BA (Honours) Criminology with Foundation Year

Year of Entry 2024/25
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BA (Honours)

Criminology with Foundation Year

Full-time Criminology

Understand how criminality and victimisation occur at local, national and global levels – exploring real-world responses in a dynamic, inclusive learning environment.

Everything you need to know...

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    What is the fee?

    Home: £9,250 per year (£1,200 for placement year)
    International/EU: £16,655 per year (£1,200 for placement year)

  • Time

    How long will I study?

    4/5 Years

  • Location

    Where will I study?

    City Campus

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    What are the entry requirements?

    64 UCAS Points

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    What is the UCAS code?

    A100

  • Date

    When do I start?

    September 2024

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    Placement year available?

    Yes


Where will I study?

This course is moving into one of our new buildings at City campus. Teaching will mainly be delivered at our Collegiate campus until December 2024 while we get our new facilities ready. From January 2025 you will study in brand new facilities at City campus.

Course summary

  • Experience award-winning teaching recognised by the British Society of Criminology.
  • Gain experience at the Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice.
  • Develop expertise in social justice, global human rights and criminal justice.
  • Engage in ethical and social justice issues, driving positive social change and inclusivity.

Study theoretical, conceptual and practical applications of criminology in the real world, including how climate change relates to criminal behaviour and social justice. Engage in pioneering research in topics like prison reform and green criminology, exploring key debates around how to define, explain and respond to criminality – all preparing you for criminal and social justice roles.

If you don't meet the entry requirements for this course, or you’d like extra preparation before starting degree-level study, we recommend you join the foundation year.


How you learn

Our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.

Many of our criminology experts come from professional practice, including prisons, probation and the police. Others are actively involved in current criminological research, providing you with contemporary research-led teaching and delivering real-world impact. 

You’ll also engage with external partners and practitioners, gaining the contemporary knowledge, skills and attributes you’ll need for a professional career in the criminal justice or social justice sector. Our goal is to prepare you for further professional training or equivalent pursuits. 

You learn through:

  • Face-to-face lectures and seminars
  • Online lectures and seminars
  • Independent learning
  • Student-led collaborative learning
  • Practice-based learning
  • Independent research

Key Themes

You’ll focus on key foundational areas such as the criminal justice system, human rights and values, and social science research methods. Through these you’ll build specialist knowledge of the causes and consequences of crime and deviance within a social, political and international context. 

Our course is closely linked to the Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice. Our teaching directly addresses ethical and social justice issues concerning the inclusion and exclusion of various vulnerable groups – with an emphasis on promoting access to community resources. 

Our curriculum integrates various opportunities for applied learning, drawing upon real-world sector contexts. You'll participate in an applied project to enhance your practical skills. These include student placement modules and activities with criminal justice and third sector agencies – as well as project work with external agencies, simulation modules, and voluntary work through our employability fair.

Course Support

At each level of the course you’ll be supported throughout your learning journey towards graduate level employment. This will include student support, academic support and employability support.

Course leaders and tutors

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Alex Black
Senior Lecturer in Criminology

Applied learning

Your course has been designed to embrace real-world challenges and provide you with the practical skills and knowledge to be successful within your chosen sector.

Work Placements

You’ll have the opportunity to arrange a year-long work placement in between your second and third years. This gives you valuable work experience to prepare you for your future career – and allows you to graduate with an Applied Professional Diploma to add to your CV.

Previous students have completed placements for companies and organisations such as the Community Rehabilitation Company, HMP Doncaster, Independent Domestic Abuse Service and Victim Support.

International Opportunities

As our curriculum incorporates international perspectives throughout your degree, you'll develop into a globally aware and engaged practitioner. 

You’ll also have the opportunity to study abroad at one of our partner institutions – learning about different cultures and learning styles, as well as travelling to new places and meeting new people.

Live Projects

You’ll engage in a range of live projects – working on behalf of real organisations. Previous student projects have included designing materials for hate crime awareness week for South Yorkshire Police, designing educational materials to help young people understand cybercrime on behalf of Victim Support, and researching the experiences of securing housing for those released from prison on behalf on NACRO (the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders).

