BSc (Hons) Criminology at University of Plymouth

Programme overview

BSc (Hons) Criminology examines why people commit crime and how criminality is dealt with. Plymouth was one of the first universities to offer criminology, and students work in live-action and virtual reality crime scenes and tackle face-to-face suspect interviews.

Faculty: Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business | Department: School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences | Duration: 3 years full-time (plus optional placement year) | Study mode: full-time | Location: Plymouth, England, United Kingdom

What you will study

Year 1 covers criminological perspectives and theory, the criminal justice process in England and Wales, and modules such as Being a Criminologist and Forensic Criminology: Criminal Investigations. Year 2 develops criminological theory, research design, and critical perspectives on crime control. The final year centres on a dissertation, with options including green criminology, deviant leisure, terrorism and radicalisation, cold case investigations and work-based learning. An optional placement year is available.

Career pathways

Graduates gain a broad skill set that appeals to employers, with direct links to the criminal justice system and its agencies, local government, policy making and police work. Roles named include PCSO, welfare worker, paralegal and probation support worker.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Typical offer 104 UCAS points. A levels: 104 points from a minimum of 2 A levels, excluding general studies. 18-unit BTEC Extended Diploma: DMM in any subject. Access to HE Diploma: named diploma in any subject with at least 33 credits at merit/distinction. T level: Merit in any subject. International Baccalaureate: 26 overall, with English and Maths accepted at Higher Level 4 or Standard Level 5. 14-19 Diploma accepted on enquiry. Other combinations and non-A level qualifications are considered. BTEC applicants must list the exact modules studied. Contextual offers are typically 8 points below the advertised tariff. International applicants: IELTS (Academic) 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each of listening, reading, speaking and writing (University of Plymouth standard undergraduate level).

Domestic applicants: GBP 9,790 a year (2026/27). Full-time Source

International applicants: GBP 18,150 a year (2026/27). Full-time Source

Duration: 3 years

Arts & Humanities