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De Montfort University · Undergraduate
BA (Hons) Criminology Bachelor's degree at De Montfort University
BA (Hons) Criminology at De Montfort University leads to a nationally recognised Bachelor's degree. The university holds Bronze status for teaching quality in the Office for Students' Teaching Excellence Framework (2023) and is ranked 110th overall in the Complete University…
BA (Hons)
Award
3
Years
Full-time
Study mode
69%
continuation
About this course
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BA (Hons) Criminology is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at De Montfort University. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Sociology graduates from this provider, typical earnings around £25,000. (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.
7.4
/ 10
2 of 3 official measures
Student satisfaction
What students say in the National Student Survey
Strong79
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)
Continuation
Students who continue past their first year
Strong69
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 69% (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 4 modules
- Introduction to Criminology
Module details
This module introduces you to the key skills required to undertake an undergraduate degree programme in Criminology. You will learn practical skills enabling you to find and present academic sources, develop effective approaches to reading and writing in an academic setting. You will acquire presentation, team work, and referencing skills.
- Principles of Social Research
Module details
This module introduces you to the principles of social research. You will recognise and apply critical thinking, explore the concept of ethics in research, and reflect on biases and positionality. You will explore philosophical questions and how different world views shape our understanding of crime, harm and justice.
- Contemporary Issues in Criminology
Module details
This module engages you with a range of issues pertinent to complex problems in crime, harm and justice. You will be able to describe the characteristics of these phenomena and identify the links between crime, politics and society. Lastly, you will explore how power inequality and exclusion link with crime harm and victimisation drawing on issues such as race, class gender and sexuality.
- Journeys Through Justice
Module details
You will explore the concept of justice and what it means in the context of criminology. By mapping the institutions of criminal and social justice such as police, prisons, probation, courts and the community sector, you will explore pathways through justice and how it may or may not be achieved.
Year 2 8 modules
- Explaining Criminological Issues
Module details
In this module, you will explore core criminological theories in relation to crime, harm and victimisation. These criminological theories are situated in the context of and applied to a range of issues pertinent to complex problems in crime, harm and justice. The module builds a more critical awareness of from Level 4 Module Contemporary Issues in Criminology with a view to developing a 'criminological imagination'.
- Communities of Justice
Module details
This module explores the Institutions, practices & interactions of justice. You will explore the debates on the nature of imprisonment, punishment, rehabilitation and desistance. This module will consider debates on race, power, gender, criminalisation, youth justice as they apply to communities of justice. This module builds on the content of Level 4 module Journeys Through Justice.
- Domestic Violence and AbuseOptional
Module details
This module considers the changing social, political and legal recognition of domestic violence and abuse and its impact. Students are encouraged to examine the varying context, nature, signs, triggers and impact of domestic violence and abuse.
- Children and the Criminal Justice SystemOptional
Module details
The module presents academic research, knowledge and understanding in an accessible way that better equips students to explore and discuss contemporary issues for children and the criminal justice system, across community and custody contexts.
- Animals and CriminologyOptional
Module details
This module covers the different ways in which animals are the topic of criminological examination. Students will be introduced to a broad range of topic areas such as animal abuse, wildlife trafficking, conservation, and animal advocacy and will critically explore if and what harm to animals drawing from research from subjects including criminology, sociology, law, and philosophy.
- Genocides and mass atrocitiesOptional
Module details
This module explores a range of genocides and mass atrocities. Students will understand the issues around defining genocide and in establishing what is and isn't a genocide, and what this means in terms of prevention, intervention and justice.
- Restorative Justice in PracticeOptional
Module details
This module will be relevant to students interested in working with offenders and/or victims in a community justice setting. This module will explore the various origins and applications of Restorative Justice and the critical theoretical analysis which has followed.
- Alcohol and Other Drugs, Crime and SocietyOptional
Module details
This module will explore the relationship between alcohol and other drugs (AOD), and crime. The overall aim of the module is to provide students with an understanding of how UK and international drug policy, localised drug usage and the international trade in both legal and illegal drugs are related.
Year 3 5 modules
- Research and Effective Practice
Module details
This module aims to provide you with the opportunity to focus on specific areas of interest and examine appropriate methods of exploring those areas through ethical research.
- Planning Social Research
Module details
In this module, you will identify a relevant criminological topic and design a final year research project. You will develop a series of appropriate research questions, describe and evaluate an appropriate research design and consider the ethical implications of a research project on a criminological topic.
- Justice in a Globalised World
Module details
In this module, you will explore advanced theoretical perspective to help you understand crime in a global context. You will critically evaluate how these 'global' crimes and harms impact crime, harm and victimisation in society. You will also develop knowledge and critical understanding of transnational crime prevention and justice organisations and institutions.
- Emerging Issues in Criminology
Module details
This module aims to promote a culture of curious and continuous enquires as part of a lifelong learning mindset. You will explore immediate issues that emerge within society and examine these using knowledge and understanding from their undergraduate degree programme.
- Final Project
Module details
This module is designed to enable you to complete an independent project. You will integrate your knowledge and skills from across the degree programme to complete a final project. This project will be in the form of one of the following: An extended essay An empirical based research project A social activism project based on your project proposal from module Planning Social research.
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.
Who it's for
This course suits students interested in understanding crime, criminal justice systems, and the law's role in society. Most accepted students held A-levels or equivalent qualifications; the typical UCAS tariff among recent entrants was 80–95 points. Eighty-five per cent of students continue past their first year. The university has approximately 29,000 students overall.
