Program Overview

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Childhood and Youth Studies with Criminology BA (Hons)

Overview

Our experiences in childhood and adolescence can have a huge influence on the choices we make and how society sees us.

On this Childhood and Youth Studies with Criminology degree, you'll explore the issues affecting children and young people aged 8–18, and the role of the criminal justice system and the causes of crime – as well as how these subject areas interconnect.

Learning from academic researchers and staff with experience as practitioners in the field, you'll focus on child development, children's learning and relationships, and delve into the complex policies, practices and societal pressures that impact them.

You'll also have the chance to focus your childhood and youth studies on a particular specialism - education and teaching, community and youth/family provision, or leadership and enterprise.

After the course, you'll graduate with the skills and knowledge for a rewarding career working with children and young people in a variety of settings, including youth intervention, youth justice and social work.

Key Information

UCAS Code:

L5L3, L5L4

Typical Offer:

104-112 UCAS points to include a minimum of 2 A levels, or equivalent

Study Mode and Duration:

• 3 years full-time
• 4 years sandwich with work placement
• 4 years with foundation year
• 5 years sandwich with foundation year and work placement

Start Date:

September 2025

Course Information

Overview

Our experiences in childhood and adolescence can have a huge influence on the choices we make and how society sees us.

On this Childhood and Youth Studies with Criminology degree, you'll explore the issues affecting children and young people aged 8–18, and the role of the criminal justice system and the causes of crime – as well as how these subject areas interconnect.

Learning from academic researchers and staff with experience as practitioners in the field, you'll focus on child development, children's learning and relationships, and delve into the complex policies, practices and societal pressures that impact them.

You'll also have the chance to focus your childhood and youth studies on a particular specialism - education and teaching, community and youth/family provision, or leadership and enterprise.

After the course, you'll graduate with the skills and knowledge for a rewarding career working with children and young people in a variety of settings, including youth intervention, youth justice and social work.

Course Highlights

• Spend two-thirds of your time at the School of Education and Sociology, examining topics around child development, children and society, education, psychology, health and social work
• Spend your remaining time studying at the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, learning about crime, punishment and rehabilitation
• Practise real-world scenarios in our Family Assessment Room, where you'll examine how parents and children feel during family meetings, and explore your responsibilities as a practitioner
• Have the opportunity to do a youth work placement year after your second or third year on this Connected Degree - we're the only UK university to offer flexible sandwich placements for undergraduates
• Tailor your studies to your career goals and interests, and have the option to complete pre-entry qualifications for a career in probation work or community justice
• Enrich your learning and build relationships with potential employers by volunteering, studying abroad or doing a work placement alongside your studies
• Develop a set of key transferable life and career skills, including critical thinking, team working, empathy and problem solving
• Choose to learn a foreign language for free as part of your degree, from a selection of Arabic, British Sign Language, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin or Spanish
• Opt to do a foundation year with ICP to get uni-ready ahead of this course, then take up a guaranteed place on this full Bachelor's degree when you successfully finish your foundation year

Entry Requirements

Entry Requirements (September 2025 Start)

BA (Hons) Foundation Year

Typical Offers for BA (Hons) Childhood and Youth Studies with Criminology

• A levels - BBC-BCC
• UCAS points - 104-112 points to include a minimum of 2 A levels, or equivalent
• T-levels - Merit
• BTECs (Extended Diplomas) - DMM
• International Baccalaureate - 25

You may need to have studied specific subjects or GCSEs - see full entry requirements and other qualifications we accept.

Selection Process

Applicants must pass Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) before starting their professional placement working with children and young people.

English Language Requirements

• English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.

See alternative English language qualifications.

We also accept other standard English tests and qualifications, as long as they meet the minimum requirements of your course.

If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

Your Facilities

Teacher Education Centre

Our Teacher Education Centre is a fun, bright and inspiring immersive learning space where you can develop the practical learning experiences for a career working with children.

Crime Scene Simulation Spaces

Use the latest forensic advances and immersive learning technologies, including virtual reality, to delve into crime scene investigation in our realistic simulation areas.

Careers and Opportunities

Understanding child development and the factors that shape the early years helps us support young people as they move through life, especially at times of difficulty.

With its two distinct yet interrelated subject areas, this Childhood and Youth Studies with Criminology degree will prepare you for a range of careers working on behalf of children and young people.

You'll graduate with the knowledge and insight to advocate for young people's futures in relation to the challenges they face, including those connected to crime and the law.

There's significant demand for graduates who have the expert skills and knowledge to work with young people and children in the community in this way, particularly since the pandemic and its impact on education.

You'll also gain valuable transferable skills, including leadership, people management and contextual communication.

Careers and Employment

Our graduate employment rates are among the UK's best, with 94% of our students in work and/or further study.

Learn about career support

What Can You Do with a Childhood and Youth Studies with Criminology Degree?

After the course, you could work in areas such as:

• Youth work
• Law enforcement and the police
• Social work
• Social justice
• Children's rights
• Social policy
• Probation
• Educational welfare
• Health promotion
• Teaching

Modules

Each module on this course is worth a certain number of credits.

In each year, you need to study modules worth a total of 120 credits. For example, four modules worth 20 credits and one module worth 40 credits.

