Don't just watch the headlines - understand the system behind them. Most people see crime through true crime podcasts and news reports. At Oxford Brookes, you'll go deeper: examining why certain groups end up in the justice system more than others, and building the skills to create a fairer society.

Through perspectives from sociology, law and psychology, we examine the structural inequalities behind crime. You’ll tackle society's biggest questions from a social justice perspective, exploring how race, gender and class shape our justice system.

You'll create podcasts, lead debates, and present research - building professional skills and a portfolio that gets you noticed. Our guest speakers bring the industry into the classroom and help you build your network.

You could work with an NGO on placement, helping to support young people to make positive decisions and avoid crime. Perhaps you'll explore Green Criminology and work towards a career in environmental justice. Or could a career in the Police be your calling? Whatever direction you take, we'll help you get there.

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Why Oxford Brookes University?

A distinctive social focus

Being part of the School of Social Sciences, you’ll get to study the subject from a wide range of views.

Leading lecturers

The unique social angle of the department also attracts renowned researchers in areas like immigration or drugs who teach on the course.

Links with top organisations

Thanks to our partnerships with organisations like Thames Valley Police and the Tap Social Movement, you’ll have great options for work placement or real-life projects.

Make the degree yours

Optional modules let you study topics that interest you, while the dissertation is your chance to focus on an area you care about.

A stepping stone to a rewarding career

Whether you want to work with the police or campaign for the environment, criminology gives you the tools to succeed.

Additional language modules

Our university-wide language programme is available to full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students on many of our courses, and can be taken as a credit on some courses.

Study abroad

You may be able to go on a European or international study exchange while you are at Oxford Brookes. Although we will help as much as we can with your plans, ultimately you are responsible for organising and funding this study abroad.

Course structure

Learning and teaching

Assessment

You’ll cover a wide range of topics, from petty crime to the crimes of the powerful.

In Year 1, you’ll develop key academic skills that will help you succeed in the course. We’ll also ask big questions like what is crime? Why do some people commit crime, but not others?

By Year 2, you’ll have a solid understanding of the subject and you can start to look into advanced ideas. For example, Researching Crime explores the ethical and practical applications of the subject, where you’ll learn to conduct interviews or analyse your favourite true crime podcasts. Optional modules tailor the course to your own interests, whether that’s learning about environmental justice or getting experience on a work placement. Core modules teach you to challenge the status quo - how might capitalism encourage crime? Where and why are there inequalities in the criminal justice system?

Year 3 is your chance to specialise further and complete your own research project. Optional modules include topics like the pleasures of crime, state crime, pathways out of crime, queer criminology, drugs, or policing.

On this course you’ll explore why crimes occur in our society. You will learn through a variety of teaching and learning methods including seminars, workshops and tutorials.

The programme is flexible enough to encourage you to study your own areas of interest. This may include green criminology, or you may choose to examine medieval crime and punishment.

You’ll also have the opportunity to gain practical skills through a work placement. This could include a work-based activity with Thames Valley Police.

Typical contact time is 24 hours per module. You will be expected to undertake 126 hours of independent study per module.

Various assessment methods are used, including:

individual and group presentations

critical reviews

portfolios.

This variety gives you the opportunity to show your abilities across a number of different skill sets.

You will have access to:

essay clinics

assessment workshops

preparatory classroom based activities, for example exam workshops.

Study modules

Teaching for this course takes place face to face and you can expect around 8 hours of contact time per week. In addition to this, you should also anticipate a workload of 1,200 hours per year. Teaching usually takes place Monday to Friday, between 9.00am and 6.00pm.

Contact hours involve activities such as lectures, seminars, practicals, assessments, and academic advising sessions. These hours differ by year of study and typically increase significantly during placements or other types of work-based learning.

Select year

Optional Year Abroad

Final Year

Compulsory modules

Crime and Criminology in Context

What is crime? Who commits crimes, and why? Why are some acts criminal, when others aren’t? In this module, you’ll dig into the key concepts and theories of crime. You’ll challenge your own common-sense understanding of crime through the theories of celebrated criminologists. You’ll consider:

who invents crime and why

the role of crime in society

how might we study crime today, digitally (online) and visually (through images).

Criminal Justice in Action

In this module, you’ll explore some key concerns around crime. You’ll examine the current problems and policies in:

criminal justice

law enforcement

punishment.