We actively partner with employers and key stakeholders to provide you with diverse opportunities to create a positive impact on critical issues in our communities. These include support for young people, collaboration with prison-related organisations, involvement in community justice initiatives, engagement with substance misuse services, women's services, accommodation support, and victim services. 

Networking Opportunities

Our course benefits from close ties with the Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice, ensuring a curriculum that addresses ethical and social justice issues related to social inclusion and exclusion. We focus on promoting social access to community resources, particularly for vulnerable groups.

Through our connections, you'll develop vital networks and contacts in the field of criminology, preparing you for a meaningful and impactful career.

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Future careers

This course prepares you for a career in:

  • Citizens advice work
  • Community liaison work
  • Drug and alcohol services
  • Police services
  • Probation services
  • Prison services
  • Social research 
  • Victim support work
  • Youth work

Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for:

  • His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service
  • The Magistrates Court
  • The Ministry of Justice
  • The Police 
  • Sheffield Hallam University

Where will I study?

You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.

City Campus

City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.

City Campus map | City Campus tour 


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Location

Howard Street
Sheffield
S1 1WB

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Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.

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Equipment and facilities

Most of our teaching is conducted in dedicated lecture studios, small teaching rooms and computer labs. 

You’ll work with:

  • Innovative digital teaching and learning platforms and apps
  • Specialist software
  • Data analysis packages
  • Data collection tools

We’ve invested over £100 million in new facilities to help you study how and when you want. This means 24-hour libraries and study spaces designed by our students.

Entry requirements

All students

UCAS points

  • 64

This must include at least 32 points from one A level or equivalent BTEC National qualifications excluding general studies For example:

  • CC at A Level
  • MPP in BTEC Extended Diploma.
  • Pass overall from a T level qualification with D or E from core
  • A combination of qualifications, which may include AS levels and EPQ.

You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.

GCSE

  • English Language at grade C or 4 or equivalent
  • Maths at grade C or 4 or equivalent

• Access to HE Diploma from a QAA recognised Access to HE course. Normally we require 15 credits at level 2 and 45 at level 3. At least 15 level 3 credits must be at merit grade or above from a QAA-recognised Access to HE course, or an equivalent Access to HE certificate.

If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.0 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.

Additional information for EU/International students

If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.

For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.


Modules

Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.

You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.

Year 1

Compulsory modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
The Exploration Of Law, Crime, Justice And Society
Credits 60
Assessment Coursework(100%)

Elective modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Social Justice In Action
Credits 60
Assessment Coursework(100%)
The Practice Of Law And Policing
Credits 60
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Year 2

Compulsory modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Contemporary Criminological Foundations
Credits 60
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Contemporary Criminological Practice
Credits 60
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Year 3

Compulsory modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Understanding And Researching Crime And Social Harm
Credits 60
Assessment Coursework(100%)

Elective modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Professional Practice On Placement
Credits 60
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Real World Practice
Credits 60
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Year 4

Optional modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Placement Year
Credits -
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Final year

Elective modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
21St Century Security Threats: Crime, Crisis Or Tragedy
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Comparative Criminal Justice
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Controversies Of Policing
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Crime, Harm And Social Justice
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Gender, Power And The State
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Pathways To Change
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Punishment And Practice In Context
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Real World Project
Credits 60
Assessment Coursework(80%) , Practical(20%)
Real World Research
Credits 60
Assessment Coursework(80%) , Practical(20%)
Sex, Gender And Violence
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)

Fees and funding

Home students

Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time undergraduate study in 2024/25 is £9,250 per year. These fees are regulated by the UK government and are therefore subject to changes in government policy. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.

If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.

International students

Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2024/25 is £16,655 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.

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Financial support for home/EU students

How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.

Learn more

Additional course costs

This link allows you to view estimated costs associated with the main activities on specific courses. These are estimates and, as such, are only an indication of additional course costs. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.

Additional costs for Criminology courses (PDF, 215.3KB)

Legal information

Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.

 

How do I apply?

Apply now via UCAS

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Teaching

We are Gold rated in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) for the outstanding quality of our teaching and student outcomes

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We guarantee to find you an affordable place to live that’s close to campus and comes with all bills included

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Employment

95% of our UK graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating (2020/21 Graduate Outcomes Survey)

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