Criminology, Policing and Investigation

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Criminology, Policing and Investigation - BSc (Hons) - 2027/28 Entry | Birmingham City University

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Criminology, Policing and Investigation - BSc (Hons) *

Currently viewing course to start in 2027/28 Entry.

Crime is complex, evolving, and deeply connected to the social and technological world around us. Our degree in Criminology, Policing and Investigation allows you to explore that complexity by combining cutting-edge criminological theory with hands-on insights into policing and investigative practice....

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Undergraduate

Study mode

Full 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

Crime is complex, evolving, and deeply connected to the social and technological world around us. Our degree in Criminology, Policing and Investigation allows you to explore that complexity by combining cutting-edge criminological theory with hands-on insights into policing and investigative practice. Together with our close ties with local, national and international law enforcement agencies, you could pursue a career in criminal investigation if that is your aim while keeping open a range of careers, which could include the probation service, charities sector, academia and policymaking.

Core modules, such as Criminal Justice and Policing in the Machine Age, which addresses the impact of artificial intelligence (AI), Criminological Theory, and Essential Criminal Justice Interviewing Techniques, aim to build knowledge of key concepts but also acknowledge the need for students to be equipped with the skills and understanding to address the impact of technological advances on criminal justice, investigation and policing.

What's covered in this course?

We combine academic study with practical insight into policing and investigation, allowing you to learn about the structure and function of police organisations, investigative techniques, forensic approaches, and the legal frameworks that underpin criminal justice processes. Alongside this, we encourage you to reflect critically on issues such as policing practice, accountability, ethics, legitimacy, and the impact of crime control policies on diverse communities. Our teaching incorporates practice-based learning as well as academic study that is informed by the latest research, which gives you the opportunity to develop a range of both academic and practical transferable skills that are attractive to employers. You will also have the opportunity to go on external visits and take unique assessments to enhance your understanding of the discipline.

The real-world applications of this course are supported by our close links to West Midlands Police and other criminal justice partners. You will have opportunities to gain work experience with other relevant organisations, and there is an option for you to undertake international study.

You will be taught by expert staff, including former practitioners in the fields of criminology and policing, as well as enjoying regular guest lectures from influential subject matter experts.

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?

We aim to infuse learning with exposure to real-world experiences. Through participation in the Social Impact Hub, we give students the chance to work on real-life projects. These offer a unique opportunity for students to gain this invaluable experience while they study.

We pride ourselves on being the University for Birmingham and our commitment to contribute to the city and local community. As part of this commitment, we have forged strong links with local organisations across the city and many graduates end up playing valuable roles in the local community.

We have strong links with West Midlands Police and regularly welcome serving officers and experts to give guest lectures and provide opportunities for exposure to real-world activities.

We have a strong focus on employability and through placement opportunities and our links with local businesses, 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.

Each module receives a guest lecture from a professional expert in that field.

The course team has valuable links with the regional criminal justice system and leading non-Government organisations, including therapeutic prison HMP Grendon, where the University holds an annual debate.

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.

of students rated the teaching on this course as good or very good. 95% of students said that academic support was good or very good and 94% of students rated the learning resources for this course as good or very good

NSS 2026

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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).

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, you 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 you to develop core academic skills, including critical reading, academic writing, referencing, and presentation.

This module is designed to provide the theoretical underpinning for the undergraduate degree and to support progression into more advanced study.

Blue Line: Contemporary Challenges in Policing 20 credits

This module provides an introduction to contemporary issues in policing within England and Wales, grounded in an understanding of the role, function, and organisation of the police. It introduced you to policing as both a professional practice and an academic field of study.

The module explores the foundations of policing and investigation while focusing on the social, political, and ethical challenges shaping modern policing. You will examine key contemporary debates including policing by consent and police legitimacy, diversity, accountability and ethics in policing, police powers, Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), serious youth violence and the use of technology in policing. Throughout the module, policing is examined within its wider social context, and you will explore how policing is influenced by public expectations, political priorities, crime trends, and changing societal attitudes. Contemporary investigative practices are introduced, including police decision-making, response policing, and the role of digital technology in crime detection and investigation.

The module also introduces students to academic research, theory, and evidence-informed policing. You will develop core academic and employability skills such as communication, problem-solving and social awareness skills. Through engagement with contemporary policing issues, students gain sector relevant knowledge and transferable skills applicable to careers in policing, criminal justice, the public sector, and wider graduate employment, via a strong foundation for further study in Criminology and Policing at Level 5 and Level 6. The module is assessed via coursework (100%).