Careers & job market
Nationally, 85% of Law graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating. Of those working, 55% are in highly skilled roles or pursuing further study. Graduate earnings data (national figures) show starting salaries of £23,000–£30,000 at 15 months post-graduation, £19,550–£27,600 after three years, and £24,225–£34,200 after five years. These reflect the broader Law field rather than guarantees specific to this course.
University & format
This BA (Hons) Criminology is taught full-time at De Montfort University, a public university, over 3 years. The course is delivered in English. De Montfort University is a recognised UK degree-awarding body, and this degree is nationally recognised. The university holds a Bronze award for teaching quality under the Office for Students' TEF 2023.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
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.
Application timelineWhat happens next
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Published entryUCAS points: 112, A Level: BBC, BTEC: DM typical offer
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
Contextual offersPublished by this provider
The provider publishes contextual-offer information. Eligibility and any reduced offer are applicant-specific.
Open daysOpen Days - Book your place
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Typical offer (from the provider)The university’s course page lists a typical A-level offer of UCAS points: 112, A Level: BBC, BTEC: DM. Always check the provider for the current offer and subject requirements.
Most entrants held A-levels or equivalent98% of accepted students came in with A-levels or equivalent (entrants over recent years).
Typical UCAS tariff: 80 - 95 pointsThe most common UCAS tariff band among accepted students. This is what entrants had, not a stated requirement.
Entry requirements are set by the universityGrades, subjects and contextual offers vary. Check De Montfort University's official course page for the current offer.
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 98% |
| an Access course | 2% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Accessible entry
Accepted students came in with a broad spread of qualifications and UCAS points. If you're worried about grades, this course has historically taken a wide range, and contextual offers may apply.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Your UCAS points0
▾
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Add your grades to see where you land
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
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 by13 January 2027, 18:00 UK timefor this course
Typical gradesCCDA-level equivalent admitted students held
UCAS codeL390quote this on your application
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code L390). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write 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.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results 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 De Montfort University 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£16,800 / yr
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at De Montfort University →For students who normally live in England
illustrative Maintenance Loan per year
£9,790tuition used per year, illustrative full-time England fee-cap scenario
illustrative borrowing over 3 years
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
All De Montfort University funding →Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
Named awards published by the university. Compare the eligibility and application route before budgeting for one.
undergraduate students with household income £50,000 or less
Check eligibility →students with household income £50,000 or less
Check eligibility →Amounts, exclusions and deadlines can change. An award is not guaranteed unless the university confirms it.
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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
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £25,000 | £22,500 – £29,000 | 6195 |
| 3 years after | £21,000 | £17,000 – £25,500 | 175 |
| 5 years after | £26,000 | £21,000 – £31,500 | 190 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 6,195. Cohort 2021-22.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
69%
continue past their first year
- 1Paralegal / TraineeTraining contract or pupillage route · 0–2 yrs
- 2Solicitor / BarristerQualified practitioner · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior AssociateLeading matters and clients · 5–9 yrs
- 4Partner / In-house CounselPartnership or heading legal · 9+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Law nationally
Starting (15 months) HESA GO
£25,000
£23,000 – £30,000After 3 years LEO
£21,000
£19,550 – £27,600After 5 years LEO
£26,000
£24,225 – £34,200national rangethis course’s medianaxis £18,500 – £35,500
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.
69 of 100
continued or completed
continued into the next year or completed their qualification
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 6,195. Cohort 2021-22. 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 £26,000Peer median £28,000Middle 50% £25,500–£31,500
31st percentile
Compared with 1,352 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
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 Outcomes55%
of working graduates are in highly skilled work or further study.
highly skilled85%
of students continue past their first year (still enrolled or completed).
continuationHow 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.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Law firms
- Barristers' chambers
- In-house legal teams
- Government Legal Service
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Law graduates.
Law Firm Associates of all Practice Areas: Discuss your Overseas Relocation with Duke and Rawson – Australia/Asia/Middle East/Europe/Offshore/UKDuke and RawsonLaw Enforcement Success SpecialistAurorLaw Firm HR & Operations Lead - 12-Month ContractCharalle GroupLaw Firm Finance & Practice Manager, Leadership & OpsMcKinlay LawLaw Internship: Disputes & IBC – In-OfficeCanon SphereLaw Firm Front Desk & Guest Services (Oxford)Owen ReedLive from the StudySmarter job board · as of 2026-08-01.See all matching jobs
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
Most graduates were in work or further study, with a median salary of £25,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
🎯
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
⭐
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 7.4 out of 10: NSS 79.4% · continued 69%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
De Montfort University
All students23,155
International31.8%
Aged 25+27.3%
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 De Montfort University
4,747 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Violent Crime 1557Public Order 619Anti Social Behaviour 570Shoplifting 499Criminal Damage Arson 362
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 De Montfort University from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £16,800 / 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 De Montfort University’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 De Montfort University and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at De Montfort University
BA (Hons) Criminology with PsychologyBA (Hons) · De Montfort UniversityBSc (Hons) Health and Wellbeing in SocietyBSc (Hons) · De Montfort UniversityBSc (Hons) Psychology with CriminologyBSc (Hons) · De Montfort UniversityBSc (Hons) Psychology with Health and Wellbeing in SocietyBSc (Hons) · De Montfort University
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
Entry is historically accessible, accepted students came in with a broad spread of qualifications. The most common tariff band among recent entrants was 80 - 95 UCAS points. Use the calculator on this page to see where your predicted grades would put you; many universities also make lower contextual offers.
What are the entry requirements?
Set by De Montfort University. Most accepted students held A-levels or equivalent. Check the university's course page for the exact offer.
What do graduates go on to do?
For Sociology graduates from this provider, typical earnings around £25,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
What will it cost me?
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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