Sociology and Criminology

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Sociology and Criminology - BSc (Hons) - 2027/28 Entry | Birmingham City University

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Sociology and Criminology - BSc (Hons) *

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Our BSc (Hons) Sociology and Criminology is a degree that helps you make sense of the world and your place within it, both locally and globally by addressing long-standing and topical questions facing society....

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Undergraduate

Study mode

Full Time/Part Time

BSc (Hons)

Start date

September 2027

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Sociology and Criminology

Location

City Centre

This course is:

Available with Professional Placement year

Open to International Students

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Overview

Sociology, Criminology and Policing at BCU

Our BSc (Hons) Sociology and Criminology is a degree that helps you make sense of the world and your place within it, both locally and globally by addressing long-standing and topical questions facing society. Why do racial inequalities persist in education and employment? What’s the human cost of your matcha latte? Will AI replace human friendships one day, and does it matter?

Our Sociology and Criminology course will equip you with the theoretical and methodological tools to help investigate questions like these; complex questions that require serious reflection, critical analysis, and engagement with evidence.

What's covered in this course?

The Criminology element of the degree gives you the opportunity to understand how society makes sense of crime and criminality. You’ll explore how crime connects to wider social issues, analyse patterns and processes of inequality, and gain a deeper understanding of power and hierarchies.

This critical perspective helps you understand not just what crime is, but how societies decide what counts as criminal and why. This perspective also helps you think critically about what emerging social issues and harms might be criminalised in the future, and the social forces that drive those decisions.

You'll learn research methods, analyse real data, and be taught by tutors who actively research issues like inequality and social change – so you're learning from people who are making new discoveries in the field, not just teaching from textbooks. Studying in the “super diverse” city of Birmingham is also beneficial to your studies, its hugely varied communities providing a living laboratory for understanding how society works.

Through hands-on projects, career guidance and potential placements with public and third sector organisations, and an in-depth final year project, you'll explore the areas of sociology and criminology that matter to you most.These experiences will help you build professional networks while developing practical skills employers value, such as data analysis, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of how society really works, meaning you'll graduate with both the knowledge and connections to tackle some of society's biggest challenges.

Professional Placement year

This course offers an optional professional placement year. This allows you to spend a whole year with an employer, following successful completion of your second year, and is a great way to find out more about your chosen career. Some students even return to the same employers after completing their studies.

If you choose to pursue a placement year, you will need to find a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study. You will be able to draw on the University’s extensive network of local, regional, and national employers, and the support of our Careers teams. If you are able to secure a placement, you can request to be transferred to the placement version of the course.

Please note that fees are payable during your placement year, equivalent to 20% of the total full-time course fee for that year.

Why Choose Us?

Our staff come from a wide range of backgrounds and have diverse expertise meaning we can offer a wide range of topics and subject knowledge.

We value freedom. Throughout the degree we offer a range of optional modules allowing students to craft their degree into something they’ll love.

We have a strong focus on employability. Through our placement module and other opportunities, we aim to ensure you graduate not only with your degree but also with the skills and knowledge needed to embark on your chosen career.

Subject to approval

This course is in the final stages of approval to ensure it meets the very highest standards of quality, creativity and applied learning.

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Next Open Day: 21 November

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Course in Depth

First Year

Second Year

Professional Placement (Optional)

Final Year

In order to complete this course, you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits).

Sociological Perspectives 20 credits

This core module will introduce you to a range of classical sociological theories and perspectives whilst situating them in their social and historical contexts. Not only does it outline the origins of social theory, and explore some of the key classical thinkers and theories, but it also critically examines the legacies of colonialism and gender exclusion at the heart of European modernity.

Introduction to Criminological Theory 20 credits

This foundational module introduces the historical development of criminology and its core theoretical perspectives. It examines how different schools of thought have sought to explain crime and deviance, encouraging students to engage with key criminological debates.

The module is structured around a weekly exploration of major criminological theories, considering their origins, key concepts, and ongoing relevance to contemporary social issues. Through a combination of lectures, seminars, and guided reading, students will develop a strong theoretical grounding, enabling them to analyse and interpret crime within real-world contexts.

The module explores the origins and evolution of criminology as a discipline and provides sustained engagement with central theoretical traditions. It emphasises the application of theory to contemporary crime and justice issues, while supporting students in developing core academic skills, including critical reading, academic writing, referencing, and presentation.

Sociological Imagination 20 credits

This module aims to advance your awareness of the interplay between individual experience and wider society. In so doing, you will be supported to develop and to apply that which the American sociologist C Wright Mills (1959) called, a ‘sociological imagination’: an act which invites us to ‘think our selves away’ from the immediacy of the routines, events and personal circumstances of everyday life and to consider these in wider social context from a sociological point of view. In support of this endeavour, the module introduces and makes use of contemporary sociological thinking and practice with an alertness to social setting, agency and social structure. Analysis, discussion and debate are framed and grounded with reference to selected social topics and themes with a relevancy to the lived experience of the ‘everyday’.

