Criminology BA (Hons) (with Foundation Year)

The Foundation Year is a great opportunity if you have the ability and enthusiasm to study for a degree, but do not yet have the qualifications required to enter directly onto our degree programmes. A significant part of the Foundation Year focuses upon core skills such as academic writing at HE level, becoming an independent learner, structuring academic work, critical thinking, time management and note taking.

Successful completion of the Foundation Year will enable you to progress into the first year (Level C) of your chosen honours degree. Further details can be found here.

Introduction to Criminology

In your first year, you will gain the core foundational knowledge of criminology. You’ll be introduced to the key ideas, concepts, theories, and agencies that underpin criminology and criminal justice. You will study:

Fought the Law – Introduction to Criminal Justice in England and Wales

This module offers an introduction to the institutions, processes, and debates that shape the criminal justice system. You will explore how the police, courts, prisons, and probation services function in theory and practice, and examine the challenges they face in delivering justice. Using real-world examples and critical reflection, the module encourages you to think about power, fairness, and accountability within the system.

From Origins to Innovations – Criminological Thought

This module explores the key ideas that have shaped our understanding of crime and deviance. You will study a wide range of criminological theories, from classic thinkers to contemporary developments, and consider how these perspectives help explain why people commit crime. By engaging with both historical and modern approaches, you will see how criminological thought evolves and how it applies to real-world issues.

Thinking Society – Behavioural and Social Frameworks*

This module introduces criminology students to the wider social sciences and the issues that shape everyday life. You will consider how human behaviour is influenced by social, cultural, economic, and political factors, and how these forces connect to crime and justice. Topics such as homelessness, inequality, social exclusion, sexuality, and gender are examined, encouraging you to think critically about the structures that shape life chances. Drawing on sociology, psychology, and related disciplines, this module develops essential tools for understanding society.

Crime in the Media – Headlines and Hype*

This module examines how crime is represented and shaped by the media. From documentaries and tabloid headlines to social media and streaming platforms, you will study the powerful role the media plays in constructing public perceptions of crime, justice, and criminality. You will also explore how stories are framed, whose voices are included or excluded, and how media representations influence fear of crime, policy responses, and wider social attitudes.

*single honours only

Explorations in Criminology

In your second year, core modules build on the threshold concepts and knowledge developed in the first year. You will explore contemporary areas of criminological interest, including: Victimology, Human Rights, the Politics of Crime and Criminal Justice Policy, Critical Criminology, Psychological Criminology, Drugs and Substance Misuse, Hate Crime, Sex and Crime, Criminology of the Global South, Transnational Crime, Corporate Crime, and Research Methods.

In your final year, you will study a range of specialist modules shaped by our team’s research expertise. These modules are subject to change, but currently include:

Exploring the 'Manosphere': Online Misogyny in the 21st Century

This module examines the rise of extreme misogyny in digital spaces and its social impact. You will trace the development of the men’s rights movement and study how its ideas have evolved and spread online, giving rise to groups such as pick-up artists, MGTOW, and Incels. The module explores how these communities form in lightly regulated online environments and how they influence real-world attitudes and behaviours. You will also engage with research into the links between online misogyny and violent extremism, gaining a deeper understanding of how gender, power, and technology intersect today.

Organised Crime

This module provides a critical introduction to the structures, activities, and global reach of organised criminal groups. You will explore the operations of organisations such as the Italian ’Ndrangheta, Chinese Triads, and Mexican drug cartels. The module considers how these groups interact with nation-states, infiltrate legal markets, and shape societies in both local and global contexts. Case studies and contemporary research will help you examine the political, economic, and social dimensions of organised crime, as well as the challenges of policing these powerful networks.

Evidence-Based Policing

This module focuses on how research and data can be used to inform and improve policing practices. You will study the key concepts and methods behind evidence-based policing and consider how they shape decision-making in investigation, enforcement, and crime prevention. The module encourages you to think critically about what counts as ‘good’ evidence and how it can be applied in real-world contexts. Through practical examples and debate, you will assess both the benefits and challenges of using research to create more effective, ethical, and accountable policing strategies.

International Crime

This module explores crimes that cross national borders and affect the global community. You will examine offences such as war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity within their historical, social, and political contexts. The module considers the legal frameworks that address these crimes, alongside the role and effectiveness of institutions such as the International Criminal Court. Case studies will allow you to reflect on the judicial and ethical challenges of prosecuting international crime and the consequences for individuals, societies, and the global order.

Advanced Studies in Criminology 1

This module introduces two key areas in contemporary criminology: extremism, terrorism and security, and cybercrime. You will explore the social and political contexts in which these issues arise, the theories that help explain them, and how they manifest in the modern world. The module also considers how governments and institutions respond through policy, prevention, and enforcement. By engaging critically and comparatively, you will develop an advanced understanding of the challenges these issues pose to justice, safety, and society.

Advanced Studies in Criminology 2*

This module gives single honours students the chance to focus on two important and evolving areas of criminology: race, crime, and identity, and green criminology. You will study the social, political, and historical contexts of these issues, as well as the theories that underpin them. The module examines how race and identity intersect with criminal justice, and how environmental harm and ecological justice are addressed within criminology. By analysing real-world issues and policy responses, you will develop a critical and comparative understanding of their significance in the contemporary world.

*single honours only