Program Overview

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Criminology and Psychology (BSc)

Award

Bachelor of Science

Typical Offer

AAB

Duration

3 years

Course Type

Full-time

Campus

Highfield

UCAS Course code

LC68

About this course

Explore the fascinating worlds of crime, the criminal mind and deviant behaviour. Examine the different, and sometimes contradictory, views on the psychology behind our nature and the choices we make. These are complementary subjects, which often feature in the media and popular culture.

Criminology looks at the origins and patterns of criminality, the justice system and the reasons for committing crime. Psychology examines the mind to try to explain and predict human interaction and behaviour choice.

On this criminology and psychology course, you’ll study:

• criminal behaviour
• victimisation and society's reaction
• the socio-legal context of crime
• the future of social control

You’ll also examine the major views and topics within psychology, including:

• cognitive psychology
• developmental psychology
• social psychology

As part of your degree you can:

• use our research facilities, which include eye-movement recording and virtual reality labs
• examine cyber and international crime
• study abroad for a semester in Brazil, Canada or China
• challenge yourself and help make a difference with our Social Impact Lab
• take specialist modules from other disciplines to unlock a range of career options

The University is also home to the Institute of Criminal Justice. You can take part in seminars, workshops and lectures, and explore the relationships between criminal justice scholarship, research, policy, and practice.

This programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society. It will open the door to further research or careers in public service, criminal justice and beyond.

Accreditations

British Psychological Society (BPS)

Entry requirements

Academic year filter options

For Academic Year 2025/26

A-levels

AAB

A-levels additional information

Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking.

International Baccalaureate Diploma

Pass, with 34 points overall with 17 points at Higher Level

BTEC

RQF BTEC

D in the BTEC National Extended Certificate plus AA from two A levels

DD in the BTEC National Diploma plus A from one A-level

DDD in the BTEC National Extended Diploma

Additional information

For BTEC Extended Diplomas, we can only consider these subjects along with specific modules:

• Health and Social Care but only if you are taking these 3 modules (Psychological Perspectives/Sociological Perspectives/Policy in Health and Social Care),
• Forensic and Criminal Investigation (no specific modules needed)
• Uniformed Protective Services/Public Services but please check with us which modules you are taking before applying.

We strongly suggest BTEC applicants doing these subjects contact us before applying to check if you are doing the required modules.

For this specific programme we do not accept the NCFE CACHE Technical Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care.

Access to HE Diploma

60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at Level 3, of which 39 must be at Distinction and 6 credits at Merit

Irish Leaving Certificate

Irish Leaving Certificate (first awarded 2017)

H1 H2 H2 H2 H2 H2

Scottish Qualification

Offers will be based on exams being taken at the end of S6. Subjects taken and qualifications achieved in S5 will be reviewed. Careful consideration will be given to an individual’s academic achievement, taking in to account the context and circumstances of their pre-university education.

Please see the University of Southampton’s Curriculum for Excellence Scotland Statement (PDF) for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.

Cambridge Pre-U

D3 D3 M2 in three Principal subjects

Cambridge Pre-U additional information

Cambridge Pre-U's can be used in combination with other qualifications such as A Levels to achieve the equivalent of the typical offer

Welsh Baccalaureate

AAB from 3 A levels or AA from two A levels and B from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate

T-Level

There are no T levels accepted for this programme.

Other requirements

• UK students
• International students
• Other ways to qualify

GCSE requirements

Applicants must hold GCSE English language (or GCSE English) (minimum grade 4/C) and mathematics (minimum grade 5/B)

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you must show that you can use English to the level we require. Visit our English language pages to find out which qualifications we accept and how you can meet our requirements.

If you are taking the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), you must get at least the following scores:

• overall score: 6.5
• reading: 6.0
• writing: 6.0
• speaking: 6.0
• listening: 6.0

If you do not meet the English language requirements through a test or qualification, you may be able to meet them by completing one of our pre- sessional English programmes before your course starts.

You might meet our criteria in other ways if you do not have the qualifications we need. Find out more about:

• our Ignite your Journey scheme for students living permanently in the UK (including residential summer school, application support and scholarship)
• skills you might have gained through work or other life experiences (otherwise known as recognition of prior learning)

Find out more about our Admissions Policy.

Mature applicants

We welcome applications from learners of all ages. Students who are aged 21 and over at the start of their undergraduate course are defined as mature by the University of Southampton. We take a holistic assessment of the application looking for academic ability and commitment to study. Typical entry requirements, which may vary from discipline to discipline, includes for example, evidence of recent formal academic qualifications or professional qualifications, relevant work experience or volunteering. You may also be invited to attend an interview with an Admissions Tutor. For some degree programmes, there may also be a Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) requirement. We accept many different academic qualifications. For more information, please contact the Admissions Team.

