Why choose the School of Sport, Psychology and Social Science
Our sociology and criminology courses rank in the UK top 10 in their subject field for teaching and assessment and feedback; they rank in the top 15 for learning opportunities (NSS, 2025).
In The Times GUG 2026, our criminology courses rank UK top 10 in their subject field for teaching quality and UK top 20 for student experience.
Our sociology courses (including criminology) rank UK 2nd in their subject field for student satisfaction (CUG, 2026).
About the course
Our BSc (Hons) Criminology offers a dynamic exploration of crime, justice and society. You examine why individuals offend, how crime is controlled and how criminological theories apply to real-world contexts. The course builds a strong foundation in criminal behaviour, justice systems and offender rehabilitation. After studying these core topics, you can then tailor your learning through optional units aligned with your interests and career goals. These include areas such as youth justice, cybercrime, data analytics, probation, and serious and organised crime (which covers gangs, terrorism, homicide and hate crime). Graduates of this course are well-prepared for a variety of career paths within the UK.
Facilities and specialist equipment
- Simulated scene-of-crime laboratory designed as a modern flat to replicate real-world crime scenarios
- Mock custody suite
- Modern library with extensive range of physical and digital resources
- Bespoke lecture theatres, presentation rooms, group study spaces and socialising space
Industry links
We have robust associations with criminal justice stakeholders, local councils, companies, and voluntary sector and practitioners, which open up opportunities for volunteering and work placements in the community or in practice.
Your student experience
Put theory into practice through voluntary work and simulated crime scenarios embedded into the course units.
Benefit from our links with local charities and volunteering organisations (Victim Support, Youth Offending Team, Luton Women’s Aid and Luton Women’s Centre), Luton Council and Bedfordshire Police as well as regular industry visitors and guest speakers such as experts from HMP Wells and local police forces.
Gain specialist knowledge thanks to subject-relevant field trips to The Old Bailey and Royal Courts of Justice.
Develop your research skills and ability to make sound judgements based on in-depth knowledge.
Specialised learning support and guidance from academic success coaches.
Explore your commitment to the principle of equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice.
Interact with local charities, policymakers and community influencers with our #SASS Change Maker initiative, which aims to increase awareness of and response to topical societal issues.
with Professional Practice Year
This course has the option to be taken over four years which includes a year placement in industry. Undertaking a year in industry has many benefits. You gain practical experience and build your CV, as well as being a great opportunity to sample a profession and network with potential future employers.
There is no tuition fee for the placement year enabling you to gain an extra year of experience for free.
*Only available to UK/EU students.
with Foundation Year
A Degree with a Foundation Year gives you guaranteed entry to an Undergraduate course.
Whether you’re returning to learning and require additional help and support to up-skill, or if you didn’t quite meet the grades to pursue an Undergraduate course, our Degrees with Foundation Year provide a fantastic entry route for you to work towards a degree level qualification.
With our guidance and support you’ll get up to speed within one year, and will be ready to seamlessly progress on to undergraduate study at Bedfordshire.
The Foundation Year provides an opportunity to build up your academic writing skills and numeracy, and will also cover a range of subject specific content to fully prepare you for entry to an Undergraduate degree.
This is an integrated four-year degree, with the foundation year as a key part of the course. You will need to successfully complete the Foundation Year to progress on to the first year of your bachelor’s degree.
Why study a degree with a Foundation Year?
- Broad-based yet enough depth to give you credible vocational skills
- Coverage of a variety of areas typically delivered by an expert in this area
- Gain an understanding of a subject before choosing which route you wish to specialise in
- Great introduction to further study, and guaranteed progression on to one of our Undergraduate degrees
The degrees offering a Foundation Year provide excellent preparation for your future studies.
During your Foundation Year you will get the opportunity to talk to tutors about your degree study and future career aspirations, and receive guidance on the most appropriate Undergraduate course to help you achieve this; providing you meet the entry requirements and pass the Foundation Year.
Course Leader - Dr Jaya Ghosh
Since 1999, I have been working with children in conflict with law and children in need of care and protection especially street children in Bihar and Jharkhand, India. I have worked as the Member of Juvenile Justice Board, Patna and closely worked with the different stakeholders in the Youth Justice System. My PhD thesis was on the experiences, perspectives and participation of children in conflict with law under Juvenile Justice System in India. I did my study in an Observation Home (Secure Home for Young offenders) based on qualitative methods, mainly ethnography, with young people under 18 years and stakeholders consisting of juvenile justice board members, judiciary, welfare department, voluntary organizations and Police from Patna, Bihar, India.
Course Leader - Dr Jaya Ghosh
Since 1999, I have been working with children in conflict with law and children in need of care and protection especially street children in Bihar and Jharkhand, India. I have worked as the Member of Juvenile Justice Board, Patna and closely worked with the different stakeholders in the Youth Justice System. My PhD thesis was on the experiences, perspectives and participation of children in conflict with law under Juvenile Justice System in India. I did my study in an Observation Home (Secure Home for Young offenders) based on qualitative methods, mainly ethnography, with young people under 18 years and stakeholders consisting of juvenile justice board members, judiciary, welfare department, voluntary organizations and Police from Patna, Bihar, India.
Course Leader - Dr Jaya Ghosh
Since 1999, I have been working with children in conflict with law and children in need of care and protection especially street children in Bihar and Jharkhand, India. I have worked as the Member of Juvenile Justice Board, Patna and closely worked with the different stakeholders in the Youth Justice System. My PhD thesis was on the experiences, perspectives and participation of children in conflict with law under Juvenile Justice System in India. I did my study in an Observation Home (Secure Home for Young offenders) based on qualitative methods, mainly ethnography, with young people under 18 years and stakeholders consisting of juvenile justice board members, judiciary, welfare department, voluntary organizations and Police from Patna, Bihar, India.