Crime, Punishment and Society 20 credits

This module will be focused on helping you to develop your criminological imagination. It will give you the tools to be able to recognise how major developments in criminology relate to the social and political context of historical moments. Topics include major historical eras such as the Enlightenment, the Industrial Revolution, and major shifts in the economy from the Post-War State to the rise of Neoliberalism, as well as changes in social attitudes and demographics through social movements like labour, feminism, anti-racism/imperialism, and LGBTQ+ activism, as well as immigration, the rise of surveillance, and environmental politics.

The Criminal Justice System 20 credits

This module provides you with an overview of the Criminal Justice System from point of entry to community reintegration, and the roles and responsibilities of different actors within the system.

Through studying this module, you will develop an understanding of the evolution and structure of different components of the Criminal Justice System in England and Wales. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the political, social, and economic factors which influence the delivery of justice and the consequences of these for suspects, victims and wider communities. For example, you will explore how constructions of gender, race, class, and other socio-economic circumstances influence the encounters and experiences of those within the Criminal Justice System.

Building upon this, the module will critically engage with contemporary debates and issues surrounding the ‘purpose’ of the criminal justice system. As such, you will learn to access and interpret statistics on those who encounter the Criminal Justice System, as well as key trends and patterns relating to criminal justice-based responses.

In terms of employability, you will learn about potential career opportunities within and around the Criminal Justice System and will be encouraged to become actively involved with volunteering opportunities. Practitioners from various agencies within the Criminal Justice System will deliver guest lectures on their experience of working within the field. You will also be given the opportunity to participate in field trips including to Birmingham Crown Court. You will develop transferable employability skills, including communication, statistical analysis and problem-solving.

Exploring Social Research 20 credits

This module introduces students to the core principles, practices, and debates that shape qualitative research inquiry in the social sciences. The module equips students with the foundational skills needed to design, conduct, and interpret qualitative research, while encouraging them to think critically about how knowledge is produced, whose voices are heard, and how power operates within the research process. Students will explore a range of qualitative approaches, including interviews, focus groups, ethnography, participant observation, visual and digital methods, and textual analysis and learn how these methods help researchers understand lived experience, meaning‑making, identity, and social worlds.

The module emphasises reflexivity, ethics, and positionality, helping students recognise how their own backgrounds, assumptions, and relationships shape the research encounter. Through practical activities, case studies, and guided practice, students will develop confidence in collecting and analysing qualitative data, using tools such as thematic analysis, coding, and interpretive reading. By the end of the module, students will be able to evaluate qualitative research, design small‑scale projects, and apply methodological concepts to real‑world social issues.

Contemporary Social Theories 20 credits

This core Level 5 module builds on Sociological Perspectives by engaging students with contemporary social theories whilst also exploring the ways in which they are produced through globally entangled histories of power, knowledge, and resistance. Rather than treating theory as originating within Europe and subsequently applied elsewhere, the module approaches contemporary social theory as emerging through colonial, imperial, and postcolonial formations, as well as through struggles over race, gender, and epistemic authority. In doing so, it foregrounds how what is often presented as the ‘canon’ is historically produced, contested, and incomplete.

A central aim is to interrogate how social theory is constituted: not only what counts as theory, but who is recognised as a theorist, and under what conditions. Students engage with thinkers from different locations within global knowledge production, including those writing from and about colonial and postcolonial contexts, alongside feminist and Black intellectual traditions. Rather than positioning decolonial, feminist, and critical race perspectives as external critiques, the module places them at the centre of analysis, showing how they reshape key concepts such as power, culture, and identity. For example, not only do we examine Gramsci’s theory of hegemony, but we also explore it in relation to colonial domination and subaltern politics; Foucault’s analyses of power are understood alongside feminist and postcolonial interventions; and Bourdieu’s cultural capital is also examined in relation to racialised and gendered inequalities.

By the end of the module, students will not only have acquired an in-depth understanding of these theories, but also the ability to apply them to the world around them, as well as to the topics and issues raised in other modules.

Social Problems, Public Policy 20 credits

Sociology is an exciting and illuminating field of study that attempts to analyse and explain the most important social, cultural and political questions of our time. This module provides you with the opportunity to develop your knowledge and understanding of a range of “problems” or “issues” that currently dominate both the social and political climate. All of these are areas of social and political policy.

Throughout this module you will be encouraged to develop your skills as an independent learner. You will be given the opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge within an assessment that gets you producing a video campaign. You will use sociological insights to analyse social problems and provide policy suggestions for a range of relevant stakeholders.

