An investigator at a crime scene

Available with:

  • Foundation Year

Course Summary

Criminology at Chester prepares you for a career in one of the largest growing areas of employment as you explore the relationship between society, the individual, crime, harm, punishment, victimisation, rights, and justice. 

We explore the relationship between criminological theories and criminal justice policies and practices. On this dynamic and diverse transdisciplinary course, you will gain an understanding of a range of Psychological and Sociological perspectives on society's current key challenges, such as social inequality, and crime, harm and justice case studies that occur nationally and internationally. 

Through our wide-ranging backgrounds and expertise, and in ensuring a rich interdisciplinary approach, we work to expand your criminological and victimological imagination. You can tailor your study to reflect your interests and develop areas of specialism. We encourage you to engage in independent learning and thought, and we equip you with the skills needed to find, retrieve and analyse an array of materials such as expert-led research, public and voluntary sector reports, personal testimonies, and documentaries. 

Tutors are experienced and dedicated researchers and educators with sector experience and developed links with criminal justice agencies including youth justice service and local constabularies, local authorities and community and voluntary sector groups, ensuring that your learning is underpinned by real world knowledge and experience. Our knowledge, experience and networks ensure that your learning is underpinned by real-world developments and links with agencies provide opportunities for you to experience guest lectures by experts, and gain specialist placements and voluntary experience. 

Why you'll Love it

BSc (Hons) Criminology

Criminology

What you'll Study

This course promotes the strengths and best interests of students to prepare you to enter into the real world of criminology and criminal justice. This course develops socially aware students who learn criminology from an interdisciplinary and international perspective. You will explore theoretical and practical understandings of crime, harm and victimisation applying knowledge and building understanding of the criminal justice system and journey. There is a clear social justice focus throughout which critically reviews media landscapes and their impacts to society. We critically reflect upon marginalised communities including how stereotypes and representations can lead to disproportionately that exists within criminal justice settings. There is an exploration of experiences of punishments and injustices which are considered in a context of promoting social change. You will develop an active voice as a reflective academic and researcher with cultural awareness and sensitivity in responding to real world problems relevant to criminology and criminal justice.  By the end of their course, they can articulate their varying attributes relevant to a range of employment roles and opportunities. 

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

How you'll Learn

This course is delivered in three terms of ten weeks each. In each term you will study 40 credits comprised of either one or two modules. Scheduled contact hours range between approximately six and ten hours per week depending upon level of study and the complexity of the material being taught. This course is delivered through a mix of in person and online learning. You can expect to take part in lectures, workshops and peer-led seminars. 

You should expect to spend an average of 30 – 34 hours per week on independent study which might include following asynchronous learning material, tutorial time with staff, using the University’s library, working with peers and preparing work for assessment. Teaching will be delivered by experience academics and practitioners in the subject. This will be supplemented by occasional guest lecturers and speakers. 

There will be a broad range of assessment methods so you are exposed to the different types of tasks that you might encounter in the workplace. These will include coursework in the form of essays (long and short form), portfolios and presentations. Assessment support is provided throughout the modules. We continuously review the assessment methods used in order that they adequately prepare students for graduate level employment.

All teaching is delivered by experienced academics and practitioners, with the fundamental principles of the Chester Future Skills Curriculum at its core - building your subject competence, confidence, and key transferable skills to shape you into a world-ready Chester graduate.

Study a Common First Year

This course shares a common first year with students on Crimniology with Counselling Skills pathway.

This means that you’ll learn alongside students studying a similar discipline, helping to broaden your knowledge and exposure to other concepts, perspectives and professions in the first year of your degree.

As you learn and collaborate with students from other courses, you'll not only widen your social and professional network but also learn new skills that will set you up for success in your industry.

In your second and third years, you will progress to studying more specialist modules within Crimniology, developing your skills to become a World Ready graduate.

Entry requirements

112UCAS points

UCAS Tariff

112 points

GCE A Level

Typical offer – BCC-BBC

BTEC

BTEC Extended Diploma: DMM

International Baccalaureate

26 points

Irish / Scottish Highers

Irish Highers - H3 H3 H3 H3 H4

Scottish Highers - BBBB

Access requirements

Access to HE Diploma, to include 45 credits at level 3, of which 30 must be at Merit or above

T Level

Merit

OCR Cambridge Technicals

OCR Extended Diplima: DMM

Extra Information

Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced and A level General Studies will be recognised in our offer.  We will also consider a combination of A Levels and BTECs/OCRs.

