Criminology

BA (Hons)

Attendance mode

Entry year

Typical offer for 2026
Duration
UCAS code
Start date
Location

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Suitable for applications.

Overview

This programme prepares you for a career in the criminal justice sector - in the criminal justice system or in the wider field of offending behaviour.

You’ll benefit from high quality criminology teaching, and also build a strong understanding of the social psychology behind criminal justice and offending behaviour.

This degree offers students an invaluable experience of developing their professional and employability skills through our work placement module in the final year.

On graduation you’ll have a wide range of career opportunities open to you, as well as the ability to undertake further study in areas such as law or psychology.

Entry requirements

Typical offer - 96 UCAS tariff points.

A levels: CCC - there are no subject specific requirements.
T levels: Pass - Overall grading Pass (C or above in the Core) with no specific subject requirements.
BTEC Extended Diploma: MMM — there are no specific subject requirements.
Applicants on Access Programmes: Meet UCAS Tariff of 96 — there are no specific subject requirements.
International Baccalaureate Requirements: 96 UCAS tariff points to include at least 64 points from 2 HL subjects. Plus HL 3 or SL 4 in English Language and Literature A or English B.
Plus minimum of: GCSE English at grade C or 4 (equivalents accepted).
English language requirements: Minimum IELTS at 6.0 or the equivalent.

Foundation Year entry

If you are a UK student and do not meet the entry requirements for this course, you may be nominated on our Foundation Year in Clinical Sciences and Medicine programme.

Pass each module and achieve a programme average of at least 40%.

You will study the relevant core modules plus five optional modules.

If you are an international student and do not meet the entry requirements for direct entry onto this course, you may be interested in our International College.

Transferring from another university

If you are currently studying at another university and would like to transfer to the University of Bradford, this course accepts students into the second or third year. This is called advanced entry.

Applications for advanced entry will be considered on a case-by-case basis and must include an official transcript (not a screenshot of a portal), all module descriptors, and relevant qualifications. Module descriptors must include learning outcomes.

Applications must be submitted through UCAS and the required documents emailed along with your UCAS Personal ID no later than 31 August prior to the course starting in September. Relevant documents should be emailed to admissions@bradford.ac.uk

Your learning journey

All module information is for 2026 entry, and is subject to change.

MODULES_FOUND_FOR_2026

First Year

Core

Crime and the Media
Crime and the City
Young People and Crime
Introduction to Crime and Criminal Justice
Criminological Theory
Critical Study Skills

Second Year

Core

Inequalities and Crime
Research Methods
Policing
Professional Development
Serious Organised Crime
Prisons and Rehabilitation

Final Year

Core

Dissertation
Crime Prevention
Crimes of the Powerful

Optional

Cyber Crime
Work Placement
Extremism and Political Radicalism
Crimes against the Body

Teaching, learning and assessment

The programme adopts a range of teaching methods in order to provide a varied experience, allowing all students to learn appropriately.

Some modules take place on the wider faculty arena, bringing students into contact with students of other disciplines. In your first year, you will typically be in lectures, workshops and seminar groups with other students from your degree programme. You will also have individual and group tutorials with your Personal Tutor to develop your learning skills and style. In your second year, you will experience teaching styles similar to those in year one but also encouraging you to apply your developing skills to constructing research approaches and projects. In your final year you will apply those skills to more independent work on a dissertation and in a work placement as well as applying the knowledge acquired in previous years to two specialist crime modules.

Assessment varies by module. Assessment methods include individual and group presentations, essays, reports and examinations. Students are offered opportunities to present formative assessment in all modules where this is feasible. The assessment diet is incremental: a maximum of 2,000 words or the equivalent per module in the first year, graduating in length to offer the opportunity for a major piece of academic work and a work-related academic analysis in your final year.

Our facilities

Take a virtual tour of our Psychology and Criminology subject facilities.

You'll use some or all of these facilities on the following courses:

Explore the fascinating world of the mind. From the Observation Control Room to the innovative Collaboration Hub, you'll see first-hand how we unravel the complexities of human behaviour.

Each space is designed to inspire your curiosity and equip you with the skills for a future in this diverse field. Join us and start your journey into understanding what truly makes us tick.

Explore Psychology and Criminology in our virtual experience

Fees, finance and scholarships

Tuition fee 2026

UK: £9,790

The University of Bradford will charge home rate tuition fees up to the maximum allowed by the UK Government.

Should the UK Government choose to increase the maximum tuition fee allowed in the second and subsequent years of your course, the University will raise tuition fees in line with UK Government policy and approvals.

International: £16,100

Additional costs

There may be additional costs that you may incur as a student. Though these are not essential to your programme of study you need to be aware of them as a student of the University. A list of the sort of costs you might expect can be found on our fees and finance section.

Financial support

See our fees and financial support section.

Postgraduate Master's Loan

If you live in England you may be able to apply for a special Government-funded Master's Loan to help pay your tuition fees and living costs. You don't have to pay the loan back until you're earning a certain amount of money.

Scholarships

Every year we award numerous non-repayable scholarships to UK, EU and international students on the basis of academic excellence, personal circumstances or economic hardship. For full details, visit our scholarships section.

Career prospects

Career options for graduates of this course include:

Law enforcement (Detective)
Analyst
Probation officer
Civil Service
Community development worker

Discover more about these careers in our Five careers for criminology graduates blog.

Career opportunities

The University is committed to helping students develop and enhance employability and this is an integral part of many programmes. Specialist support is available throughout the course from Career and Employability Services including help to find part-time work while studying, placements, vacation work and graduate vacancies. Students are encouraged to access this support at an early stage and to use the extensive resources on the careers section.

Support for your studies

At Bradford, we’re committed to supporting your success, well-being and future ambitions.

We’re here to provide everything you need to make the most of your time with us, ensuring you not only excel in your studies, but also step confidently into the world of graduate employment.

In addition to the support you receive from your academic tutors, our Student Support Services are here for you throughout your journey - before, during, and after your studies.

Terms and conditions of study

The University has a set of terms and conditions for all students accepting an offer to study on a course here at Bradford. This is called The Student Contract. This document sets out the Terms and Conditions which apply when you accept an offer of a place on a programme of study at the University of Bradford.

View our Student Contract for further details.

Transparency statement

Information about this programme and its modules has been published in advance of the academic year to which it applies. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information is accurate at the time of publication, but changes may occur given the interval between publishing and commencement of teaching. Any change which impacts the terms and conditions of an applicant’s offer will be communicated to them.