Foundation Year

If you're not sure you meet the entry requirements, or need some help to get uni-ready, then we offer this course with a foundation year to bring you up to speed.

• You'll study with our partners ICP on the University of Portsmouth campus with access to all facilities, support and societies
• When you finish your foundation year successfully, you get a guaranteed place on BA (Hons) Childhood and Youth Studies with Criminology
• Get used to how lectures, seminars and tutorials work, so you can move onto your degree ready for success
• Learn how to meet the demands of taking on a bachelor's degree at university

Find out more about our foundation years with ICP

Core Modules

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Becoming a Researcher - 20 credits

Discover how research can make a difference to the lives of children and young people on this module.

You’ll learn how to carry out research ethically when working with communities and organisations to address real-world issues.

You’ll develop your own research proposal with expert guidance - from forming questions to methodology design.

Build transferable research skills you’ll use throughout your degree, from reflective practice to clear communication of your findings.

Child and Youth Development - 20 credits

You'll gain essential knowledge of child and adolescent development on this introductory module.

You'll explore key theories and research on the ways children and young people develop, including physical, cognitive, social and emotional growth.

By the end of the module, you'll have a better understanding of how to support children's wellbeing and development.

Criminal Justice - 20 credits

This introductory module will give you a strong knowledge base in the key aspects of contemporary national and international criminal justice.

You'll look at the historical development of criminal justice, as well as the duties of the criminal justice agencies that exist today, and how they work together.

You'll also explore the ideas behind the different types of punishment used within the criminal justice system.

Understanding Childhoods - 40 credits

Get an introduction to core aspects of childhood studies on this module, including children's choices, the importance of safeguarding children, the impact of future technologies, outdoor learning, children's literature and anti-discriminatory practices.

You’ll develop skills in independent thinking, teamwork, problem-solving and project work, and get to grips with academic writing, referencing procedures, and the use of technology to enhance your skills.

You’ll also begin developing your ePortfolio, a personal collection documenting your learning journey.

Understanding Criminology - 20 credits

Take an introductory journey into criminological thinking on this module, starting from the 17th century and charting developments through the lens of the Renaissance and Enlightenment periods.

You'll examine the origins of criminology, considering the rise of the scientific study of crime and criminality.

You'll also think about the social, cultural, political and economic factors that led to the development of the study of criminology that we know today.

How You'll Spend Your Time

One of the main differences between school or college and university is how much control you have over your learning.

We use a blended learning approach to teaching, which means you’ll take part in both face-to-face and online activities during your studies. As well as attending your timetabled classes you'll study independently in your free time, supported by staff and our virtual learning environment, Moodle.

Supporting You

The amount of timetabled teaching you'll get on your degree might be less than what you're used to at school or college, but you'll also get support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:

Types of Support

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Personal Tutor

Your personal tutor helps you make the transition to independent study and gives you academic and personal support throughout your time at university.

As well as regular scheduled meetings with your personal tutor, they're also available at set times during the week if you want to chat with them about anything that can't wait until your next meeting.

Learning Development Tutors

You'll have help from a team of faculty learning development tutors. They can help you improve and develop your academic skills and support you in any area of your study.

They can help with:

• Improving your academic writing (for example, essays, reports, dissertations)
• Delivering presentations (including observing and filming presentations)
• Understanding and using assignment feedback
• Managing your time and workload
• Revision and exam techniques

Course Costs and Funding

Tuition Fees (September 2025 Start)

BA (Hons) Foundation Year

• UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £9,535 a year (may be subject to annual increase)
• EU students – £9,535 a year, including our Transition Scholarship (may be subject to annual increase)
• International students – £17,200 a year (subject to annual increase)

You won't pay any extra tuition fees to another university for taking part in a study/work abroad activity if you choose to do it for the whole academic year. During a year abroad you'll only have to pay a reduced fee to the University of Portsmouth.

• UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £5,760 per year (may be subject to annual increase)

Please note this foundation year with ICP isn't currently open to EU or International students.

Apply

September 2025 Start

BA (Hons) Foundation Year

To start BA (Hons) Childhood and Youth Studies with Criminology course in 2025, apply through UCAS. You'll need:

• the UCAS course code – L5L3
• our institution code – P80

Apply now through UCAS

If you'd prefer to apply directly, use our online application form.

You can also sign up to an Open Day to:

• Tour our campus, facilities and halls of residence
• Speak with lecturers and chat with our students
• Get information about where to live, how to fund your studies and which clubs and societies to join

If you're new to the application process, read our guide on applying for an undergraduate course.

To start BA (Hons) Childhood and Youth Studies with Criminology with Foundation Year in 2025, apply through UCAS. You'll need:

• the UCAS course code – L5L4
• our institution code – P80

Apply now through UCAS

If you'd prefer to apply directly, use our online application form:

• Apply direct for September 2025 entry.

Please note this foundation year with ICP isn't currently open to EU or International students.

You can also sign up to an Open Day to:

• Tour our campus, facilities and halls of residence
• Speak with lecturers and chat with our students
• Get information about where to live, how to fund your studies and which clubs and societies to join

If you're new to the application process, read our guide on applying for an undergraduate course.