# CriminologyBA

**Source**: https://sheffield.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/2026/criminology-ba
**Parent**: https://sheffield.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/2026

2026-27 entry
[View 2027-28 entry](https://sheffield.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/2027/criminology-ba)

# Criminology BA

School of Law

Discover the most recent advancements in areas such as crime trends, restorative justice, policing and punishment. Build transferable skills required for criminological careers and for a wide range of professions that require critical thinking and problem solving.

- A Levels
  \
  AAB
- UCAS code
  \
  M900
- Duration
  \
  3 years
- Start date
  \
  September
- Attendance
  \
  Full-time

- [Course fee](#fees "Fees")
- Funding available
- [Optional placement year](#plstudyabroad "Optional placement year")
- [Study abroad option](#plstudyabroad "Study abroad option")
- FY  Foundation year entry for mature students

[Send enquiry](https://sheffield.ac.uk/contact/prospective-students/enquiry-form)
[Apply for this course](#apply)

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### Explore this course:

## Course description

### Why study this course?

#### Study at the UK’s top university for graduate prospects in criminology

Join the UK’s top university for graduate prospects in criminology (Times Higher Education 2025).

#### Get ahead with real work experience

You’ll have the opportunity to build real work experience and stand out in a competitive job market, including with the option to take a placement year in industry.

#### Benefit from over 35 years of criminological experience

You’ll be taught by experts in one of the UK’s first criminology departments that has been shaping the field for over 35 years. You’ll learn from specialists with a reputation for excellence in teaching and research, and whose work influences how criminology is understood today.

**Explore patterns in crime, punishment and policing, and learn how to think, analyse and research as a criminologist.**

In your first year you’ll gain a critical introduction to crime and criminology. You’ll then build on your knowledge, analysing how crime operates in society and how justice systems respond and evolve.

As you progress, you’ll develop critical thinking, academic writing and research skills that are highly in demand in a range of professional fields such as the criminal justice system, government, non-profit organisations and the private sector. You’ll also be able to tailor your degree and specialise according to your interests and career goals through a range of optional modules.

With criminology at Sheffield, you have the [option to study your third year abroad](#plstudyabroad) in one of our many partner universities for an insight into new criminological concepts.

You can gain real-world experience alongside your studies in an optional year in industry to build skills highly sought after by employers.

Whatever way you customise your degree, you’ll graduate with the skills needed for a diverse range of careers that call for critical analysis and problem-solving, in the criminological field and beyond.

## Modules

We're revising the curriculum of the course for this year of entry. Your first year modules are confirmed. For other years of study, the information here gives you an idea of the areas we expect the course to cover, although there may be changes before you begin. As you progress through your course, we’ll confirm additional details for the core and optional modules available to you.

**Title:** Criminology BA course structure\
**UCAS code:** M900\
**Years:**
2026

First year

Second year

Third year

First year

Core modules:

#### 

Introducing Criminological Research
:   This module focuses on how crucial criminological topics have been investigated. The module is taught by lectures and workshops and assessed by two 'take-home' exercises. In the workshops students will work in small groups to examine real research studies, and work out how to tackle research problems.

    **20 credits**

Criminal Law and Justice
:   This module is one of the core foundation subjects of the degree which cover the Foundations of Legal Knowledge. This module will introduce students to the concepts, theories and institutions of criminal law and justice, and its place in society. It will develop an understanding of the essential concepts of criminal liability. It will focus on the main institutional and procedural features of the criminal justice system, with the aim of stimulating an enquiring attitude towards the practice of criminal process. Students will have the opportunity to practise applying these processes to factual scenarios. The module provides a firm foundation for the more advanced study of criminal law and also of criminal evidence, criminal justice and criminal process.

    **20 credits**

Representations of Deviance, Harm and Social Control
:   This module examines representations of crime, criminalisation and criminal justice in cultural forms such as journalism, film, television, literature, music, theatre, art and games. Its concerns are the nature of representations of topics such as crimes, crime data, offenders, criminal justice systems, police and victims. It critically analyses the role of cultural forms in constructing and/or reproducing ideas about crimes which inform subjective identity, public and political perceptions, prejudices and practices. The module considers the ways in which certain groups or behaviours acquire labels, values and meanings which place them outside of legitimacy and normality justifying monitoring, suspicion, control or incarceration.

