Course summary

During the Social Sciences Foundation Year, you’ll begin to develop the academic writing and independent learning skills necessary to study a scientific discipline. You’ll also begin to learn the basics of thinking and writing in social sciences. The foundation year has an applied focus – students are encouraged and enabled to apply their theoretical knowledge to real world problems, such as mental health, psychological wellbeing and everyday problem-solving. During your degree studies, you will develop key industry skills in analytical thinking, crime scene investigations, presentation of evidential studies and critical thinking, along with the key knowledge of psychological and criminological theory to prepare you for a career in relevant fields and sectors. The course is designed and constantly refreshed with current thinking, thanks to a lecturing staff with plenty of experience and current connections within the criminal justice and criminology arena. You will also benefit from a wide range of guest speakers who are industry experts, giving you a valuable window into real-world situations and challenges – as well as a network of employment opportunities. The courses are also supported by site visits, both locally and internationally, giving you the chance to explore the global perspective first-hand and draw on this in your learning journey. With a strong emphasis on essential professional and career skills, along with a curriculum which reflects the changing face of criminology, the course focuses on group interaction and makes use of the latest research, and features a strong mentoring support network that has led directly to employment for past students. The placement year will allow you to put what what you've learned in your first and second years into practice in the workplace, while gaining valuable real-world work experience before you graduate.