Program Overview

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Criminology and Social Policy

Overview

Criminology focuses on the causes and consequences of crime, as well as how the criminal justice system responds to crime. Criminologists are interested in how activities come to be defined as criminal, and why definitions of crime vary across countries and over time. The subject includes a wide range of social and psychological theories that attempt to explain criminal behaviour and the effective operation of the criminal justice system.

Social Policy is an applied and critical Social Sciences subject. Students learn how to identify, but also how to tackle, major policy problems and challenges that we face in our world today. They do this by applying core social sciences concepts to social problems such as gender, ethnic and other inequalities, eldercare, children's rights and sustainability. As Social Policy student you will gain knowledge of how governments and other sectors make policies, how they affect people’s welfare, and how to consider if these measures are fit for purpose and how they can be improved.

Highlights

• Internationally Renowned Experts
• Student Experience
• Career Development
• Global Opportunities
• World Class Facilities
• Further Study Opportunities

Course Structure

• Introduction
• The Optional to Graduate with Quantitative Methods
• Value Added to your Degree

Modules

• Crime and Society (20 credits)
• Themes and Issues in Social Policy (20 credits)
• Introducing Social Policy (20 credits)
• Introducing Criminology (20 credits)
• The Sociological Imagination (20 credits)
• Digital Society (20 credits)
• Visualising the Social World (20 credits)
• Rethinking Society (20 credits)
• Welfare in Theory and Practice (20 credits)
• Quantitative Research Skills (20 credits)
• Criminological Theory (20 credits)
• Qualitative Research Skills (20 credits)
• State Violence, Resistance and Justice (20 credits)
• Justice and Conflict (20 credits)
• Questions for an Ageing World (20 credits)
• Policing and Society (20 credits)
• Theory Counts (20 credits)
• Policy Briefing Paper (20 credits)
• Disability and Society (20 credits)
• The cultural politics of memory in a global perspective (20 credits)
• Modelling the Social World (0 credits)
• The sociology of protest and revolution (20 credits)
• Trauma Informed Justice (20 credits)
• Social Identity: Differences and Inequalities (20 credits)
• Gender, Family and Social Policy: Comparative Perspective (20 credits)
• Punishment, Penal Policy and Prison (20 credits)
• Youth, Crime and Criminal Justice (20 credits)
• Psychological Perspectives on Crime (20 credits)
• Criminology Across Borders (20 credits)

Entrance Requirements

• A level requirements: ABB
• Irish leaving certificate requirements: H3H3H3H3H3H3/H2H3H3H3H3
• Access Course: Successful completion of Access Course with an average of 70%
• International Baccalaureate Diploma: 33 points overall, including 6,5,5 at Higher Level
• BTEC Level 3 Extended/National Extended Diploma: QCF BTEC Extended Diploma (180 credits at Level 3) with overall grades of D*DD
• Graduate: A minimum of a 2:2 Honours Degree

How to Apply

• Application for admission to full-time undergraduate and sandwich courses at the University should normally be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS)
• The advisory closing date for the receipt of applications for entry in 2026 is Wednesday 14 January 2026 (18:00)

Tuition Fees

• Northern Ireland (NI): £4,855
• Republic of Ireland (ROI): £4,855
• England, Scotland or Wales (GB): £9,535
• EU Other: £22,400
• International: £22,400

Additional Course Costs

• All Students: Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies.

Scholarships

• Each year, we offer a range of scholarships and prizes for new students
• Information on scholarships available

International Scholarships

• Information on scholarships for international students, is available at

Career Prospects

• Criminology and Social Policy graduates are ideally placed for work in a range of occupations, including the Civil Service, Government and public services, policy analysis, media, research, teaching, business, the voluntary sector, commerce, marketing and management
• Some graduates build on their degree by undertaking postgraduate study in fields such as social work, law, social science research children's rights and youth justice and teaching

Prizes and Awards

• The highest achieving students in the school are awarded the annual Lockheed Prize

Degree Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills

• In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills
• For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more
• So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall
• We call this Degree Plus/Future Ready Award
• It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.