    **20 credits**

Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice
:   This module aims to introduce students to the key concepts, theories and institutions of criminal justice. The teaching team will do this by engaging with current debates and emerging trends in research. Students will study the structure and functions of criminal justice institutions, including police, prosecutors, courts, prison and probation.  While the focus is on the criminal justice system in England and Wales, the module will draw on examples of contemporary issues in criminal justice from other countries. Students will consider why we should study criminal justice in a comparative and international context. They will also consider key contemporary debates in criminal justice such as abolitionist perspectives and alternatives to the criminal justice system.

    **20 credits**

Foundations of Criminology
:   This module introduces students to key areas of criminological definitions, empirical study, theory and the development of criminal justice systems. The module looks at case studies of crime and deviance from contemporary life to help students understand how some of the history and theory of criminology can be brought to bear on social and legal issues. Topics may feature, for example, youth crime, spouse murder, football hooliganism and credit card crime but also other areas if and when interesting cases arise.

    **20 credits**

#### Plus the below: - Crime in Global Context

Second year

In your second year, you’ll continue to explore key issues in criminology. You’ll start looking in depth at materials and further developing your research skills and awareness of local and global issues.

#### Core modules:

Responding to Crime
:   The module looks at key topics in relation to responses to crime and victimisation. It explores policing and prosecution, public responses, crime prevention, restorative justice and victim support. To what extent are policing and public priorities for policing aligned? How does the public view the role of the authorities? How can we support victims? Are there alternative responses to crime instead of prosecution and sentencing? What are we doing to prevent crime? Do certain types of crime require particular responses? A goal of the module will be to emphasize the interrelatedness of these topics and present them as integrated problems.

    **20 credits**

Punishment and Penal Policy
:   This module is concerned with the sentencing and punishment of offenders. It considers, in historical context: the philosophical underpinnings of punishment; sentencing policy and practice; and the forms that punishment takes (including custodial and non-custodial options). It also considers what we know about public attitudes toward punishment. A key issue addressed by this module is the rapid growth of the prison population since the mid-1990s: how can we explain this state of affairs, and can/should this trend be reversed?

    **20 credits**

#### - Analysing Quantitative Crime Data - Qualitative Research in Criminology You’ll also have the opportunity to conduct further study of a specialist area of your choice through a range of optional modules. Optional modules:

Race, Gender and Crime
:   This module examines the relationships between gender, race and crime. It explores, from a critical standpoint, when and how patterns of law-breaking and victimisation vary according to gender and race. Focusing on topics as diverse as gender-based violence, sex work, political protest/disorder and Islamophobia, the module examines how patriarchal and racialised social structures serve to marginalise and criminalise, and also under-protect, (some) women as well as Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.

    **20 credits**

Criminal Process
:   The module aims to familiarise students with various criminal justice models and the nature of English criminal processes. Students will study the structure and functions of key institutions, and the role of various actors within the system. This may include modelling of the criminal justice system; values and the criminal justice system; police powers (eg, stop and search, detention); suspect rights; prosecution and pre-trial decisions; bail custody decisions; criminal legal aid; mode of trial; magistrates' court personnel and proceedings; judges and jury trial; 'system errors' and the machinery for correcting them.

    **20 credits**

Prisons, Prisoners, and their Families
:   Imprisonment and its effects are a key concern in studies of punishment. This module takes a holistic approach by developing understandings of the impact of imprisonment on prisoners, prisoners' families, and prison staff. Beginning with a history of imprisonment and policy making, the module explores the management of prisons, including examination of the rules and regulations that govern day-to-day life in prisons, power relations and modes of resistance. The module then considers the experiences of specific groups of prisoners, prisoners' families, and staff. The module concludes with discussion of the future of imprisonment and arguments around prison abolition.

    **20 credits**

The Sociology of Crime
:   Crime, and the process of criminalisation, are major features of all societies. Since the nineteenth century, sociologists have developed a range of criminological theories to explain 'criminality'.\
    \

    **20 credits**

Advanced Criminal Law and Justice
:   This module builds upon the foundational learning in SLW107 Criminal Law and Justice, developing students' knowledge about the doctrine and principles of criminal law. The focus rests upon the theme of criminalisation 'Beyond Homicide', the main family of substantive crimes examined by the predecessor module. It examines the range and scope of criminal law in critical detail, looking at the substantive offences and considering them in wider socio-legal context.

