What you'll learn

• To apply key sociological categories such as class, gender, and ‘race’ to analyse various social problems and imagine creative solutions to these issues
• How societies have changed over time and how key institutions within these have functioned
• How we might explain offending behaviours and explore the effects of crime on individuals and communities.
• How the criminal justice system operates and with what impacts
• Search for answers to social justice issues by examining and questioning the role of the police, courts, prisons and civil society
• Critically engage with theoretical and methodological debates in contemporary Criminology and Criminal Justice as well as in Sociology
• Develop theoretical and conceptual knowledge and enhance your understanding of empirical research

This degree covers topics such as:

• culture and ethnic identities
• geo-political conflict
• gender
• environmentalism
• social movements
• sexuality
• class and capitalism
• social theory
• state crime
• terrorism and issues of security in global context
• punishment and community justice
• youth crime and youth justice
• policing
• prisons
• inequalities
• discrimination, racism, xenophobia
• health and illness in society

Lectures and Seminars

Most modules are taught using a combination of weekly lectures and seminars. Lectures give an introduction to a topic to help prepare you for discussions in seminars. In seminars, you can engage in debates and share your views.

Learning support

You will have a personal tutor who you can speak to about any questions you may have. There are also regular feedback sessions and opportunities to speak to module directors and seminar tutors.

Contact hours

There are 10–11 hours of formal contact time available per week in year 1, to help you settle into University life. After then, 8 hours of contact time is available per week.

Class size

• Seminars: 15–17 students
• Lecture sizes vary

Combination of essays, reports, podcasts, reflective writing, and unseen exams.

In the final year, there is a 10,000-word dissertation.

Studying abroad will add one year to your degree, as you'll spend your third year abroad.

Immerse yourself in life in another country and grow as a global citizen. Explore other cultures, languages, and understand global connections and inequalities.

Countries students have visited;*

Europe

• École Normale Supérieure de Cachan, France
• Charles University Prague, Czech Republic
• Friedrich-Schiller-Universitat Jena, Germany
• Goteborg University, Sweden
• Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain
• Universitat Autōnoma de Barcelona, Spain
• Universitat Bremen, Germany
• University of Copenhagen, Denmark
• University of Iceland

Worldwide

• Monash University, Australia and/or Malaysia
• Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Western University, Canada
• University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
• Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
• Sun Yat-sen University, China
• Tsinghua University, China
• Xiamen University, China
• Hokkaido University, Japan
• Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia

*Please note countries and institutions are subject to change.