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Criminology BSc(Hons)

2026-27

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Overview

Crime is a feature of social life in every community and society globally, with behaviours regarded as crime constantly changing. As such, there is a rising demand for criminal justice agencies and governments to understand crime. Our Criminology BSc(Hons) degree allows you to explore the fascinating yet complex world of crime.

Why study Criminology BSc(Hons)

We’ve ranked in the top third of UK universities for Criminology in The Times Good University Guide 2026. In Yorkshire and the Humber, we’ve also ranked top 5 for Criminology and 2nd for Sociology and Social Policy in the Guardian League Tables 2026, as well as 4th for Sociology (1st for student satisfaction) in the Complete University Guide 2026.

Also in the National Student Survey 2025, we’ve ranked top in Yorkshire for assessment and feedback (Sociology). Over 90% of students on this course who participated in the 2025 National Student Survey also agreed that academic support and learning resources on this course was high quality.

Our Criminology BSc(Hons) course provides the opportunity for you to acquire the skills and knowledge needed for a prospective future career working with offenders, victims, criminal justice organisations, crime reduction roles, and more. You’ll also be encouraged to explore ways to explain crime, investigate crime, reduce crime, and respond to crime. This allows you to gain a thorough understanding of the criminal justice system, including the Police, the Crown Prosecution Service and His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service.

Our lecturers have worked in the criminal justice system and have a wide range of research specialisms, so will use their expertise to engage and inspire you. Guest speakers, such as police officers, drug outreach workers and criminal justice staff, will visit the University to share their experiences, and you’ll have the chance to take part in debates including, for example, why people commit crime. You’ll also investigate such topics as sexual offending, cybercrime, mental health and crime, and violent crime. Expert guidance will be provided throughout the course; one of our tutors will act as your Personal Academic Tutor to ensure you are getting the most from your studies and are fully prepared for a potentially exciting career ahead.

In year two, you’ll complete compulsory work experience in a relevant setting, helping you put your skills and knowledge into practice; past students’ placements include working with youth offending teams, in prisons, police stations, and courts, as well as in voluntary agencies supporting offenders and victims in the community. You may also have the opportunity to work and study abroad via the Turing Scheme.

If you do not have the appropriate qualifications for direct entry to this degree you may be able to apply to our Psychology and Crime Foundation Pathway leading to a BSc(Hons) Degree or our Health Foundation Pathway leading to a BSc(Hons) Degree.

Entry requirements

BBC-BCC at A Level .

112-104 UCAS tariff points from a combination of Level 3 qualifications.

Pass in T Level with grade C or above on core.

DMM-MMM in BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma.

  • Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits at Merit or above.
  • 112-104 UCAS tariff points from International Baccalaureate qualifications including a Higher Level at grade 6.

If you do not have the appropriate qualifications for direct entry to this degree you may be able to apply to our Psychology and Crime Foundation Pathway leading to a BSc(Hons) Degree or our Health Foundation Pathway leading to a BSc(Hons) Degree.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our International Entry Requirements page.

You may be eligible to gain accreditation for your prior learning towards this course.

We are keen to support a wide and diverse range of applicants on to our courses. Other suitable experience or qualifications will be considered. For further information please see the University's minimum entry requirements.

Course Detail

Option modules. Choose one from a list which may include:

Plus one from a list which may include:

Option modules. Choose one from Pool A, one from Pool B and one from either Pool A or Pool B, from a list which may include:

Pool A

Pool B

This course has modules making up 360 credits over the 3 Years, with each credit being 10 hours of study (3600 hours in total). An average of approximately* 30% (4824 hours) of the study time on this course is spent with your tutors face to face or online in seminars or tutorials. The remainder of the time will be spent on independent study. Assessments takes place through a variety of coursework, presentations, work-based learning and examinations.

Subject to mode of study. *Based on current core modules.

Calculated using data from the academic year 2024/25, as of November 2024.

Teaching

The teaching year for most courses normally starts in September with breaks at Christmas and Easter, finishing with a main examination/assessment period around May/June. Teaching on other courses including professional courses, postgraduate taught, research, distance learning and apprenticeship may have other start dates including January and May. All start dates can be found on each course page and term dates are also available. Students on a full-time course may have to attend every day of the week. Students who choose to study a full-time course on a part-time basis will generally attend modules at the same time as our full-time students. Timetables are normally available one month before registration.

Our courses are taught at our University campus and you can expect that your lectures and seminars will be held face to face, except in cases of emergency or if specifically stated otherwise in the module description.

Feedback

Feedback (usually written) is normally provided on all coursework submissions within three term time weeks – unless the submission was made towards the end of the session in which case feedback would be available on request after the formal publication of results. Feedback on exam performance/final coursework is available on request after the publication of results.

Progression

You may progress to the next stage of your course or research degree, subject to meeting University assessment criteria and professional, statutory or regulatory body guidelines.

  1. The University of Huddersfield has been rated Gold in all three aspects of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023. We were the only university in Yorkshire and the Humber and the North West to achieve Gold ratings in all three aspects of the TEF among those announced in September 2023. In fact only 13 Universities, out of the 96 that were announced in September 2023, were Gold in all three ratings.

