Criminology and Criminal Justice, BA Hons
Our degree in criminology and criminal justice is aimed at anyone who wants to learn more about the causes, consequences and prevention of crime at local, national and international levels.
The degree will give you an understanding of what causes crime, what its effects are, and how it can be prevented. You'll explore the latest social, cultural and political debates surrounding crime through subjects such as security and terrorism, and the criminology of war. This course is also your chance to enter the worlds of policing, forensic psychology, and miscarriages of justice.
Our criminology graduates have taken up roles in the police, prison and security services, and the civil services.
UCAS points
112 (full requirements below)
Course/institution codes
M312 G BA/C&CJ
Interested in a different year?
Select your preferred
to view up to date information.
School
Location
Duration
3 years full-time
Start month
September
Home* /international fees 2025/26
£9,535 /£17,500
What you should know about this course
* The Department for Education has indicated that it intends to raise the Home tuition fee limit from £9,250 to £9,535 for 2025/26.
What you will study
Modules subject to change
From September 2025, all students will have a core dissertation in Year 3 of study.
Students have the opportunity to apply for selective optional modules, including one module - 'Criminology, the Community and Work Based Practice' can be taken following a competitive application process which will take place in your second year. Success depends on your application and on the availability of placements.
We continually review our courses to ensure they meet the evolving needs of students, employers, and professional bodies. We’re currently reviewing the modules for this course, with the goal of finalising the content by May 2025. In the unlikely event that the modules aren’t confirmed before the start date, we will help you find an alternative course.
Year 1:
Students are required to study the following compulsory modules.
- Foundations of Criminology (30 credits)
- Forensic Criminology (30 credits)
- Understanding Deviance (30 credits)
- Criminal Justice Process and Practice (30 credits)
Year 2:
- Criminological Research Methods (30 credits)
- Criminological Perspectives (30 credits)
- Crime Media and Culture (30 credits)
- Policing and Society (30 credits)
Year 3:
Students are required to study the following compulsory modules.
- Crime in the City, Crime and the State (30 credits)
Students are required to choose 90 credits from this list of options.
- The Psychology of Terrorism (15 credits)
- Undergraduate Research Placement (30 credits)
- Criminology Undergraduate Dissertation Project (30 credits)
- Women, Power, Crime and Justice (30 credits)
- Criminology, the Community and Work Based Practice (30 credits)
- Perspectives on Violence (15 credits)
- Gangs, Guns and Knife Crime (15 credits)
- Restorative Justice: Theory and Practice (30 credits)
- Critical Criminology (15 credits)
- Drugs and Us: Crime, Health, Politics, and Culture (15 credits)
- Penology (15 credits)
Year 3 (Level 6) modules subject to change.
About the course team
This degree course employs a range of innovative teaching and learning methods. Lectures and seminars are dynamic and interactive. You will be taught by an experienced team of lecturers, which includes academics and practitioners with criminal justice experience. Teaching is informed by our research and consultancy work, and more than 90 per cent of our lecturers hold a teaching qualification.
Come and meet us
We are offering virtual events so that you can still experience how Greenwich could be the right university for you.
Next Open Days
Got a question?
To find out more about our Open Days and Campus Tours or if you need any assistance, please email opendays@gre.ac.uk.
Entry requirements
Qualifications
- 112 UCAS Tariff points. We accept A Levels, T Levels, BTECs, Access to HE and all other qualifications with UCAS Tariff points.
Contextual Admissions
- We make Contextual offers to this programme. Applicants that meet specific eligibility criteria will be made a contextual offer with a reduced tariff of up to 16 UCAS Tariff points. Other entry requirements such as GCSEs, Interview, etc., will still need to be met. For further information, please see our Contextual Admissions Policy.
We also accept applications if you wish to transfer from another institution, and have already studied 1 or 2 years of a relevant course at level 4 or 5 and wish to continue your education at the University of Greenwich.
For more information, use our contact form or call us on 020 8331 9000.
You can also read our admissions policy.
For more information, use our contact form or call us on 020 8331 9000.
You can also read our admissions policy.
Further information about entry
For more information, call us on 020 8331 9000. You can also read our admissions policy.
Available to overseas students?
Yes
Can I use Prior Learning?
For entry: applicants with non-traditional qualifications or appropriate professional experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Direct Entry: We will consider applications for direct entry to Year 2 of this degree from those currently studying on Year 1 (i.e. Level 4) of a criminology undergraduate degree at a UK/EU university (or equivalent at a recognised overseas university).
The Level 4 content of the degree must compare to that of our BA Hons Criminology and Criminal Justice degree. Applicants must also complete and pass, at their first attempt, 120 CATS credits at Level 4 with an overall grade in the upper-second class (i.e. 60% or above).
Please note that we do not take any direct entrants into Year 3 of any of our criminology degrees.
How you will learn
Teaching
Learning takes place through a combination of timetabled learning and independent study.
You can view more information about how each module is taught within our 'What you will study' section.
Seminars and workshops enable you to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller groups. You will also be able to meet your personal tutor. Timetabled learning may fall between 9am and 9pm depending on your courses and tutorials.
Class sizes
The typical student intake per year averages 100-110. Lectures are normally attended by larger groups, and seminars/tutorials by smaller groups. This can vary more widely for modules that are shared between degrees.
Independent learning
Outside of timetabled sessions, you are also expected to dedicate around 20 hours per week to self-study. This may involve further reading and research, preparing coursework and presentations, watching and analysing relevant films and documentaries, and preparing for tests and exams. You can use Stockwell Street library and online resources to support you in these activities.
In addition, during the week you can also:
- Attend additional support classes in some modules
- Attend guest lectures from industry experts
- Take part in employability and enterprise workshops
- Join student societies.
