Curious about studying Criminology - BSc (Hons)at Birmingham City University? We've gathered all the key details—entry requirements, modules, fees, and more. Hear from real students by checking out reviews, or take the next step by booking an open day to explore it for yourself.
Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Curzon Building
Full Time
Sep 2027
3 Year
Looking to study a criminology degree at university? Our BSc (Hons) Criminology course is supported by our close links with local criminal justice organisations in the voluntary, public, and private sectors, including West Midlands Police Force. Make sense of the world of criminal justice by getting the big picture perspective on crime, punishment and victimisation. This course aims to develop knowledge and understanding of the core schools of criminological thought, their historical and political foundations and practical application.
Professional Placement YearThis course offers an optional professional placement year. This allows you to spend a whole year with an employer, following successful completion of your second year, and is a great way to find out more about your chosen career. Some students even return to the same employers after completing their studies. If you choose to pursue a placement year, you will need to find a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study. You will be able to draw on the University’s extensive network of local, regional, and national employers, and the support of our Careers teams. If you are able to secure a placement, you can request to be transferred to the placement version of the course. Please note that fees are payable during your placement year, equivalent to 20% of the total full-time course fee for that year.
This foundational module introduces the historical development of criminology and its core theoretical perspectives. It examines how different schools of thought have sought to explain crime and deviance, encouraging students to engage with key criminological debates. The module is structured around a weekly exploration of major criminological theories, considering their origins, key concepts, and ongoing relevance to contemporary social issues. Through a combination of lectures, seminars, and guided reading, you will develop a strong theoretical grounding, enabling them to analyse and interpret crime within real-world contexts. The module explores the origins and evolution of criminology as a discipline and provides sustained engagement with central theoretical traditions. It emphasises the application of theory to contemporary crime and justice issues, while supporting you to develop core academic skills, including critical reading, academic writing, referencing, and presentation. This module is designed to provide the theoretical underpinning for the undergraduate degree and to support progression into more advanced study.
In this module you will explore the relationship between various media forms and crime, offending and victimisation. This module engages with both fictional, and non-fictional representations of crime and locates them within relevant theoretical perspectives. In exploring news representations of crime, we adopt a critical lens to examine the role of the media, paying particular attention to gendered , racialised and class-based portrayals of crime. As such, we initially draw on the concept of ‘news values’ to examine the different values that are prioritised when constructing news media , before exploring the media’s role in conjuring ‘moral panics’ and applying such understandings to wider criminological theory. The second half of this module focuses on newer forms of media (social media, film, television, music, podcasts) as well as fictional representations of crime. We begin by exploring the role of social media in the reproduction of crime narratives and our ‘surveillance society ’, we do this by focusing on new modes of consumption such as memes. We then explore the role of media and social media as an instrumental tool for would-be violent offenders, before exploring fictional representations of the criminal justice system including the police, courts and prisons, showing an appreciation for the changing representations of the criminal justice system. We close this module by looking at fictional representations of violence, sex and death, and explore notions of the ‘uncanny’ to understand the genre of ‘home invasion’ and our fascination with serial killers and extreme violent content. Throughout this module we draw upon international case studies, and you will be provided with a ‘viewing schedule’ to help consolidate learning. A range of skills will be developed which will be useful in seeking future employment, including, critical analysis skills, media analysis skills and comprehensive writing skills. This module is assessed through a n essay in which you will critically analyse the way that crime, victimisation and offending are presented within different media sources.
Major challenges and issues face UK Society such as climate collapse, cost of living crisis and violent far right movements. There is also enormous social change in the wake of resistance movements like, #MeToo, and Black Lives Matters. Sociology and criminology students must be able to relate shifts to changing patterns of offending and criminal justice. This module will use a combination of lectures and student-led seminars to help develop your criminological imagination. An assessment of an annotated bibliography will train you to connect major developments in criminology to the social and political context of major historical moments. This is replicated for studying crime and punishment in the 21 st century. This engenders essential employability skills such as an awareness of current affairs, identifying sources of reliable data and research report writing in clear concise English.
This module provides you with an overview of the Criminal Justice System from point of entry to community reintegration , and the roles and responsibilities of different actors within the system. Through studying this module, you will develop an understanding of the evolution and structure of different components of the Criminal Justice System in England and Wales . Emphasis will be placed on understanding the political, social , and economic factors which influence the delivery of justice and the consequences of these for suspects, victims and wider communities. For example, you will explore how constructions of gender, race , class , and other socio-economic circumstances influence the encounters and experiences of those within the Criminal Justice System. Building upon this, the module will critically engage with contemporary debates and issues surrounding the ‘ purpose ’ of the criminal justice system. As such, you will learn to access and interpret statistics on those who encounter the C riminal J ustice S ystem , as well as key trends and patterns relating to criminal justice-based responses . In terms of employability, you will learn about potential career opportunities within and around the Criminal Justice System and will be encouraged to become actively involved with volunteering opportunities. Practitioners from various agencies within the Criminal Justice System will deliver guest lectures on their experien ce of working within the field . You will also be given the opportunity to participate in field trips including to Birmingham Crown Court. You will develop transferable employability skills , including communication , statistical analysis and problem-solving. This module is assessed by a multiple-choice examination .