Crime, Punishment and Society 20 credits

Major challenges and issues face UK Society such as climate collapse, cost of living crisis and violent far right movements. There is also enormous social change in the wake of resistance movements like, #MeToo, and Black Lives Matters. Sociology and criminology students must be able to relate shifts to changing patterns of offending and criminal justice.

This module will use a combination of lectures and student-led seminars to help develop your criminological imagination. An assessment of an annotated bibliography will train you to connect major developments in criminology to the social and political context of major historical moments. This is replicated for studying crime and punishment in the 21st century.

This engenders essential employability skills such as an awareness of current affairs, identifying sources of reliable data and research report writing in clear concise English.

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.

This module is assessed by a multiple-choice examination.

Applied Research Methods in Criminology 20 credits

The module is designed to prepare students to independently formulate research questions, to design research plans which will answer these questions, to employ appropriate methods of research in an ethical manner, and to equip students with the practical skills needed to analyse data using appropriate computer software, including for example NVIVO and SPSS.

This module will introduce you to the knowledge and applied skills to conduct criminological research. You will learn how to formulate criminological research questions for study through operationalising concepts, and by conducting literature reviews, and how to identify appropriate methods to answer these questions.

You will learn about qualitative research methods including how to do document analysis, ethnography, interviewing, focus groups and case study research. You will practice applied skills in analysing qualitative data, which will include identifying themes in your data and an introduction to using computer software for qualitative research.

You will learn about quantitative research methods including survey design, and secondary analysis of external datasets such as the Crime Survey for England and Wales. You will learn how to analyse and present numerical data including describing your research population through conducting frequency tests, making tables so you can compare different groups in your data, comparing averages, and how to identify and describe relationships between categories in your data.

You will then be introduced to the principles underpinning mixed methods research, to enable you to identify when it is appropriate to combine qualitative and quantitative research methods, and how to design mixed methods projects.

You will be taught in a workshop setting enabling you to practice and evidence the skills that you are learning throughout the module.

Security, Society and Justice 20 credits

This module introduces you to the discipline of Security Studies and the ever-increasing importance of security within society. The module provides an overview of different theoretical approaches to the study of security, and how they help us to understand topics such as terrorism, politics, the environment and the digital space. Security is an area of international significance, and the learning on this module will provide you with the knowledge and understanding needed to appreciate the interconnected and contested nature of security, particularly in relation to the complex dynamic of state vs human security. You will explore and interrogate the relationship between tangible and intangible threats, the way in which they are constructed and the inequalities produced as a result.

The module begins by highlighting the issue with the concept of security by discussion the idea that security means different things, to different people in different places at different times. This makes any understanding of security subject to bias and prejudice, with the ability to navigate these at the core of the teaching in this module. The module is multidisciplinary and engages with society and the security agenda in not only the international relations and sociology literature but contrasts this with the development of the concept within criminology, psychology, law, economics and public health. Having outlined core concepts and theories the module then deals with practices of security highlighting key threats created by political violence, terrorism, legislation and public policy; paying specific attention to the changing nature of politics and threat construction. The module explores several case studies including how security, society and justice are manifest in the contexts of violent states of impunity; illiberal democracies, multinational corporations and organised crime groups. As the module operates from a globalised perspective, the role of international institutions in the managing of state behaviour and the pursuit of justice in the international system is of paramount importance.

The module is assessed by an essay, which will assist you with your academic writing style and help you to get some research experience. Employability skills acquired through this module include use of initiative, accuracy and depth of theoretical interpretation, and academic writing skills. There is also knowledge of and ability to engage in critical reviews of policy and legislation.

In order to complete this course, you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 80 credits).

Criminal Justice and Policing in the Machine Age (AI) 20 credits

This module aims to develop your critical analysis and original thinking skills within the application of artificial intelligence/ machine learning tools and models in policing and criminal justice. This involves a range of operational settings including the predictive analysis of crime, offender management, live facial recognition, bail and sentencing decisions, large language models and data analytics. The subject matter will examine the core ethical questions in the use of AI within policing and criminal justice, including legislation, governance, legitimacy and accountability. You will evaluate the increasing importance of AI tools and models, along with public attitudes towards these powerful emerging technologies.

You will examine and test the evidence of AI effectiveness and its application within operational policing and criminal justice settings. This signposts how AI may be implemented in the future and presents further investigation of further AI developments including artificial general intelligence and what this means for human agency and decision-making. You will also compare the emergence of AI governance models within a global context and how AI is being maliciously deployed by within crime and security settings.