Overall workload
If you are studying full-time, you should expect the workload to be similar to a full-time job. Each module you study towards this degree is worth 15 or 30 credits. These represent around 150 or 300 study hours respectively.
If you receive 72 contact hours for a 30-credit module, you should expect to commit 228 hours to independent study to complete it successfully.
Assessment
You can view how each module is assessed within our 'What you will study' section.
Each course has formal assessments which count towards your grade. Some courses may also include 'practice' assignments, which help you monitor progress and do not count towards your final grade.
Feedback summary
We aim to give feedback on assignments within 15 working days.
Dates and timetables
The academic year runs from September to June.
Full teaching timetables are not usually available until term has started. For any queries, please use our contact form.
Official statistics on Discover Uni
Full time
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| Cohort | Full time | Part time | Distance learning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home* | £9,535 | N/A | N/A |
| International | £17,500 | N/A | N/A |
University is a great investment in your future. English-domiciled graduate annual salaries were £10,500 more than non-graduates in 2023 - and the UK Government projects that 88% of new jobs by 2035 will be at graduate level.
(Source: DfE Graduate labour market statistics: 2023/DfE Labour market and skills projections: 2020 to 2035).
* The Department for Education has indicated that it intends to raise the Home tuition fee limit from £9,250 to £9,535 for 2025/26.
Other costs
Trips: The cost is activity dependant. Some may be free, while others may require a contribution. For the Level 6 module, 'Crime in the City, Crime and the State', trips might form part of the timetabled session. These are either free or heavily subsidised by the university. You are not obliged to pay for field trips in order to complete your course.
Resources: Course texts and other study resources are available from Stockwell Street Library and/or Moodle, but you may wish to purchase your own copies.
Travel: For the Level 6 module, 'Criminology, the Community and Work-Based Practice', you face an added cost of attending your placement one day per week.
Scholarships and bursaries
We offer a wide range of financial help including scholarships and bursaries.
The Greenwich Bursary
This bursary is worth £700 for new undergraduate students with a low household income, entering Year 0 or 1 who meet the eligibility criteria.
EU Bursary
Following the UK's departure from the European Union, we are supporting new EU students by offering a substantial fee-reduction for studying.
Financial support
We want your time at university to be enjoyable, rewarding, and free of unnecessary stress, so planning your finances before you come to university can help to reduce financial concerns. We can offer advice on living costs and budgeting, as well as on awards, allowances and loans.
Careers and placements
Will I have a work placement?
You will have the option to select a module for which you will be required to undertake a short-term placement. The placement will help you to transfer the skills learnt in the classroom to real life issues. Many placements are found through our existing network of industry contacts and alumni, and students are supported in securing these.
How long is my placement?
Placements are normally one day a week for either one or two terms depending on the number of credits available from the module.
What are the financial arrangements?
Placements are usually unpaid.
What sort of careers do graduates pursue?
This degree sets graduates up for a wide range of professions. Many students go into human services (including the police and prison, probation and security services, youth offending services, or drug and alcohol counselling) as well as the Home Office, UK Visas and Immigration, and HM Revenue & Customs.
Alternative career paths include social work, child protection, mental health, journalism, civil service, local government, and in NGOs and charities.
The BA (Hons) Criminology & Criminal Justice helps you develop skills in problem-solving, research and communication, providing a solid foundation for other occupations in the public and private sectors.
Are internships available?
Students are encouraged to take up Summer internships during the Summer holidays, though it is up to the student to find them. Support is available to students from the Employability and Careers Service when applying for placements and internships.
Do you provide employability services?
Employability activities take place all the time at Greenwich and students are encouraged to take part in as many opportunities as possible. The central Employability and Careers Service provides support for students preparing to apply for placements and graduate roles, such as CV clinics, mock interviews and employability skills workshops. In addition, your School has a dedicated Employability Officer who will be organising work-related activities throughout the year which will help you to build you industry knowledge and networks.
Accommodation
Greenwich
Living in halls of residence is a great way to make new friends and get into the social side of university life. With four great locations, all minutes away from the campus and the centre of historic Greenwich , you will be at the heart of one of the most beautiful university settings in the UK.
Rooms start at £146.30/wk and include Wi-Fi, utility bills, access to our on-campus gym and 24-hour security - and just a 10-minute train journey to central London. Students based at our Greenwich campus can also choose to live the Student Village at Avery Hill, which is only a short ride on our free shuttle bus.
Support and advice
Academic skills and study support
We want you to make the most of your time with us. You can access study skills support through your tutor, our subject librarians, and our online academic skills centre.
Where appropriate, we provide support in academic English and mathematics. If you need to use particular IT packages for a specific module, we provide training for this.
Do you provide employability services?
Employability activities take place all the time at Greenwich and students are encouraged to take part in as many opportunities as possible. The central Employability and Careers Service provides support for students preparing to apply for placements and graduate roles, such as CV clinics, mock interviews and employability skills workshops. In addition, your School has a dedicated Employability Officer who will be organising work-related activities throughout the year which will help you to build you industry knowledge and networks.
Not quite what you were looking for?
We've got plenty of other courses for you to choose from. Browse our undergraduate courses or check our related courses below.....
Criminology at the University of Greenwich
Study a subject area that covers a range of fascinating topics. Explore aspects of crime and the causes of crime with one of our courses in this exciting discipline.
Visit our criminology degrees page.
Innocence Project London
Our School of Law and Criminology students can get involved with the Innocence Project London (IPL) - a law clinic and charity at the University of Greenwich that investigates potential miscarriages of justice.
Mode of study
Select from the dropdown below.
| Course level | |
| UCAS code | |
| Duration | |
| Location |