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).
Our criminology courses rank in the UK top 20 overall in their subject area (Guardian, 2026); they are 2nd in their subject field for satisfaction with teaching and 4th for feedback.
Our sociology courses rank UK 2nd in their subject field for student satisfaction (Complete University Guide, 2026).
About the course
Embark on a journey to understand the world through the lenses of sociology and criminology while gaining the skills to make a meaningful impact on society. With its strong focus on employability, this interdisciplinary course equips you with the analytical tools to critically assess the most pressing issues in society and develop practical solutions to real-world problems in areas such as crime and crime prevention; forensic mental health; social justice; cultural diversity and social inequalities. In your second and third years, you can choose from a range of optional units, allowing you to specialise in specific areas of interest such as education, emerging digital technologies or crime and the media.
Facilities and specialist equipment
- Four-storey library with an extensive range of physical and digital resources
- Specialist labs, lecture theatres and bespoke group study spaces
Your student experience
Develop a comprehensive understanding of sociology and criminology through exploring how societal structures and behaviours intersect with crime, justice and social inequalities.
Connect academic learning with practical application, tackling contemporary, real-world issues such as education inequality, digital transformation and systemic biases in institutions.
Put theory into practice with opportunities for work-related learning, voluntary work, hands-on simulations of crime scenarios, and a data analysis unit using tools like SPSS and Excel.
Learn from expert staff with diverse social science backgrounds, including forensic psychiatry, policing, offender management, social work, further education teaching and youth justice.
Benefit from staff actively involved in research across key areas such as human rights, safeguarding, social equity/justice, public policy, youth crime and violence, and offender management.
Personalise your degree by choosing from a range of optional units and tailor your final-year dissertation to focus on either research or a community-based project.
Become workplace ready by developing transferable skills in critical thinking; problem-solving; oral and written communication; IT literacy; and teamwork.
Enhance your learning through subject-relevant field trips to key institutions, including visits to The Old Bailey, Royal Courts of Justice and Luton Magistrates’ Court.
Engage with local charities, policymakers, and community leaders through the #SASS Change Maker initiative, which empowers you to address and raise awareness of critical societal challenges.
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 - Deborah Spring
I have been teaching sociology, criminology, psychology and criminology and child and family studies in a number of educational settings since I qualified with a degree in Sociology and Criminology and a master’s degree in Criminology in 2015. I developed a keen interest in many areas such as the family, mental wellbeing, crime issues and I have been involved in important research to human trafficking.
Course Leader - Deborah Spring
I have been teaching sociology, criminology, psychology and criminology and child and family studies in a number of educational settings since I qualified with a degree in Sociology and Criminology and a master’s degree in Criminology in 2015. I developed a keen interest in many areas such as the family, mental wellbeing, crime issues and I have been involved in important research to human trafficking.
Course Leader - Deborah Spring
I have been teaching sociology, criminology, psychology and criminology and child and family studies in a number of educational settings since I qualified with a degree in Sociology and Criminology and a master’s degree in Criminology in 2015. I developed a keen interest in many areas such as the family, mental wellbeing, crime issues and I have been involved in important research to human trafficking.
The BSc (Hons) Applied Sociology and Criminology course offers a rich, interdisciplinary foundation in sociology and criminology, blending theoretical knowledge with practical application to explore key societal issues and criminal justice challenges.
From a criminological perspective, you will begin your studies with core units such as Introduction to Crime, Society and Criminal Justice System, where you will examine theoretical approaches to crime, deviance and offending behaviour alongside the institutions that respond to them. In Theorising Crime, Punishment, and Justice, you will analyse crime and explore diverse frameworks for understanding punishment and justice. Urban Crime focuses on contemporary developments in cities across the globe and the criminal justice responses to urban challenges.
From a sociological perspective, Applied Sociology introduces you to sociological theories and their practical implications for understanding contemporary society, while Policy in Action enhances your understanding of political structures, governance and key societal issues. In Sociology of Education, you will critically evaluate the role of education in shaping societal structures, addressing inequalities, and fostering social mobility. In Real World Issues in Services and Institutions, you will examine systemic inequalities and institutional dynamics across sectors like healthcare, education and social services.
The course integrates optional units to allow specialisation. For example, in Year 2, you will have the option of studying The Sociology of Education; Digital World, where you will explore the impact of digital technologies on society including online identities, misinformation, and the role of AI in shaping behaviours and structures; or Prosecution, Criminal Courts and Justice, a unit that provides an in-depth look at how criminal cases are processed through the legal system, exploring the balance between justice and fairness.
In Year 3, you will have the opportunity to engage with advanced optional units such as Real World Issues in Services and Institutions; Forensic Mental Health, where you will study the needs of mentally disordered offenders under mental health legislation; or Crime and the Media which examines the complex relationship between media, crime and culture through crime journalism, films and TV dramas. Further to this, in the optional unit Unlocking Insights: The Power of Data, you will learn to analyse and interpret complex datasets using tools like Excel and SPSS, applying these skills to societal and criminological issues.
To develop your employability, research and professional skills, you will explore research methodologies throughout the course in Introduction to Research and Social Enquiry; Research Methods 1: Collecting Data; and Research Methods 2: Exploring Data. Career Planning for Social Scientists will help you articulate your transferable skills and prepare for the workplace. You will also gain hands-on experience in Work-Related Experience in Sociology and Criminology, where you will work with an organisation to apply your knowledge and develop practical insights.
At the culmination of your studies, you will undertake a SASS Change Maker Project Dissertation or a Research Dissertation. The project-based dissertation involves collaborating with a community organisation to deliver a meaningful initiative, while the research dissertation allows you to conduct an in-depth study into an area of professional interest, exploring ethical implications and developing a robust research proposal.
The diversity of assignments will enable students to practice and demonstrate their knowledge, understanding, transferable skills and abilities. Assessment methods are varied to suit different learning styles and include:
- Written assignments (for example essays, reports, photo-voice, infographic/poster, reflective accounts and portfolios)
- Media content creation (podcasts, YouTube and so on)
- Case study analyses and policy critiques
- Group presentations, vivas and collaborative projects
- Data-analysis projects using SPSS or Excel
- A final dissertation or research project
Careers
By combining core sociological and criminological knowledge with specialised optional units, practical work-based experience, transferable skills and research-focused learning, this course prepares you for a range of careers in criminal justice professions; community development and advocacy; public policy and administration; social research and analysis; education; and data analysis and evidence-based decision making.
Possible roles (some requiring further training or qualifications) include police officer; crime-scene investigator; prison or probation officer; professionals in community development, social work, youth work or family support; housing manager/officer; international aid or development worker; roles in the charity sector or civil service; teacher at secondary level or within further education; higher education lecturer; special educational needs coordinator (SENCO); social researcher and analyst; human resources professional; public relations officer; marketing executive; and life coach.
You can also progress within higher education, taking a Master’s or professional qualification in an area relevant to your degree or specialism.
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
