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Criminology and Psychology

  • BSc (Hons)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-time
  • 14/09/2026
  • Undergraduate
Main Site - Highfield Campus
More about University of Southampton

Course options

2026-2027
Apply

Course summary

Explore the fascinating world of crime, the criminal mind and deviant behaviour. Examine different and sometimes contradictory views on the psychology behind the choices we make.

  • 4th in the UK for Criminology (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2026)

  • Accredited by the British Psychological Society

  • Study abroad opportunities in Brazil, Canada or China

  • Home to The Institute of Criminal Justice Research (ICJR)

Join a unique programme combining the world-class research-led teaching you expect from a Russell Group University and accreditation from the British Psychological Society, a hallmark of quality to employers.

You’ll gain the research skills you need to answer complex questions such as: why do people commit crimes? Can anything be done to prevent it? How should offenders be punished? With a thorough psychologically informed understanding of criminal behaviour.

Your modules will be underpinned by up-to-date research from the Institute of Criminal Justice which will support you to understand the relationship between criminal justice scholarship, and policy, and practice. With a research-led approach, you will graduate with the skills you need to impact change in the field of criminology and psychology.

Specialist modules and career-enhancing employability workshops will help you steer your degree to a range of professional careers opening the door to further research, or careers in public service, psychology, criminal justice and beyond. You can also gain work placements within the prison, probation, or the police, service.

Modules

On our Criminology and Psychology course you will examine the different, and sometimes contradictory, views on the psychology behind our nature and the choices we make.

Some of the modules you may study include Behavioural Neuroscience; Class Structure and Social Inequality; and Penology

For further module information visit https://www.southampton.ac.uk/courses/criminology-psychology-degree-bsc#modules

Assessment method

We’ll assess you using:

Dissertations
Essays
Individual and group projects
Oral presentations
Written exams

Your assessment breakdown, year by year:

Year 1
Written exam - 59%
Coursework - 41%

Year 2
Written exam - 37%
Coursework - 63%

Year 3
Written exam - 30%
Coursework - 70%

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site - Highfield Campus

Study options

  • BSc (Hons) • Full-time • 3 Years

Start dates

  • 14/09/2026

Apply by
14 January

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
LC68
Institution code:
S27
Campus name:
Main Site - Highfield Campus
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Year 1

University of Southampton has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
LC68
Institution code:
S27
Campus name:
Main Site - Highfield Campus
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Open days

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - Not accepted

A level - AAB

Typical offer: AAB. If you are taking an EPQ in addition to 3 A levels, you will receive the following offer in addition to the standard A-level offer: ABB, to include grade A in the EPQ.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DDD

DDD in the BTEC National Extended Diploma BTEC qualifications should be in Health and Social Care, Public Services, or Forensic and Criminal Investigation. Please check with us if your BTEC qualification is in a different subject before applying.

Access to HE Diploma - D: 39 credits M: 6 credits P: 0 credits

Typical offer: 60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at Level 3, of which 39 must be at Distinction and 6 credits at Merit .

Scottish Higher

We normally consider applicants who offer at least 1 Advanced Higher. Applicants presenting with only Highers will be considered on a case by case basis. Where Highers are taken over two years it might be expected that higher grades are achieved, particularly in any specific subjects required. For example, S5 – S6 (2 years): AABBB (A in specific subject) or S6 (1 year): ABBBB (A in specific subject). Unless a more advanced level (Higher or Advanced Higher) is specified in the stated entry requirements, all applicants will be required to have achieved a pass in Mathematics and English at Standard Grade, Grade 3 or National 5, Grade C, the equivalent of GCSE Grade C/ Grade 4"

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DD

DD in the BTEC National Diploma plus A from one A-level BTEC qualifications should be in Health and Social Care, Public Services, or Forensic and Criminal Investigation. Please check with us if your BTEC qualification is in a different subject before applying.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016) - D

D in the BTEC National Extended Certificate plus AA from two A levels

Pearson BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF) - DDD

DDD in the BTEC Extended Diploma BTEC qualifications should be in Health and Social Care, Public Services, or Forensic and Criminal Investigation. Please check with us if your BTEC qualification is in a different subject before applying.