This module introduces you to the sociological understanding of contemporary social and political events and areas in which policy is developed. It aims to provide insight into how these events can be read socially, politically and culturally; and how they can be theorised and analysed using a sociological lens. Because of the topicality of the module its content will be routinely updated contingent on specific current events and issues occurring, globally. Therefore, you will be introduced to cutting-edge understanding of the events and issues that are contemporarily present and around you in your everyday lives. You will firstly be introduced to the particular events and issues, before locating them in the existing literature and debates. Relevant sociological theory will be introduced as to provide you a conceptual base that can be applied to establish new understandings to the events and issues being examined.

Experiencing Harm 20 credits

Traditionally criminology has focused on those who perpetrate harm and given far less attention to those who experience harm, and this module seeks to address this discrepancy. This module will give some consideration as to why some events which cause harm are formally labelled and treated as crimes when others are not, and in doing so we will consider the impact of this upon those who experience these harms. This module will support you to develop a critical understanding of victimology and equip you to question the label 'victim'. Furthermore, we will consider how many of those who experience harm will frequently be the least powerful and the most vulnerable in society, increasing the need for effective responses (both inside and outside of the Criminal Justice System) to repair the harm done.

Numbers and Power: Data and the Digital Age 20 credits

This module develops your ability to critically engage with quantitative data and data-driven knowledge as an informed sociological thinker. Rather than training you as a producer of statistical tests, the module equips you to read, interpret, question, and critique the numbers that shape contemporary social life.

Alongside this critical engagement, you build practical data literacy: understanding key statistical concepts (e.g. averages, distribution, correlation, significance), reading and interpreting tables and graphs, and gaining introductory experience with relevant software.

Sociological Careers 20 credits

This module provides you with an opportunity to experience/reflect upon real world work and/or work-related activity in relation to one of five pathways. The five pathways are:

an external work-experience placement with a third sector/public/commercial organisation

directed use made of current and relevant work-experience as an active volunteer or as an active paid employee

an agreed BCU internal placement or an agreed student-initiated (desk-based) project supportive of entrepreneurial endeavour

a directed set of employment-relevant activities to be informed through a recounting of and reflection upon past employment/volunteering experience along with the complementary use of BCU employment-support resources

a variation to or a hybrid combination of the preceding forms (1 to 4) to be agreed between tutor and student with reasonable regard to situation and circumstance and with an option to include a critical account of your personal ‘placement search’ activity with a focus on skill application and experiential learning.

It is expected that each one of the five pathways will engage students for a target of 128 hours over a semester. You will be assigned a ‘pathway’ tutor. Where external or internal placements operate, a workplace-based supervisor will be sought in addition.

To advance/support learning, a short series of workshop sessions will be provided on module-relevant topics. As relevant and in a timely manner, you are expected to provide the module tutor with a copy of an agreed ‘work plan’ providing an indicative timetable of pathway tasks to be undertaken. All students will be supported via Moodle throughout the module. All pathways are to be agreed by the University.

Prisons and Punishment 20 credits

This module is designed to develop your understanding of the emergence and development of key theories of punishment through an exploration of the history of penal theory and its contemporary challenges and controversies. Furthermore, this module seeks to refine and expand upon traditional theoretical perspectives of punishment and the current reliance upon imprisonment as a dominant form of punishment in England and Wales. In doing so, it will require you to critically engage with some of the strengths and limitations of such an approach and consider possible alternatives.

This module will help you to acquire numerous employability skills, such as critical thinking and reflective practice. Vocationally it is linked to a range of potential criminal justice professions in the statutory, voluntary and non-governmental sectors, building your knowledge and understanding of core functions and debates in the prison and punishment realms.

In order to qualify for the award of BA (Hons) Sociology And Criminology with Professional Placement Year you must successfully complete the following module.

Professional Placement Year 120 credits

This module is designed to provide you with the opportunity to undertake a credit bearing, 40- week Professional Placement as an integral part of your Undergraduate Degree. The purpose of the Professional Placement is to improve your employability skills which will, through the placement experience, allow you to evidence your professional skills, attitudes and behaviours at the point of entry to the postgraduate job market. Furthermore, by completing the Professional Placement, you will be able to develop and enhance your understanding of the professional work environment, relevant to your chosen field of study, and reflect critically on your own professional skills development within the workplace.

In order to complete this course, you must successfully complete the following CORE module (totalling 40 credits).

Integrated Research Project 40 credits

The aim of this module is to provide a framework for you to undertake a substantial disciplinary relevant project. It is founded upon Birmingham City University’s teaching and learning philosophy which integrates theory and practice. The format of the Integrated Research Project will vary, dependent on the degree pathway you are on, and the choice of project. Depending on student interest and available support, potential project formats may include: a library-based or empirical dissertation; a group-based social entrepreneurship project; or other projects based on the suggestion of students.

