Criminology and Sociology with Placement

Criminology and sociology are disciplines with a natural affinity: criminology examines crime, deviance, and the social response to them; sociology provides the theoretical and empirical tools to understand the wider social structures within which crime occurs and through which communities seek to address it. Together they build a comprehensive picture of how harm, inequality, and social control operate in contemporary societies, and what approaches might make communities safer and more just. This four-year full-time degree at the University of Gloucestershire includes a placement year, giving you sustained professional experience in a relevant organisation alongside your academic study.

You will explore the causes and consequences of crime and disorder, examining social theories of deviance, the politics of criminal justice, the sociology of inequality, and the ways communities respond to the challenges of a changing world. The programme's practical focus means you will develop research and analytical skills alongside theoretical knowledge, and there are opportunities to work with organisations such as local councils, community charities, and criminal justice bodies, gaining first-hand experience of the settings in which graduates typically work. The placement year deepens that engagement, placing you in a professional environment where you can apply and test what you have learned over an extended period.

A typical entry tariff of 104 UCAS points reflects an accessible admissions standard for a vocationally engaged degree. Graduates from criminology and sociology programmes pursue careers in probation and criminal justice services, social work, police services, community development, social research, policy analysis, charities and advocacy, education, and public administration. Many continue to postgraduate study in criminology, social policy, social work, or related fields.