You’ll gain core critical skills as you dive into debates on the control and management of crime. You’ll examine the relationship between the theory of crime and criminal behaviour. You’ll also explore the practical workings of the criminal justice system.

Criminology Skills

In this module you'll have the support and guidance to build your academic skills. You'll improve your reading of resources and critical thinking abilities. You'll also develop the skill of challenging preconceptions, helping you become an independent learner. This will be essential in guiding you to fulfil your potential as a Criminology student.

Creating Criminology 1

On this module, you'll discover contemporary issues in criminological research and you'll learn and explore the research interests of your tutors. You'll engage with a range of approaches to criminology, whilst also building your research knowledge of the criminology field. You'll gain the skills to explore specialised research areas in your studies. Through specialised study, you'll discover areas you may select for your dissertation topic.

Through workshops you'll be able to develop your criminological interests and skills. You will also participate in class debates and create a poster on a criminological topic of your choice.

Media and Crime

How does the media police our morals as a society and define our ideas of acceptable behaviour? In this module, you’ll gain the critical skills to analyse popular representations of crime in the media. You’ll examine news reports and other forms of mass-media, and you’ll develop a knowledge of crime as a cultural construct.

Understanding Crime and Society

You'll engage with key concepts in crime, punishment and society. You'll explore:

the concept of crime

categories of crime.

You’ll assess and investigate:

what is crime?

how do we define and measure it?

What do we know about trends in crime over time and how does this differ from individual perception or ‘fear’ of crime?

Optional modules

Introduction to Ethics

What makes an action good or bad? Are morals absolute, or is morality just a matter of social convention? Can we judge members of a different society through our own moral rules?

In this module, you’ll explore the views of the great thinkers of the past, such as Aristotle, Kant and Mill. You’ll reflect on what their theories mean for questions such as whether we should give to beggars on the streets of Oxford, or if we should do more for refugees.

Creating Criminology

In this module you'll work together on group projects to plan and develop a Criminology newsletter. As well as developing practical skills, such as how to research Criminology topics, we'll also explore the pitfalls and benefits of researching Criminology in popular culture.

This module also focuses on your future through sessions on networking and careers brainstorming, career development opportunities whilst studying and guest talks from Criminology alumni.

Contemporary Societies: Structure and Change

In this module, you’ll investigate the changing face of society. You’ll explore how markets and welfare states have transformed over time. You’ll discover how states, economies and societies interact with each other. You’ll dig into key questions on politics and power, exploring different political systems.

You’ll explore pressing global topics, including:

international migration patterns

the formation of ethnic minorities

religion in modern society

the challenges of climate change.

You’ll explore a wide range of social issues taking place all over the world, and you’ll develop a strong understanding of how these issues impact individuals and groups.

Politics in Comparative Perspective

In this module, you’ll investigate politics - and the struggle for power - across the nations. You’ll gain a clear introduction to how and why political systems differ in our world today. You’ll examine case studies from a wide range of states and gain a strong insight into how different regimes function – from the democratic to the totalitarian.

Crime and Intersectionality

In this module, you’ll get to grips with intersectionality - a way of understanding someone’s identity as made of characteristics such as race, gender and class. Intersectionality offers you a unique way to study crime. You’ll discover how criminal justice institutions, such as the police and criminal courts, respond to and discriminate against different social groups.

Researching Crime: Methods, Approaches and Ethics

In this module, you’ll explore the key research methods of Criminology. You’ll gain invaluable critical skills, as you look at:

research methods

processes

outcomes.

You’ll also understand the ethics of research, including:

the requirements of conducting research with vulnerable populations

how your identity can help or hinder research relationships.

Public Criminology

In this module, you’ll dive into real world problems of crime and criminal justice. You’ll apply your criminology knowledge to:

find solutions to key questions of crime and justice

find solutions to problems in current practice

explore how these solutions can inform future research.

You’ll examine case studies from current policy and practice. You’ll apply the insights of those currently working in criminal justice, including:

practitioners

policy-makers

politicians.

You’ll gain a strong understanding of how criminology works in real life, and you’ll explore why there is a disconnect between the classroom, and criminology in practice.

