Criminology

Criminology is a critical and thought-provoking discipline that examines how individuals, communities, and institutions respond to crime. You will examine the causes and consequences of criminal behaviour through a socially aware lens, developing your ability to think reflectively and ethically. The course is designed for students who want to engage with real-world issues and contribute to positive change in society, asking not just how crime is defined and measured, but why it happens, who is most affected, and whether the responses society makes through policing, prosecution, and punishment are just and effective.

At Birmingham Newman University, this four-year full-time programme includes a foundation year that provides a supported entry route for students who would benefit from additional academic preparation before the main criminology content begins. The foundation year develops your academic skills and builds the intellectual confidence needed to engage with degree-level study, before you proceed to the main programme where you will engage with criminological theory, research methods, criminal justice policy, victimology, penology, and the sociological and psychological perspectives that criminology draws on.

With a typical entry tariff of 56 UCAS points, this is one of the most accessible criminology programmes in the country, designed to widen access to higher education for students who might not otherwise have the opportunity to pursue a degree. Graduates pursue careers in the probation service, social work, youth offending, the prison service, victim support, community justice, policing support, social research, policy analysis, and the many roles in the statutory and voluntary sectors that engage with crime and its consequences. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in criminology, social work, or criminal justice.