School of Law, Criminology and Government

BSc (Hons) Criminology and Criminal Justice

Put your incisive mind and probing skills to best use as a decision-maker, policy developer or in assisting in the treatment of offenders. This course offers you an excellent toolkit of analytical and practical skills to examine how and why people commit crime and how we, as a society, deal with criminality. Whether it’s probation, policing, youth justice, community safety or victim services you’ll develop your critical skills and graduate primed to embark on your future career path.

NSS results for BSc (Hons) Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies

We’re very proud of our National Student Survey (NSS) 2019 return showing that 93% of students agreed staff were good at explaining things.*

Policing and Security Management pathway

Ready to make a difference? The Policing and Security Management pathway is for those interested in a policing-related career and the academic study of policing and security management.

Discover Policing and Security Management

Careers with this subject

Discover employment and further study opportunities that you could consider once you graduate with a degree in criminology and criminal justice, and learn how you can stand out to graduate employers.


Where could your criminology and criminal justice degree take you?

Key features

  • Make a difference – draw on our inter-disciplinary approach to study, with a focus on contemporary issues, to gain real insight into the nature of crime, the workings of the criminal justice system and the society around you and equip yourself with the skills to bring about change.
  • Boost your chances of finding that perfect first job and gain hands-on experience by volunteering with local and national criminal justice agencies.
  • Equip yourself with in-demand skills – our graduates are highly sought after by a range of criminal justice agencies, including the police, probation, prison and youth justice services.
  • Open doors to a career in the private, public or third sector – highly transferable skills mean you will find career opportunities in a diverse range of settings.

Course details

  • Year 1

  • In your first year, you’ll lay the foundations for your studies, exploring various perspectives on criminology and examining theories on the causes of crime and deviance. You’ll look at policy and practice to develop your knowledge and deepen your understanding of the criminal justice process in England and Wales, gaining a grounding in criminal justice research.

    Core modules

    • CCJ401 Being a Criminologist
    • CCJ402 Introduction to Criminological Theory
    • CCJ403 21st Century Crime Problems
    • CCJ404 Crime in Context
    • CCJ405 Responses to Crime: A Comparative Introduction
    • CCJ406 Forensic Criminology 1: Police Investigations

    Find out more about our modules

  • Year 2

  • In your second year, you will advance your awareness of criminological and penal theory to understand punishment. You’ll look at criminal justice agencies, policing and community safety, youth justice, restorative justice, victims and community responses to adult offenders. Sharpening your research and critical thinking skills, you'll also delve deeper into the practical and political issues surrounding crime and criminal justice.

    Core modules

    • CCJ501 Critical Issues in Criminal Justice
    • CCJ502 Theorising Crime and Harm
    • CCJ504 Researching Crime and Criminal Justice
    • CCJ505 Criminal Justice in Action: Structure, Policy and Practice
    • CCJ509 Employability Plus

    Optional modules

    • CCJ503 Forensic Criminology 2: Social Investigations
    • CCJ507A/B Inside Knowledge: Crime and Justice in the 21st Century
    • CCJ506 Harm in the 21st Century

    Find out more about our modules

  • Year 3

  • In your final year, you’ll apply your knowledge of theory and method to crime matters and specialise in areas such as comparative youth justice, interpersonal violence, illicit drug use, policing, anti-social behaviour or racism and criminal justice. You'll put your knowledge into practice with a work-based learning module, as well as designing and implementing your own research project to investigate a criminological issue of your interest to produce your dissertation, with the support of our staff.

    Core modules

    • CCJ601 Criminology and Criminal Justice Dissertation
    • CCJ602 Futures Criminology
    • CCJ603 Working for Justice
    Optional modules

    • CCJ606 Systemic Violence
    • CCJ607 Global (In)security and the State
    • CCJ608 Social Change and Justice 
    • CCJ609 Crime, Control, Regulation and the Social
    • CCJ610 Green Criminology
    • CCJ611 Leisure, Consumerism and Harm
    • CCJ612 Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies: Work Based Learning

    Find out more about our modules

Every undergraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the course aims, the course structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest course structure and may be subject to change:

BSc Criminology and Criminal Justice Programme Specification 6928

The modules shown for this course are those currently being studied by our students, or are proposed new modules. Please note that programme structures and individual modules are subject to amendment from time to time as part of the University’s curriculum enrichment programme and in line with changes in the University’s policies and requirements.

Entry requirements

UCAS tariff

88 - 120

A levels
88-104 points including a minimum of 2 A levels. Excluding general studies.

BTEC
18 Unit BTEC Extended Diploma: MMM–DMM in any subject.  

BTEC National Diploma modules
If you hold a BTEC qualification it is vital that you provide our Admissions team with details of the exact modules you have studied as part of the BTEC. Without this information we may be unable to process your application quickly and you could experience significant delays in the progress of your application to study with us. Please explicitly state the full list of modules within your qualification at the time of application.

Access
Pass a named Access to HE Diploma in any subject with at least 33 credits at merit/distinction. 

IB
24-26 overall to include 4 at any subject at Higher Level. English and Maths accepted within: Higher Level = 4 Standard Level = 5.

GCSE
All applicants must have GCSE (or equivalent) mathematics and English at grade C or above.

Other
14-19 Diplomas: accepted – please enquire. Other combinations and non-A level qualifications also considered.

Short of the entry requirements for this course? Don’t worry you may be eligible for a foundation year to prepare you for possible entry onto this course for the following year.

English language requirements.

We welcome applicants with international qualifications. To view other accepted qualifications please refer to our tariff glossary.

Fees, costs and funding

EU applicants should refer to our dedicated Brexit webpage for details of the implications of the UK’s plans to leave the European Union.

New Student 2020 2021
Home/EU £9,250 £9,250
International £13,800 £14,200
Part time (Home/EU) £770 £770
Full time fees shown are per annum. Part time fees shown are per 10 credits. Please note that fees are reviewed on an annual basis. Fees and the conditions that apply to them shown in the prospectus are correct at the time of going to print. Fees shown on the web are the most up to date but are still subject to change in exceptional circumstances. For more information about fees and funding please visit www.plymouth.ac.uk/money.

Undergraduate scholarships for international students

To reward outstanding achievement the University of Plymouth offers scholarship schemes to help towards funding your studies.

Find out whether you are eligible and how you can apply

Additional costs

This course is delivered by the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business and more details of any additional costs associated with the faculty's courses are listed on the following page: Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business additional costs.

How to apply

All applications for undergraduate courses are made through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). 

UCAS will ask for the information contained in the box at the top of this course page including the UCAS course code and the institution code. 

To apply for this course and for more information about submitting an application including application deadline dates, please visit the UCAS website.

Support is also available to overseas students applying to the University from our International Office via our how to apply webpage or email international-admissions@plymouth.ac.uk.

Policing and Security Management pathway

Ready to make a difference? BSc (Hons) Criminology and Criminal Justice (Policing and Security Management) is a degree for those interested in a career in the field of policing or security management.

Discover our new pathway

Graduate profiles

Student societies

Our societies offer you the chance to expand your knowledge of the criminal justice system.

The Howard League student group and Crimsoc run events, invite guest speakers and arrange volunteering opportunities.

Learn more about our societies

Justice Works

Justice Works encompasses a range of activities within the Law School that aim to promote social justice.

Find out more about the work-based learning and volunteering opportunities open to you.

Discover more

People

* These are the latest results from the National Student Survey. Please note that the data published on Discover Uni (Unistats) is updated annually in September.