The module is designed to prepare students to independently formulate research questions, to design research plans which will answer these questions, to employ appropriate methods of research in an ethical manner, and to equip students with the practical skills needed to analyse data using appropriate computer software, including for example NVIVO and SPSS. This module will introduce you to the knowledge and applied skills to conduct criminologi cal research. You will learn how to formulate criminological research questions for study through operationalising concepts, and by conducting literature reviews , and how to identify appropriate methods to answer these questions. You will learn about qualitative research methods including how to do document analysis, ethnography, interviewing, focus groups and case study research . You will practice applied skills in analysing qualitative data , which will include identifying themes in your data and an introduction to using computer software for qualitative research . You will learn about quantitative research methods including survey design , and secondary analysis of external datasets such as the Crime Survey for England and Wales. You will learn how to analyse and present numerical data including describing your research population through conducting frequency tests, making tables so you can compare different groups in your data , comparing averages , and how to identify and describe relationships between categories in your data. You will then be introduced to the principles underpinning mixed methods research, to enable you to identify when it is appropriate to combine qualitative and quantitative research methods , and how to design mixed methods projects. You will be taught in a workshop setting enabling you to practice and evidence the skills that you are learning throughout the module.
This module is designed to develop your understanding of the emergence and development of key theories of punishment through an exploration of the history of penal theory and its contemporary challenges and controversies. Furthermore, this module seeks to refine and expand upon traditional theoretical perspectives of punishment and the current reliance upon imprisonment as a dominant form of punishment in England and Wales. In doing so, it will require you to critically engage with some of the strengths and limitations of such an approach and consider possible alternatives . This module will help you to acquire numerous employability skills, such as critical thinking and reflective practice. Vocationally it is linked to a range of potential criminal justice professions in the statutory, voluntary and non-governmental sectors, building your knowledge and understanding of core functions and debates in the prison and punishment realms.
Traditionally criminology has focused on those who perpetrate harm and given far less attention to those who experience harm, and this module seeks to address this discrepancy. This module will give some consideration as to why some events which cause harm are formally labelled and treated as crimes when others are not, and in doing so we will consider the impact of this upon those who experience these harms. This module will support you to develop a critical understanding of victimology and equip you to question the label 'victim'. Furthermore, we will consider how many of those who experience harm will frequently be the least powerful and the most vulnerable in society, increasing the need for effective responses (both inside and outside of the Criminal Justice System) to repair the harm done. This module is taught by lectures and seminars and is assessed by an essay. The module is ideal if you who wish to work with victims of crime/experiencers of harm in your future carer, or if you want to gain a more holistic understanding of harm prior to working with those who perpetrate said harms. Furthermore, this module will also enable you to enhance your communication and critical thinking skills which are transferable to employment.
This module is designed to help you explore Criminology ‑ related career pathways and begin developing your professional identity. It provides structured support to help you understand how the knowledge and skills gained through your degree can be applied in a wide range of professional contexts, both within and beyond the criminal justice system. It encourages you to connect Criminological theory to professional practice, strengthening your professional identity and preparing you for graduate employment. The module encourages you to think critically about different sectors, organisational cultures and ethical issues, and to consider where you see yourself working in the future. Through a combination of taught sessions, guided activities, and professional engagement, you will explore potential careers, develop employability skills, and reflect on your strengths, values and areas for development. The module is split into two parts: the first part comprises of taught sessions which focus on areas such as career exploration, skills mapping, professional conduct, reflective practice, and preparing effective examples for applications and interviews. The second part of the module encompasses a short period of professional engagement where y ou will be encouraged to connect your academic learning with professional experiences, and to articulate the transferable skills developed through your degree. This engagement is intended to be exploratory and flexible, allowing you to gain early exposure to professional or civic settings and to generate real experiences that can inform your learning and career planning. You will choose one of four pathway s: Pathway 1 – structured volunteering e.g. Special Constable, Charity Support Worker Pathway 2 – work-based learning e.g. Evaluating the use of ‘Ask Angela’ at a bar Pathway 3 – voluntary research assistantship Pathway 4 – micro-volunteering or project-based professional tasks (career exploration, skills development and volunteering) The module provides you with the opportunity to apply the learning from your Criminology degree to the world of work. It is designed to enhance your ability to critically self-reflect and to strengthen your employability skills , professional awareness and further applied learning opportunities. If who wish to gain more extensive professional experience may choose to progress to the optional Semester 2 placement module, where they can continue to undertake their placement or a deeper and more sustained placement experience can be undertaken for an additional 20 credits. By the end of the module, you will have greater confidence in your employability skills, a clearer understanding of possible career routes, and a stronger foundation for making informed decisions about your future.