Course structure

Each year, you’ll study modules in both criminology and psychology, and specialised modules that span both disciplines.

You’ll take 8 modules per year, which consist of contact time (lectures, seminars, workshops), preparation for classes, and independent study. In years 2 and 3, you can choose optional modules from related disciplines or other faculties. You can even learn a new language.

You can also choose from a range of interdisciplinary modules, including Business Skills, Life in the Cosmos or Understanding Modern China. These are a great opportunity to expand your knowledge and create an impressive CV.

Year 1 overview

You’ll take core and compulsory crime and psychology modules. These will introduce you to criminology and the workings of the criminal justice system, and to some of the most important findings, theories and research in psychology.

You’ll study:

• Introduction to Psychology
• Understanding Everyday Life
• Behavioural Neuroscience
• Criminal Justice Studies
• Individual Differences
• Introduction to Criminology
• Research Methods and Data Analysis

Year 2 overview

You’ll study qualitative and quantitative research methods in detail, and learn about context and policy in criminology.

You’ll also examine:

• Criminological Psychology
• Crime and Criminal Justice: Historical Perspective
• Developmental Psychology
• Language and Memory

You can also choose from optional modules such as:

• Criminology: Policy and Practice
• Perception
• Gender and Society
• Cognitive Neuroscience

Year 3 overview

You’ll put your academic skills into practice with a dissertation that combines psychology with criminology. With help from an experienced supervisor, you'll prepare original research that meets the requirements of the British Psychological Society.

You’ll study law enforcement, social control, and controversial issues like domestic violence and policing minority groups. You’ll also look at current issues in clinical psychology.

The rest of the year’s content consists of optional modules, including:

• The Deserving and Undeserving: Victims and Scroungers in Criminology and Social Policy
• Violent and Sexual Offenders
• Intergroup Relations and Interpersonal Influence
• Globalisation, Inequalities and Power

Modules

The modules outlined provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. As a research-led University, we undertake a continuous review of our course to ensure quality enhancement and to manage our resources. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand. Find out why, when, and how we might make changes.

For entry in academic year 2025 to 2026

Year 2 modules

You must study the following modules in year 2:

• Criminological Perspectives in Global and Post-colonial Contexts
• Criminological Psychology
• Current issues in Clinical Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Introduction to Social Data Analytics
• Qualitative Research: Methods, Tools and Techniques

You must also choose from the following modules in year 2:

• Children and Society
• Crime Scene Investigation: Methods and Applications
• Education Policy and Reforms: Global Experiences and Local Contexts
• Intersectional Perspectives on Modernisation Processes
• Introduction to Experiments in Social Science
• Introduction to Health Psychology
• Issues in Law Enforcement and Social Control
• Social Enterprise
• Social Stratification, Divisions and Resilience
• Techno Harms: Discrimination, Conspiracy Theories and Extremism

Year 3 modules

You must study the following modules in year 3:

• Dissertation
• Real World Research: Designing Your Dissertation

You must also choose from the following modules in year 3:

• AI Applications in Psychology
• Advanced Quantitative Research Skills
• Applied Social Quantitative Analysis
• Building Digital Health Interventions
• Children and Society
• Collective Action and Social Change
• Comparative Youth Justice
• Crime Scene Investigation: Methods and Applications
• Current Topics in Cognitive Psychology
• Developmental Psychopathology
• Education Policy and Reforms: Global Experiences and Local Contexts
• Employability: Successful futures in Sociology and Criminology
• Exploring the Hidden Assumptions in Education
• Gender and Society
• Gender, Power and Politics
• Global Terrorism and Political Violence
• Intersectional Perspectives on Modernisation Processes
• Introduction to Educational Psychology
• Introduction to Experiments in Social Science
• Issues in Law Enforcement and Social Control
• Penology
• Perspectives in Human Animal Interactions
• Psychology of Advertising
• Race and Ethnicity in Society
• Social Enterprise
• Social Stratification, Divisions and Resilience
• Social and Affective Neuroscience
• Social and Psychological Approaches to Understanding Sexual Health
• Techno Harms: Discrimination, Conspiracy Theories and Extremism
• Victims or Perpetrators? Social and Psychological Perspectives on Older People and Crime
• Violent and Sexual Offenders

Learning and assessment

The learning activities for this course include the following:

