Curious about studying Criminology (with a Placement Year) - BSc (Hons)at University of Staffordshire? 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)
Stoke-on-Trent Campus
Full Time
Sep 2026
4 Year
Criminology at the University of Staffordshire is a dynamic and diverse course. Through an understanding and appreciation of human rights and underpinned by cutting-edge research, you will explore the relationship between criminological theories and criminal justice policies and practices. You will be exposed to, and encouraged to discuss, explanations for crime and antisocial behaviour and how the police and courts deal with such matters. Additionally, you will study the role of punishment in the secure estate, investigate crimes of the powerful and come to understand the role of the media. \ Throughout your degree, you will be encouraged to think creatively, challenge established beliefs and develop your own research interests. You will be encouraged to apply the theoretical learning to simulated situations and scenarios to establish key employability skills. Our exciting pathways give you the option to focus on an area of Criminology that interests you. You will have the opportunity to choose to study our parent Criminology degree or to specialise in one of our pathways: Criminology (Offender Management) or Criminology (Victimology). Upon completion of your studies you will be awarded a BSc (Hons) Criminology, BSc (Hons) Criminology (Offender Management), or BSc (Hons) Criminology (Victimology).
How can psychology explain and influence issues within the Criminal Justice System? This module will provide you with an introduction to, and evaluation of, some of the ways in which psychological research and theories can help us to understand contemporary and key issues that we see in Criminal Justice cases in a number of areas including policing, interviewing and in the court room, setting the scene for explorations into criminal behaviours and impacts in later modules.
Theories of Crime and Justice provides you with a comprehensive grounding in the area of criminological theory. This module familiarises you with the different assumptions, explanations and proposed solutions embedded within these theories and sensitises you to the importance of the social contexts in which theories are produced. The module is also designed to develop your learning about 'crime' and 'criminal justice', so you learn that they are not fixed and settled entities but complex and shifting processes whose different characteristics are revealed (and concealed) when viewed through the lenses of different theories.
Criminal law is an exciting subject, which you will find enjoyable and engaging. You will explore the law relating to some of the most serious and/or common criminal offences, including homicide, non-fatal offences against the person and fraud. Learners will explore a range of defences, such as, self-defence, diminished responsibility and insanity. You will learn about several key contemporary concepts of criminal liability such as fitness to plead and accessorial liability. You will consider some basic rules of evidence and aspects of sentencing to provide you will an effective and practical overview.
Media and Crime is an exciting module in which you will examine the complex interrelationships between the media and representations of criminal activity, including crimes of the powerful vs crimes of the powerless. The module offers case studies of representations of crime generated across a range of media sites including television, film, literature, advertising, newspapers, magazines, music videos and websites. You will also can analyse visual representations of crime from historical and contemporary media sources.
Placement year
This module reflects the subject knowledge and understanding concerning the philosophy and politics of criminalisation, victimisation, criminal justice and modes of punishment. An integral part of this module is a critical analysis of power imbalance, human rights, civil liberties and the relationships of authority, discipline and coercion. The main aim is to review the politics of punishment and the socio-political controversies and debates which have shaped contemporary policies and penal practices.
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