This module is designed specifically to make you a confident social researcher, prepare you for writing an undergraduate dissertation, and enhance your employability, particularly project management skills. Y ou will have a chance to engage with major and emerging methods of researching criminological, policing and security issues. T he module will encourage you to think critically about choosing appropriate research approaches, ensuring ethical conduct, designing and using data collection tools, analysing data, communicating and disseminating your research , and managing projects. All these skills are what employers expect from criminology graduates. The module is assessed based on coursework, which involves preparation of a research proposal. T he t eaching is designed around preparing you to meet the learning outcomes and helping you design your own project. M ethods will include lectures and interactive resources. You will also be able to apply your knowledge in practice by participating in seminar activities and designing your own research proposal for the assessment. We will provide examples of completed small and large research projects, discussing their design and methodology . Readings will include chapters from methodology textboo ks, as well as articles reporting findings from completed studies. The module will help you strengthen the following competences: developing a research project; project management; conducting data analysis; addressing ethical issues; reviewing literature; academic writing; and referencing.
This module is designed to provide you with the opportunity to undertake a credit bearing, 40- week Professional Placement as an integral part of your Undergraduate Degree. The purpose of the Professional Placement is to improve your employability skills which will, through the placement experience, allow you to evidence your professional skills, attitudes and behaviours at the point of entry to the postgraduate job market. Furthermore, by completing the Professional Placement, you will be able to develop and enhance your understanding of the professional work environment, relevant to your chosen field of study, and reflect critically on your own professional skills development within the workplace.
Human rights is one of the most important and debated political concepts of our times. Drawing upon a range of theories, empirical studies and practical problems, this module invites you to think critically about the key issues and concepts in human rights theory, philosophy, research, policy and enforcement. The module starts by covering the historical, political, legal and institutional frameworks for civil liberties and human rights protection in and beyond Britain. Following the explication of key theories and paradigms, we will tackle a range of substantial issues, such as the death penalty, the use of torture, and assisted dying. The teaching and learning will be delivered through interactive lectures and seminars. The classes will be highly participatory and will encourage critical discussion, diversity of opinions and respect for differing views. Readings will include chapters from human rights textbooks, reports, as well as articles reporting findings from completed studies on the topics and issues. The curriculum is tailored to help you meet the learning outcomes and to prepare you for the in-person assessment. It is further geared towards enhancing your employability by equipping you with a range of competencies necessary for graduate-level work and further study. This includes research and analysis skills, debate and communication skills, and working within a team.
This module offers an in-depth exploration of how criminological theories help you understand why individuals engage in criminal behaviour and the factors that influence their pathways toward desistance. Building directly on the foundational criminological theory introduced at Level 4 and 5 , the module extends your theoretical knowledge and applies it to real-world contexts through critical analysis and case-based learning. You will critically examine the social, structural, and interpersonal factors that contribute to offending, including inequality, marginalisation, victimisation, peer influence, and life-course events. Alongside this, the module i ntroduces key debates surrounding how and why people cease offending, exploring concepts such as identity t ransformation, social bonds, rehabilitation, and policy-driven approaches to supporting desistance. Central to the module is the application of life-course criminology, drawing on the work of Glen H. Elder, Robert J. Sampson and John H. Laub, and Terrie Moffitt. You will critically examine how individual life trajectories are shaped by structural conditions, social bonds, and developmental pathways. A c ore feature of the module is the use of life-history material and case studies to illuminate how criminological theory operates in practice. Through these narratives, you will critically interrogate patterns of offending and desistance, situating individual experiences within broader social, political, and economic contexts. You will be taught using a range of innovative and interactive methods to deepen understanding and demonstrate the practical application of theory. You will be encouraged to consider how theory shapes real-world criminal justice responses and how early intervention, support services, and targeted policy initiatives may prevent long-term involvement in crime. Assessment will take the form of a written, in-depth case study analysis that allows you to apply theoretical and conceptual knowledge to a concrete example. This assignment is designed to strengthen your analytical skills, enhance your understanding of lived experiences of crime, and prepare you for potential career pathways in youth services, probation, policing, prisons, and wider community and voluntary sectors. By the end of the module, you will have developed a nuanced understanding of the trajectories into and out of crime and an appreciation of how criminological theory can be used to inform effective, evidence-based practice across the criminal justice system.
This module provides you with the opportunity to carry out a self ‑ directed , critical investigation of a specific topic relating to Criminology . You will produce a substantial independent piece of work, which may be empirical, policy ‑ based , or theoretical in nature . Building on the skills developed at Level 4 in Applied Research Methods in Criminology and Level 5 in the Research Proposal module, you will draw on your developing knowledge, interests, and methodological competence to conduct an in ‑ depth dissertation in an area of your choosing. Guidance will be provided through taught sessions scheduled across the academic year, alongside supervision tailored to your i ndividual dissertation . You will be allocated a supervisor who will offer small ‑ group and/or one ‑ to ‑ one supervision at key stages of the research process . Assessment for the module takes the form of a written dissertation, with opportunities to submit up to three formative patches for feedback . A series of writing retreats will also be offered, enabling you to work in a supportive and collaborative environment with peers and supervisors. The module is geared towards enhancing your employability by equipping you with a range of competencies necessary for graduate-level work and further study, including research design, project management, analytical skills, ethical awareness, and report writing skills.
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