You will participate in learning and teaching on this module via in-person lectures, workshops, eLearning activities and formative assessments. You will attend twelve, one-hour lectures and twelve two-hour workshops in Semester Two at our city centre campus. This allows you to engage the central concepts of Policing and Criminal Justice in the Machine Age. You will be provided with considerable support within formative tasks and assessments throughout the 12 weeks of study. Your assessment for this 20-credit module is highly authentic; relating to professional employment and research skills that involves you working in a team to make an in-person presentation to the module leader on an AI enabled policing solution and governance framework. This will include questions from the module leader to assess your understanding of the subject matter. For your assessment, you may use AI tools, i.e. Chat GPT, Claude etc. However, you must document the prompts used, evaluate the AI outputs and show where and/or how the AI tool was wrong, displayed limitations or may have hallucinated. Harvard referencing is also required throughout your presentation submission, with a bibliography.

Issues in Criminal Investigation 20 credits

This module considers the role of forensic science in criminal investigations. You will examine a variety of methods and practices of forensic science, including crime scene analysis, DNA evidence and blood spatter analysis, and will discuss how these are interpreted to solve criminal cases. You will explore the theories and academic debates surrounding current practice.

Teaching on this module is carried out by way of lectures and seminars, with individual guidance and assistance being available to you in the research and preparation of your work. The lectures will provide a basic framework and background to the subject and need to be supplemented by reading from the core texts and further reading. Seminar topics have been carefully chosen to promote discussion, through class debates, group exercises, and the use of selected media, therefore, you are strongly recommended to prepare for seminars by doing background reading and research where indicated. Emphasis is placed throughout on active and participatory learning in small groups. The module is assessed by an essay.

Furthermore, the module will provide you with a critical understanding of the forensic sciences and their use within criminal investigation. As such, this module delivers an important background knowledge and comprehension to those seeking a career in policing or other spheres involving investigation, or in areas of employment that require the critical understanding of the conclusions that might be drawn from investigatory processes.

Criminology Careers 20 credits

This module is designed to help you explore Criminology‑related career pathways and begin developing your professional identity. It provides structured support to help you understand how the knowledge and skills gained through your degree can be applied in a wide range of professional contexts, both within and beyond the criminal justice system. It encourages you to connect Criminological theory to professional practice, strengthening your professional identity and preparing you for graduate employment. The module encourages you to think critically about different sectors, organisational cultures and ethical issues, and to consider where you see yourself working in the future.

Through a combination of taught sessions, guided activities, and professional engagement, you will explore potential careers, develop employability skills, and reflect on your strengths, values and areas for development. The module is split into two parts: the first part comprises of taught sessions which focus on areas such as career exploration, skills mapping, professional conduct, reflective practice, and preparing effective examples for applications and interviews.

The second part of the module encompasses a short period of professional engagement where you will be encouraged to connect your academic learning with professional experiences, and to articulate the transferable skills developed through your degree. This engagement is intended to be exploratory and flexible, allowing you to gain early exposure to professional or civic settings and to generate real experiences that can inform your learning and career planning. You will choose one of four pathways:

Pathway 1 – structured volunteering e.g. Special Constable, Charity Support Worker

Pathway 2 – work-based learning e.g. Evaluating the use of ‘Ask Angela’ at a bar

Pathway 3 – voluntary research assistantship

Pathway 4 – micro-volunteering or project-based professional tasks (career exploration, skills development and volunteering)

The module provides you with the opportunity to apply the learning from your Criminology degree to the world of work. It is designed to enhance your ability to critically self-reflect and to strengthen your employability skills, professional awareness and further applied learning opportunities. If who wish to gain more extensive professional experience may choose to progress to the optional Semester 2 placement module, where they can continue to undertake their placement or a deeper and more sustained placement experience can be undertaken for an additional 20 credits.

By the end of the module, you will have greater confidence in your employability skills, a clearer understanding of possible career routes, and a stronger foundation for making informed decisions about your future.

Research Proposal 20 credits

This module is designed specifically to make you a confident social researcher, prepare you for writing an undergraduate dissertation, and enhance your employability, particularly project management skills. You will have a chance to engage with major and emerging methods of researching criminological, policing and security issues. The module will encourage you to think critically about choosing appropriate research approaches, ensuring ethical conduct, designing and using data collection tools, analysing data, communicating and disseminating your research, and managing projects. All these skills are what employers expect from criminology graduates.

The module is assessed based on coursework, which involves preparation of a research proposal. The teaching is designed around preparing you to meet the learning outcomes and helping you design your own project. Methods will include lectures and interactive resources. You will also be able to apply your knowledge in practice by participating in seminar activities and designing your own research proposal for the assessment. We will provide examples of completed small and large research projects, discussing their design and methodology. Readings will include chapters from methodology textbooks, as well as articles reporting findings from completed studies.

