Criminology

University of Portsmouth
Undergraduate BSc (Hons) Full-time 3 Years Sociology

A-Level Entry

BBB - BBC

UCAS Points

112 - 120 points

Avg. Graduate Salary

£25,000

About this course

This is a Connected Degree Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after you've started your course.

Overview

Why do people commit crimes? And what should we do about it? From offender to victim, punishment to rehabilitation, this BSc (Hons) Criminology degree asks questions about the causes and consequences of crime. The answers may surprise you. They’ll certainly help you choose the right career path.

As you become an expert on the criminal justice system in England and Wales, you’ll develop skills for a range of careers – from policing and prisons, to probation and rehabilitation, as well as roles fighting fraud in the private sector or influencing Government policy. And because crime doesn’t respect borders, this course also gives you a uniquely international perspective.

Course highlights

  • Explore the latest national and international debates and research in topics as varied as hate crime, state crime, terrorism, gang crime and victimology

  • Get career-ready with an emphasis on skills and employability, including volunteering opportunities with organisations such as Hampshire Constabulary and local charities like Aurora New Dawn (supporting victims of crime) and Read and Grow Society (helping ex-offenders learn to read)

  • Learn from an international team whose experience spans law and criminal justice, policing, probation and more – including a former private detective doing important research into missing persons and an expert in European responses to domestic violence

  • Join lively debates in one of the country’s largest criminology departments and contribute your own ideas on how we should respond to crime as a society

  • Build a professional network by meeting practitioners from criminal justice agencies, businesses and charities

  • Customise your degree to match your ambitions: some modules reduce the amount to time you’d need to train for a policing career or as a probation officer ​

    Careers and opportunities You’ll complete this course with a range of different professional routes open to you in the public, private and charitable sectors.

    There is demand for jobs in the criminal justice and penal sector. Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) has developed a Probation Workforce Strategy to recruit skilled people to probation officer roles and invest in ongoing professional development.

    You'll graduate with the skills and knowledge you need to work in the police, probation and prison services in areas such as:

  • community safety

  • crime prevention

  • fraud investigation

  • youth offending teams

    You'll also have relevant skills or knowledge to progress into other areas such as:

  • counter fraud roles in banking, the NHS or the DWP

  • economic crime investigation

  • policy analysis and formulation for councils or the Government

  • community rehabilitation

  • postgraduate study and research

    Graduate destinations

    Our graduates have worked for organisations including:

  • Hampshire Constabulary, Avon and Somerset Constabulary, Metropolitan Police, Thames Valley Police, South Wales Police, Kent Police

  • National Probation Service

  • G4S

  • Financial service companies

    Roles our previous graduates have gone onto include:

  • investigative data analyst

  • police officer

  • probation service officer

  • youth offending support officer

  • offender case administrator

  • detective

  • personnel security analyst

  • private investigator

  • witness service team leader

    Ongoing careers support

    Towards the end of your degree and for up to five years after graduation, you’ll receive one-to-one support from our Graduate Recruitment Consultancy to help you find your perfect role

    • Entry Requirements

    A-Level Grades BBB - BBC
    UCAS Tariff Points 112 - 120 points
    BTEC DDM - DMM

    Study Options

    This course is available in 2 study options:

    Full-time Shown above

    Duration: 3 Years

    Qualification: BSc (Hons)

    Location: Portsmouth

    Avg. Salary: £25,000

    Sandwich

    Duration: 4 Years

    Qualification: BSc (Hons)

    Location: Portsmouth

    Avg. Salary: £25,000

    Career Prospects

    Graduates from this course typically go into the following occupations:

    1162 Senior police officers
    2462 Probation officers
    2435 Professional/Chartered company secretaries
    3319 Protective service associate professionals
    4112 Local government administrative occupations
    3314 Prison service officers (below principal officer)

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    A-Levels

    BBB - BBC

    UCAS Points

    112 - 120 points

    Avg. Salary

    £26,000

    Course Details

    Qualification
    Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
    Study Mode
    Full-time
    Duration
    3 Years
    Start Date
    2025
    Academic Year
    2025
    Campus / Location
    Portsmouth
    Scheme
    Undergraduate
    Subjects
    Sociology
    Avg. Graduate Salary
    £25,000

    Offered by

    University of Portsmouth

    Portsmouth

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