BA Criminology
About this course
BA in Criminology, a sociology degree centred on the study of crime, criminal justice systems, and social control mechanisms. Core topics include Research Methods and Global & Comparative Perspective. Students complete an independent dissertation in the final year. The first year covers foundational subjects through Criminal Law and Justice, Crime in Global Context, Introducing Criminological Research, Representations of Deviance, Harm and Social Control, and Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice. The second year progresses to advanced investigations involving Responding to Crime, Punishment and Penal Policy, Qualitative Methods in Criminological Research, and Race, Gender and Crime. Optional modules across the course span diverse areas such as drug control, policing, youth justice, and the sociology of evil. The third year centres on the Dissertation (BA Criminology), alongside specialised study in modules such as The Value of Criminology: Policy and Practice, Drugs, Crime and Control, and Police and Policing in a Global Context.
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 IB: 34; 33, with B in the extended essay
Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 68%: 260 offers from 384 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 13 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 81%
- Learning opportunities: 76%
- Assessment and feedback: 59%
- Academic support: 81%
- Organisation and management: 47%
- Learning resources: 94%
- Student voice: 65%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 20 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 95%
- Left higher education: 5%
What graduates do next
Based on about 90 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Working: 69%
- Working and studying: 14%
- Further study: 5%
- Unemployed: 5%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 19%
- Administrative occupations: 12%
- Elementary occupations: 9%
- Welfare and housing associate professionals: 8%
- Legal professionals: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 81%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 69%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 55%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 110 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North West: 13%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 36%
- East Midlands: 11%
- West Midlands: 7%
- East of England: 8%
- London: 21%
- South East: 2%
Who gets in
Based on about 20 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 100%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Silver for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Criminal Law and Justice
- Crime in Global Context
- Introducing Criminological Research
- Representations of Deviance, Harm and Social Control
- Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice
- Plus the below: - Comprehending Criminology
- Responding to Crime
- Punishment and Penal Policy
- Qualitative Methods in Criminological Research
- Race, Gender and Crime
- Criminal Process
- Prisons, Prisoners, and their Families
- The Sociology of Crime
- Advanced Criminal Law and Justice
- Criminology Research Project
- Criminology and War
- Crime, Justice and Social Policy
- Cities, Violence and Security
- Doing Qualitative Sociological Research
- Dissertation (BA Criminology)
- The Value of Criminology: Policy and Practice
- Drugs, Crime and Control
- Criminal Process
- Youth Crime and Justice
- Sociology of Evil
- Protest, Movements and Social Change
- Police and Policing in a Global Context
- Theoretical Foundations of Criminal Law
- Perspectives on inequalities
- Sex Work: Rights, Regulation and Resistance
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Criminology at University of Sheffield earn?
The median salary is £25,000 after 15 months, £23,500 after 3 years, £29,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £24,500 and £37,000. The £29,000 median after five years is £2,500 more than the UK median for Sociology.
What do graduates of BA Criminology at University of Sheffield do next?
88% 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 Sheffield?
81% 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 Sheffield?
The typical offer is AAB at A level. The average entrant had 152 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA Criminology at University of Sheffield?
68% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 260 offers from 384 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does BA Criminology at University of Sheffield include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional placement year and an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on BA Criminology at University of Sheffield?
95% of students continued into their second year, and 5% left higher education.