Criminology and Sociology - BA (Hons)

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Why do people commit crime? What causes crime rates to rise or fall? How do societies work, develop and transform? Our joint honours programme Criminology and Sociology provides a comprehensive and academically rigorous approach to these pressing questions.

Overview

On our Criminology and Sociology degree you consider the criminal justice system and explore theoretical positions within sociology and criminology. You'll gain a strong theoretical grounding, analytical expertise and the communication skills needed to kickstart a successful career in a wide range of fields.

Reasons to study Criminology and Sociology at Kent

  • Criminology at Kent achieved the second highest score for research quality in The Times Good University Guide 2023.
  • Sociology at Kent was ranked 2nd for research quality in The Complete University Guide 2023.
  • Kickstart your career in the police force, criminal justice or the crown court.
  • Learn from world-leading teachers and researchers in the social sciences.
  • Study contemporary social issues and through a wide range of modules.
  • Our School is consistently ranked among the top four disciplinary centres of its kind in the UK for Criminology.
  • Boost your employability with a year at one of our partner institutions.
  • You will graduate ready to enter a dynamic and diverse labour market with key transferable knowledge and skills that appeal to employers.

What you'll learn

You are introduced to the fundamentals of sociological thinking and criminology before learning how to conduct and apply qualitative and quantitative sociological research. You choose from a wide range of modules covering topics such as environmentalism, gender, political change, crime, race, violence and work.

You also have the option to take a dissertation module on a subject of your choice. This allows you to focus in detail on an area you are particularly passionate about which could be related directly to your career path, giving you a competitive edge in the graduate job market.

See the modules you'll study

Entry requirements

The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications. All applications are assessed on an individual basis but some of our typical requirements are listed below. Students offering qualifications not listed are welcome to contact our Admissions Team for further advice. Please also see our general entry requirements.

  • medal-empty

    A level

    BBB

  • medal-empty Access to HE Diploma

    The University welcomes applications from Access to Higher Education Diploma candidates for consideration. A typical offer may require you to obtain a proportion of Level 3 credits in relevant subjects at merit grade or above.

  • medal-empty BTEC Nationals

    Distinction, Distinction, Merit

  • medal-empty International Baccalaureate

    30 points overall or 15 at HL

  • medal-empty International Foundation Programme

    Pass all components of the University of Kent International Foundation Programme with a 60% overall average.

  • medal-empty T level

    The University will consider applicants holding T level qualifications in subjects closely aligned to the course.

International students

If you are an international student, visit our International Student website for further information about entry requirements for your country, including details of the International Foundation Programmes. Please note that international fee-paying students who require a Student visa cannot undertake a part-time programme due to visa restrictions.

Please note that meeting the typical offer/minimum requirement does not guarantee that you will receive an offer.

English Language Requirements

Please see our English language entry requirements web page.

Please note that if you do not meet our English language requirements, we offer a number of 'pre-sessional' courses in English for Academic Purposes. You attend these courses before starting your degree programme.

Form

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Course structure

Duration: 3 years full-time (4 with a year abroad), 6 years part-time (7 with a year abroad)

Modules

The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.  

On most programmes, you study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also be able to take ‘elective’ modules from other programmes so you can customise your programme and explore other subjects that interest you.

Fees

The 2023/24 annual tuition fees for this course are:

  • Home full-time £9,250
  • EU full-time £13,500
  • International full-time £18,000
  • Home part-time £4,625
  • EU part-time £6,750
  • International part-time £9,000

For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.

For students continuing on this programme, fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.* 

Your fee status

The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.

Fees for year in industry

Fees for undergraduate students are £1,385.

Fees for year abroad

Fees for undergraduate students are £1,385.

Students studying abroad for less than one academic year will pay full fees according to their fee status.

Additional costs

Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.

Funding

We have a range of subject-specific awards and scholarships for academic, sporting and musical achievement.

Search scholarships

Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. See our funding page for more details. 

The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence

At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence. 

The scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of A*AA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications (including BTEC and IB) as specified on our scholarships pages.

Teaching and assessment

We use a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, case study analysis, group projects and presentations, and individual and group tutorials. Many module convenors also offer additional ‘clinic’ hours to help with the preparation of coursework and for exams.

Contact hours

For a student studying full time, each academic year of the programme will comprise 1200 learning hours which include both direct contact hours and private study hours.  The precise breakdown of hours will be subject dependent and will vary according to modules.  Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.

Methods of assessment will vary according to subject specialism and individual modules.  Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.