The module will help you strengthen the following competences: developing a research project; project management; conducting data analysis; addressing ethical issues; reviewing literature; academic writing; and referencing.

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

Crime in the City 20 credits

In this module we will take a critical look at crime, social contexts, and the impact of space and place as linked to the urban city as a social milieu. We will also investigate the nature of contemporary city living and how this is experienced across intersections of identity, and what this means for vulnerabilities to being victims of crime or being led into criminal pathways. We will also look in detail at forms of criminological theory and consider newer emergent aspects of cultural and critical forms of criminology.

Topics covered will range from conventional forms of crime to more sophisticated phenomena often considered under the rubric of harm rather than crime. Key features of the module include the focus on social and spatial factors on crime, as well as how city spaces facilitate crime, and what this means for the policing of city spaces. Subsequent inequities across a range of intersectional dynamics of identity are integral to the module, and it is a specific requirement that these wider contextual factors are drawn upon in the assessment. Other specific requirements include regular and consistent attendance, commitment to reading around topics covered in the module, and actively contributing to student-led discussions in seminars. The mode of assessment is a group presentation (20 minutes) to be accompanied by an individual written brief (1500 words) outlining the student’s contribution to the group work.

Employability skills acquired throughout the module include time management, effective teamworking, decisive decision making, secondary research skills, and presentation skills around engagement and effective verbal communication. The module will encourage you to think about issues in your

immediate locality and beyond, using both theoretical and empirical research material and personal reflection.

Youth Crime and Justice 20 credits

Youth Crime and Justice aims to equip you with a sound theoretical knowledge of juvenile offending and justice. In essence, the understanding of the complex relationship between young people and criminality fits within the wider aims of the course and associated pathways as it draws on sociological and criminological understandings, furthering your ability to understand and problematise crime and its causes.

The module also recognises that the separate and distinct administration of criminal justice to young people is a topic worthy of consideration in its own right, and considers important debates around justice, welfare, education, and the construction of youth and childhood. It takes both a contemporary and historical focus, considering how the nexus of crime, control, and youth have variously been considered during different historical periods.

This module will equip you will the knowledge and understanding of current policy issues and responses to youth justice, essential for a career in the Criminal Justice System working with young people. The module is delivered in a lecture/seminar format and is assessed by an individual presentation. Furthermore, this module will enable you to enhance your oral communication and presentation skills which are transferable to employment. As well as giving you a working knowledge of employment within the youth justice industry.

Dark Alliances: Inside the Global Crime-Terror Nexus 20 credits

20 credits

This module offers a rigorous and critical examination of one of the most pressing security challenges of the contemporary world: the convergence of international terrorism and transnational organized crime. You will explore how these two phenomena, long treated as distinct fields of inquiry, have increasingly overlapped, merged, and mutually reinforced one another in the post-Cold War era, giving rise to hybrid threat actors that defy traditional analytical categories.

Drawing on criminological theory, security studies, and empirical case studies, the module interrogates the structural conditions that enable dark alliances to form and flourish, from ungoverned spaces and state fragility to globalised financial systems and illicit commodity chains. Students will critically assess the evidence base for the terror-crime nexus, engaging with debates around whether convergence represents a genuine strategic shift or a contextual and opportunistic phenomenon.

Key topics include: the financing of terrorism through drug smuggling, human trafficking, and arms dealing; the ideological tensions and pragmatic accommodations that shape cooperation between criminal and terrorist networks; and the role of diaspora communities, corrupt officials, and licit business fronts in facilitating these alliances. Regional case studies drawn from contexts such as the Sahel, the Western Balkans, Latin America, and South and Southeast Asia ground abstract theory in concrete operational realities.

Race and Crime 20 credits

Black theoretical perspectives and debates on crime, criminal justice, and criminology are seldom heard, seen, or referred to, within so called ‘mainstream criminology’. A possible explanation for this ‘invisibility’ could be as a consequence of implicit biases within the discipline itself. It is argued that these implicit biases further reproduce and reinforces privilege of some perspectives, whilst at the same time subordinating others. Russell (2002) calls for the development of a ‘black criminology’, Phillips and Bowling (2003) further call for the need to develop ‘minority perspectives’ in criminology, whilst Glynn (2018) sees the need for a Critical Race Criminology to transcend the current subordinate status of non-white criminological perspectives.

