Sociology and Criminology (including Year Abroad)

Sociology and Criminology at the University of Essex offers students an engaging and comprehensive exploration of societies, social behaviors, and criminal justice systems. This program is designed to provide a deep understanding of the social forces that shape human interactions, institutions, and communities, alongside an analysis of crime, deviance, and law enforcement. Students will study how social structures influence individual and group behavior, examining topics such as inequality, social change, race, gender, and globalisation. The curriculum combines theoretical approaches with practical applications, fostering critical thinking and analytical skills essential for careers in policy, social research, law enforcement, and related fields. Our year abroad option allows students to experience different cultures and social systems, enhancing their international perspective and intercultural competence. Throughout the course, students will engage with current social issues through lectures, seminars, and research projects, often working with real-world data and case studies. The program also emphasizes research skills and methodological training, preparing graduates for diverse employment opportunities or postgraduate study. The University of Essex’s supportive academic environment, combined with access to extensive library resources and research centers, ensures students receive a high-quality education. Graduates of Sociology and Criminology are well-equipped to understand complex social phenomena, contribute to social change, and pursue careers in law, social policy, community development, or further academic research. The program’s structure is flexible, allowing students to tailor their studies according to their interests and career aspirations. Overall, this degree provides a solid foundation in understanding society and crime, opening pathways to meaningful professional roles and impactful research opportunities worldwide.

Detailed Course Facts

• GBP 9000 Year (EEA)
• GBP 11950 Year (Non-EEA)

• English

Course Content

The special characteristics of our courses are flexibility and choice. In your first year, you usually take four or five modules that include pre-requisite(s) for your course but, in many cases, mean you can try subjects you have not come across before. If you are taking a humanities or social science, then you have the greatest choice, as most of our first-year modules do not assume any specialist knowledge.
With a small number of exceptions, if you successfully complete the first year of your BA, then you are qualified to enter the second year of that course and a range of other courses: for example, if you take economics, politics, philosophy and sociology, then you have a choice of at least nine possible single or joint honours courses at the end of your first year. This means you can change your course, providing you have taken the appropriate pre-requisites and places are available. We offer a range of optional modules in your second- and final-years and most courses allow you to undertake a final-year project, an individual piece of research on a topic that interests you.
We operate a credit framework for our awards, which is based on principles widely used across the UK university sector. Each module has a credit rating attached and our standard three-year course consists of 360 credits (120 credits in your first year, and 240 credits across your second and final years).
Please note that module information on our course finder provides a guide to course content and may be subject to review on an annual basis.

Year 1

Crime, Law and Society;
Sociology and the Modern World;
Researching Social Life 1; and
one social science option

Year 2

Sociology of Crime and Control;
Punishment, Justice and Modernity;
Crime, Media and Culture;
Researching Social Life 2; and
one sociology option

Year 3

Year abroad

Year 4

Globalisation and Crime;
Current Disputes in Social Justice;
Research Project; and
one sociology option

English Language Requirements

IELTS band : 6

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

Requirements

• A-levels: ABB-BBB
• GCSE English: C
• IB: 32-30 points (we consider IB certificates at the Higher Level on a case-by-case basis).
• BTEC qualifications, in relevant disciplines, will be considered on an individual basis, depending on the units studied. The standard required is generally at Distinction level.
• Achievement of the Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 6 level three credits at distinction and the remainder at merit (or above) or achievement of the Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 45 level three credits at merit (or above). -levels: ABB-BBB

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Access Bursary

  Bursary for UK students all subjects where the variable tuition fee rate is payable.

• Alumni Bursary

  Alumni Bursary for UK Undergraduate students

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than University of Essex.

Funding

For up-to-date information on funding opportunities at Essex, please visit: www.essex.ac.uk/studentfinance.

Sociology and Criminology at the University of Essex offers a comprehensive exploration of social theories, criminal justice, and the mechanisms that underpin societal behavior. The program aims to develop students' understanding of social structures, institutions, and processes, enabling them to critically analyze issues such as crime, deviance, and social inequality. Students will examine a wide range of topics, including criminal behavior, police and justice systems, social policy, and social change, through innovative teaching methods and research-led learning.

The degree combines core modules with optional units, allowing students to tailor their studies to specific interests within sociology and criminology. A distinctive feature of the program is the inclusion of a Year Abroad, in which students spend a dedicated year studying at a partner university overseas. This experience enhances language skills, intercultural understanding, and global perspectives in social science research and analysis. Students are encouraged to engage in independent research projects and fieldwork, fostering practical skills alongside theoretical knowledge.

The faculty’s strong research reputation ensures that students are taught by experts actively contributing to academic debates on crime, justice, and society. Facilities include dedicated sociology and criminology labs, access to extensive archives, and opportunities for placements within criminal justice agencies or community organizations. The program prepares graduates for diverse careers, including roles in social research, public policy, law enforcement, community development, social work, and further academic study.

Admission requirements typically include A-levels or equivalent qualifications, with preferred subjects being social sciences, humanities, or languages. The university emphasizes inclusive and supportive learning environments, providing a range of academic support services and extracurricular activities to enrich student experiences. Graduates leave equipped with critical thinking skills, research competence, and a nuanced understanding of social and criminal phenomena, ready to contribute effectively to society or pursue further academic pathways.