BA Criminology, Policing and Investigation
About this course
BA (Hons) Sociology and Law, applying sociological and legal perspectives to crime, policing, and security studies. Core topics include Statistics, Research Methods, and Project Management. The course maintains close ties to the West Midlands Police Force and other criminal justice agencies, with opportunities for work experience and an optional international study period. A final-year Extended Project enables independent investigation of a topic in criminology, policing, or security studies.
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
Standard offer: 112 UCAS Tariff points. Learn more about UCAS Tariff points . Accelerate offer: 80 UCAS Tariff points. Find out more about BCU Accelerate . This course does not require evidence of GCSE qualifications. Please see A Level, BTEC and other level 3 requirements below. A Level / AS Level: A Level: 112 UCAS Tariff points / BBC (or equivalent) AS Level: Must be in a different subject to A Levels A maximum of four subjects will be considered Pearson BTEC (Diploma / Extended Diploma/ Extended Certificate): 112 UCAS Tariff points Diploma accepted with one A Level or equivalent level 3 qualifications Extended Certificate accepted with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications Excluded subjects: Health and Social Care pre-2016 syllabus T Level: Merit overall All subjects considered Access to HE Diploma: Pass with 60 credits, 45 credits at level 3 Accepted subjects: Social Sciences, Humanities or Law OCR Cambridge Technical qualifications: 112 UCAS Tariff points NCFE CACHE Level 3 qualifications: 112 UCAS Tariff points WJEC Level 3 qualifications: 112 UCAS Tariff points Considered with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualification(s) Irish Leaving Certificate (Highers): Minimum of 112 UCAS Tariff points, achieved in five Higher level subjects Scottish Higher / Advanced Higher: 112 UCAS Tariff points from three Advanced Highers (CCD) or two Advanced Highers (CD) plus two Highers (CC) Welsh Baccalaureate: 112 UCAS Tariff points. Considered with three A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications
What students say
Based on about 33 final-year students who answered
- Teaching on my course: 91%
- Learning opportunities: 95%
- Assessment and feedback: 92%
- Academic support: 95%
- Organisation and management: 96%
- Learning resources: 94%
- Student voice: 86%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 55 students who started
- Continued on course: 87%
- Left higher education: 9%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 4%
What graduates do next
Based on about 58 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Working: 64%
- Working and studying: 10%
- Further study: 10%
- Unemployed: 7%
Most common jobs
- Administrative occupations: 12%
- Welfare and housing associate professionals: 11%
- Protective service occupations: 11%
- Business and public service associate professionals: 11%
- Sales occupations: 10%
- Find their work meaningful: 80%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 55%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 45%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 300 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North West: 3%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 2%
- East Midlands: 5%
- West Midlands: 71%
- East of England: 3%
- London: 11%
- South East: 3%
- South West: 2%
Who gets in
Based on about 60 students who started
- A levels: 93%
- Access course: 2%
- Other HE qualification: 5%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Gold for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Crime and the Media
- Crime, Punishment and Society
- The Criminal Justice System
- Policing and Investigation
- Security, Conflict and Justice
- Issues in Criminal Investigation
- Policing Priorities
- Research Proposal
- Youth Crime and Justice
- Critical Perspectives on Terrorism
- Race and Crime
- Making Sense of Homicide
- Substance Use, Crime and Deviance
- Lie to Me: Essential Criminal Justice Interviewing Techniques
- The Extended Project
- Everyday Surveillance
- Local to Global Organised Crime
- Deviant Leisure
- Gender and Crime
- Cybercrime
- Hate Crime
- Harms of the Powerful
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Criminology, Policing and Investigation at Birmingham City University earn?
The median salary is £26,000 after 15 months, £20,000 after 3 years, £26,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £21,000 and £32,000. The £26,000 median after five years is £500 less than the UK median for Sociology.
What do graduates of BA Criminology, Policing and Investigation at Birmingham City University do next?
83% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Criminology, Policing and Investigation at Birmingham City University?
91% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Criminology, Policing and Investigation at Birmingham City University?
The typical offer is BBC at A level. The average entrant had 105 UCAS points.
Does BA Criminology, Policing and Investigation at Birmingham City University include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional placement year.
How many students continue on BA Criminology, Policing and Investigation at Birmingham City University?
87% of students continued into their second year, and 9% left higher education.