In order to complete this course, you must choose and successfully complete ONE of the following modules (totalling 20 credits).

Global Sociologies and Inequalities 20 credits

This module provides a critical introduction to global sociology focusing on key concepts, theoretical debates, and the relationship between knowledge, power, and sociological theory. It adopts a connected sociologies framework to examine global society as a historically interconnected system shaped by colonialism and its enduring legacies. The module explores how colonialism structured global systems, shaping empire, capitalism, racial hierarchies, and global political and economic ordering. It further analyses how these colonial formations continue to influence contemporary societies through persistent inequalities, global capitalism, dependency relations, and international governance structures despite processes of formal decolonisation. A central concern of the module is the analysis of social inequality in a connected global context, with attention to the intersections of race, ethnicity, gender, and identity, alongside processes of stratification, migration, and transnational social relations. These dynamics are understood through relational and historically grounded perspectives that emphasise interdependence rather than separation between societies.

The module also foregrounds the role of the Global South not merely as an object of sociological analysis, but as an active producer of knowledge and theory. It engages with decolonising approaches, Southern theory, and alternative modernities to critically challenge Eurocentric assumptions within sociology and to highlight inequalities in knowledge production.

Finally, the module considers processes of resistance and transformation through anti-colonial and decolonial movements, transnational activism, cultural resistance, and contemporary debates in global sociology. By integrating theory, history, and contemporary case studies, the module enables students to critically analyse global social processes and evaluate ongoing struggles within unequal global structures

Advanced Criminological Theory 20 credits

This module will develop students’ understanding of advanced criminological theory through engagement with a range of contemporary perspectives on crime, deviance, harm, and social control. It is designed to extend prior knowledge by introducing students to more complex theoretical traditions within the criminological canon. The module draws on a diverse body of thought, including Foucauldian approaches to power, control and governmentality, existentialism and phenomenology, critical race criminology, southern theory, green criminology, ultra-realism, hauntology, queer theory, and abolitionist perspectives. These traditions are considered in relation to one another, with attention to their underlying epistemological assumptions, points of conceptual tension, and areas of philosophical overlap.

The emphasis throughout the module is on introducing students to these different theoretical frameworks as part of the wider ‘toolbox’ of criminology and how each of these traditions approach the definition and explanation of crime, deviance, harm, and social control, and how they inform wider debates around social justice and inequalities. Students will engage closely with key theorists, concepts and texts, working to evaluate the strengths and limitations of different perspectives and their relevance to contemporary issues. The module supports the development of a more confident and reflexive approach to theory, enabling students to move beyond description towards analysis, comparison, and application.

Students will be assessed through a critical comparative portfolio that requires them to critically discuss different criminological traditions, assessing their conceptual tensions, epistemological assumptions, and practical approaches to crime, deviance, harm, and social control. The portfolio is designed to evaluate students’ ability to synthesise complex theoretical material, construct logically developed and concise arguments, and apply advanced criminological perspectives to contemporary issues in a critical and coherent manner. Emphasis is placed on clarity of argument, depth of theoretical engagement, and the ability to draw meaningful connections and critique between traditions. Overall, the module provides an introduction to advanced criminological theory, equipping students with the conceptual and analytical tools required for independent, critically informed study at Level 6.

In order to complete this course, during semester one you must choose and successfully complete at least 20 credits from this list of indicative modules.

Activism, Social Movements and Social Change 20 credits

Activism and social movements have attempted to address a wide range of social problems and influence social change. Historically, movements have had significant influence on social relations and social policy. This module will critically investigate a range of social movements and activism from the past and present to better understand these movements and their internal processes and external contexts. Various theories will be explored to get a good grasp of what brings about social movements, how they operate, and when they succeed. The social movements discussed in this module will include the climate change movement, Black Lives Matter, the environmental movement, the anti-austerity movement, the trade union movement, the animal rights movement, the anti-nuclear movement, the civil rights movement, and the black power movement. The module will also explore movement organizations such as Extinction Rebellion, Friends of the Earth and ACT UP.

Deviant Leisure 20 credits

This module is tied to an emergent research field that unites a multi-disciplinary network of academics, researchers and postgraduate students who explore the boundaries of crime, consumption, leisure and deviance. The topic is informed through critical engagement with a range of perspectives intersecting with the sociological interpretations of crime and deviance, drawing on Criminology, Law, Sociology, Urban Studies, Geography, and Leisure and Tourism. The overarching theme of deviant leisure therefore unites a wide range of research areas, including leisure and consumption practices, intoxication, media, urban exploration, sport and violence, dark tourism, the leisure activities of the rich and powerful, deviancy within videogames, and the impact of internet/social media in correlation with issues of criminological and sociological theory.

