BA (Hons) Criminology and Psychological Studies · BULBachelor's degree · Duration varies
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Birkbeck, University of London · Undergraduate

BA (Hons) Criminology and Psychological Studies Bachelor's degree at Birkbeck, University of London

BA (Hons) Criminology and Psychological Studies at BUL combines criminology with psychological studies, offering a nationally recognised qualification.

BA (Hons)
Award
Years
Part-time
Study mode
80%
in work/study (15m)

About this course

On this BA Criminology and Psychological Studies you will study with leading experts to explore key criminology and psychology debates and thinkers. From the provider’s course page.

BA (Hons) Criminology and Psychological Studies is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at BUL, based in Birkbeck College. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.

For Psychology (non-specific) graduates from this provider, 80% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 70% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £35,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)

For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Law, see the sections below.

Course evidence score

The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.

8.4
/ 10
Excellent
3 of 3 official measures
Student satisfaction
What students say in the National Student Survey
Excellent88

Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)

Graduate outcomes
In work or further study 15 months after graduating
Excellent80

Limited evidence Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 80% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)

Continuation
Students who continue past their first year
Excellent85

Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 85% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)

Curriculum & modules

Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.

Year 1 6 modules
  • Crime and Critical PsychologyCompulsory
  • Understanding Applied Cognitive PsychologyCompulsory
  • Understanding Applied Social PsychologyCompulsory
  • Understanding Individual DifferencesCompulsory
  • Understanding NeuroscienceCompulsory
  • What is Crime?Compulsory
Year 2 1 modules
  • What is Justice?Compulsory
Year 3 2 modules
  • Policy, Government and Social ControlCompulsory
  • Criminology and Psychology Research ProjectCompulsory
Level 5 11 modules
  • CognitionOptional15 credits
  • Individual DifferencesOptional15 credits
  • Micro-placementOptional15 credits
  • NeuroscienceOptional15 credits
  • Psychological and Developmental Issues in Childhood and AdolescenceOptional15 credits
  • Psychology for Personal and Professional DevelopmentOptional15 credits
  • Your Career DevelopmentOptional15 credits
  • Crime and Social PsychologyOptional30 credits
  • Crimes of the PowerfulOptional30 credits
  • Gender, Crime and ViolenceOptional30 credits
  • Restorative and Alternative JusticeOptional30 credits
Level 6 6 modules
  • Attachment Theory: Introduction and CritiqueOptional
  • Family StudiesOptional
  • Health PsychologyOptional
  • NeurodiversityOptional
  • NeuropsychologyOptional
  • Psychology in Public PolicyOptional
Foundation Year 3 modules
  • Breaking Boundaries of KnowledgeCore
  • Crossing BordersCore
  • Fundamentals of StudyCore
Level 4 3 modules
  • Chinese 1Optional
  • French 3Optional
  • French 4Optional
Modules 4 modules
  • French 1Optional
  • French 2Optional
  • German 1Optional
  • German 2Optional

Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.

Course in depth

What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.

What you'll study

You will explore key criminology and psychology debates and thinkers alongside expert staff. A course like this typically moves from foundations in criminal law, public law and psychology in the first year, through specialist modules in areas such as criminal justice, human rights and family law in the middle years, to advanced options and independent research or applied work in the final stage. The emphasis shifts progressively from core principles, covering how offences, defences and civil wrongs operate, towards deeper engagement with specific fields and your own investigative interests within criminology and psychology.

Who it's for

This part-time degree suits students balancing study with work or other commitments. Most entrants hold A-levels or equivalent qualifications. The course draws on criminology and psychological perspectives, exploring topics such as criminal law, human rights, public law and corporate matters. It's designed for those seeking to understand crime, behaviour and the legal frameworks that address them.

University & format

This BA (Hons) is offered by Birkbeck, University of London, a public university founded in 1823. The course is studied part-time in English at Birkbeck College. As a degree from a recognised UK degree-awarding body, it is nationally recognised. The course also holds Bronze in the Office for Students' Teaching Excellence Framework 2023.

Student satisfaction

How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.

The teaching on my course
89%
Learning opportunities
84%
Assessment and feedback
86%
Academic Support
96%
Organisation and management
87%
Learning resources
86%
Student voice
85%

Share of students responding positively.

Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)

Applicant information

The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.

2027 entry deadlineApply directly to the provider

Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates

Open daysBook open days

See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.

2026 entryLive availability check

Opened 2 July 2026; last choice 19 October 2026. Check vacancies now. A cached page never claims a place is still available.

Entry & how to get in

Most entrants held A-levels or equivalent60% of accepted students came in with A-levels or equivalent (entrants over recent years).
Entry requirements are set by the universityGrades, subjects and contextual offers vary. Check BUL's official course page for the current offer.

Who gets in

What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.

Qualifications held on entry

QualificationShare
A-levels or equivalent60%
a previous degree15%
another higher-education qualification15%
Other15%

Entry & your chances

An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.

Offer-based entry

Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.

How to apply

Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.

Apply byApply directly to the providerfor this course
UCAS codeLL37quote this on your application
  1. 1
    Register on UCAS Hub

    Create your UCAS application and add this course (code LL37). One application covers up to five choices.