Globalisation and Crime

In this module, you’ll explore and examine areas of crime and crime control across different regions of the world through the lens of 'globalisation', plus the increased interconnectedness of social relations across the globe

You’ll use a combination of theoretical concepts and case studies to interrogate and understand the interconnectedness of crime and responses to crime in the contemporary world.

Gendered Violence

Justice Denied and Delivered

Organised Crime

In this module, you’ll get a comprehensive introduction to organised crime. Through a blend of case studies and theoretical discussions, you will learn about a range of criminal organisations, from mafias, drug cartels, and human trafficking rings to cybercrime syndicates and money-laundering operations.

You’ll be encouraged to critically assess the ways in which criminal organisations operate, the challenges they present to law enforcement, and the impacts they have on our society, economy, and culture. Emphasis will also be placed on exploring emerging trends and future challenges to prepare you for analysing the evolving threats of organised crime across national and international contexts.

Criminology Work Based Learning

In this module, you’ll kick-start your career and gain key work experience in organisations related to crime. You’ll complete a placement or work-based learning activity in:

a public sector organisation

a non-governmental organisation (NGO)

a voluntary organisation.

Whether working with the police, prison services, schools or charities, you’ll gain invaluable skills for your future career and a strong knowledge of how organisations identify and fight crime.

Green Criminology

You'll engage with the emerging field of Green Criminology. You'll learn the key theoretical concepts of green criminology and environmental justice.

You'll focus on understanding Green Criminology as a transnational field. Including the social issues impacting individuals on a global scale.

Ethics for the 21st Century

You'll explore recent social and technological developments such as:

globalisation

social media and the internet

medical and scientific advances

mass migration.

You'll consider whether corporations have moral responsibilities, as well as the best ways to combat racism. Also, you'll examine how epistemic vices such as close-mindedness, intellectual arrogance and dogmatism are fostered by the prevalence of conspiracy theories, fake news, and testimonial injustice?

Are we right to assume that democracy is the only morally-defensible way to govern a country? Can technology and science help us to improve ourselves?

Independent Study in Criminology

This module gives you the chance to do independent study on a topic that fascinates you. With support from expert tutors, you’ll submit a proposal for independent study. We’ll agree to a programme of work and assessments, tailored to your interests.

Contemporary Security Studies

What is security? How can we achieve it? Who should provide it? In this module, you’ll dive into key debates on security, and its definitions. You’ll join policy makers, academics and civil servants as you discuss fundamental issues of security. You’ll explore the different ways we look at security, and the things it protects, for example:

the nation-state

the environment

the economy

a ‘way of life’.

You’ll also look at the implications of security on peace and current global conflicts, as well as everyday violence and exclusion.

The Prison and Imprisonment

Should we punish prisoners, or support them to re-enter society? In this module, you’ll dive into the key issues of prisons. You’ll consider modern prisons, globally and historically. You’ll examine prisons through:

prisoners

prison staff

wider society.

You'll trace the evolution of the prison - from the rehabilitative ideal of the post-war period, to the greater focus on punishment today. You’ll look at how political parties use prison policies to win votes, rather than reduce crime.

You’ll dive into the inner workings of prisons, from governance to administration. You’ll look at the routines of prison life and how prisoners cope with and give meaning to them. You’ll consider sentence progression for different types of prisoners, and you’ll explore how well prisons prepare inmates for life after release.

Young People, Crime, and Justice

Year Abroad

This module offers the opportunity to study abroad, experience a new culture, and apply your skills in different contexts to enhance your employability. It will help you develop self-management, cross-cultural communication, and interpersonal skills.

You’ll receive support to secure a place at a partner institution abroad, where you can choose modules related to your degree or explore new areas that complement your studies.

Studying at an international university will help you enhance your interpersonal skills through cross-cultural communication with students and tutors, allowing you to build lasting relationships. You'll also improve your study skills by focusing on your chosen areas of interest, gaining valuable international experience that will strengthen your CV.

This year abroad module lasts for one academic year and is taken after the conclusion of your second year of study, once you’ve completed all your level 5 studies. Your year abroad is not credit-bearing.

Dissertation in Criminology

This module gives you the chance to do independent research on a topic that fascinates you. With the support of expert tutors, you’ll choose a dissertation topic based on your interests.

For your dissertation, you may choose to combine the knowledge and skills of two subjects. In this case, you can have one supervisor from each subject.