Fascism, Extremism and Genocide 20 credits

This module examines fascism, the far right, and forms of extremism through a sociological lens, situating them within wider processes of power, inequality, identity, and social change. It explores how extremist ideologies emerge, how they are sustained, and how they operate across historical and contemporary contexts. The module also considers genocides as extreme manifestations of social exclusion and violence, alongside their cultural representation and collective memory.

Drawing on key sociological theories and contemporary research, the module engages with themes such as nationalism, racism, populism, authoritarianism, and political violence. It critically examines how social divisions (including race, class, gender, religion and citizenship) are mobilised within extremist movements, and how these relate to broader structures of power and inequality.

Alongside this, the module explores resistance to fascism and extremism, including grassroots activism, cultural opposition, digital resistance, and policy responses. It also considers ethical challenges in researching and representing violence and atrocity.

Teaching is delivered through a weekly 3-hour interactive workshop format, combining short lectures, group discussion, collaborative tasks, and engagement with visual, textual and digital sources. A weekly 1-hour optional drop-in session provides you with additional academic support and space for discussion. You are expected to undertake weekly reading, directed online activities, and independent study to support your learning.

By the end of the module, you will have developed a critical, research-informed understanding of extremism and resistance, and will be able to apply sociological concepts and methods to complex and contested social issues. The assessment is designed to develop advanced analytical, research and communication skills.

In order to complete this course, in semester two you must successfully complete at least 40 credits from the following indicative list of OPTIONAL modules.

Hate Crime 20 credits

This is a Level 6 optional module which will introduce students to hate crime and issues related to hate crime and how multi-agencies have to deal with such complex issues. It will examine the issue of vulnerable groups such as children, those with a learning disability and people who have suffered antiMuslim hate and Islamophobia as potential victims of religiously motivated hate crimes.

Cybercrime 20 credits

The module will introduce students to the complex world of cyber-crime and issues related to cyber technology and how the police deal with cyber issues from cyber terrorism, cyber bullying and cyber hate. The module will work well alongside the other modules related to security studies where students will examine the rationale of cyber-crimes.

Music and Society 20 credits

This is an optional module concentrating on cultural sociology with specific reference to music. The module will provide students with an in-depth introduction to some of the key sociological ideas and perspectives on music, and it will focus on three main themes: the social and historical settings in which musical forms are produced and consumed; music in relation to identity and politics; and the political economy of music. By the end of the module, students should have a good understanding of the social functions, and significance, of music. Key issues we will explore include: the influence of class, race and gender on musical styles; music in its relationship with sub-cultural groups and as a force for political expression; and the commodification of popular music. Alongside considering these issues, we will be listening to a variety of music.

Gender and Crime 20 credits

This module provides you with a critical, theoretical framework to appreciate the gendered nature of crime and criminal justice. In doing so, it considers both the individual and social aspect of the gendered site of crime and victimisation.

The module commences by introducing you to four key theoretical frameworks of relevance to gender and crime: feminist theory, masculinities theories, queer theory and critical race theory. As such, it encourages you to challenge the traditional binaries that have underpinned criminological and administrative approaches to gender and crime. Thereafter, the module critically examines the gendered nature of five types of crime: domestic abuse; homicide; stalking; rape; prostitution. In so doing it draws upon case studies to enable you to explore lived experiences of social divisions in criminal justice.

We take an intersectional approach, exploring gender not as a standalone variable, but one of a range of different social divisions that impact upon people’s experiences of crime as victims, perpetrators, and criminal justice workers – for example age, social class, ethnicity, and disability.

The module is taught via a weekly lecture, which provides you with the key concepts and theoretical frameworks of relevance to that week’s topic. This is followed by a workshop, in which you will have the opportunity to test and refresh your learning from the lecture before engaging in critical, case-study led discussions with your peers about the applied implications of inequalities linked to gender. You will also receive a weekly bitesize assignment prep activity, designed to assist you in incrementally building up the content for your assessed essay.

The module aims to enhance your awareness of the nature and extent of gendered disparities as they relate to specific crimes and consider the usefulness of contemporary theory in making sense of these inequalities and identifying how the Criminal Justice System can best support those affected by them.

