BSc Criminology
About this course
BSc in Criminology, a social science degree exploring crime, law, society, and criminal justice systems. Core topics include Research Methods. The course is structured over four years, incorporating professional and criminal justice placement options alongside independent research projects. The first year covers foundational concepts through Understanding Crime: Law, Society and Behaviour, Introduction to Social Science, and Understanding Change - Environment, People, Places. The second year examines core areas via Crime Control and Prevention, Criminal Law, and Legal and Criminal Justice Systems, with further optional study in Criminology in Action. The third year builds technical knowledge with Quantitative Research Skills and Youth Crime and Justice, complemented by optional modules such as Victimology and Police, Policing and Society. The final year focuses on advanced study through Critical and Radical Criminology, with further optional modules including Climate Change and Environmental Law, Family and Child Law, and a Law & Criminology Dissertation.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: Available to those who are studying for, or who have completed Level 3 qualifications (eg, A-Levels or BTEC diploma) and to mature-aged candidates without formal qualifications who have suitable background education, experience and motivation. IB: Available to those who are studying for, or who have completed Level 3 qualifications (eg, A-Levels or BTEC diploma) and to mature-aged candidates without formal qualifications who have suitable background education, experience and motivation.
What students say
Based on about 13 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 90%
- Learning opportunities: 90%
- Assessment and feedback: 89%
- Academic support: 91%
- Organisation and management: 91%
- Learning resources: 96%
- Student voice: 78%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 25 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 90%
- Left higher education: 10%
What graduates do next
Based on about 23 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 55%
- Working and studying: 15%
- Further study: 10%
- Unemployed: 10%
Most common jobs
- Administrative occupations: 15%
- Welfare and housing associate professionals: 10%
- Protective service occupations: 10%
- Elementary occupations: 10%
- Sales occupations: 10%
- Find their work meaningful: 85%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 50%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 55%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 45 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North West: 10%
- East Midlands: 5%
- West Midlands: 15%
- East of England: 5%
- South East: 5%
- Wales: 45%
- Scotland: 5%
Who gets in
Based on about 20 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 100%
Modules
- How to be a Student 1
- How to be a Student 2
- Information in a Post-Truth World
- Introduction to Social Science
- The "Othered" Migrant: Social Science Perspectives
- Understanding Change - Environment, People, Places
- Understanding Crime: Law, Society and Behaviour
- Crime Control and Prevention
- Criminal Law
- Essential Skills for Criminologists
- Introduction to Criminology
- Legal and Criminal Justice Systems
- Criminology in Action
- Quantitative Research Skills
- Youth Crime and Justice
- Climate Change and Environmental Law
- Community Justice
- Crime & Punishment in Historical Perspective
- Criminal Justice Placement
- Drugs and Crime
- Family and Child Law
- Human Rights
- Medicine Ethics and the Law
- Police, Policing and Society
- Psychological Explanations of Criminal Behaviour
- Psychopathology
- Victimology
- Critical and Radical Criminology
- Climate Change and Environmental Law
- Community Justice
- Crime & Punishment in Historical Perspective
- Criminology: Professional Placement
- Drugs and Crime
- Employability Skills in Practice
- Family and Child Law
- Human Rights
- Law & Criminology Dissertation
- Medicine Ethics and the Law
- Police, Policing and Society
- Problem Solving Consultancy in Criminology
- Psychological Explanations of Criminal Behaviour
- Psychopathology
- Victimology
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BSc Criminology at Aberystwyth University earn?
The median salary is £26,000 after 15 months, £20,500 after 3 years, £23,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £19,500 and £30,500. The £23,500 median after five years is £3,000 less than the UK median for Sociology.
What do graduates of BSc Criminology at Aberystwyth University do next?
85% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BSc Criminology at Aberystwyth University?
90% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BSc Criminology at Aberystwyth University?
The average entrant had 95 UCAS points.
How many students continue on BSc Criminology at Aberystwyth University?
90% of students continued into their second year, and 10% left higher education.