BA Criminology
About this course
BA (Hons) Criminology is a sociology and social policy degree exploring the causes of crime, deviance and responses within society. Core topics include Research Methods. Students can choose to add an optional placement year or year abroad to the three-year degree. The first year establishes foundations through modules such as Foundations in Social Psychology, Explaining Crime and Deviance, Criminal Justice and Inequality, and The Criminal Justice System. The second year examines contemporary crime and globalization through modules like Understanding Contemporary Crime, Doing Research, Crime, Control and Globalisation, and Crime and the Life Course, alongside optional choices such as Working in the Criminal Justice System. The final year involves an independent dissertation alongside studies on criminological theory and specific penal policies, with further optional modules covering areas such as policing, prisons, drugs, and environmental justice.
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: 35 points overall BTEC: DDD We consider a range of BTEC qualifications equivalent to 3 A Levels, or in combination with A Levels or other qualifications. For example: Distinction, Distinction in BTEC Level 3 National Diploma plus A at A Level Distinction in BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate plus AA at A level Distinction, Distinction in 2 BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificates plus A at A level
What students say
Based on about 23 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 79%
- Learning opportunities: 79%
- Assessment and feedback: 79%
- Academic support: 86%
- Organisation and management: 82%
- Learning resources: 92%
- Student voice: 76%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 40 students who started
- Continued on course: 95%
- Left higher education: 5%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 5%
What graduates do next
Based on about 8 graduates who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 70%
- Working and studying: 5%
- Further study: 15%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 19%
- Administrative occupations: 15%
- Managers, directors and senior officials: 7%
- Teaching and Childcare Support Occupation: 6%
- Sales occupations: 6%
- Find their work meaningful: 70%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 55%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 50%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 175 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 3%
- North West: 9%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 31%
- East Midlands: 9%
- West Midlands: 5%
- East of England: 11%
- London: 22%
- South East: 8%
- South West: 1%
- Wales: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 55 students who started
- A levels: 100%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Gold overall, Gold for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Foundations in Social Psychology
- Explaining Crime and Deviance
- Criminal Justice and Inequality
- The Criminal Justice System
- Social Harm and Injustice
- Understanding Contemporary Crime
- Doing Research
- Crime, Control and Globalisation
- Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice
- Crime and the Life Course
- Working in the Criminal Justice System
- Victimology and Victimization
- Dissertation
- Influencers and Ideas in Criminology
- Crime and Justice in Online Space
- Drugs: Prevalence, Policy and Practice
- Prisons and Penal Policy
- Vulnerability, Deviancy and Social control
- Gender, Violence and Justice
- Policing and the Police
- Environmental Justice, Harm and Policy
- Crime, Gender and Sexuality
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Criminology at University of York earn?
The median salary is £25,500 after 15 months, £24,000 after 3 years, £29,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £23,500 and £36,500. 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 York do next?
95% 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 York?
79% 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 York?
The typical offer is AAB at A level, or 35 points in the IB. The average entrant had 130 UCAS points.
Does BA Criminology at University of York 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 York?
95% of students continued into their second year, and 5% left higher education.