    **20 credits**

Criminology Research Project
:   In this module students select any topic within criminology or criminal justice which is of interest to them and can be studied by means of a survey.  Past topics include attitudes towards decriminalising drugs, keeping safe at music festivals, discrimination and 'Hate' Crimes, attitudes towards unwanted sexual attention in the night-time economy and online sexual harassment. Students are helped to develop their ideas to form a fully developed set of survey questions which are sent out to staff and students within the University of Sheffield. Students are then supported in analysing the resulting data, using the computer programme SPSS, and in producing a report which forms the assessment.  The module provides students with digital, research and analysis skills which will increase their employability and will also prove useful in carrying out a dissertation.

    **20 credits**

Criminology and War
:   The module enables students to critically analyse the nature of contemporary war from a variety of criminological perspectives. It does so through the following debates: criminology of war; war as policing; war as crime; crime in war; masculinity, violence and war; victimology and war; environmental criminology and war; war and domestic criminal policy; war, veterans and domestic crime; and criminology as peacemaking. These debates are informed by a range of examples, in particular from the post-9/11 battlefields of the Middle East.

    **20 credits**

Murder, Myth and Memory: A History of Jack the Ripper
:   This module introduces students to historical criminology through the lens of an infamous case study, namely Jack the Ripper (an unidentified serial killer who preyed on London's Whitechapel district between August and November 1888). It seeks to disentangle the layers of meaning surrounding the Ripper's murders and examine how myth and memory have shaped understanding of this case.  Some of the questions that will be explored throughout the course include:  Does the application of modern techniques of investigation, such as geo-profiling, to the Ripper case impinge on historical values? To what extent is Ripperology a 'masculine' discipline and how have feminist approaches helped to address this? How do dark tourism activities such as 'Jack the Ripper Walking Tours' shape cultural memory? What role do ethics and empathy play in historical research? By undertaking this module students will gain practical experience in the analysis of a variety of historical source material including letters, newspaper reports, photos, postcards, cartoons, post-mortem reports, official police reports and parliamentary debates.

    **20 credits**

Crime, Justice and Social Policy
:   During this module, you will examine the variety of responses to crime that encompass the use of both crime policy and social policy. Crime policy responses encompass the use of the role of the policy, courts and prisons. Alongside this is the social policy approach which includes health, housing, education, employment, youth and family as a means of crime reduction. \
    \
    The content you will cover seeks to demonstrate the criticism of 'traditional' crime policy-based responses to crime and the way in which social policy has emerged as an alternative way to tackle the so-called 'crime problem'. You will consider multiple theories of crime which make competing arguments for the use of crime or social policy as a response, the role of criminologists in policy making, and the criminalisation of social policy as an unintended outcome.\
    \
    This module speaks more broadly to the challenges and dynamics of the policy-making process when seeking to tackle complex societal issues. You will therefore benefit from situating these challenges within specific examples of governmental attempts to tackle crime with direct and indirect policy initiatives.

    **20 credits**

Cities, Violence and Security
:   Urban violence, insecurity and crime are features of the everyday and crisis moments of city life in many nations around the world. Warfare touches life in many cities today, questions of narco-terror and violence affect many others. Meanwhile, the role of the climate emergency in driving migration and instability, economic crisis and precarity, alongside other forms of disturbance lead to forms of injustice, violence and victimisation. This module seeks to develop your understanding of the political, economic and social drivers of human insecurity in urban settings. \
    \
    This module has been designed to develop your engagement with and responses to multiple forms of urban insecurity. It discusses the diverse kinds of responses to insecurity by states, armies, police and citizens, many of which bring further rounds of insecurity and violence to marginalised and excluded populations.  \
    \
    The primary aim of the module is to find answers to the question: how can peace and security be enjoyed by all citizens in cities around the world today? You will be introduced  to a range of examples of violence, conflict and insecurity in urban contexts around the world. Through this, you will be supported to develop your awareness of the programmes and policies being pursued to make better and safer places. Examples of urban violence and crime, policing, forced evictions, domestic violence, terrorism, gangs and the rise of gated communities and other modes of design and control to produce securitised urban spaces are discussed and analysed in their effectiveness. \
    \
    The module aims to develop your awareness of the political, social and economic context in which urban violence and insecurity are embedded in different global contexts. It also aims to develop your understanding of core debates relating to urban insecurity in both the global North and South. In addition, it seeks to develop your critical understanding of the role of these debates in informing policies and initiatives to try and reduce violence and insecurity in cities. \
    \
    Trigger warning - this module will bring you into contact with discussions of extreme violence, gender-based violence, sexual violence, police and state violence, including terrorism.

