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Undergraduate

Criminology BSc (Hons)

University of Gloucestershire

What is Criminology BSc (Hons)?

On our course you’ll engage with the everyday experiences of dealing with crime: the impacts on the victim, the implications for society, forensic investigation, policing in the community, the workings of the criminal justice system, and approaches to preventing and deterring criminal behaviour. Explore the causes and implications of different types of crime, including environmental crime, homicide, sexual violence and crimes against humanity.

Our lecturers include a leading expert who advises the police on domestic violence and homicide and makes regular media appearance including the BBC’s Panorama.

Study style

Alongside lectures and seminars, you’ll learn through teamwork activities and research projects. You’ll investigate scenarios in our crime scene houses, collecting and analysing evidence and discovering how it is presented in court. You’ll have access to a forensic interviewing suite and virtual reality equipment to study issues such as the reliability of eye-witness testimony.

In your first year you’ll develop your knowledge and skills on a GB-based residential field week. Later on your course you can choose to attend an international field trip, recent destinations include Bosnia, Canada and South Africa. During your course you’ll contribute to an ongoing research project which has been influencing crime-prevention initiatives in the local community, and you can also gain academic credit through work experience with a police force, local authority or charitable organisation.

You’ll be invited to join our special interest groups – the Homicide Research Group, the Sexual Violence Research Group, and the Prisons Study Group – where staff and students collaborate in research and investigation. We also encourage students to help the police tackle anti-social behaviour by volunteering for the Student Community Patrol.

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Entry requirements

    • 104 – 120 UCAS tariff points, from any level 3 qualification, which includes A-levels, BTEC, T-levels and many other qualifications. Please see the UCAS tariff calculator for a list of level 3 qualifications and associated tariff points.

      If you are unsure whether we could make you an offer or you have any questions, just get in touch with our admissions team who will be able to advise you.

    • English Language or Literature and Maths Grade 4/C in GCSE (or equivalent) are normally required.

    • We welcome applications from mature students (aged 21 and over) and do not necessarily require the same academic qualifications as school leaving applicants, although some entry requirements may still apply for Professionally Accredited Courses. We accept Access to Higher Education Diplomas and make offers on an individual basis.

Course modules

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Fees and costs

See the further details of fees and potential extra costs when studying a course at the University of Gloucestershire.
Start date Location Course code Fee (UK)
Fee per module
Fee (international)
Fee per module
Sep 2024 Francis Close Hall, Cheltenham Variable* Variable*
Sep 2025 Francis Close Hall, Cheltenham Variable* Variable*

*The fee for this course and study option will vary depending on which modules are taken during each year of study. View our current fees

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UoG Career promise

At UoG we create a climate for bravery and growth. We instil confidence in all our students, so you can graduate career-ready and meet your ambitions.

96% of our graduates are in work or further study*, but if you’re not in a job 6 months after graduating we’ll guarantee you 6 months of free support, followed by the offer of a paid internship to kickstart your career – plus we’ll commit to lifetime career coaching. Eligibility conditions apply**

Discover our promises

Careers

This course will enable you to pursue a meaningful and impactful career in the field of criminology. Designed for individuals interested in pursuing opportunities within the police, prison service, youth service, and other criminal justice agencies, this course provides a deep understanding of the societal and psychological factors surrounding crime.

Through hands-on experiences and interactions with professionals in the field, you will develop essential skills that are applicable to a range of roles within the criminal justice system. The course covers a wide array of topics, including theories of crime and justice, as well as their practical application in real-world scenarios.

This approach not only prepares you for employment, but also equips you with the necessary tools to adapt and thrive throughout your career in criminology, ultimately making substantial contributions to a safer and more equitable society.

Make a difference with your research

Students are encouraged to join the Homicide Research Group, led by Professor Jane Monckton Smith, to analyse real cases. Published research from this group has been influential in shaping police response to stalking and domestic violence.

Learn from leading practitioners

Recent guest lecturers have included the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire, former chief constables, professionals who work with victims of domestic violence, plus members of Thames Valley Anti-terrorism Unit, Youth Justice Services, Metropolitan Police Service and HM Prison Service.

Develop practical skills through mock crime scene investigations

You’ll learn how a crime scene should be managed, and how forensic teams collect, preserve and analyse evidence.

Trips and experiences

In your first year you’ll study the relevance of criminology on a GB-based residential field week. In your second or third year you could choose to take a field week module to a location such as Canada, South Africa or Bosnia where you will learn about some of the distinctive challenges facing those societies, and different features of their criminal justice systems.

To develop your skills for employment you can complete a short internship in the workplace.

Our links with Gloucestershire Constabulary mean you can also experience community policing first-hand, working as part of the Student Community Patrol which helps to keep people safe while they enjoy Cheltenham’s nightlife.

"I’m a project officer within the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner"

“I support the delivery of the Police and Crime Plan. I work with community groups to create a safer Gloucestershire. As part of my degree, I volunteered with Cheltenham West End Partnership. I worked on projects to integrate diverse communities. I really enjoyed seeing the positive difference effective community engagement makes. It made me realise that I want to work with the community in this way.”

Joanna Szymanska, Criminology graduate

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