BA Criminology
About this course
BA Criminology, a criminology degree focused on the study of crime, criminal justice systems, and deviance. Core topics include Research Methods. This four-year course includes a compulsory year abroad. Year 1 establishes core concepts through compulsory modules such as Crime and Society, Criminological Research Methods, Foundations of Criminal Justice, and Psychology, Crime and Criminal Justice. Year 2 advances the curriculum with compulsory study in Policing and the Police, Explaining Crime and Deviance, Modelling Criminological Data, and Understanding Punishment, alongside optional topics like Understanding Violence and Social Disorder. Year 3 centres on a compulsory Long Dissertation, supported by optional modules spanning areas such as Drugs and Society, Comparative Criminology, The Criminal Psychopath, and Crime Mapping: an introduction to GIS and spatial analysis.
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: AAB or ABB and EPQ with a minimum grade C
Real offers for this course
Applicants have posted 1 UCAS decision for BA Criminology (M901) at the University of Manchester for 2027 entry so far. The published offer is AAB at A level.
What students say
Based on about 26 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 73%
- Learning opportunities: 77%
- Assessment and feedback: 74%
- Academic support: 80%
- Organisation and management: 80%
- Learning resources: 83%
- Student voice: 78%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 65 students who started
- Continued on course: 97%
- Left higher education: 2%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 2%
What graduates do next
Based on about 237 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Working: 67%
- Working and studying: 12%
- Further study: 6%
- Unemployed: 6%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 17%
- Administrative occupations: 12%
- Finance Professionals: 11%
- Elementary occupations: 10%
- Business, Research and Administrative Professionals: 6%
- Find their work meaningful: 78%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 68%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 41%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 855 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 2%
- North West: 30%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 5%
- East Midlands: 3%
- West Midlands: 5%
- East of England: 5%
- London: 35%
- South East: 9%
- South West: 4%
- Wales: 2%
- Northern Ireland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 60 students who started
- A levels: 95%
- Access course: 3%
- Foundation course: 2%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Silver for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- Crime and Society
- Criminological Research Methods
- Foundations of Criminal Justice
- Psychology, Crime and Criminal Justice
- Making Sense of Criminological Data
- Criminal Law (Humanities)
- Policing and the Police
- Explaining Crime and Deviance
- Modelling Criminological Data
- Understanding Punishment
- Qualitative Research in Criminology
- Criminology and Criminal Justice in Action
- Understanding Violence and Social Disorder
- Long Dissertation
- Drugs and Society
- Comparative Criminology
- Journeys out of Offending
- Victims, Crime and Justice
- Understanding and Responding to Organised Crime
- Criminology and Mass Violence
- White-Collar and Corporate Crime
- Crime Mapping: an introduction to GIS and spatial analysis
- The Criminal Psychopath
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Criminology at University of Manchester earn?
The median salary is £28,000 after 15 months, £27,000 after 3 years, £35,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £27,000 and £50,000. The £35,500 median after five years is £9,000 more than the UK median for Sociology.
What do graduates of BA Criminology at University of Manchester do next?
85% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Criminology at University of Manchester?
73% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Criminology at University of Manchester?
The typical offer is AAB at A level. The average entrant had 143 UCAS points.
How many students continue on BA Criminology at University of Manchester?
97% of students continued into their second year, and 2% left higher education.