    **20 credits**

Doing Qualitative Sociological Research
:   Qualitative research still dominates sociological research and the skills and techniques that researchers use to generate qualitative data have numerous other applications in the work-place and beyond.\
    \
    In this inquiry-based module, you will continue to develop your ability to collect, analyse, and present qualitative data by working on individual and team-based projects. Not only will you come up with your own research proposal for your Level Three dissertation, you will also utilise qualitative methods to produce a website that disseminates the findings of a group-based project.\
    \
    This module will prepare you for your dissertation at Level Three, help you develop your ideas into realisable research projects, enhance your awareness of the importance of style and form, and allow you to experience the process of working with others to achieve shared objectives.

    **20 credits**

Third year

As well as working on a dissertation, in your third year you’ll continue to advance your knowledge in specific areas of criminology.

Core modules:

#### 

Dissertation (BA Criminology)
:   The dissertation module requires students to conduct an in-depth independent piece of research on a criminological or criminal justice topic of their choice (subject to finding a suitable personal supervisor and approval from the module convenor). This module is assessed by an 8,000 word dissertation and is taught though personal supervision sessions.

    **40 credits**

The Value of Criminology: Policy and Practice
:   This module focuses on the role and value of criminological research in the development of policy and practice within criminal justice. The module will build from discussions introduced in first year BA Criminology module and LLB Law and Criminology particularly SLW122 Introducing Criminological Research, to develop students' understandings of policy making processes and how criminological research can influence these processes. The module will also explore the ways in which academic research intersects with practice developments at the frontline of criminal justice and within criminal justice agencies such as, for example, the police, the probation service, and others. As part of this module, students will interact directly with front-line practitioners and other professionals (such as policy makers) who will contribute to teaching (e.g.: co-presenting case studies with academic staff) where appropriate. Students will be introduced to processes including evidenced-based policy making and knowledge exchange between academics and practitioners. To demonstrate this, the module will draw on case studies of research conducted by members of the teaching team, to situate discussions in existing examples of research being conducted at the University of Sheffield. The module is also designed to develop key transferable skills for students, including working in close collaboration with peers, interacting with professionals and practitioners, producing innovative outputs, and presenting complex content in a variety of formats.

    **20 credits**

#### You’ll also focus your study around your chosen areas of interest through a range of optional modules. Optional modules:

Drugs, Crime and Control
:   This module aims to develop a multidisciplinary understanding of drugs, crime and control by engaging with the key academic and policy literature. Students will explore a wide range of drug-related issues and debates, critically analyse the laws, policies and institutions of drug control, and situate them within the wider social context. The topics covered will include: the social construction of the 'drug problem'; drugs and crime; historical and contemporary perspectives on drug policy; drugs policing from the global to the local; tackling drugs through criminal justice interventions; drug control across the world; and the legalisation debate and alternatives to criminalisation.

    **20 credits**

Criminal Process
:   The module aims to familiarise students with various criminal justice models and the nature of English criminal processes. Students will study the structure and functions of key institutions, and the role of various actors within the system. This may include modelling of the criminal justice system; values and the criminal justice system; police powers (eg, stop and search, detention); suspect rights; prosecution and pre-trial decisions; bail custody decisions; criminal legal aid; mode of trial; magistrates' court personnel and proceedings; judges and jury trial; 'system errors' and the machinery for correcting them.

    **20 credits**

Youth Crime and Justice
:   This module examines youth crime and 'antisocial behaviour, as well as formal responses to young people who offend. During the first half of the module, contemporary and historical views of youth crime are critically examined, attending particularly to class, ethnicity and gender, and to the historical construction of youth as problematic. The second half of the module focuses on youth justice, including the role of the police, the courts, Youth Offending Teams, custodial institutions and other bodies in regulating unruly youth and preventing and responding to youth crime.

    **20 credits**

Sociology of Evil
:   Despite the increasing secularisation and rationalisation of society, evil is still an all too familiar term. For some it invokes images of devils, demons and witches, for others criminals, terrorists and murderers. Moreover, the debates on the 'social evils' of poverty, prostitution and alcohol are continually recycled for each generation.\
    \
    This module will introduce you to a sociological approach to evil. You will develop your own innovative case-studies of evil in combination with published research. Throughout, you will be asked to explore the ontology of evil, examine how evil is explained and accounted for, investigate the consequences of evil, develop an understanding concerning the representation of evil and assess the aetiological precedents for that representation, and, ultimately, critically determine the role evil has within society.

