BA Sociology & Criminology
About this course
BA (Hons) Sociology & Criminology is an undergraduate degree exploring the intersection of social structures, criminal justice systems, and human behavior. Core topics include Research Methods, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Social & Cultural Analysis, and Global & Comparative Perspective. Students can choose to undertake an optional 30-week work placement year as part of their studies. The first year covers foundational concepts through compulsory modules such as Introduction to Social Theory, Media, Power & Social Order, Social Research Skills, Introduction to Criminological Theory, Social Inequality & Exclusion, and Crime & the Criminal Justice System. The second year builds on these themes with compulsory units like Qualitative Research Skills, Contemporary Social Theory, and Borders, Migration and Human Trafficking, alongside optional choices such as Quantitative Skills, Doing Ethnographic Research in the Social Sciences, Victims of Crime, Policing & Society, Youth Crime, Gangs & Youth Justice, Globalisation, Justice and Global Instabilities, Public Health & Crime, Culture & Conflict, Growing Up and Growing Old, Placement Learning unit, Criminological Psychology, and The Sociology of AI. The final year involves core study in Dissertation, Politics & Ideology, and Terrorism, Protection & Society, while optional modules allow further exploration into areas like Drugs, Crime & Society, Seekers, Believers and Iconoclasts, ‘Troubling’ Gender, Crime and Criminal Justice in the 21st Century, Intersectional Criminology, Capitalism’s crimes, contracts, and crises. Decolonial perspectives in the social sciences, Sport and Leisure Cultures, Health, Wellbeing & Society, Criminology of Organisations, and Prisons & Punishment.
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
For 2027 entry: 112–128 UCAS tariff points (A-level grades BBC–ABB) including a minimum of 2 A-levels or equivalent qualifications. We also accept a wide range of vocational qualifications including BTEC Extended Diploma (grade DMM–DDM) and T Levels (Merit).
Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 95%: 187 offers from 196 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 11 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 66%
- Learning opportunities: 70%
- Assessment and feedback: 71%
- Academic support: 79%
- Organisation and management: 71%
- Learning resources: 88%
- Student voice: 58%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 20 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 90%
- Left higher education: 10%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 50 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- West Midlands: 5%
- East of England: 15%
- London: 25%
- South East: 30%
- South West: 15%
- Wales: 5%
Who gets in
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 100%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Bronze for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Introduction to Social Theory
- Media, Power & Social Order
- Social Research Skills
- Introduction to Criminological Theory
- Social Inequality & Exclusion
- Crime & the Criminal Justice System
- Qualitative Research Skills
- Contemporary Social Theory
- Borders, Migration and Human Trafficking
- Quantitative Skills
- Doing Ethnographic Research in the Social Sciences
- Victims of Crime
- Policing & Society
- Youth Crime, Gangs & Youth Justice
- Globalisation, Justice and Global Instabilities
- Public Health & Crime
- Culture & Conflict
- Growing Up and Growing Old
- Placement Learning unit
- Criminological Psychology
- The Sociology of AI
- Dissertation
- Politics & Ideology
- Terrorism, Protection & Society
- Drugs, Crime & Society
- Seekers, Believers and Iconoclasts
- ‘Troubling’ Gender
- Crime and Criminal Justice in the 21st Century
- Intersectional Criminology
- Capitalism’s crimes, contracts, and crises. Decolonial perspectives in the social sciences
- Sport and Leisure Cultures
- Health, Wellbeing & Society
- Criminology of Organisations
- Prisons & Punishment: This unit takes a historical and theoretical approach to punishment, to gain a critical understanding of conceptualisations of and rationalisations for punishment. The unit aims to provide an understanding of the current issues within the penal system in England and Wales, whilst critically thinking through alternatives.
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Sociology & Criminology at Bournemouth University earn?
The median salary is £23,500 after 3 years, £30,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £23,500 and £39,000. The £30,500 median after five years is £4,000 more than the UK median for Sociology.
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Sociology & Criminology at Bournemouth University?
66% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Sociology & Criminology at Bournemouth University?
The typical offer is BBC at A level. The average entrant had 114 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA Sociology & Criminology at Bournemouth University?
95% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 187 offers from 196 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does BA Sociology & Criminology at Bournemouth University include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional placement year.
How many students continue on BA Sociology & Criminology at Bournemouth University?
90% of students continued into their second year, and 10% left higher education.