Anthropology of Criminalisation

Sports Criminology

This module will lead you to explore a range of contemporary issues related to sport and criminology, including the interplay with the role of sport in wider society. You'll consider sport not only as a crime generator but also as a means of crime prevention and desistance from crime. You'll explore the contentious blurred line between cheating and criminality. You'll examine high profile cases of crime within the field of play, plus global criminality connected to sport.

You’ll enhance your academic and research literacy, as well as active citizenship by considering how crime and sport cross into everyday lives and real world situations.

Dealing with Drugs: Control and Intoxication

In this module, you’ll bust some key assumptions around psychoactive drugs. You’ll look at why we use them and how we control them in society. To explore the relationship between drug use, individuals and public morality, you’ll investigate:

criminological insights

sociological insights

historical insights

policy insights.

You’ll gain key critical skills as you debate drug policies and how we can lessen the harm of substance abuse. You’ll look at alternative ways to regulate drugs than our current ‘war on drugs’ mentality. You’ll also explore the future of synthetic drugs.

The Carnival and Pleasures of Crime

Why do people enjoy committing crimes? How might crime offer identity and purpose? In this module you’ll explore criminal acts and the role of:

pleasures

performance

identity

meaning.

You’ll think about the multiple meanings and actions that crime holds for different people across time. You’ll consider the social benefits of crimes and resistance to the law. You'll also explore how different interpretations of crime might affect crime control and criminal justice.

Sex That Offends

This module introduces you to case studies, concepts, and debates, with a focus on sexual offences and other serious crimes. You will explore themes of consent and harm, drawing on critical criminology, feminist theory and socio-legal studies.

You will look at how the criminal law and cultural norms have constructed certain behaviours and identities as deviant.

From a criminological perspective, you will go beyond the headlines to examine the role of:

labelling

moral panics

changing social attitudes towards sex.

This will help you to develop your critical thinking skills.

Pathways out of Crime

Policing, Security and Society

This is a key time to study policing in western countries. The response to crime in the west is changing fast as policing moves towards privatisation in the digital age.

You’ll analyse modern policing in the west and its former colonies. You’ll examine the history of policing. You’ll compare policing in other countries to policing in the UK. You’ll also look at the rise of neo-colonial policing today (the use of economic, political and cultural pressures to control other countries).

You’ll explore areas like:

securitization

militarization

transnationalism

human trafficking.

Forensic Anthropology

In this module, you’ll analyse human bones from archaeological sites. You’ll get to know the ancient diseases that we can understand through human and animal bones. You’ll gain key practical skills through lab-based sessions and through researching primary material. You’ll also learn how forensic anthropology can help us understand different populations.

Crimes of the State and Resistance

In this module, you'll explore crimes and harms that are perpetrated by the state, including the potential to resist state-perpetrated atrocities.

You will examine historical and contemporary case studies. along with theoretical concepts from a state crime framework. You'll build your criminological understanding about state crime and its:

objectives

motivations

You will engage and explore the resistance and challenges within, including:

social movement activism

legal challenges

armed liberation struggles.

Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from those shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.

Criminology graduates often choose to work in law enforcement or the criminal justice system. But those aren’t your only options. Your skills will be ideal for a wide range of career destinations including:

charities

local authorities

crime consultation

community support

security firms

research.

We offer work placement options such as Citizens Advice, Shannon Trust (who work in prisons to promote literacy), Thames Valley Police, charities like ‘SAFE’, Support for Young People Affected by Crime, and Children Heard and Seen (CHAS). There is even a local brewery, Tap Social, who sell beer to support social justice movements, so you’ll have a great opportunity to get experience.

Student profiles

Chandra Jayasuriya

"I was looking at Brookes for Criminology, and for International Relations, and then I found out I could actually join both of them into a joint honours!"

Read more about Chandra

Elena Voltolina

"Lecturers teaching their areas of research really brought my enjoyment of studying to another level. They were all great and passionate teachers already, but when they have the chance to teach their areas, they really go the extra mile."

Read more about Elena

Georgie Seegar

"I've always wanted to join the police force.

So, I saw Brookes as an important part of my journey to realise and fulfil that ambition. Therefore, Criminology felt like one of the best courses I could pursue."

Read more about Georgie

Kelly Pichur

"When I was speaking to Oxford Brookes representatives at an Open Day, it was the one university that felt like it was breaking the mould, and I really liked that."