    **20 credits**

Protest, Movements and Social Change
:   During this module, you will gain deeper insight into how we study protests and movements and their impact on social change. \
    \
    The content will take a historical overview, tracing the development of theoretical and empirical approaches to the study of social movements, matched with historical and contemporary case studies of movement from around the world. \
    \
    By focusing on what functions movements play in society, as well as how they have been studied, you will become equipped with the tools to both analyse movements, and engage with sociological debates surrounding larger questions of inequality, identity, democracy and social justice.

    **20 credits**

Police and Policing in a Global Context
:   This module explores policing on a macro-level, taking into account developments on a national and global scale. The topics covered will include: conceptualizing the police and policing; key features of policing, such as police powers, discretion, police culture and accountability; models of policing; the history of policing in the UK and elsewhere; the policing of multi-ethnic communities (who can also be thought of as 'global citizens'); the role of the police in policing, in the light of the growing involvement of non-warranted civilians and others in policing activities; policing in other countries, including post-colonial countries; and policing in a transnational context; policing in global, late modern societies. The module will be partly empirical, but it will also be grounded in theories about the use of power; for example, it will be situated within theories about governance and social control, whilst also exploring whether and from where the police derive legitimacy in exerting power/authority over citizens.

    **20 credits**

Theoretical Foundations of Criminal Law
:   This module explores the theoretical foundations of criminal law in England and Wales, attempting to situate criminal law in its political, philosophical, historical, and social contexts. Specific issues of criminal law theory, such as criminalisation, harm, responsibility, the rule of law, and minimum intervention are discussed, along with an introduction to the principles of criminal justice and the developing trends affecting these issues. Students will be encouraged to critically deconstruct these issues, and evaluate the distance between these theoretical principles and practice by applying these principles to current debates and tensions in the law, gaining a richer and more critical understanding of the law they have previously studied.

    **20 credits**

Perspectives on inequalities
:   You will be asked to think about the everyday experiences of inequality while exploring some of the core theoretical frameworks for interrogating inequality. These everyday experiences will be brought to life through presentations with/by external guest speakers who have lived experience of these inequalities and/or have worked to challenge these inequalities. There is a focus on discussion and debate to understand and critically reflect on the module content.\
    \
    This module is co-taught with local agencies, community and family members. The involvement of practitioners, community members and families means that the content is interactive and requires full attendance.\
    \
    This module aims to bring academic knowledge closer to everyday life and to help you gain applied knowledge of inequalities. It also offers an important insight into the nature of and benefits of co-construction in addressing issues relating to inequalities.

    **20 credits**

Sex Work: Rights, Regulation and Resistance
:   Sex workers across the globe often experience stigmatisation, marginalisation and criminalisation. Drawing on a large and growing body of international scholarship, you will be introduced to the complexities and diverse realities of sex work.\
    \
    You will engage in content that explores the various sex markets, gendered differences in the buying and selling of sex, violence, exploitation and trafficking, sex worker-led activism and resistance, and the regulatory modules used across the globe to govern sex industries.\
    \
    By the end of the module, you will be equipped with a critical understanding of a range of theories and concepts that help to make sense of the social, cultural, and legal dimensions of sex work.

    **20 credits**

The content of our courses is reviewed annually to make sure it's up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research; funding changes; professional accreditation requirements; student or employer feedback; outcomes of reviews; and variations in staff or student numbers. In the event of any change we will inform students and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption.

## Learning and assessment

### Learning

You'll be taught through lectures, tutorials, seminars and group work which will provide a foundation to develop your work as an independent learner, researching, reading and thinking about criminology.

You’ll learn from and engage with specialists whose world-leading research (Research Excellence Framework 2021) is helping shape the criminological field.

Our teaching staff includes leading researchers in their fields, so your learning will be informed by the latest thinking and developments in criminology.

You’ll have a dedicated personal tutor who will provide tailored advice and guidance throughout your degree. We're the Russell Group’s top ranked university for student support (National Student Survey 2025).

We invest to create the right environment for you. That means outstanding facilities, study spaces and support, including 24/7 access to our online library service.