Programme aims

The programme aims to:

  • produce graduates with analytical and knowledge-based skills relevant to employment in the professions, public service and the private sector
  • provide a broad knowledge and understanding of key concepts, debates and theoretical approaches in criminology and sociology, and the relationship between criminology and sociology
  • develop new areas of teaching in response to needs of the community
  • promote an understanding of contemporary social issues and of the impact of diversity and inequality on the local and national communities
  • provide an understanding of the social processes that influence the relationship between individuals, groups and institutions
  • understand the emergence of social problems (including crime) and the responses of welfare and criminal justice institutions, including analysis of the theoretical, political and economic underpinnings of these responses
  • help students to link theoretical knowledge with empirical enquiry and to identify and understand different ideological positions
  • develop problem-solving skills and an understanding of the nature and appropriate use of research methods used in social science research
  • teach students key writing, research and communications skills
  • give students the skills and abilities to enable them to become informed citizens, capable of participating in the policy process and equipped for a dynamic labour market.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

You gain knowledge and understanding of:

  • the principal concepts and theoretical approaches in criminology and sociology.
  • the social processes that shape contemporary society and the relationships between groups
  • the ways in which images of crime and notions of crime are constructed and represented
  • the origins and development of UK criminal justice policy institutions
  • the principles that underlie criminal justice policy, how they have changed over time and how they relate to the workings of particular agencies of welfare and crime control
  • contemporary issues and debates in specific areas of criminology and criminal justice
  • the main sources of data about crime and social welfare and a grasp of the research methods used to collect and analyse data
  • patterns of social diversity and inequality and their origins and consequences
  • interdisciplinary approaches to issues in criminology and sociology and the ability to use ideas from other social science

Intellectual skills

You develop intellectual skills in:

  • problem-solving and the ability to seek solutions to crime criminal behaviour and other social problems and individual needs
  • research, including the ability to identify a research question and to collect and manipulate data to answer that question
  • evaluation and analysis, to assess the outcomes of criminal justice, crime prevention and social policy intervention on individuals and communities
  • sensitivity to the values and interests of others and to the dimensions of difference.
  • interpretation of both research data and official statistics.

Subject-specific skills

You gain subject-specific skills in:

  • identification and use of theories and concepts in criminology to analyse issues of crime and criminal justice
  • identification, use and application of sociological theories and concepts to analyse social issues
  • seeking out and using statistical data relevant to issues of crime and criminal justice
  • seeking out and using statistical data relevant to social issues
  • undertaking an investigation of an empirical issue, either on your own or with other students
  • understanding the nature and appropriate use, including the ethical implications, of diverse social research strategies and methods
  • distinguishing between technical, normative, moral and political questions.

Transferable skills

You gain transferable skills in:

  • studying and learning independently, using library and internet sources
  • developing an appetite for learning and being reflective, adaptive and collaborative in your approach
  • making short presentations to fellow students and staff
  • communicating ideas and arguments to others, both in written and spoken form
  • preparing essays and referencing the material quoted according to conventions in social policy
  • using IT to wordprocess, conduct online searches, communicate by email and access data sources
  • time management by delivering academic work on time and to the required standard
  • working with others: developing interpersonal and team work skills to enable you to work collaboratively, negotiate, listen and deliver results.

Independent rankings

Criminology at Kent at Kent was ranked 19th in The Times Good University Guide 2023.

Criminology at Kent achieved the second highest score for research quality in The Times Good University Guide 2023.

Sociology at Kent was ranked 2nd for research quality in The Complete University Guide 2023.

Careers

Graduate destinations

As part of your degree, you develop critical thinking and transferable knowledge and skills that enable you to work in a variety of professions.

Our graduates have gone on to work in:

  • national and local government
  • social and cultural policy
  • international institutions and NGOs
  • the organisation of social and community projects
  • media, journalism, broadcasting
  • the police force
  • criminal justice services
  • social services.

Help finding a job

The University has a friendly Careers and Employability Service which can give you advice on how to:

  • apply for jobs
  • write a good CV
  • perform well in interviews.

Career-enhancing skills

As well as gaining skills and knowledge in your subject area, you acquire key transferable skills that are essential for all graduates.

These skills include:

  • analysing complex information and making it accessible to non-specialist readers
  • writing reports
  • using data analysis software
  • working effectively and considerately in teams
  • an understanding of, and sensitivity to, the values and interests of others.

You can gain additional skills by signing up for our Kent Extra activities, such as learning a language or volunteering.

Apply for Criminology and Sociology - BA (Hons)

If you are from the UK or Ireland, you must apply for this course through UCAS. If you are not from the UK or Ireland, you can apply through UCAS or directly on our website if you have never used UCAS and you do not intend to use UCAS in the future.

Find out more about how to apply

All applicants

International applicants

Apply now for part-time study

Criminology and Sociology - BA (Hons) - part-time at Canterbury

Contact us

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United Kingdom/EU enquiries

Enquire online for full-time study

Enquire online for part-time study

T: +44 (0)1227 768896

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International student enquiries

Enquire online

T: +44 (0)1227 823254
E: internationalstudent@kent.ac.uk

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