BSc Criminology
Cardiff Metropolitan University
About this course
BSc (Hons) Criminology, a social science degree exploring the causes of crime, criminal behaviour, and the institutions of the criminal justice system. The course includes a second-year placement module providing practical industry experience, alongside an optional module that can lead to an additional ILM Level 5 Leadership and Management qualification. During the first year, students study foundational subjects through modules such as Foundations of Criminological Theory, Exploring the Criminal Justice System, Understanding Criminal Research, Crime, Control, and Prevention, Working with People in a Social Context, and The Psychology of Crime. The second year examines comparative justice, green criminology, neurodiversity, and research methods via compulsory modules including Comparative Systems of Criminal Justice, Green, Rural, and Wildlife Criminology, Mental Illness, Neurodiversity, and Crime, Doing Criminological Research, and Placement Module, while offering optional studies in topics such as Applications of Psychology to Criminology, Threat, Risk, and Harm, and Leadership and Management. The final year focuses on advanced thematic areas through compulsory modules like Individual Evidence-Based Practice, The Race and Gender of Criminology, Punishment, Prisons, and Penology, and Homicide and Violent Crime. Students can further tailor their studies in the final year by selecting optional modules such as Counter Terrorism and Cybercrime and Society.
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
UCAS tariff: 112 A level: Minimum three A levels to include grades BCC. No specific subjects required. Welsh Advanced Skills Baccalaureate considered as a third subject. BTEC/Cambridge Technical: DMM IB: No specific subjects required.
What students say
Based on about 37 final-year students who answered
- Teaching on my course: 83%
- Learning opportunities: 79%
- Assessment and feedback: 73%
- Academic support: 73%
- Organisation and management: 77%
- Learning resources: 84%
- Student voice: 77%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 110 students who started
- Continued on course: 90%
- Left higher education: 7%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 3%
What graduates do next
Based on about 28 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 65%
- Working and studying: 17%
- Unemployed: 2%
Most common jobs
- Welfare Professionals: 25%
- Welfare and housing associate professionals: 20%
- Administrative occupations: 10%
- Teaching and Childcare Support Occupation: 10%
- Caring personal services: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 90%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 85%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 65%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 160 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 1%
- North West: 1%
- East Midlands: 1%
- West Midlands: 3%
- East of England: 1%
- London: 6%
- South East: 3%
- South West: 10%
- Wales: 74%
Who gets in
Based on about 120 students who started
- A levels: 92%
- Access course: 3%
- Other HE qualification: 6%
Modules
- Foundations of Criminological Theory
- Exploring the Criminal Justice System
- Understanding Criminal Research
- Crime, Control, and Prevention
- Working with People in a Social Context
- The Psychology of Crime
- Comparative Systems of Criminal Justice
- Green, Rural, and Wildlife Criminology
- Mental Illness, Neurodiversity, and Crime
- Doing Criminological Research
- Placement Module
- Applications of Psychology to Criminology
- Threat, Risk, and Harm
- Leadership and Management
- Individual Evidence-Based Practice
- The Race and Gender of Criminology
- Punishment, Prisons, and Penology
- Homicide and Violent Crime
- Counter Terrorism
- Cybercrime and Society
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BSc Criminology at Cardiff Metropolitan University earn?
The median salary is £28,000 after 15 months, £21,500 after 3 years, £27,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £23,500 and £37,000. The £27,500 median after five years is £1,000 more than the UK median for Sociology.
What do graduates of BSc Criminology at Cardiff Metropolitan University do next?
82% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BSc Criminology at Cardiff Metropolitan University?
83% 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 Cardiff Metropolitan University?
The typical offer is BCC at A level. The average entrant had 113 UCAS points.
How many students continue on BSc Criminology at Cardiff Metropolitan University?
90% of students continued into their second year, and 7% left higher education.