Key features of the module include a focus on racialisation and ‘race’ and what these mean for inequities in criminal justice, and for the wider social marginalisation of racialised groups in white majority societies. The ‘call to context’ is another key feature of the module, and the module will explore how processes of racialised marginalisation can lead to elevated vulnerabilities around exposure to, and exploitation within, criminalised spaces. The module also critically interrogates master-narratives around ‘race’ and crime, and offers critical counter-narratives as another key feature of the module.

Specific requirements for the module include regular and consistent attendance, commitment to reading around topics covered in the module and actively contributing to student-led discussions in seminars. The mode of assessment is a group presentation accompanied by an individual written brief on the student’s contribution to the group work.

Employability skills acquired throughout the module include critical thinking, the ability to deconstruct ‘race neutral’ narratives in institutional and organisational settings, time management, effective teamworking, decisive decision making, secondary research skills, and presentation skills around engagement and effective verbal communication.

Making Sense of Homicide 20 credits

This module provides you with an opportunity to critically engage with key aims of your course by examining contemporary debates that surround the phenomenon of homicide. You will be introduced to various theoretical perspectives and case studies, focusing on both historical and contemporary examples of homicide, in order to achieve an informed understanding of this unique form of offending. By presenting both a theoretical discussion and real-life cases, you will be able to develop knowledge and a critical understanding of criminology and related disciplines both in theory and practice.

You will be assessed by an individual video presentation in which you will be expected to engage with criminological theory in order to explain your chosen case study. You should be able to demonstrate solid knowledge and understanding of theory and key concepts, the ability to apply theory to individual case studies and critically evaluate your conclusions. You should also be able to critically discuss the media representations of homicide cases and the extent to which they offer valuable insights in relation to this type of crime.

This module will help equip you with key employability skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, communication and presentation skills.

Substance Use, Crime and Deviance 20 credits

This module enables you to examine the nature of both illegal and legal drugs. Within this remit the evolving and ever-changing nature of both how substances are supplied and consumed will be discussed. How such substance use/misuse is linked to various forms of deviancy and crime will be considered. To give you a rounded perspective of the subject, the content will be global in scale, with the development of the ‘war on drugs' and related criminal justice policies included. Finally, contemporary issues in both supply, demand, official policy and practice will be at the fore, raising questions around the nature of illicit substance usage.

You will be asked to critically consider current and future drug policy in relation to harms caused, impact upon vulnerable communities, and the motivations of substance use. You will consider this from an global perspective which acknowledges the power dynamics at play in relation to international drug trafficking. The module considers not only addiction and recreational drug use, but the political motivations of policing and the ‘War on Drugs’ and possible alternatives including decriminalisation and harm reduction policies. You will be encouraged to consider intersectionality, the broader socio-political context, and the use of drugs by those who have experienced personal and systematic victimisation.

Criminology Placement 20 credits

This module is designed to help you explore Criminology related career pathways and begin developing your professional identity. It provides structured support to help you understand how the knowledge and skills gained through your degree can be applied in a wide range of professional contexts, both within and beyond the criminal justice system. It encourages you to connect Criminological theory to professional practice, strengthening your professional identity and preparing you for graduate employment. The module encourages you to think critically about different sectors, organisational cultures and ethical issues, and to consider where you see yourself working in the future.

The second part of the module encompasses a short period of professional engagement where you will be encouraged to connect your academic learning with professional experiences, and to articulate the transferable skills developed through your degree. This engagement is intended to be exploratory and flexible, allowing you to gain early exposure to professional or civic settings and to generate real experiences that can inform your learning and career planning. You will choose one of four pathways below.

The module provides you with the opportunity to apply the learning from your Criminology degree to the world of work. It is designed to enhance your ability to critically self-reflect and to strengthen your employability skills, professional awareness and further applied learning opportunities. Students who wish to gain more extensive professional experience may choose to progress to the optional Semester 2 placement module, where they can continue to undertake their placement or a deeper and more sustained placement experience can be undertaken for an additional 20 credits.

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.

Crime, Community and the Built Environment 20 credits

Crime does not occur randomly. It is always embedded within particular social and environmental contexts. This module takes this as its starting point, examining how crime is produced through the interaction of community structure, informal social control, and the built environment. The focus throughout is on understanding why crime occurs in particular places and how such incidences of crime can be analysed and addressed.

The module begins by introducing you to place-based approaches to crime. Attention is given to neighbourhood structure and social organisation and disorganisation, drawing on the work of the Chicago School of Sociology, alongside the role of informal social control and collective efficacy in shaping community responses to crime. These perspectives are then extended through environmental criminology, including routine activity and crime patterns theory, to show how crime is structured through everyday movement, opportunity, and urban design and planning. Building on this, the module turns to mechanisms of crime prevention. We will introduce you to Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), as well as the contributions of Jane Jacobs and Oscar Newman, before examining community-based, developmental, and situational approaches to crime prevention. The emphasis is on how these approaches operate at different levels, and how they can be combined, to produce effective crime control interventions.