• lectures
• classes and tutorials
• coursework
• individual and group projects
• independent learning (studying on your own)

Course time

How you'll spend your course time:

Year 1

• Scheduled learning & teaching: 18%
• Independent learning: 82%

Year 2

• Scheduled learning & teaching: 17%
• Independent learning: 83%

Year 3

• Scheduled learning & teaching: 13%
• Independent learning: 87%

How we'll assess you

• dissertations
• essays
• individual and group projects
• oral presentations
• written exams

Your assessment breakdown

Year 1

• Written exam: 59%
• Coursework: 41%

Year 2

• Written exam: 37%
• Coursework: 63%

Year 3

• Written exam: 30%
• Coursework: 70%

Academic support

You’ll be supported by a personal academic tutor and have access to a senior tutor.

Course leader

Michelle Newberry is the course leader.

Careers and employability

Employability skills

This degree will allow you to develop and evidence subject-specific and targeted employability skills. This includes the required skill set for a range of future careers, further study, or starting your own business.

The skills you can expect to focus on and gain from this course include:

• Research
• Critical thinking
• Self-management
• Confidence
• Communication
• Teamwork
• Creativity
• EDI leadership
• Adaptability
• Problem solving
• Resilience

The employability and enterprise skills you'll gain from this course are reflected in the Southampton skills model. When you join us you'll be able to use our skills model to track, plan, and benefit your career development and progress.

Career pathways

Graduates commonly work in a range of organisations or sectors including:

• central and local government careers and counselling services,
• commercial and industrial companies,
• financial organisations,
• human resources departments,
• legal firms and organisations providing advice,
• local and national government,
• marketing companies,
• the media,
• the NHS,
• police forces,
• the National Probation Service and prisons,
• schools,
• sixth form colleges,
• colleges of further education and higher education institutions,
• social research organisations,
• social services,
• court services,
• security services,
• non-profit-making organisations,
• charities that work with young offenders or victims of crime,

Careers directly related to this course:

• Education mental health practitioner
• Educational psychologist
• Forensic psychologist
• Occupational psychologist
• Clinical psychologist
• Community development worker
• Crime scene investigator
• Police officer
• Probation officer
• Social worker

Wider career opportunities:

• Human resources manager
• Market researcher
• Policy officer
• Psychotherapist
• Social researcher
• Border force officer
• Charity officer
• Housing manager
• Local government officer
• Political risk analyst

Example job titles of Southampton BSc Criminology and Psychology graduates*:

• Civil servant
• Digital marketing assistant
• Assistant statistician
• Financial crime analyst
• Pastoral assistant
• Probation officer
• Recruitment consultant
• Teacher of criminology
• Trainee chartered accountant

Job prospects for BSc Criminology and Psychology graduates

• Average professional salary: £26k
• In a skilled profession or further study: 75%
• Graduate employment rate: 98%

Year in employment

You can apply for a year in employment placement on this course. This is a great way to improve your employability and confidence in your career prospects. Recommended by 100% of students who've taken part, you can apply for a UK or global placement in any sector.

Careers services and support

We are a top 20 UK university for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022). Our Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise team will support you. This support includes:

• work experience schemes
• CV and interview skills and workshops
• networking events
• careers fairs attended by top employers
• a wealth of volunteering opportunities
• study abroad and summer school opportunities

We have a vibrant entrepreneurship culture and our dedicated start-up supporter, Futureworlds, is open to every student.

Your career ideas and graduate job opportunities may change while you're at university. So it is important to take time to regularly reflect on your goals, speak to people in industry and seek advice and up-to-date information from Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise professionals at the University.

Fees, costs and funding

Tuition fees

Fees for a year's study:

• UK students: £9,535
• EU and international students: £23,400

What your fees pay for

Your tuition fees pay for the full cost of tuition and standard exams.

Accommodation and living costs

Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. There may also be extra costs for retake and professional exams.

Bursaries, scholarships and other funding

If you're a UK or EU student and your household income is under £36,200 a year, you may be able to get a University of Southampton bursary to help with your living costs. Find out about bursaries and other funding we offer at Southampton.

If you're a care leaver or estranged from your parents, you may be able to get a specific bursary.

Get in touch for advice about student money matters.

Scholarships and grants

You may be able to get a scholarship or grant to help fund your studies.

We award scholarships and grants for travel, academic excellence, or to students from under-represented backgrounds.

Support during your course

The Student Hub offers support and advice on money to students. You may be able to access our Student Support fund and other sources of financial support during your course.

Funding for EU and international students

Find out about funding you could get as an international student.