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Criminology and Sociology [with Placement year] at Anglia Ruskin University - UCAS

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Course summary

Explore pressing crime and social issues and prepare careers including policing, probation, youth offending and government by studying for our Criminology and Sociology degree in Cambridge. On this degree you will explore the most recent ideas, issues and debates in Criminology and Sociology such as the media, its moral panics and promotion of fear; sex, violence and the profiling of such offenders; deviant behaviour; youth offending; war and terror and genocide, giving you a specialist perspective on crime and society. You can tailor your BA (Hons) Criminology and Sociology degree to your interests and career goals through a wide choice of optional modules. You might choose to focus on issues from corporate crime to human rights, and sexual violence to burglary. Or you might want to explore the link between intoxicants and crime, or religion and crime. Our Sociology courses ranked 18th in the UK in the Guardian University Guide 2024. We have a supportive community of staff and students at ARU. Throughout your BA (Hons) Criminology and Sociology degree, you’ll benefit from one-to-one personal tutoring and dedicated Criminology social media groups. Through real-life case studies, academic research, and interactive learning sessions, you’ll develop your research and critical thinking skills. You could learn outside of the lecture theatre too, with visits to courts and prisons, where you’ll examine the trial process and methods of rehabilitation, punishment and retribution (historical and modern), deviance, race and gender. You’ll have the chance to travel abroad on one of our international field trips and examine crime and crime control in different geographical and cultural contexts. Or you might choose to study abroad for a semester to gain a more in-depth perspective on alternative criminal justice systems and societies - with funding on offer to cover the cost. You’ll prepare for your future career from the first semester: building a portfolio and CV, attending volunteer and employment fairs, taking part in our annual Criminology conference, and hearing from key figures in criminal justice debates and the authors of important criminology texts. Once you’ve graduated, you can continue to develop your skills with one of our Masters degrees, such as MA Sociology or MA Criminology. Hands-on learning All our BA (Hons) Criminology and Sociology students have the opportunity to:

  • go on field trips in the UK and overseas
  • study abroad for a semester, with funding available to help cover the cost
  • choose from a range of optional modules and pursue your own areas of interest.
Careers Our Criminology and Sociology degree will equip you with skills in independent, creative, critical and analytical thinking. These are valued in industries as wide-ranging as journalism and the media, business administration and management, health management, the Civil Service, teaching, social care, social research, the police, prison and probation services. Specialist modules in years 2 and 3 and our excellent links with employers such as Cambridgeshire Police, the National Crime Agency and the Probation Service will help you tailor your degree towards your career goals. You could also learn more about sociology, develop a specialism or start an exciting career in research with our MA Sociology or MA Criminology. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.

Modules

Year 1 core modules: Introduction to Contemporary Issues in Criminology; Criminal Justice in England and Wales; Sociology in Action. Year 1 optional modules: Media, Society and Crime; Global Affairs. Year 2 core modules: Making A Difference; Mobilities and Migration; Sociology of Education; Ruskin Module. Year 2 optional modules: Cybercrime and Policing; Intoxicants and Intoxication; Revolving Doors: Punishment and Rehabilitation; Spirituality, Religion and the Secular; Sociology of Health Inequalities; Violence and Confrontation; Violence, Gender and Victimisation; Lessons Learned: Inquests, Tribunals and Truth; Dark Web, Policing and Control; Hanging, Prisons and Community Service: Crime and Punishment in Britain throughout the Ages; Introduction to Youth Work and Safeguarding; Anglia Language Programme. Year 3: Placement. Year 4 core modules: Undergraduate Major Project; Race, Racism and Ethnic Identity; Criminology and Policing in Policy and Practice. Year 4 optional modules: Comparative and Global Criminal Justice; Investigative Psychology; Organised Crime; Police and Counter-terrorism; Global Feminisms; Concepts of Good and Evil; Sexuality and Social Control; Environment, Nature and Society; Youth, Crime and Aggression; Exploitation, Trafficking and Sexual Violence; Politics and Social Media; Sport, Globalisation and International Politics; Crime and Data Science; Anglia Language Programme. Modules are subject to change and availability.

Assessment method

We’ll assess your progress using a combination of case studies, presentations, essays, patchwork texts (short pieces of writing, or ‘patches’, built up week-by-week), portfolios, poster presentations, data analysis exercises, exams and group projects.


How to apply

Application codes

Course code:
L393
Institution code:
A60
Campus name:
Cambridge Campus
Campus code:
C

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

2025 entry requirements have been published using the current cycle information however, due to a current review these are subject to change. Please check back here for updates.

Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course

https://aru.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/criminology-and-sociology


Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
74%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
87%
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £9535 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9535 Year 1
Scotland £9535 Year 1
Wales £9535 Year 1
Channel Islands £9535 Year 1
Republic of Ireland £9535 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

In the 2025/26 academic year, the placement year fee will be £1,500. https://www.aru.ac.uk/student-life/support-and-facilities/careers-and-employability/placements https://www.aru.ac.uk/study/tuition-fees https://www.aru.ac.uk/student-life/preparing-for-study/help-with-finances
Criminology and Sociology [with Placement year] at Anglia Ruskin University - UCAS