Postcoloniality 20 credits

The module provides you with an introduction to postcolonial studies. The module gives you an overview of how European colonialism operated, legacies of colonialism in the present, and contestations of these legacies. It examines the writings of key thinkers in postcolonial studies as well as the applicability of their ideas for interpreting and critiquing contemporary politics. The module has a transnational focus. It engages with Anglo-American, Western European, Latin American, Chinese, South Asian, North African, and Australasian postcolonial contexts. Focus is placed on the empirical postcolonial developments and scholarship that emanate from these regions. You are thereby exposed to key historical and contemporary political issues across national borders. Teaching provision consists of lectures, seminars, and student-led presentation sessions. Guest lectures and optional cross-university readings groups will supplement the learning. The module supports our integrated style of curriculum. It contributes to embedding the study of politics and society across all levels of the sociology degree programme by complimenting modules offered at level 4, level 5 and a level 6 module on Global Sociologies. The Postcoloniality module feeds into decolonizing our curriculum by virtue of its content. The module is geared to prepare you for Master's level study in social and political theory courses. The end assessment will consist of an essay.

Crimes of the Powerful: Capitalism, Harm and the Contemporary Condition 20 credits

Crimes of the Powerful encompasses the damaging and victimising behaviours perpetrated by privately or publicly operated corporations, as well as the state facilitated legalistic and political responses to these activities. Within criminology and wider academia, we generally fail to scrutinise those who operate within the highest levels of society – those individuals or institutions with much economic and cultural capital. This module will address such deficiencies by providing a nuanced and holistic overview of the actions of such individuals, organisations and State actors.

By utilising critical criminological theories and critical notions of violence underpinned by zemiology (the study of social harm), this module will highlight the contradictions in conventional state and academic approaches to criminality, whilst also demonstrating that some of the most significant harms and dangers we currently face – both in the UK and abroad - are interwoven into very fabric of normality. Specifically, we will look at how many of the harms produced by the powerful are engrained and proliferated within the globalised context of neo-liberal capitalism and consumer ideology.

By presenting both theoretical discussions and real-life cases, you will be provided an opportunity to develop knowledge and critical understanding of criminology and related disciplines both in theory and in practice. You will also be exposed to one of the areas of excellence of our research centre and the research specialisms of staff.

This module will provide you with a comprehensive and critical introduction to these topics and encourages you to actively research areas of interest through the development of an assessed case study, culminating in an essay. The assessment will assist in the development of key employability skills including written communication, critical analysis, problem-solving, and ethical and social awareness.

Intimacies, Communities and Belonging 20 credits

This module will provide you with a critical understanding of contemporary patterns and debates around intimacy, communities, and belonging. Questions such as: How has romantic and other forms of intimacy changed over time? How do people fulfil their need for community and connection with others? Why do people live the lives they do? What do their behaviours tell us about modern life?

This module introduces key concepts and theories to help explore, understand, and critically analyse topics such as friendship, casual sex/relationships, consensual non-monogamy, fandoms, online culture, parasocial relationships, AI, nature, loneliness, the manosphere, and social media.

Through a combination of theoretical engagement and analysis of contemporary case studies, you will develop critical thinking skills that allow them to evaluate various interpretations of people’s behaviours. The module emphasises the importance of understanding wider sociocultural factors when considering how and why people do what they do.

You will have the opportunity to pursue an assessment on topics that align with your own interests, developing their ability to synthesise academic literature and construct well-evidenced and nuanced arguments. These skills — critical analysis of complex social issues, evaluating multiple perspectives, and presenting reasoned arguments — are highly valued in diverse professional contexts including policy development, human resources, advocacy work, education, and research.

Re(imagining) Justice 20 credits

Ever questioned ‘Who to call if not the police?’ or ‘If not prisons, what else? This innovative module will encourage you to think critically about the meaning of justice in contemporary societies. Rather than accepting criminalisation, policing and punishment as inevitable systems of control, you will explore how differing frameworks of justice explain the function of current criminal legal systems (and wider forms of carceral containment).

Central to these considerations will be past and current impacts of criminalisation, harm and victimisation for specific social groups. Emphasis will be placed on the interlocking nature of capitalist, patriarchal, racist and colonial power-dynamics that shape how ‘justice’ is conceptualised and delivered on a global scale and who may come to be disproportionately policed, punished and confined as a result.

Building upon this foundation, you will analyse radical approaches to justice being imagined, created and mobilised by communities around the world. In doing so, you will explore alternative models of justice and examine key differences between ‘reformist’ and ‘non-reformist reforms’. You will engage in critical conversations surrounding defunding the police, decriminalising sex work, addressing violence against women and girls and de-carceration. You will also explore examples of social advocacy, mutual aid and the redistribution of resources through the lens of abolitionism.

Throughout this module, you will be encouraged to think outside of the box in considering how to best address (and respond to) the interpersonal and structural forms of harm in contemporary societies. This will then be assessed through an in-person assignment with supporting formative tasks throughout the module. By analysing a range of national and international perspectives, policies and practices, while developing your communication and presentation skills, this module will enhance your employability and preparedness for justice-focused roles.

All core modules are guaranteed to run. Optional modules will vary from year to year and the published list is indicative only.