Assessment has been designed to be integral to the module. You will work in groups to design a fictional neighbourhood, analyse the issues within it, and develop a set of crime prevention strategies. This culminates in a group presentation and a written report, ensuring that you engage with both the diagnosis of crime problems within your neighbourhoods and the development of applied, theoretically informed, solutions.

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

In order to qualify for the award of BA (Hons) Criminology, Policing And Investigation 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.

The Ethics of Investigation 20 credits

This module examines some of the contemporary debates that surround the concept and practice of police ethics, with a particular focus on criminal investigation. It moves from an examination of broad ethical models, through an analysis of the relationship of these models to the policing of a diverse society, on to the study of how principled policing needs to inform the work of criminal investigation.

You will discuss, analyse and critique approaches to both ethics and policing practice. Much of the taught content will focus on introducing and explaining key cases which have had an impact on public perceptions of policing and police legitimacy. You will be asked to examine these case studies and consider what changes have been implemented, why and how far we have come. This will also incorporate consideration of the historic relationship between the police and specific communities, how/if relations have improved and what steps the police should take to build public trust.

The module will be assessed by a 3,000-word investigative report. You will be encouraged to take a proactive attitude towards the module and to bring with you any thoughts, reflections or opinions on both current events and any cases that we may not have covered on the module, as well as the impact of contemporary policing policies on public perceptions.

Learning will be a mix of taught content, reading and class discussion and you will be encouraged to reflect upon your own ethical framework as well as consider the motivations of the officers in question. It will help you to embed the analytical skills and critical attitude required for a career in any form of investigation.

Lie to Me: Essential Criminal Justice Interviewing Techniques 20 credits

This module will explore essential criminal justice interviewing skills for practice in England and Wales. The module is designed to have direct relevance to the workplace and develop your employability potential should you seek to work in the criminal justice arena in the future. You will emerge from the module equipped with the skills and knowledge to conduct witness, victim, and suspect interviews. The teaching team includes relevant professional expertise and experience within policing and major crime investigation.

This module focusses on key skills and academic theory that underpins current investigative interviewing practice in England and Wales. The module starts with an examination of the history behind modern interview practices and then explores questioning styles and techniques that may be adapted to enhance qualitative research outcomes and improve life skills. The focus of the module moves onto an examination of interviewing considerations with formative assessments where you will explore witness categorisation and Special Measures that can be put in place during the judicial process to support witnesses. The module then progresses into suspect interviewing, where you learn the legal and strategic requirements of conducting a suspect interview. The module culminates in a unique summative assessment where you will be required to work with a partner to conduct a 'live' suspect interview with a role player, demonstrating your abilities to observe the legal constraints and conduct an ethical and effective suspect interview. The module has direct relevance to developing skills for employability within policing and criminal justice and frames international approaches to investigative interviewing, making contrasts and comparisons to approaches within England and Wales. Inclusivity is a key theme in the theory and practice of investigative interviewing, including considerations around vulnerability, safeguarding, and human rights.

Dissertation 40 credits

This module provides you with the opportunity to carry out a self‑directed, critical investigation of a specific topic relating to Criminology. You will produce a substantial independent piece of work, which may be empirical, policy‑based, or theoretical in nature. Building on the skills developed at Level 4 in Applied Research Methods in Criminology and Level 5 in the Research Proposal module, you will draw on your developing knowledge, interests, and methodological competence to conduct an in‑depth dissertation in an area of your choosing.

Guidance will be provided through taught sessions scheduled across the academic year, alongside supervision tailored to your individual dissertation. You will be allocated a supervisor who will offer small‑group and/or one‑to‑one supervision at key stages of the research process. Assessment for the module takes the form of a written dissertation, with opportunities to submit up to three formative patches for feedback. A series of writing retreats will also be offered, enabling you to work in a supportive and collaborative environment with peers and supervisors.

The module is geared towards enhancing your employability by equipping you with a range of competencies necessary for graduate-level work and further study, including research design, project management, analytical skills, ethical awareness, and report writing skills.

