisations such as Bristol Young Offenders Scheme, Bristol Youth Education Service and the police.

Activities such as volunteering, placements and internships will deepen your professional skills and knowledge further, to make you highly sought after when you graduate.

Where can it take me?

Criminology with psychology studies society in all its forms so it's the ideal platform for many jobs.

You could work in government, the police and prison services, the court services, the NHS, educational institutions, or non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working with young offenders or victims of crime.

You could also go into social welfare or the private sector, working in private security or law.

Structure

Content

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

Year zero (Foundation year)

All foundation year students study together and will take four compulsory modules covering introductions to Sociology, Criminology, Philosophy, Politics and International Relations, Psychology, and university level academic and study skills.

This will ensure that you have the necessary grounding across all the social science disciplines, enabling you to develop a range of perspectives that will enrich your learning at Year one and beyond.

You'll study:

  • Essentials of Academic Practice
  • Exploring the Social World and the Problems of Crime
  • From Plato to Nato
  • People and Social Science.

You normally need to pass your foundation year before going into Year one.

Year one

You'll study:

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

Year two

You'll study:

  • Contemporary Perspectives in Criminology
  • Criminology in Action: Engaging in the Real World
  • Nature and Use of Research (Criminology).

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

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

Plus, one optional module from:

  • Mind, Brain and Development
  • Identities in Psychology.

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 placement after Year two.

You'll complete a placement learning module.

See the Placements and Fees sections for more information.

Final year

You'll study:

  • Transnational Crime and Comparitive Criminology
  • Criminology Partnership Project or Criminology Project.

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
  • Illegal Drugs: Problems, Markets and Policy
  • Missing People: Lost Identities and Social Harm
  • Organised Crime
  • Protest, Policing and Public Order
  • Punishment and Human Rights
  • Risk and Risk Management
  • Terrorism: History, Myths and Policy
  • Victims and Victimology.

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

  • Advanced Developmental Psychology: Theory and Practice
  • Animal Behaviour and Cognition
  • Applied Developmental Psychology
  • Clinical Aspects of Mental Health
  • Cognitive Neuropsychology
  • Constructing Gender in Society
  • Forensic Psychology
  • Health Psychology in Practice
  • Human Sexuality
  • Methods in Neuroscience
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Neurophysiology and Brain Imaging
  • Principles of Counselling and Psychotherapy
  • Psychological Perspectives on Political Violence, Terrorism and Peace
  • Psychology and Social Justice
  • Psychology in the Community
  • Psychology of Addiction
  • Psychology of Appearance and Embodiment
  • Psychology of Consciousness
  • Psychology of Sport and Exercise
  • Psychology of Work
  • Psychopharmacology
  • The Arts and Mental Health.

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

At the end of year one, you'll choose whether to major in criminology, or to major in psychology and continue with criminology as a minor subject, visit Psychology with Criminology for more details.

If you want a degree that's recognised by the British Psychological Society, choose psychology as your main subject.

Learn through a mix of formal lectures, seminars, workshops, one-to-one tutorials and ICT-based learning. Seminars have a maximum of 20 students, to give you a good level of tutor input and support.

Work with experienced and enthusiastic academics, who incorporate their research into their teaching, to give you access to the latest ideas.

Carry out your own research, focusing on real-world issues that link into your career plans.

Take part in industry events and attend regular presentations from guest lecturers to learn about the latest industry challenges and best practice.

You'll build your research and IT skills, your literacy and numeracy, and your understanding of individuals, social institutions and processes.

We offer modules that differ in learning approach, so you can choose those that match your style.

Your tutors will be on hand to support you, and you'll have your own personal academic tutor, as a mentor and guide.

See our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.

Approximate percentage of time you'll spend in different learning activities*:

YearScheduled learning and teaching studyIndependent studyPlacement study
024%76%0%
129%71%0%
224%73%3%
320%80%0%

*Calculated from compulsory and optional modules (where applicable) each year

Assessment

We'll assess your academic and practical skills using essays, seminar presentations, projects, literature reviews, and 'unseen' and 'seen' examinations.

Learn more about assessments.

Approximate percentage of marks awarded by each assessment method*:

YearWritten exam assessmentCoursework assessmentPractical exam assessment
022%65%13%
145%55%0%
235%48%17%
342%49%9%

*Calculated from compulsory and optional modules (where applicable) each year

Features

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.

We have links with lots of organisations. You could work with Avon and Somerset Police, Bristol City Council or Victim Support, for example.

We also offer volunteering and other work-based experiences, to deepen your knowledge and skills.

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 within the School, including our advanced psychology labs where you can do your practical project work.

Carry out psychological tests using the latest systems, software and analytic instrumentation.

Record physiological data from participantsusing industry-standard biopac amplifier equipment.

Investigate perception and eye movements related to psychological phenomena in our advanced eye-tracking and perception lab. 

You'll also have 24 hour access to our well-equipped university library, which has spaces for silent and group study and rooms you can book. 

You'll have use of books, trade press, academic journals, and industry databases both on and off campus.

Learn more about UWE Bristol's facilities and resources.

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

This course provides the ideal platform for many careers.

Employers will value you for your level of practical skills, such as strong communication and critical thinking, and your industry-based experience.

Students go into careers in research, education, social work, counselling, charity work, healthcare, prison and court services, the police and the legal sector.

You could also go on to postgraduate study or a research degree.

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.

See also:

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 five year course and then transfer to the four 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

This refers to 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: 48
  • 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: No specific subjects required.
  • 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: No specific subjects required.
  • Irish Highers: No specific subjects required.
  • T Levels: No specific subjects required.

Entry requirements

If you exceed the entry requirements you may be eligible for BSc(Hons) Criminology with Psychology.

International applicants

If you are an international student your recommended route of study for this degree is through our International College, which upon successful completion to the required level and with good attendance, guarantees entry to year one of the degree.

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