Everything you need to know...
International/EU: £15,860 per year (£1,200 for placement year)
Course summary
- Prepare for the degree with an extra foundation year at the start.
- Study criminal justice principles, rules and practices from contemporary academic and practical perspectives.
- Learn analytical and research skills for understanding the nature of crime within society.
- Learn the real-life applications of criminological theory to experience and understand behaviour in your student community.
- Tailor your studies to reflect specialist interests, which enhances independent thinking and creativity
Benefit from an academically rigorous and career-enhancing education, which includes unique work-related modules designed to give you the practical edge needed in today's competitive employment market. Once you have completed the foundation year, you progress onto the undergraduate degree of BA (Hons) Criminology.
How you learn
All 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.
The course is suitable if you don't meet the entry requirements for our BA (Hons) Criminology course. You share the first year, first semester with Law, Criminology, Sociology, Politics and Psychology foundation students. In the second semester you will complete a module specific to criminology which will prepare you for your transition to your subject specific degree of Criminology.
We have highly motivated, knowledgeable and creative staff across the department who bring a breadth and depth of skills and knowledge from the criminal justice sector and the academic community. This enables high quality learning of the core aspects of the discipline, and a range of specialist topics and areas of study.
You learn through
- Lectures
- Seminars
- Workshops
- Projects
- Peer learning
- Placement activity
- Visits
- Guest lectures
- Simulation
- Case study analysis
- Online learning resources
Course leaders and tutors
Applied learning
Work placements
We have excellent links with the local, regional and national criminal justice sector organisations. Local organisations support our provision and provide activities ranging from placements, work experience opportunities, guest lectures and advice on career progression.
You will have the opportunity, should you choose, to arrange a year-long placement in between your third and fourth years. This gives you a real-world experience to prepare you for your future career.
International opportunities
You will have the opportunity to study abroad for the second semester of your third year, at institutions, which could include Australia, USA or Canada with the possibility of funding through the Erasmus+ programme (until 2023) or the Turing Scheme. You’ll choose which modules you study, and get the chance to learn about different cultures and learning styles, as well as travelling to new places and meeting new people.
Networking opportunities
The Helena Kennedy Centre ensures that teaching focuses directly and indirectly on ethical and social justice issues related to the social exclusion/inclusion of a range of vulnerable groups, and on promoting social access to all available community resources. You are provided with career-related support from department specialists who help with access to graduate opportunities.
Come to an open day
Find out more at our undergraduate open days. Book now for your place.
Future careers
Your degree can be the first step towards a career in public sector, social justice sector and criminal justice professions.
This course prepares you for a career in:
- the police service
- the probation service
- the prison service
- youth work
- victim support work
- citizens advice work
- community liaison work
- drug and alcohol services
Where will I study?
You study at Collegiate Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
Collegiate campus
Collegiate Campus can be found just off Ecclesall Road, a bustling student district.
Collegiate Campus map | Campus facilities | Keeping safe on Campus
Collegiate library
Collegiate Library can be found just off Ecclesall Road. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEntry requirements
All students
UCAS points
- 64
This must include at least 32 points from one A level or equivalent BTEC National qualifications. For example:
- CC at A Level
- MPP in BTEC Extended Diploma.
- A combination of qualifications, which may include AS levels, EPQ and general studies.
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 or English Literature at grade C or 4 or equivalent
- Maths at grade C or 4 or equivalent
• Access - at least 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2 from a relevant Open College Network accredited course
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.
Please note the University will only admit students who are aged 18 or over at the point of enrolment.
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
| Module | Credits |
|---|---|
| Module: Introduction To The Psychological, Political, Legal, Criminal Justice And Sociological Sciences | Credits: 60 |
| Module: The Practice Of Criminology | Credits: 60 |
Year 2
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Applying Criminology | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Criminal Justice | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework Exam |
| Module: Criminological Landscapes | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Graduate Research And Development 1 | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework Practical |
| Module: Graduate Research And Development 2 | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework Exam |
| Module: Human Rights And Crime | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Year 3
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Controversies Of Punishment | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Deconstructing Research | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Victims Offenders And Vulnerabilities | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Exam |
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Cybercrime And Society | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Education: Theory, Policy And Practice | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Exclusion Rights And Justice | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Experiencing Criminal Justice | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Life Beyond Crime, Substance Use And Offending | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Real World Cutting Edge Research Methods | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Real World Enterprise And Entrepreneurship | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Real World Professional Practice | Credits: 60 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Real World Project Management | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework Practical |
| Module: Real World Social Justice And Activism | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Studies Abroad In Criminology | Credits: 60 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Year 4
| Module | Credits |
|---|---|
| Module: Placement Year | Credits: - |
Final year
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Dissertation | Credits: 40 |
Assessment:
Coursework Practical |
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: 21St Century Crime: Threats, Responses And Human Rights | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Comparative Criminal Justice | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Crime And Justice In The Information Age | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Crime And The Media | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Criminal Justice Compared | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Criminal Justice Realities | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Drug Use In Context | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework Practical |
| Module: Education, Power And Control | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Experiences Of Health, Illness And Disability | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Experiencing Custodial And Community Sentences | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework Exam |
| Module: Making Desistance And Recovery A Reality | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Policing And Crime Reduction | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Politics Of The City | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Power, Sex And The Body | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Sex Violence And Extremism | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework Exam |
| Module: Simulating Justice Practice | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time undergraduate study in 2023/24 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 2023/24 is £15,860 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
Financial support for home/EU students
How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.
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, 216.3KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