Study spaces and computers are available to offer you choice and flexibility for your study. Our five library sites give you access to over one million books and periodicals. You can access your library account and our rich digital collections from anywhere on or off campus. Other library services include [study skills training](https://sheffield.ac.uk/academic-skills/home "301 Academic Skills") to improve your grades, and tailored advice from experts in your subject.

[Learning support facilities](https://sheffield.ac.uk/study/facilities "Facilities") and [library opening hours](https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/library/libsites/sites)

Study with us and you'll receive a research-led teaching experience, in which you'll benefit from the latest thinking and teaching by experts.

We're proud that 91 percent of our research is rated in the highest two categories in the Research Excellence Framework 2021, meaning it is classed as world-leading or internationally excellent.

### Assessment

You’ll be assessed through a range of methods designed to build your confidence and prepare you as you progress through your degree. These include:

- coursework (essays and reports)
- exams
- presentations (group and independent)

## Entry requirements

With **Access Sheffield**, you could qualify for additional consideration or an alternative offer - [find out if you're eligible](https://sheffield.ac.uk/study/policies/access-sheffield "Access Sheffield").

- Standard offer
- Access Sheffield offer

Standard offer

The A Level entry requirements for this course are:\
AAB

A Levels + Extended Project Qualification
:   ABB + B in a relevant EPQ

International Baccalaureate
:   34; 33, with B in the extended essay

BTEC Extended Diploma
:   DDD

BTEC Diploma
:   DD + A at A Level

Scottish Highers
:   AAAAB

Welsh Baccalaureate + 2 A Levels
:   B + AA

Access to HE Diploma
:   Award of the Access to HE Diploma in either Law, Business Management, Humanities, Social Sciences or Criminology, with 45 credits at Level 3, including 36 at Distinction and 9 at Merit

[Routes for mature students](https://sheffield.ac.uk/education/lifelong-learning "Lifelong Learning")

Access Sheffield offer

The A Level entry requirements for this course are:\
ABB

A Levels + Extended Project Qualification
:   ABB + B in a relevant EPQ

International Baccalaureate
:   33

BTEC Extended Diploma
:   DDD

BTEC Diploma
:   DD + B at A Level

Scottish Highers
:   AAABB

Welsh Baccalaureate + 2 A Levels
:   B + AB

Access to HE Diploma
:   Award of the Access to HE Diploma in either Law, Business Management, Humanities, Social Sciences or Criminology, with 45 credits at Level 3, including 30 at Distinction and 15 at Merit

[Routes for mature students](https://sheffield.ac.uk/education/lifelong-learning "Lifelong Learning")

**English language requirements** | 

You must demonstrate that your English is good enough for you to successfully complete your course. For this course we require: GCSE English Language at grade 4/C; IELTS grade of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component; or an alternative acceptable English language qualification

[Equivalent English language qualifications](https://sheffield.ac.uk/undergraduate/apply/english-language "English language requirements for undergraduates")

[Visa and immigration requirements](https://sheffield.ac.uk/student-visas-immigration/home "Student visas and immigration")

**Other qualifications** | [UK](https://sheffield.ac.uk/undergraduate/apply/uk-qualifications "Other UK qualifications") and [EU/international](https://sheffield.ac.uk/undergraduate/apply/international-qualifications "International qualifications")

### Pathway programme for international students

If you're an international student who does not meet the entry requirements for this course, you have the opportunity to apply for an [International Foundation Year in Business, Social Sciences and Humanities](https://usic.sheffield.ac.uk/programmes/international-foundation-year/business-social-sciences-and-humanities ) at the [University of Sheffield International College](https://usic.sheffield.ac.uk/). This course is designed to develop your English language and academic skills. Upon successful completion, you can progress to degree level study at the University of Sheffield.

If you have any questions about entry requirements, please [contact the school](#contactus).

## Graduate careers

Criminology is a multi-disciplinary subject which means that students can apply their learning far beyond these careers, and to anything that requires critical analysis and problem solving. A criminology degree can open doors for a wide range of professions such as:

- Civil Servant
- Communications Officer
- Crime Commissioner
- Detective Constable
- Investigator
- Police Officer
- Prison Officer
- Police Data Analyst
- Social worker
- Charity Organisations worker
- Professions in the private sector.

Our degrees are designed to equip you with these skills that are widely applicable across a wide range of professions and are highly sought-after in the job market.

Overall, 97% of Sheffield’s School of Law graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduation (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2020-21).

