Program Overview

Overview of the Criminology BSc(Hons) Program

The Criminology BSc(Hons) degree at the University of Huddersfield is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of crime and the criminal justice system. This program allows students to explore the complex world of crime, examining the causes of crime, the impact of crime on individuals and society, and the responses to crime.

Program Structure

• The program is a full-time, three-year course.
• It includes compulsory work experience in the second year, where students undertake at least 30 hours of work experience relevant to their course.
• The course is made up of modules, with each module worth a number of credits. Students study modules to the value of 120 credits per year, adding up to 360 credits in total for a bachelor's qualification.

Course Details

Year 1

• Exploring the Social Sciences: This module guides students through the process of exploring social science subjects at university and provides the opportunity for students to develop their ability to be a successful student.
• Human Rights and Social Policy: This module examines the history of human rights and considers rights-based issues, such as the death penalty, euthanasia, children's rights, and immigration.
• Introduction to Criminology and Criminal Justice: This module explores the nature of crime and deviancy, the main perspectives in explaining criminal behavior, and the structures of the criminal justice system.
• Myths and Realities of Crime: This module explores both the myths and realities of crime, examining how crime is measured, who commits crime, and the impact of crime on victims.
• Criminological Explanations: This module explores the explanations for crime and disorder, relating these to the ways that criminological thought has developed over time.

Year 2

• Students complete compulsory work experience in a relevant setting, helping them put their skills and knowledge into practice.
• Past students' placements include working with youth offending teams, in prisons, police stations, and courts, as well as in voluntary agencies supporting offenders and victims in the community.

Year 3

• Final Year Project for the Social Sciences: Students research a topic of their choice in depth, giving them the opportunity to develop their own research interests.
• Option modules: Students choose from a list of option modules, which may include:
  • Approaches to Policing
  • Working with Offenders and Victims
  • Organised and International Crime
  • Violent Crime
  • Contemporary and Comparative Criminology

Teaching and Assessment

• The course is taught through seminars, tutorials, group work, practical experience, and lectures.
• Student-centered learning is used where appropriate.
• Assessment includes coursework, presentations, work-based learning, and examinations.

Career Opportunities

• Previous Huddersfield Criminology graduates have gone on to work in a wide range of areas, including organizations such as West Yorkshire Police, His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service, UK Home Office, and Lotus Sanctuary CIC.
• Graduates have also gone on to undertake further study.

Fees and Finance

• The maximum fees for UK-based students on undergraduate courses in 2025/26 will be £9,535 per year for full-time students (subject to parliamentary approval).
• Tuition fees will cover the cost of study at the University, as well as charges for registration, tuition, supervision, and examinations.

Accreditations and Professional Links

• The University of Huddersfield has been rated Gold in all three aspects of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023.
• The University is second in the country for National Teaching Fellowships, which mark the UK's best lecturers in Higher Education, winning a total of 24 since 2008 (2025 data).

Student Support

• The University offers a range of support services to help students succeed, including careers advice, academic support, and student welfare services.
• The University's Student Finance Office provides information and guidance on fees, funding, and financial support.