  2. Our teaching staff rank first in England for the proportion with higher degrees and teaching qualifications, as well as being top five for those holding doctorates (HESA 2025). So you’ll learn from some of the best, helping you to be the best.

  3. We are second in the country for National Teaching Fellowships, which mark the UK’s best lecturers in Higher Education, winning a total of 24 since 2008 (2025 data).

  4. We won the first Global Teaching Excellence Award, recognising the University’s commitment to world-class teaching and its success in developing students as independent learners and critical thinkers (Higher Education Academy, 2017).

Visit ‘Our experts’ page where you’ll find in-depth profiles of all our academic staff

At Huddersfield, you'll study the Global Professional Award (GPA) alongside your degree* so that you gain valuable qualities and experiences that could help you to get the career you want, no matter what your field of study is. On completion of the Award, you'll receive a GPA certificate from the University of Huddersfield, alongside the specialist subject skills and knowledge you gain as part of your degree, which may help to set you apart from other graduates.

Giving students access to the Global Professional Award is one of the reasons the University won ‘Best University Employability Strategy’ award at the National Graduate Recruitment Awards 2021. Find out more on the Global Professional Award webpage.

*full-time, undergraduate first degrees with a minimum duration of three years. This does not include postgraduate, foundation, top-up, accelerated or apprenticeship degrees.

Placements

This course includes compulsory work experience in the second year. You'll be expected to undertake at least 30 hours of work experience relevant to your course during that year. The module is designed to enhance your academic and personal development through work experience that shapes your key skills and increases your confidence for future employability.

Your work and careers module tutor, as well as your personal academic tutor, will be on hand to support you in finding suitable work opportunities. They will assist you with preparing your CV and interview techniques. They'll also be in contact with you during your work experience so that you'll be fully supported while you gain the skills that employer’s value so highly.

Previous work experiences within the criminology and policing subject area have included working with the police in roles such as being a special constable, translator and appropriate adult. As well as departments and organisations such as the police visitor scheme, youth offending teams, prisons, restorative justice organisations, CCTV units, Local Authority anti-social behaviour units and courts as well as in voluntary agencies that provide support to adult and juvenile offenders and victims in the community.

For more information visit our placements page.

During my second year I had the opportunity to complete a work placement, where I helped with a research project for one of the senior lecturers. This was a really good experience and allowed me to focus on and further develop my research skills.

Samantha Harrison Criminology Graduate

Samantha Harrison, graduated Criminology BSc(Hons) in 2020, now teaches within uniformed public services

Simulated trial in our on-campus Mock Court Room
Crime prevention activity using Virtual Reality
University campus.
Library.
Inside the University's extensive library.
Student Central Building.

Discover more about the course

Your Career

Discover the job roles our graduates are working in now.

Inspiring Graduate

Get inspired by real students and their careers.

Careers advice

Check out the personalised guidance we offer you.

Student Support

Discover all the support available so you can thrive.

Further Study

Learn about pursuing a Master’s or PhD at Huddersfield.

Research Excellence

See how our innovative research shapes what you'll learn.

Important information

When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by our terms and conditions, Handbook of Regulations and associated policies. It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan.

Although we always try and ensure we deliver our courses as described, sometimes we may have to make changes for the following reasons:

Changes to a course you have applied for but are not yet enrolled on

If we propose to make a major change to a course that you are holding an offer for, then we will tell you as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment. We may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or combine your programme with another programme if we consider this reasonably necessary to ensure a good student experience, for example if there are not enough applicants. Where this is the case we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and if you are unhappy with the change we will discuss with you other suitable courses we can transfer your application to. If you do not wish to transfer to another course with us, you may cancel your application and we will refund you any deposits or fees you have paid to us.

Changes to your course after you enrol as a student

Changes to option modules

Where your course allows you to choose modules from a range of options, we will review these each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback or demand for certain modules. We will always ensure that you have an equivalent range of options to that advertised for the course. We will let you know in good time the options available for you to choose for the following year.

Major changes

We will only make major changes to non-optional modules on a course if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change is a change that substantially changes the outcomes, or a significant part of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days (part time provision), type of delivery or assessment of the core curriculum. For example, it may be necessary to make a major change to reflect changes in the law or the requirements of the University’s regulators or a commissioning or accrediting body. We may also make changes to improve the course in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback or to ensure you are being taught current best practice. Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as a key member of staff being unable to teach due to illness, where they have a particular specialism that can’t be adequately covered by other members of staff; or due to pandemics, other disasters (such as fire, flood or war) or changes made by the government.

Major changes would usually be made with effect from the next academic year, but may happen sooner in an emergency. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make a major change and will consult with affected groups of students and any changes would only be made in accordance with our regulations. If you reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment or hardship we will, if appropriate, work with you to try to reduce the adverse effect on you or find an appropriate solution. Where an appropriate solution cannot be found and you let us know before the change takes effect you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the University without liability to the University for any additional tuition fees. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so and you may be eligible for an exit award depending on how far through your course you are.

In exceptional circumstances, we may, for reasons outside of our control, be forced to discontinue or suspend your course. Where this is the case, a formal exit strategy will be followed in accordance with the student protection plan.

The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University.

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