Criminology with Forensic Psychology BSc
3-4 years
Start date:
Course information
Typical offer ABB
UCAS code CF84
Institute code L34
Taught by School of Criminology
8th in the UK for Criminology (The Guardian University Guide 2024)
97% of students in work or further study six months after graduating (The Uni Guide 2021)
Course description
Course description
Our Criminology with Forensic Psychology BSc offers an exciting opportunity to study fundamental criminological theory and concepts, and allows you to gain a detailed understanding of the role of forensic psychology in both research and practice.
You will study Introduction to Forensic Psychology in the first year, alongside three other core modules, which focus on theories of crime, criminal justice, and victims of crime. The first year of the degree gives you the foundational knowledge and academic skills that you need to progress into the second and final years.
In the second year, you will explore the use of forensic psychology in investigative and legal criminal justice settings, alongside modules in Punishment and Rehabilitation and research methods. In the third year, you will take Using Psychology in Secure Settings and Criminal Justice and Mental Disorder, alongside modules that prepare you for the completion of your Student Research Project. In your final year, you will also have the opportunity to tailor your degree with a range of option modules..
Leicester ranks 8th in the UK for teaching Criminology (The Guardian University Guide 2024). We are one of very few Schools in the country exclusively dedicated to teaching and researching criminology, and we are home to some of the UK’s leading criminologists. As such, you will benefit from a pure, focused and definitive education in the study of crime. Our strong performance in the National Student Survey since it began in 2005 reflects the popularity of the course among our students, as well as the dedication of the academic staff.
In the School of Criminology our research expertise feeds directly into our teaching, providing innovative and exciting content, as well as keeping you abreast of current debates on crime and criminal justice. Our award-winning research has real impact in wider society, and it influences policy and practice within the UK and beyond. Our research strengths include:
- Desistance and rehabilitation
- Domestic violence
- Forensic science
- Hate crime
- Investigative psychology
- Policing
- Prisons
- Sex work
It is important to note that this course is not accredited by the British Psychological Society. You can find out more about accredited courses from the British Psychological Society website.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
- A/AS-levels: ABB. All subjects accepted. Two AS-levels may be considered in place of one A-level.
- EPQ with A-levels: BBB + EPQ at grade B.
- GCSE: English at grade 4/C.
- Access to HE Diploma: Pass Diploma with 45 credits at Level 3, including 30 credits at Distinction.
- International Baccalaureate: Pass Diploma with 30 points overall. Must include grade 4 in English A or 5 in English B if minimum of grade 4/C not held in English Language at GCSE.
- BTEC Nationals: Pass Diploma at DDM.
- T Levels: Distinction. All T Levels considered.
Other official national and international qualifications considered from across the world. You can review some of the qualifications we accept on our countries page and English Language equivalencies.
If your qualification or country is not listed, please contact us for more information, including the name and result of the qualification you have studied.
If you do not meet the entry requirements for this course, you can apply for the International Foundation Year – Society and Culture run by the Global Study Centre. The GSC provides academic support to help you progress to your chosen undergraduate degree at the University of Leicester.
Second Year Entry may be possible with suitable qualifications.
The University of Leicester is committed to providing equitable opportunities for all applicants from all backgrounds. We make contextual offers to support students who may be impacted by the area they live in, their personal circumstances or who have completed one of our progression programmes. These offers are usually one or two grades lower than the standard entry requirements. To qualify for a contextual offer, you must apply for an eligible course and meet specific criteria – check if you’re eligible.
Selection Process
When considering your application, we will look for evidence that you will be able to fulfil the objectives of the course and achieve the standards required. We will take into account a range of factors including previous exam results.
Applicants are not normally interviewed. If you receive an offer you will be invited to visit the School.
English Language Requirements
IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. If you do not yet meet our requirements, our English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) offers a range of courses to help you to improve your English to the necessary standard.
International Qualifications
Find your country in this list to check equivalent qualifications, scholarships and additional requirements.
Countries ListFees and funding
Fees and funding
UK Students
Starting in 2024
Tuition fees for 2024/25 are yet to be confirmed. As an indication of what you might pay, the fees for students who started in 2023/24 were:
- £9,250 in your first year. Tuition fees are subject to government regulations and may change in future years.
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
International Students
Starting in 2024
Tuition fees for 2024/25 are yet to be confirmed. As an indication of what you might pay, the fees for students who started in 2023/24 were:
- £18,200 per year
If you are resident outside the UK and the Republic of Ireland, you will need to pay a deposit of £3,000 to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.
From 2022 onwards, EU nationals will pay the International fee. If you are an EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU settlement scheme, you may qualify for the UK fee (subject to criteria).
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
Careers and employability
Careers and employability
We aim to provide you with a range of transferable skills that will give you a head-start in today’s competitive job market. Your capacity for imaginative, rigorous and critical thinking will be developed throughout the degree. Subject specific skills, such as knowledge of the social processes of crime and the criminal justice system, will be complemented by the type of transferable skills that are highly valued by employers in the graduate job market, including:
- the ability to present and develop a cohesive argument
- IT skills
- research and problem-solving skills
- written and oral communication skills
- working as part of a team
The Careers Development Service and Criminology work together to ensure you improve your employability, as well as recognising the skills you have acquired throughout your degree. All students have the opportunity to participate in the Criminal Justice Insights, which will enable you to gain volunteering experience, enhance your CV and develop transferable skills. There is an optional placement module in the third year which gives you a further range of transferable skills and practical experiences.
Graduate destinations
This course will equip you with the skills you need to pursue an array of future careers, including: Interventions Facilitator, Treatment Manager, Offender Supervisor/Manager, as well as a wide range of broader criminology career in areas such as: policing, prisons, probation, and security. You will receive careers support and guidance throughout your studies, as well as a dedicated personal tutor to provide academic and pastoral support.