## School of Law

1. **Tailor your degree** - choose from a wide range of [optional modules](#modules) to shape your degree to your interests and career aspirations.
2. **Study abroad** - have an unforgettable experience by choosing to study abroad in your third year at one of our partner universities.
3. **Learn from experts -** our academic staff are researching at the forefront of criminology. Their discoveries become yours, as their research filters into teaching.
4. **Gain real world experience** - build invaluable professional skills through hands-on legal work and benefit from our strong connections with leading law firms in the UK and across the globe.
5. **Become career ready** - we provide you with the skills that employers value, ensuring that when you graduate you are prepared for the global workplace.

### Facilities

School of Law students are based in Bartolomé House which is in close proximity to the whole University campus. Teaching takes place in Bartolomé House and across the University campus, all within walking distance.

[School of Law](https://sheffield.ac.uk/law/home)

## University rankings

**A world top-100 university**\
QS World University Rankings 2026 (92nd)

**Number one in the Russell Group (based on aggregate responses)**\
National Student Survey 2025

**92 per cent of our research is rated as world-leading or internationally excellent**\
Research Excellence Framework 2021

**University of the Year for Student Experience**\
The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026

**Number one Students' Union in the UK**\
Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2024, 2023, 2022, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017

**Number one for Students' Union**\
StudentCrowd 2025 University Awards

**20th in the UK targeted by the largest number of Top 100 Employers in 2025-26**\
High Fliers 2026

## Student profiles

[Having the opportunity to learn from staff that produce research with real social impact is a unique experience

 Ines Da Silva Ribeiro

Undergraduate student,
\
 BA Criminology](https://sheffield.ac.uk/law/undergraduate/student-profiles/ines-talks-criminology-sheffield-and-future)
[The opportunities are endless at Sheffield

 Scarlett Pickford

Undergraduate student,
\
 BA Criminology](https://sheffield.ac.uk/law/undergraduate/student-profiles/scarlett-pickford-student-profile-ba-criminology)
[The best advice I can give to any new student is to come here with an open mind and heart

 Theodora Dinca

Current Student,
\
 BA Criminology](https://sheffield.ac.uk/law/undergraduate/life-school-law/why-study-ba-criminology-sheffield)

## Fees and funding

### Fees

[Tuition fees](https://sheffield.ac.uk/undergraduate/fees-funding "Undergraduate fees and funding")

[Fee status help](https://sheffield.ac.uk/study/fee-status "Fee status")

#### Additional costs

The annual fee for your course includes a number of items in addition to your tuition. If an item or activity is classed as a compulsory element for your course, it will normally be included in your tuition fee. There are also other costs which you may need to consider.

[Examples of what’s included and excluded](https://sheffield.ac.uk/undergraduate/fees-costs "Tuition fees and additional costs")

### Funding your study

Depending on your circumstances, you may qualify for a [bursary, scholarship or loan](https://sheffield.ac.uk/undergraduate/fees-funding "Undergraduate fees and funding") to help fund your study and enhance your learning experience.

Use our [Student Funding Calculator](https://sheffield.ac.uk/funding/calculator "Student Funding Calculator") to work out what you’re eligible for.

### £2,500 per year scholarships for international students

We're offering [automatic scholarships worth up to £10,000](https://sheffield.ac.uk/international/fees-and-funding/scholarships/undergraduate/international-undergraduate-scholarship "International Undergraduate Scholarship 2026") to overseas fee-paying students starting their studies in September 2026 - no additional application required.

## Placements and study abroad

### Placement

You may have the opportunity to add an optional placement year as part of your course, converting the three-year course to a four-year Degree with Placement Year.

A placement year will help you to:

- gain an insight into possible careers
- develop a range of [transferable skills](https://sheffield.ac.uk/skills/sga "The Sheffield Graduate Attributes")
- build a professional network
- get a feel for what you do and don’t like doing
- add valuable work experience to your CV
- gain experience of applying for jobs and interview practice
- apply elements of academic learning in the workplace

### Study abroad

Spending time abroad during your degree is a great way to explore different cultures, gain a new perspective and experience a life-changing opportunity that you will never forget.

You can apply to extend this course with a year abroad, usually between the second and third year. We have over 250 University partners worldwide. Popular destinations include Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Find out more on the [Global Opportunities website](https://sheffield.ac.uk/globalopps/outbound/study-abroad "Study abroad ").

## Visit

### University open days

We host five open days each year, usually in June, July, September, October and November. You can talk to staff and students, tour the campus and see inside the accommodation.