Students from countries outside the UK are expected to have entry qualifications roughly equivalent to UK A Level for undergraduate study and British Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) for postgraduate study. To help you to interpret these equivalents, please click on your country of residence to see the corresponding entry qualifications, along with information about your local representatives, events, information and contacts.

We accept a wide range of qualifications and consider all applications individually on merit. We may also consider appropriate work experience.

English Language Requirements

  • IELTS Academic: Undergraduate: 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in each band)
  • Postgraduate: 6.5 (minimum 5.5 in each band)

For more information on our entry requirements, please visit International Entry Requirements.

72UCAS points

UCAS Tariff

72 points

GCE A level

72 points overall, including grade D in A level

BTEC

BTEC Extended Diploma: MMP

International Baccalaureate

24 points

Irish / Scottish Highers

Irish Highers: H4 H4 H4 H4 H4

Scottish Highers: CCDD

Access requirements

Access to HE Diploma – Pass overall

T Level

T Level: Pass (D or E on the core)

OCR Cambridge Technicals

OCR Extended Diploma: MMP

Extra Information

Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced and A level General Studies will be recognised in our offer.  We will also consider a combination of A Levels and BTECs/OCRs.

If you are a mature student (21 or over) and have been out of education for a while or do not have experience or qualifications at Level 3 (equivalent to A Levels), then our Foundation Year courses will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you will need to succeed in your chosen degree. 

Fees and funding

£9,250per year for a full-time course (2025/26)

Our full-time undergraduate tuition fees for Home students entering University in 2025/26 are £9,250 a year, or £1,540 per 20-credit module for part-time study.

The University may increase these fees at the start of each subsequent year of your course in line with inflation at that time, as measured by the Retail Price Index. These fee levels and increases are subject to any necessary government, and other regulatory, approvals.

Students from the UK, Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey and the Republic of Ireland are treated as Home students for tuition fee purposes.

Students from countries in the European Economic Area and the EU will pay International Tuition Fees.

Students who have been granted Settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans and Maintenance Loans.

Students who have been granted Pre-settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans.

The tuition fees for international students studying Undergraduate programmes in 2025/26 are £13,950. 

This fee is set for each year of study. All undergraduate students are eligible for international and merit-based scholarships which are applicable to each year of study.  

For more information, go to our International Fees, Scholarship and Finance section.

Irish Nationals living in the UK or ROI are treated as Home students for Tuition Fee Purposes. 

Your course will involve additional costs not covered by your tuition fees. This may include books, printing, photocopying, educational stationery and related materials, specialist clothing, travel to placements, optional field trips and software. Compulsory field trips are covered by your tuition fees. 

If you are living away from home during your time at university, you will need to cover costs such as accommodation, food, travel and bills.

Students often elect to purchase a laptop, where students choose to do so, the cost it likely to be around £800-£1000.

Most software specific to your course is available free to students through agreements we have with the software vendors. 

Occasional, optional, field trips may be offered, depending on student demand, these are typically within the UK and where chargeable the cost is likely to be under £100. Students are not required to participate in order to successfully complete the course. 

Who you'll Learn from

Dr Holly White

Head of Social and Political Sciences
Dr Holly White

Dr Jayne Price

Deputy Head, Social and Political Sciences
Dr Jayne Price

Simone Benhafsi

Lecturer, Criminology
A dark grey silhouette on a light grey background

Paul French

Lecturer, Criminology
Paul French

Dr Kim Ross

Deputy Head, Social and Political Sciences
Dr Kim Ross

Dr Wayne Campbell

Senior Lecturer, Criminology
Dr Wayne Campbell

Emma Price

Lecturer in Criminology
A dark grey silhouette on a light grey background

Where you'll study Exton Park, Chester

Your Future Career

Job Prospects

Criminology graduates will possess a vast range of skills and expertise that are highly applicable to roles in public, private and charitable sectors. Graduates of criminology are often employed in criminal justice agencies, third-sector organisations that work with vulnerable individuals and groups; policy and analyst roles for public service agencies and private companies and further study including taught postgraduate and doctoral programmes. 

Careers service

The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.

Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.

We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs and postgraduate study.