Graduates from our Criminology degrees have gone on to work for a wide range of employers including:
- Metropolitan Police
- Prison Service
- London Probation
- Leicestershire Police
- Serjants' Inn-Chambers
The experience Nikola gained has encouraged her to delve into a career as a senior policy officer.
Career Development Service
Get career-ready at Leicester with guidance from our award-winning Career Development Service. We're here to give you a lifetime offer of support, even after graduation. Our team of specialist careers advisers and mentors will help you every step of the way. From supporting you with CVs and interviews, to volunteering opportunities and placements, we're here to help you reach your professional goals.
Related courses
Related courses
Criminology
BSc, 3 years
Law with Criminology
LLB, 3 years
Psychology
BSc, 3-4 years
Chemistry with Forensic Science
BSc, 3-4 years
Browse all courses
View list
Sustainable Development Goals
Sustainable Development Goals
We are committed to providing skills and knowledge to help prepare you tackle global challenges. We have mapped our undergraduate degrees for learning which aligns to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
This degree includes learning which relates to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals:
- Goal 5: Gender equality
- Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong institutions
- Goal 17: Partnerships for the goals
Course structure
Year 1
Year 1
Modules
- Theories of Crime and Criminality (double module)
- Criminal Justice in Action (double module)
- Victims of Crime (double module)
- Introduction to Forensic Psychology (double module)
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Year 2
Year 2
Modules
- Punishment and Rehabilitation (double module)
- Understanding Criminological Research (double module)
- Investigative Psychology (single module)
- Doing Criminological Research (double module)
- Forensic Psychology in the Courtroom (single module)
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Year Abroad (optional)
Year Abroad (optional)
We’ll make sure you have everything you need for your future career: not just by awarding you a high quality degree, but also by helping you to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence you need to make your mark in the world as a Citizen of Change. One way you can do this is by opting to take a Year Abroad between Years 2 and 3 of your degree.
Studying abroad is not just for people who are interested in travelling and meeting new people. It is about acquiring life skills that are becoming increasingly significant for a wide range of jobs in our modern globalised society. Whether you go on to a career in the private, public or third sector - or plough your own furrow as an entrepreneur – you will find the experience invaluable.
For more information, including a list of destinations, please visit our Study Abroad website.
Please note
- A year spent abroad still incurs a tuition fee, but this is much lower than for a normal year at Leicester. See the Fees and Funding tab of this page for details.
- You may be eligible for a travel grant from Student Finance England.
- Places are offered on a competitive basis, and eligibility is dependent on your academic performance in Years 1 and 2.
- Language courses, at beginners or advanced level, are available through our Languages at Leicester scheme.
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Year 3
Year 3
Core modules
- Preparing for your Research Project (double module)
- Using Psychology in Secure Settings (single module)
- Student Research Project (double module)
- Criminal Justice and Mental Disorder (single module)
Option modules
Choose one option module from:
Then choose one option module from:
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Why Leicester?
Job prospects are excellent: 97% of our criminology students are employed (or studying for a Masters degree) six months after graduating. (DLHE)
We were ranked 8th in the UK for criminology teaching in the Guardian University Guide 2024.
You won't just be sitting in lecture theatres and seminar rooms. Our Crime Scene Room, Police Interview Room and Court Room bring a practical aspect to the course.
The Scarman Series of criminology lectures is a chance to hear from major names in law, policing and politics. Previous speakers have included Keir Starmer, Shami Chakrabarti and David Lammy.
Teaching and learning
The modules you take are taught using a combination of lectures and workshops, as well as more contemporary virtual learning environments. Lectures provide you with the foundational knowledge needed to study the subject area, while the workshops give you the opportunity to discuss key ideas with your peers and your workshop leader. The virtual learning environment, which include podcasts, webinars, online discussion forums and audio/visual learning aids, gives you the opportunity to explore the subject area at your own pace and offer an alternative approach to learning and teaching. In addition to this you will be given a personal tutor who can provide one-to-one support on a range of academic and personal issues, and all the teaching staff in the School have regular ‘drop in’ sessions where you are able to discuss any problems you may have.
Our assessment strategy allows you to develop a range of academic and transferable skills throughout your degree. You will be assessed through exams, essays, reports and presentations. You will also have the opportunity to produce factsheets, blogs, posters and a range of other creative forms of assessment. In your third year you will also produce a dissertation focusing on an area of criminology that particularly interests you. The dissertation is the culmination of your academic studies and it allows you to demonstrate all of the skills and knowledge you have acquired throughout your studies. It is also a fantastic opportunity to study a particular topic area in depth and to conduct your own research. You will also receive dedicated one-to-one dissertation supervision from one of the academics in the School.
Independent learning
When not attending lectures, workshops or other timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams. To help with your independent learning, you can access the Library and our social study spaces in halls of residence.
Your contact hours will depend on the option modules you select. You can see details of the contact hours on individual module pages.
Academic support
Our Student Learning Development Team provides help in the following areas:
- study and exam skills
- academic writing
- presentations
- dissertations
- numerical data skills
- referencing sources
Our AccessAbility Centre offers support and practical help for students with dyslexia or other specific learning difficulties, including physical, mental health or mobility difficulties, deafness, or visual impairment.
Teaching staff
You will be taught by an award-winning teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. PhD research students who have undertaken teacher training may also contribute to the teaching of workshops under the supervision of the module leader. You can learn more about our staff by visiting our staff profiles.
Apply now
| Course | Qualification | Duration | UCAS Code | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course Criminology with Forensic Psychology | Qualification BSc | Duration 3 years, full-time | UCAS Code CF84 | Availability How to apply |