[Open days: book your place](https://sheffield.ac.uk/undergraduate/visit/open-days "Open days")

### Online events

Join our weekly Sheffield Live online sessions to find out more about different aspects of University life.

[Sheffield Live online events](https://sheffield.ac.uk/study/online-events "Sheffield Live online events")

### Subject tasters

If you’re considering your post-16 options, our interactive subject tasters are for you. There are a wide range of subjects to choose from and you can attend sessions online or on campus.

[Upcoming taster sessions](https://sheffield.ac.uk/undergraduate/visit/subject-tasters "Subject tasters")

### Offer holder days

If you've received an offer to study with us, we'll invite you to one of our offer holder days, which take place between February and April. These open days have a strong department focus and give you the chance to really explore student life here, even if you've visited us before.

### Campus tours

Our weekly guided tours show you what Sheffield has to offer - both on campus and beyond. You can extend your visit with tours of our city, accommodation or sport facilities.

[Campus tour: book your place](https://sheffield.ac.uk/undergraduate/visit/campus-tours "Campus tours")

## **Events for mature students**

Mature students can apply directly to our courses. We also offer degrees with a foundation year for mature students who are returning to education. We'd love to meet you at one of our events, open days, taster workshops or other events.

[Lifelong learning events for mature students](https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/education/lifelong-learning/events)

## Apply

Make sure you've done everything you need to do before you apply.

[How to apply](https://sheffield.ac.uk/undergraduate/apply "Applying essentials") When you're ready to apply, see the UCAS website:\
[www.ucas.com](https://www.ucas.com "ucas.com")

Not ready to apply yet? You can also [register your interest in this course](https://sheffield.ac.uk/undergraduate/register-your-interest "Register your interest in undergraduate study at the University of Sheffield").

## Contact us

Start a conversation with us – you can get in touch by email, telephone or online chat.

[Contacts for prospective students](https://sheffield.ac.uk/contact/study "Contact us: course, application and study enquiries ")

[School of Law](https://sheffield.ac.uk/law/home)

The awarding body for this course is the University of Sheffield.

Recognition of professional qualifications: from 1 January 2021, in order to have any UK professional qualifications recognised for work in an EU country across a number of regulated and other professions you need to apply to the host country for recognition. Read [information from the UK government](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/providing-services-to-any-country-in-the-eu-iceland-liechtenstein-norway-or-switzerland-after-eu-exit#recognition-of-professional-qualifications) and the [EU Regulated Professions Database](https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/work/professional-qualifications/regulated-professions/index_en.htm).

Any supervisors and research areas listed are indicative and may change before the start of the course.

[Our student protection plan](https://sheffield.ac.uk/study/policies/student-protection-plan "Student protection plan")

[Terms and Conditions upon Acceptance of an Offer](https://sheffield.ac.uk/study/policies/terms "Terms and Conditions upon Acceptance of an Offer")

2026-2027

Make sure you've done everything you need to do before you apply.

[How to apply](https://sheffield.ac.uk/undergraduate/apply "Applying essentials") When you're ready to apply, see the UCAS website:\
[www.ucas.com](https://www.ucas.com "ucas.com")

Not ready to apply yet? You can also [register your interest in this course](https://sheffield.ac.uk/undergraduate/register-your-interest "Register your interest in undergraduate study at the University of Sheffield").

Discover the most recent advancements in areas such as crime trends, restorative justice, policing and punishment. Build transferable skills required for criminological careers and for a wide range of professions that require critical thinking and problem solving.

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[Course description](https://sheffield.ac.uk/taxonomy/term/1171)
[Modules](https://sheffield.ac.uk/taxonomy/term/1176)
[Learning and assessment](https://sheffield.ac.uk/taxonomy/term/1181)
[Entry requirements](https://sheffield.ac.uk/taxonomy/term/1186)
[Graduate careers](https://sheffield.ac.uk/taxonomy/term/1191)
[Department](https://sheffield.ac.uk/taxonomy/term/1196)
[University rankings](https://sheffield.ac.uk/taxonomy/term/1201)
[Student profiles](https://sheffield.ac.uk/taxonomy/term/1206)
[Fees and funding](https://sheffield.ac.uk/taxonomy/term/1211)
[Placements and study abroad](https://sheffield.ac.uk/taxonomy/term/1216)
[Extra info box](https://sheffield.ac.uk/taxonomy/term/1221)