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In your first year, you'll develop your 'sociological imagination' — the ability to connect your own experience to larger social structures and forces. You'll explore how cities are shaped by inequality and power, get stuck into sociological and criminological theory, and start learning how to conduct your own research.

In the second year, you'll get to grips with data, thinking critically about what numbers can and can't tell us about the social world. You'll examine how social problems and issues of crime, justice, and harm become (or don't become) matters of concern, and you'll undertake a placement module to boost your employability skills. Options open up here too, letting you pursue the areas that interest you most.

In the final year, a dissertation gives you the space to investigate a question of your own in depth. Alongside that, you'll engage with global inequalities and the politics of resistance and change alongside further optional modules.

Studying Sociology and Criminology with us at Birmingham City University affords you a wealth of academic and employability opportunities, to help you achieve successful graduate employment. You will gain the skills needed to become a thoughtful individual who can critically reflect on, as well as tackle, some of the pressing issues of contemporary society.

Entry Requirements

These entry requirements apply for entry in 2027/28.

All required qualifications/grades must have been achieved and evidenced at the earliest opportunity after accepting an offer to help confirm admission and allow for on-time enrolment. This can also include other requirements, like a fee status form and relevant documents. Applicants can track their application and outstanding information requests through their BCU mySRS account.

Essential requirements

112-72 UCAS Tariff points

The offer we make you takes into account your individual circumstances, predicted grades, achieved qualifications and potential to succeed at university.

GCSE and other level 2 requirements

This course does not require evidence of GCSE qualifications. Please see A Level, BTEC and other level 3 requirements below.

A Level, BTEC and other level 3 requirements

Qualification

Entry requirements

A Level / AS Level

A Level: 112-72 UCAS Tariff points / BBC-CDE (or equivalent)

AS Level: Must be in a different subject to A Levels

A maximum of four subjects will be considered

Pearson BTEC (Diploma / Extended Diploma/ Extended Certificate)

Diploma accepted with one A Level or equivalent level 3 qualifications

Extended Certificate accepted with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications

Excluded subjects: Early Years and Children's Play Learning and Development

Typical offers vary according to individual circumstances and may be equivalent to a Merit or Pass overall grade

All subjects considered

Access to HE Diploma

Pass with 60 credits, 45 credits at level 3

Accepted subjects: Social Sciences or Humanities

OCR Cambridge Technical qualifications

NCFE CACHE Level 3 qualifications

WJEC Level 3 qualifications

Considered with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualification(s)

Irish Leaving Certificate (Highers)

112-72 UCAS Tariff points, achieved in five Higher level subjects

Scottish Higher / Advanced Higher

112-72 UCAS Tariff points, achieved from three Advanced Highers or two Advanced Highers plus two Highers

Welsh Baccalaureate

112-72 UCAS Tariff points. Considered with three A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications

If you're applying with an International Baccalaureate Diploma or international qualifications, please see further information below.

International qualifications

International Baccalaureate Diploma

Obtain 28-24 points overall.

EU / International students

Please see your country page for further details on the equivalent qualifications we accept. In addition to the academic entry requirements listed above, international and EU students will also require IELTS 6.0 overall with no less than 5.5 in each band.

If you do not meet the required IELTS score, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English courses. Please note that you must have a Secure English Language Test (SELT) to study on the pre-sessional English course. More information on pre-sessional English courses.

If you have a qualification that is not listed, please contact us.

Fees & How to Apply

Please select your student status to view fees and apply

UK Student

International Student

UK students

Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.

Award: BSc (Hons)

Starting: Sep 2027

Duration

Full Time

£10,050 in 2027/28

Apply via UCAS

Part Time

Show fees

Apply Online

£1675 per 20 credits

Year 1 - 80 credits

Year 2 - 80 credits

Year 3 - 80 credits

Year 4 - 80 credits

Year 5 - 40 credits

Fees for Part-time students

This course can be studied on a Part-time study basis. The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year.

International students

£19,220 in 2027/28

Included in your course fees

Access to computer equipment

You will require use of a laptop, and most students do prefer to have their own. However, you can borrow a laptop from the university or use one of our shared computer rooms.

Printing

You will receive £5 print credit in each year of your course, available after enrolment.

Field trips

All essential field trips and associated travel costs will be included in your course fees.

Access to Microsoft Office 365

Every student at the University can download a free copy of Microsoft Office 365 to use whilst at university and for 18 months after graduation.

Key software

You will be able to download SPSS and Nvivo to your home computer to support with your studies and research.

Key subscriptions

Subscriptions to key journals and websites are available through our library.

Not included in your course fees

Excess printing (optional)

Once you have spent your £5 credit, additional printing on campus costs from 5p per sheet.

Personal stationery and study materials (optional)

Based on the past experience of our students, you might find it helpful to set aside about £30 for each year of your studies for your personal stationery and study materials.