Pearson BTEC Diploma (QCF) - DD

DD in the BTEC Diploma plus A grade from one A-level BTEC qualifications should be in Health and Social Care, Public Services, or Forensic and Criminal Investigation. Please check with us if your BTEC qualification is in a different subject before applying.

Pearson BTEC Subsidiary Diploma (QCF) - D

D in the BTEC Subsidiary Diploma plus AA from two A levels

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 34 points

Typical offer: Pass, with 34 points overall with 17 points at Higher Level International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP): Offers will be made on the individual Diploma Course subject(s) and the career-related study qualification. The CP core will not form part of the offer. Where there is a subject pre-requisite(s), applicants will be required to study the subject(s) at Higher Level in the Diploma course subject and/or take a specified unit in the career-related study qualification. Applicants may also be asked to achieve a specific grade in those elements. Please see the University of Southampton International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (IBCP) Statement for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.

WJEC Level 3 Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales - B

AAB from three A levels or AA from two A levels and B from the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales.

Extended Project - A

The University of Southampton values the Extended Project Qualification. Applicants taking the EPQ in addition to three A levels, will also be made an alternative offer one grade below the standard offer, conditional on an A grade in the EPQ. For more information on the University of Southampton’s EPQ Admissions Policy, please see our EPQ Admissions Policy webpage.

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017) - H1, H2, H2, H2, H2, H2

All applicants would be required to have achieved a grade of O4 in Mathematics and English, the equivalent of GCSE C/4.

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal - D3, D3, M2

Typical offer: D3 D3 M2 in three Principal subjects Cambridge Pre-U's can be used in combination with other qualifications such as A Levels to achieve the equivalent of the typical offer

GCSE/National 4/National 5

Applicants must hold GCSE English language (or GCSE English) (minimum grade 4/C) and mathematics (minimum grade 5/B)

We welcome applicants with other qualifications eg. European Baccalaureate. You will be expected to attain an equivalent standard to the A level applicant.

For more details on the suitability of your qualifications please contact the Admissions Team at AdmissionsUG.SS@soton.ac.uk

Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6.5with no component below 6.0
All programmes at the University of Southampton are taught and assessed in the medium of English (other than those in modern foreign languages). Therefore, all applicants must demonstrate they possess at least a minimum standard of English language proficiency.

Find out more about the University’s English Language requirements https://www.southampton.ac.uk/studentadmin/admissions/admissions-policies/language.page

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

Most of the students who enrolled on this course in previous years met their offer conditions at our published entry criteria, securing their place on their chosen course.

We encourage all applicants with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, to apply to study with us. Applicants who qualify for contextual admissions will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

Learn more on the University of Southampton website

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Data from:
This course
Date range:
2022-2024

Grades held by accepted students

For University of Southampton, the top and bottom 5% of student grades have been removed from these calculations. This change helps to remove any extraordinary circumstances that could impact the data. Learn more here .
ABB Most common
  1. A*A*A
  2. Highest grades
  3. BCC
  4. Lowest grades

Offer rate for UK school & college leavers

86% Students aged 17/18 who applied to this course were offered a place.

How do you compare?

See how students with your grades have been accepted onto this course in the past.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students

90 Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)

90 Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England£9535*Year 1
Northern Ireland£9535*Year 1
Scotland£9535*Year 1
Wales£9535*Year 1
Channel Islands£9535*Year 1
Republic of Ireland£9535*Year 1
EU£24400Year 1
International£24400Year 1

* This is a provisional fee and subject to change.

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Please see our website for further details and updates: www.southampton.ac.uk/uni-life/fees-funding.page

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