In your second year, you undertake 300 hours of work-focused learning and placement experience.
To build your academic and research skills, we include special units that prepare you for researching and writing your assessments and final-year dissertation: Introducing academic skills (Year 1); Research 1: collecting data and Research 2: exploring data (Year 2).
Year 1
Introduction to criminology and criminal justice - Explore the key theories put forward to explain crime, deviance and offending behaviour. Introduction to research and social enquiry – How and why we carry out social science research, and the current debates in the field. Career planning for social scientists – Consider possible graduate destinations, pulling together your own personal development plan. Identities, inequalities and human rights – Understand the concept of ‘social harm’ as well as the role of race, gender and class in a globalised, multicultural world. Law, society and crime - Learn how the law, criminal justice system and society interact and influence each other.
Year 2
Crimes of the powerful - Explore offences committed by individuals in positions of authority across business, politics and finance. Cybercrime - How technology has created a new form of crime that includes cyber-terrorism, cyberbullying, cyber hate, cyber-fraud and hacking. Crime and justice: theoretical approaches – Apply your knowledge and learning to real-life crimes.
You can also choose from two optional units:
• Prison, probation and offender rehabilitation
• Victims of violent crimes
Year 3
Urban crime – Understand the local, national and global influences on crime and disorder in urban areas. SASS Change Maker project – Deliver a project that will create change and address an identified need in a community-based organisation. SASS Change Maker research dissertation - Create a research proposal, address its ethical considerations, and conduct an in-depth study aligned with your course and career goals.
You can also choose from four optional units:
• Violence in modern society
• Youth justice, gangs and serious violence
• Terrorism and cyber-terrorism in a global context
• Applied data analytics for social scientists
A range of appropriate assessments will enable you to grow in confidence and demonstrate your acquisition of knowledge and skills. The assessment methods used across the course include:
- Written assignments: These may vary from essays and reports to more in-depth research work on broader topics
- Examinations: These will be a range of multiple-choice computer examinations through to in-class tests and essaybased exams in your final year
- Oral presentations and Poster presentations: These demonstrate verbal and presentational skills in communicating information to others
- Group work: This allows you to demonstrate skills of group research while allowing you to submit a piece of individual work at the same time as your contribution to the group
- The Dissertation: This allows you to undertake a complex research project and communicate knowledge findings and recommendations in your final year on the course.
The assessments will develop incrementally across the course and allow you to gain skills and acquire knowledge receive feedback and grow thus allowing you to implement this knowledge and feedback into subsequent assessments. Working in groups is an important attribute and as part of the assessment process you will work in groups with others. However your contribution will be individually graded and you will receive a grade based on your contribution to the assessed group work.
At the end of the course completion of the assessments will demonstrate your ability to analyse current knowledge and communicate this in both written and presentational formats and to demonstrate a range of transferable skills relevant to your professional employability.
Careers
Employability is a core focus of our BSc (Hons) Criminology course, with opportunities to build professional experience and career-ready skills throughout all three years. You develop a strong portfolio of transferable skills including critical thinking, research and data analysis, communication, presentation, teamwork, and project management. These are embedded across academic units and enhanced through practical experiences. Especially in the final-year dissertation, this further strengthens students’ ability to apply their knowledge in real-world contexts.
Graduates are well-prepared for careers in UK sectors such as policing, probation, youth offending, victim support, policy and research, local government, and third-sector organisations, or for progression into postgraduate study.
Entry Requirements
Entry Requirements
Entry Requirements
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £9,535 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs. See www.gov.uk/student-finance
Excellence Scholarships
Worth £2,500 per year of study over three years when you score a defined number of UCAS tariff points from specified qualifications*
» If you don’t qualify for an Excellence Scholarship but have 120 UCAS tariff points, you have enough points for one of our Achievement Scholarships offering £500 per year of study**
» Other scholarships, bursaries and financial support packages are available
* Points requirements vary depending on type of qualification.
** Threshold is 120 UCAS tariff points across all awarding bodies and qualifications.
International
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2025/26 is £16,900 per year.
There are range of Scholarships available to help support you through your studies with us.
A full list of scholarships can be found here.
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £9,535 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs. See www.gov.uk/student-finance
Excellence Scholarships
Worth £2,500 per year of study over three years when you score a defined number of UCAS tariff points from specified qualifications*
» If you don’t qualify for an Excellence Scholarship but have 120 UCAS tariff points, you have enough points for one of our Achievement Scholarships offering £500 per year of study**
» Other scholarships, bursaries and financial support packages are available
* Points requirements vary depending on type of qualification.
** Threshold is 120 UCAS tariff points across all awarding bodies and qualifications.
International
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2025/26 is £16,900 per year.
There are range of Scholarships available to help support you through your studies with us.
A full list of scholarships can be found here.
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £9,535 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs. See www.gov.uk/student-finance
Excellence Scholarships
Worth £2,500 per year of study over three years when you score a defined number of UCAS tariff points from specified qualifications*
» If you don’t qualify for an Excellence Scholarship but have 120 UCAS tariff points, you have enough points for one of our Achievement Scholarships offering £500 per year of study**
» Other scholarships, bursaries and financial support packages are available
* Points requirements vary depending on type of qualification.
** Threshold is 120 UCAS tariff points across all awarding bodies and qualifications.
International
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2025/26 is £16,900 per year.
There are range of Scholarships available to help support you through your studies with us.
A full list of scholarships can be found here.
Virtual Tour