Emotions in Crime and Criminal Justice 20 credits

This innovative module will engage your critical thinking to situate emotions at the forefront of contemporary criminological thought by examining different understandings of the role of emotions in harmful and criminalised behaviours, as well as social and criminal legal responses to such behaviours. The approach to emotions within the legal system and criminal justice agencies is often paradoxical. Your module content will thus draw on diverse theoretical approaches to defining emotions and the affective role of emotions in our everyday lives. Building on this, the module will examine the social construction of emotions in comparative British and international contexts relating to harm, punishment and justice. Attention will be placed on understanding the construction and embodiment of specific emotions such as humiliation, sympathy, shame, fear, remorse, love, grief, anger, hope and empathy across a range of cultural and institutional contexts. Central to your analysis will be the intersection of emotions, power and identity in criminological representations of offending and criminal justice policy and practice. Through your participation in this module, you will engage with various criminological theories of emotions as both a precursor to criminal behaviour and as a response to experienced or anticipated criminal victimisation. Whilst the experience of the offence for the person who caused harm is a neglected area of research within criminality, you will investigate the emotions and narrative roles experienced by someone who commits harm. You will also critically examine the social construction of victimhood and societal expectations placed on the portrayal of emotions as a victim of crime. Further case studies will explore the emotionality of policing and courtroom interactions as being situated in the broader structural regime of the legal system, as well as the emotional geogrpahies of prison life and other contexts of carceral control and confinement. You will also explore the experiences of practitioners working in and around the ‘criminal justice system’ while engaging in high levels of emotional labour, with consideration given to the emotional spillover of the job into home life. This will include the police, probation, prison psychologists, charity workers, criminological researchers, youth workers and social activists. You will be assessed by a written assignment, with formative assessments spread throughout the module. Your employability and preparedness for roles relating to criminal justice and beyond will be enhanced by analysing these perspectives and practices while developing your communication and presentation skills.

Everyday Surveillance 20 credits

This module will examine surveillance and the extent to which everyday life is now subject to an extensive array of monitoring and data collection. The module questions how and why state surveillance practices operate and explores the extent to which civil liberties and personal freedoms have been affected by recent surveillance developments. We will consider the work of Orwell, Marx, Webber, Lyon, Andrejevic, de Certeau and others, when expanding on how governments, big business, and new technologies are aiding and easing the collection of personal and targeted data. This module will provide you with knowledge and critical understanding of the everyday surveillance and will deliver important background knowledge and comprehension to those seeking a career in policing or other spheres. It will be of benefit to you when seeking employment in areas that require critical applications and clarity of expression and presentation. You will be assessed by an essay.

Local to Global Organised Crime 20 credits

Organised crime has become a significant concern and appears to be on the increase locally and globally. In this module, students will study contemporary global crimes such as drug and human trafficking, terrorism, illegal arms trading and financial crime through the lens of critical criminology. In addition, they will examine the extent of transnational organised crime, its historicity at a global level and law enforcement responses. The lectures and supplementary materials will equip you to think critically about organised crime wider subjects within social sciences. The lectures will synergise with seminars, and you will be expected to actively take part in group-related tasks, so as to be able to develop a strong academic understanding of organised crime, as well as continue the development of key transferable skills. Specifically, this module will allow you to develop critical writing, research and presentation skills that will prepare them for postgraduate education and professional employment. The module will be assessed by a two hour (with 15 minutes reading time) unseen exam. Physical notes only are permitted for the exam. Given the nature of this module, you will have the opportunity to engage with serving criminal justice practitioners, who will shed light on their experiences of dealing with serious and organised crime. Your engagement with professionals will be through a guest lecture and a careers event, which will prepare you for professional employment and even postgraduate education.

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.

Gender and Crime 20 credits

This module provides students 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. The module adopts an intersectional approach, not exploring gender as a stand-alone 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 ‘bite size’ 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.

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.

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.

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.

(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 decarceration. 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. Your employability and preparedness for justice-focused roles and beyond will be enhanced by analysing a range of national and international perspectives, policies and practices, while developing your communication and presentation skills.

Investigating Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) 20 credits

Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) continues to be on the rise locally, nationally and internationally, despite repeated attempts to prevent and tackle the root causes of this deeply entrenched behaviour. Rooted in systemic gender inequality, VAWG manifests across a wide spectrum of harmful acts that disproportionately affect women and girls. The persistence of these patterns, even in the face of legislative reform and increased public awareness, reflects the complex social, cultural, and institutional factors that sustain them.

Consequently, this module aims to explore how VAWG is deeply linked to women’s inequality and encompasses a broad range of behaviours occurring both within and outside of the home. These include, Domestic and Relationship Abuse, Street Harassment, Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, and Honour-Based Abuse and Violence. Each of these forms of abuse will be examined in depth, drawing attention to the distinct contexts in which they occur and the systemic failures that allow them to persist. Throughout the module, we will draw on theoretical frameworks as well as real-world case studies and contemporary research, to identify the measures and partnerships used to prevent, investigate, and address the consequences.