  2. 2
    Write your personal statement

    A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.

  3. 3
    Submit by Apply directly to the provider

    Part-time application dates vary by provider. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.

  4. 4
    Reply to your offers

    When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.

  5. 5
    Results day & confirmation

    On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.

💡 Many universities make a contextual (reduced-grade) offer, for example based on your school’s results, time in care, or where you live. Ask BUL whether you’re eligible before you apply; it can lower the grades you need.

Fees & funding

What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.

Tuition per year

Homeup to £9,790 / yr
International£18,500 / yr

Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).

Check fees at BUL →

For students who normally live in England

illustrative Maintenance Loan per year
Check providertuition used per year, no published course home fee, total not estimated
total borrowing, course length not published

2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.

Starting on or after 1 January 2027?

The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.

Paying for it

  • Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
  • Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
  • Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
  • Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.

England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.

Funding matched to this course

Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for

All BUL funding →

Named awards published by the university. Compare the eligibility and application route before budgeting for one.

Amounts, exclusions and deadlines can change. An award is not guaranteed unless the university confirms it.

StudyKit · free

Still deciding what to study?

StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.

Career quizApplication walkthroughSalary & CV check

Careers & earnings

What Law graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.

Graduate earnings: this course

WhenMedianTypical rangeGraduates
15 months after£35,000£27,000 – £49,50015
3 years after£25,000£16,500 – £39,00045
5 years after£26,500£13,000 – £38,50045

Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23.

Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course

80%
in work or further study 15 months on
70%
in highly skilled work or study
85%
continue past their first year
90%
find their work meaningful
65%
say work fits their future plans
  1. 1Paralegal / TraineeTraining contract or pupillage route · 0–2 yrs
  2. 2Solicitor / BarristerQualified practitioner · 2–5 yrs
  3. 3Senior AssociateLeading matters and clients · 5–9 yrs
  4. 4Partner / In-house CounselPartnership or heading legal · 9+ yrs

How pay grows: this course vs Law nationally

Starting (15 months) HESA GO
£35,000
£23,000 – £30,000
After 3 years LEO
£25,000
£19,550 – £27,600
After 5 years LEO
£26,500
£24,225 – £34,200
national rangethis course’s medianaxis £18,000 – £36,500

National figures for Law graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.

Work out your pay

Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.

What happened to 100 students?

Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.

80 of 100

were in work or further study

15 months after graduation

85% working10% working and studying0% in further study70% in highly skilled work or study

Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.

Value compared with similar courses

How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Law courses at the same study level.

This course £26,500Peer median £28,000Middle 50% £25,500–£31,500
35th percentile

Compared with 1,352 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.

UK occupations graduates enter

Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.

  • Welfare and housing associate professionalsSOC 2020 322 · 20% of published destinations · ASHE median £27,937
  • Managers, directors and senior officialsSOC 2020 1 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £51,733
  • Business, Research and Administrative ProfessionalsSOC 2020 243 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £48,746
  • Secretarial and related occupationsDiscover Uni category · 15% of published destinations
  • Teaching and Childcare Support OccupationDiscover Uni category · 10% of published destinations
  • Caring personal servicesSOC 2020 613 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £23,668

Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 30; response rate: 60%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.

Job market & outlook

How Law graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.

85%
in work or further study 15 months after graduating, across Law courses nationally.
Graduate Outcomes
55%
of working graduates are in highly skilled work or further study.
highly skilled
85%
of students continue past their first year (still enrolled or completed).
continuation

How AI is changing the work

AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.

What AI takes off your plate

  • First-pass document review
  • Standard contract drafting
  • Legal research summaries
  • Routine due diligence

More human than ever

  • Advocacy and negotiation
  • Judgement on ambiguous facts
  • Client trust and ethics
  • Strategy in disputes and deals

The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.

Roles & employers

Where Law graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.

Where they work

  • Law firms
  • Barristers' chambers
  • In-house legal teams
  • Government Legal Service

Is this course right for you?

The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.

💷

Student finance

For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.

📈

Where graduates go

80% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £35,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.

Official-data snapshot

Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.4 out of 10: NSS 87.6% · in work or study 80% · continued 85%.

Who studies here and in this subject?

Provider- and UK subject-level context.

Birkbeck College

All students7,720
International12%
Aged 25+66.6%

Law across the UK

Students144,525
Aged 25+24.3%

HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.

Local crime-data context

A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.

Around Birkbeck College - Bloomsbury Campus

14,111 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.

Theft From The Person 3001Other Theft 2876Violent Crime 1994Anti Social Behaviour 1989Shoplifting 1625

Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.

Is Law right for you?

Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.

International students

What applying to BUL from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.

Tuition fees

International tuition is £18,500 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.

English language

Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.

Student visa

You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.

Scholarships & funding

Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check BUL’s funding pages.

Living costs

Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.

Working while you study

A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.

Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with BUL and gov.uk before you apply.

Common questions

Set by BUL. Most accepted students held A-levels or equivalent. Check the university's course page for the exact offer.
For Psychology (non-specific) graduates from this provider, 80% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 70% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £35,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years. See Fees & funding on this page to work out your numbers.
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