Read more about Kelly

Joint honours options

You can also study this course as part of a joint honours degree. This course can be joined with:

English Literature

International Relations

Politics

Anthropology

Criminology and Education Studies (joint honours)

Criminology and Sociology (joint honours)

Related courses

Related course

Wherever possible we make our conditional offers using the UCAS Tariff. The combination of A-level grades listed here would be just one way of achieving the UCAS Tariff points for this course.

Standard offer

UCAS Tariff Points: 112

A Level: BBC

IB Points: 27

BTEC: DMM

Contextual offer

What is a contextual offer?

UCAS Tariff Points: 88

A Level: CCD

IB Points: 24

BTEC: MMM

Specific entry requirements

Please also see the University's general entry requirements.

English language requirements

Please see the University's standard English language requirements.

Pathways courses for international and EU students

If you do not meet the entry requirements for this degree, or if you would like more preparation before you start, you can take an international foundation course. Once you enrol, you will have a guaranteed pathway to this degree if you pass your foundation course with the required grades.

If you only need to meet the language requirements, you can take our pre-sessional English course. You will develop key language and study skills for academic success and you will not need to take an external language test to progress to your degree.

English requirements for visas

If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Visas and Immigration minimum language requirements as well as the University's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.

Credit transfer

Many of our courses consider applications for entry part-way through the course for students who have credit from previous learning or relevant professional experience.

Find out more about transferring to Brookes. If you'd like to talk through your options, please contact our Admissions team.

Terms and conditions of enrolment

When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.

International qualifications and equivalences

Choose country

Bangladesh

Hong Kong

Indonesia

Kazakhstan

Lithuania

Malaysia

Pakistan

Saudi Arabia

Singapore

South Africa

South Korea

Sri Lanka

Thailand

United Arab Emirates

United States of America

Zimbabwe

Other countries

Application process

Full time Home (UK) applicants

Apply through UCAS

Part time Home (UK) applicants

Apply direct to the University

International applicants

Full time international applicants can also apply through UCAS

Please see the fees note

Home (UK) full time

Home (UK) part time

£1,220 per single module

International full time

£1,255 per single module

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Please note, tuition fees for Home students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by government. Oxford Brookes University intends to maintain its fees for new and returning Home students at the maximum permitted level.

For further information please see our tuition fees FAQs.

Tuition fees for International students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students.

The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support.

How and when to pay

Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.

For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.

For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page

Additional costs

Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs

that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.

Most modules included a recommended reading list. All recommended texts are available from the library. We recommend our students purchase The Oxford Handbook of Criminology (Oxford University Press, fifth edition) as a core course textbook. It retails for under £50 if bought new, and considerably less if bought second-hand.

Optional costs

Amount (£)

It’s your responsibility to cover print / binding costs where coursework submission is required. Please note that a lot of the coursework is now submitted online.

From £30

You may choose to purchase books to support your studies. Many books on our reading lists are available via the Library, or can be purchased secondhand.

£20-60 per book

Accommodation fees in Brookes Letting (most do not include bills)

£107-301 per week

Accommodation fees in university halls (bills included, excluding laundry costs)

£139-248 per week

Graduation costs include tickets, gowning and photography. Gowns are not compulsory but typically students do hire robes, starting at £41.

Typically £0-200

Fines are payable on items returned late although we will give you 5 days to return an item before fines are payable. Find out more about how to borrow and return items.

£1 per book

Students are responsible for their own travel to and from university for classes with single bus fares in the UK currently capped at £3. Oxford Brookes has committed to offering heavily discounted bus travel for students for at least three years from July 2026 with further information on our Travel webpages.

Funding your studies

Financial support and scholarships

Featured funding opportunities available for this course.

£2,000 International Student Scholarship September entry

Oxford Brookes Bursary for students starting 2024-25 or earlier

Undergraduate maintenance loans for part-time UK students

Undergraduate maintenance loans for full-time UK students

Undergraduate tuition fee loans for UK students

Oxford Brookes Bursary for Students starting 2025/26 or later

20% Alumni Discount Scheme

All financial support and scholarships

View all funding opportunities for this course

Information from Discover Uni

Full-time study

Part-time study

Programme changes:

On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been

published on the website. For more information, please visit our

changes to programmes page.

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