Broader discussions within the module will consider how an individual’s experience of VAWG is further compounded by intersecting dimensions, including race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status, religion, sexuality, gender identity, disability, mental health, and age. These intersecting factors shape not only a person’s vulnerability to abuse but also their access to support, justice, and recovery. Finally, the module will evaluate the capacity of existing policing and criminal justice frameworks to address emerging trends associated with VAWG. Attention will be given to the growing threat of technology-facilitated and online-enabled offending, including image-based abuse, coercive control through digital surveillance, and online harassment, reflecting the rapidly evolving landscape in which VAWG now occurs.

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Trips and visits

You’ll have the opportunity to gain a practical insight into the processes of the criminal justice system through self-organised visits to prisons, courts and police establishments.

We’re the only university in the country to hold an annual debate at high-security prison HMP Grendon. This unique opportunity offers criminology students the chance to gain an exceptional insight into how criminological theory and practice combine, through direct interaction with inmates.

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: Health and Social Care pre-2016 syllabus

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, Humanities or Law

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

£10,050 in 2027/28

Apply via UCAS

International students

£19,220 in 2027/28

Apply Online

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.

DBS check

If you are required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check for this course, the cost for your first DBS check is included in your fees.

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.

Field trips (optional)

This course includes the option of additional trips that may enhance your experience, at extra cost.

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

This course is suitable if you wish to embark on a criminal justice-related career, including jobs in the police, revenue and customs, probation, youth justice, community safety and the prison service, as well as the voluntary sector. It’s also suitable for serving police officers and civilian support staff, customs officers, prison officers and those working in the Immigration and Naturalisation Service.

Part-time study in Criminology is often followed by people who are already employed within the criminal justice system and who are intending to improve their career prospects.

You’ll also develop transferable skills such as analysis and decision making, commercial awareness, accessing information, problem solving, and cultural and political awareness.

These skills are appropriate to a range of careers from teaching to retail management.

We have partnered with the national charity New Bridge to offer undergraduate students the unique opportunity to gain experience in a variety of voluntary roles. You’ll be given an insight into prison systems and the realities of life in prison, while at the same time enhancing your skills and experience ready for future employment.

You’ll also gain valuable experience through our Employability Challenge Weeks, as well as our Leadership Challenge programme. Both give you the chance to apply your skills to innovative and exciting projects, industry talks and workshops. You’ll also receive guidance on how to complete application forms and how to write effective CVs.

Placements

You’ll have the opportunity throughout your study to work with a number of organisations such as Centro Safetravel, Citizens Advice Bureau and Victim Support, and the Civil Service.

Criminology student Leonie Folan is currently working on The Priority and Prolific Offender (PPO) Scheme, which is available to students who choose to take the third year Working in Criminal Justice module.

More about our placement opportunities

I am gaining valuable experience in multi-agency working which is something the government are increasingly investing in in terms of offender management and rehabilitation,” Leonie says. “Once the employment with the PPO Scheme ends, I hope to continue working in offender rehabilitation, most likely with a third sector organisation.

Leonie Folan, Criminology student

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

Zoe Rodgers

Course Leader in Criminology and Policing

Zoe joined Birmingham City University as a Lecturer in Criminology and Policing following over eight years at Sheffield Hallam University as a student and Associate Lecturer in Criminology and Policing. She brings a wealth of knowledge based on her ten research positions held within Sheffield Hallam’s Institute of Law and Justice and her PhD based...

More about Zoe

Dr Sarah Pemberton

Associate Professor - Criminology

Having initially studied Social Policy as an undergraduate Sarah became immersed in the study of the social world, this served as the foundation for an unrelenting interest in social research which she pursues to this day.

More about Sarah

Sharda Murria

Associate Professor

Sharda Murria is a socio-legal scholar who teaches Policing and Criminology. She has a keen interest in policing and the criminal justice system, and is passionate about delivering ‘real world impact’.

More about Sharda

Lali Magsi

Lecturer in Criminology, Policing and Law

Lali Magsi (Cantab) is a Lecturer in Criminology, Policing and Law at Birmingham City University. He was previously a police officer for West Midlands Police and holds an LLB from the University of Birmingham and an MSt in Criminology from the University of Cambridge. Lali’s research explores police misconduct including internal sexual harassment...

More about Lali

Matthew Phillips

Lecturer in Criminology and Policing

Matthew is a lecturer in Criminology and Policing where he has taught since 2020. Matthew’s area of PhD research concerns cybercrime, in particular cryptocurrency-based money laundering and ransomware on dark web marketplaces.

More about Matthew

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