Placement expenses (optional)

If you choose to undertake a placement, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst living or working away from home.

Books (optional)

All module key texts will be in the University library, but in limited numbers. You may choose to purchase a copy. We suggest budgeting approximately £100 per year for this.

Accommodation and living costs (optional)

The cost of accommodation and other living costs are not included within your course fees. More information on the cost of accommodation can be found in our accommodation pages.

Guidance for UK students

UK students applying for most undergraduate degree courses in the UK will need to apply through UCAS.

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) is a UK organisation responsible for managing applications to university and college.

Applying through UCAS

Register with UCAS

Login to UCAS and complete your details

Select your course and write a personal statement

Get a reference

Pay your application fee and submit your application

Guidance for International students

There are three ways to apply:

1) Direct to the University

You will need to complete our International Application Form and Equal Opportunities Form, and submit them together with scan copies of your original academic transcripts and certificates.

2) Through a country representative

Our in-country representatives can help you make your application and apply for a visa. They can also offer advice on travel, living in the UK and studying abroad.

3) Through UCAS

If you are applying for an undergraduate degree or a Higher National Diploma (HND), you can apply through the UK’s Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

You can request a printed form from your school or nearest British Council office. You will be charged for applying through UCAS.

Birmingham City University’s UCAS code is B25 BCITY.

Personal statement

The personal statement gives you a crucial opportunity to say why you’re applying and why the institution should accept you.

Here are the three areas you’ll need to address:

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

Here’s where you explain what makes this course exciting to you. Think about your motivations for studying the course and your future plans. If you’re planning to take a year out, don't forget to give your reasons.

How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?

This is your chance to show what you’ve learned at school or college. You should include the skills and knowledge you’ve gained from education or training and how this will help you succeed in your chosen course.

What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?

Not everything you’ve learned comes from the classroom. Life experience counts too! You might want to talk about work experience, employment, or volunteering and how they’ve helped you develop the skills needed for your chosen course or future career.

Worried about Personal Statements?

If you've got no idea where to start or just want to check you're on the right track, we’ve got expert advice and real examples from our students to help you nail your personal statement. You can even download our ultimate personal statement guide for free.

Get personal statement advice

Financial Support

We offer further information on possible undergraduate financial support. This includes the type of loans, grants and scholarships available both from the government and from Birmingham City University.

View fees for continuing students

Employability

Enhancing employability skills

The programme is committed to excellent employability outcomes for its students. To this end, the programme team ensure that all students are actively encouraged to engage in semester-long work placements, as well as a year-long placement opportunity between the second and third year of study.

Employability and professional skills are embedded throughout the programme, including communication, research and time management

Placements

During your second year, you will undertake a semester-long placement, allowing you to draw upon and forge your own links with local voluntary, statutory and commercial organisations. Additionally, between your second and third years of study you can elect to work for a placement organisation for up to 12 months. Assistance will be given.

More about our placement opportunities

Facilities & Staff

Sociology and Criminology facilities

Take a look around the facilities available to you as a Sociology and Criminology student at BCU.

See our Sociology and Criminology facilities

Our staff

Dr Ryan Scoats

Senior Lecturer in Sociology / Course Leader BSc (hons) Sociology and Sociology & Criminology

Dr Ryan Scoats has previously been a lecturer in Sports Sociology at both Wolverhampton and Winchester Universities, lecturer in Sociology at Coventry University, and a researcher at Birmingham City University.

More about Ryan

Dr Nathan Kerrigan

Associate Professor in Sociology

Dr Nathan Kerrigan is a sociologist whose research and teaching centre on the relationships between community, space, and power in contemporary society. His work brings together sociology, social and cultural geography, and continental philosophy to explore how informal social control, regulation, and everyday actions and routines shape the lived...

More about Nathan

Dr Gary Hazeldine

Associate Professor of Sociology

Dr Gary Hazeldine has taught Sociology at Birmingham City University since 2007. Prior to this he taught at the University of Brighton, the University of Sussex, and Manchester Metropolitan University.

More about Gary

Professor Imran Awan

Professor of Criminology

Professor Imran Awan is one of the country’s leading criminologists and experts on Islamophobia and countering extremism.

More about Imran

Dr Ashjan Ajour

Senior Lecturer in Sociology

Dr Ashjan Ajour is an award-winning interdisciplinary scholar whose research sits at the intersection of sociology, anthropology, politics, and gender studies. Her work advances debates in decolonial sociology, feminist theories and movements, embodied protest, incarceration, political subjectivity and forced displacement. She is the author of...

More about Ashjan

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T: +44 (0)121 331 6295

Non-UK prospective students

E: International enquiry form

T: +44 (0)121 331 5389

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