Course summary

BSc (Hons) Criminology is aimed at students fascinated by crime, criminality, and criminal justice system processes. It offers an exciting opportunity to explore the causes and patterns of crime, and its true impact. You will learn about why people commit crime, how can crime be reduced or prevented, as well as how offenders and victims are involved in the criminal justice system. The first year introduces you to the essential principles of criminology: key concepts and theories explaining crime, key institutions of the criminal justice system, crime policy, law, and practice. You will receive training in a wide range of research methods during the first two years, to become equipped to undertake your own independent research project in the final year. Our large, multi-disciplinary department believes in offering extensive optionality to study specific areas of criminology in-depth. Throughout the degree, there is an emphasis on developing skills and experiences that are relevant to professional careers, including opportunities to gain work experience, study-abroad schemes, and independent project work. In your final year of study, you will have the opportunity remain on BSc (Hons) Criminology or to specialise by choosing a pathway and graduating with an exit award in one of these areas:

• Justice Studies

• Quantitative Methods

• Global Youth Justice

• Increasing levels of flexibility throughout the course with a broad range of option modules, so you can choose to focus on areas that interest you.

• Get practical knowledge and experience with a range of volunteering and research opportunities in the residential and professional communities of Greater Manchester.

• Teaching staff have national and international reputations within criminology and are actively engaged in research as well as being involved in government consultation, policy development and evaluation which feeds directly into what you will be taught.

• We’re one of only 18 universities in the UK taking part in a £20 million scheme to develop and deliver new programmes that equip graduates with quantitative analysis skills.

• Finish your degree without taking pressurised exams. Assessment is 100% coursework with opportunities to explore case studies, project work, critical media analysis, literature reviews and more.

• The Department of Sociology is home to a number of research centres including The Manchester Centre for Youth Studies which has a particular focus on youth justice, Crime and Wellbeing Big Data Centre, which explores issues of crime, policing, and health and well-being, the Policy Evaluation and Research Unit which advises government departments and local delivery organisations including police forces, probation services and more, and DPSC (Drugs, Policy and Social Change).

• You could choose to take the four-year route, spending a year in industry or studying abroad.