BA (Hons) Criminal Justice And Psychology Bachelor's degree at Edge Hill University
BA (Hons) Criminal Justice And Psychology at Edge Hill University. Delivered over three years of full-time study, the course draws on psychology specialisations such as forensic, cognitive, clinical, developmental, occupational and health psychology, alongside neuroscience and research methods.
About this course
Explore crime, criminals and criminal justice and the fundamental principles of psychology on our BSc (Hons) Criminal Justice and Psychology degree at Edge Hill University. From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) Criminal Justice And Psychology is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at Edge Hill University, based in Ormskirk. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Psychology (non-specific) graduates from this provider, 90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 43% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £24,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Psychology, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
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)
Moderate evidence Published sample: 60; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2021-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 90% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
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
- Multi-agency Work in Criminal JusticeCompulsory20 credits
Module details
is designed to enhance your learning about the core agencies of the criminal justice system, their role and function, and how they interact with each other to prevent and reduce crime, assess risk, and safeguard and protect (potential) victims of crime. The key bodies and their roles will be examined, and the processes by which they share information and work together to achieve goals will be explored. Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs), Multi-Agency Public Protection Assessments
Assessment: 50% Coursework 50% Practical
- Addictions and OffendingCompulsory20 credits
Module details
explores the key policy, practice and societal drivers which currently direct responses to addictions and offending. The Government strategy, 'Reducing Demand, Restricting Supply, Building Recovery' (Ministry of Justice, 2010), recognises the impact that addictions such as drug and alcohol dependence have on societal harm and crime. The strategy sets out to tackle dependence on all drugs including prescription and over the counter medicines, as well as severe alcohol dependence. The relationship
Assessment: 100% Exam
- Mental Health and OffendingCompulsory20 credits
Module details
aims to provide you with a contemporary and detailed understanding of the pivotal issues pertaining to the mentally disordered offender (MDO). The module will specifically focus on those individuals detained under Part III of the Mental Health Act (1983) who will be frequently detained under Section 37 MHA (1983), which is a Home Office restriction order.
Assessment: 50% Coursework 50% Practical
- Criminal JusticeCompulsory20 credits
Module details
introduces you to the criminal justice system. You will consider the function of the criminal justice system and the police role within it, as well as examining various pieces of associated legislation. You will focus on victims, the victims commissioner, codes of practice, and the role of the family liaison officer. You will also explore the custody process, in particular the detention, custody, charging, disclosure and escorting of detainees. Sentencing, out-of-court disposals and restorative
Assessment: 100% Coursework
- Introduction to Mental HealthCompulsory20 credits
Module details
introduces you to the application of psychology to understanding mental health and mental illness in applied settings. You will be provided with an overview of historical and contemporary issues surrounding mental health and the law. You will explore defining and classifying psychological conditions using Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM). You will develop an understanding of the treatment and effective management of psychological conditions, with a particular focus on risk assessment and risk
Assessment: 50% Coursework 50% Practical
- Introduction to Personality, Social & Developmental PsychologyCompulsory20 credits
Module details
will familiarise you with the approaches and concepts central to the study of behaviour. The module explores the historical and theoretical concepts of personality and individual differences, social cognition and social and cognitive development.
Assessment: 100% Coursework
Year 2 11 modules
- Doing Criminal Justice ResearchCompulsory20 credits
Module details
provides you with a thorough grounding in understanding and undertaking policing research. It considers the development of policing research and explores different qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. The module considers the theoretical context of approaches such as positivism and interpretivism. It also explores the skills necessary to evaluate policing research, particularly in terms of research ethics and politics and the practical skills necessary to undertake the research p
Assessment: 100% Coursework
- Work PlacementCompulsory20 credits
Module details
develops your employability skills by engaging you in work experience, either with industry (whether legal or non-legal) or with a voluntary organisation. After a few weeks of preparation for your placement, the placement will typically run throughout the second year of the course, commencing in October and running through until the end of April. Following completion of the placement, you will compile a reflective report illustrating the skills and experience demonstrated and acquired. This will
Assessment: 100% Coursework
- Psychology and The LawCompulsory20 credits
Module details
provides you with a comprehensive understanding of how psychology can inform and influence various aspects of the legal system. You will learn how psychology can contribute to our understanding of criminal justice processes, criminal investigations, and offending behaviour. You will explore the role of psychology in understanding and addressing legal issues, as well as the ethical implications involved in these applications.
Assessment: 60% Practical 40% Coursework
- Cyber Crime and Criminal JusticeOptional20 credits
Module details
explores cyber crime both in theory and practice to analyse the intersection between criminal behaviour and justice processes. Common cyber attacks, offending methodologies, online harms and victimisation will be examined as you develop your understanding of the nature of these crimes and how the cultural worlds of hackers, crackers and trackers work. Cyber criminality, and its impact on society, will also be explored in-depth.
Assessment: 100% Coursework
- Introduction to Probation StudiesOptional20 credits
Module details
has been designed to provide an introduction to probation services and processes within criminal justice. The role, function and purpose of probation in the management of offenders will be explored and a historical and theoretical contextualization of probation as a concept and a criminal justice tool will be provided. The module will also explore aspects of probation work and will include tasters on commonly studied topics in this field. It will also consider contemporary challenges faced withi
Assessment: 60% Coursework 40% Practical
- Rehabilitation and Treatment of OffendersOptional20 credits
Module details
recognises that there is much debate focused around the concepts of punishment and treatment in the UK and the wider world. The module will equip you with a detailed understanding of the key theoretical and practical arguments in the contemporary fields of criminal justice and health and social care. You will explore a variety of treatment options which are available to offenders across the criminal justice and health and social care services. You will assess their effectiveness and consider how
Assessment: 100% Practical
- Biological PsychologyOptional20 credits
Module details
studies the human nervous system, including its structure and functioning. There will be a particular focus upon the brain. You will learn in detail the processes by which messages are passed through the system and the way the brain interacts with the hormones of the endocrine system in order to preserve life. The methods by which the brain is commonly researched will also be explored in order to provide a basis for understanding much current research and theorising in psychology.
Assessment: 60% Coursework 40% Exam
- Developmental PsychologyOptional20 credits
Module details
addresses the processes involved in key aspects of human development and their relevant applications in real world settings. It will focus mainly (though not exclusively) on development in childhood including areas such as cognition, memory, language, emotional, and social development. Emphasis will be placed on the evaluation of key theories and psychological research that have informed our understanding of development in these areas.
Assessment: 50% Coursework 50% Practical
- Social PsychologyOptional20 credits
Module details
reveals the extent to which social influences and interactions are pervasive in affecting individual behaviour, while also considering how the actions of an individual in turn affect other individuals and groups. You will develop an awareness of the relationship between person and situation and examine how this dynamic relationship both influences, and is crucial to, the understanding of behaviour.
Assessment: 50% Coursework 50% Exam
- Cognitive PsychologyOptional20 credits
Module details
will examine both classic and contemporary research that has led to the development of theories regarding how attention, perception and memory all function. The module will also examine how each of these components interact during everyday tasks. You will consider how thinking, language and emotion enable us to reason about, and interact meaningfully with, the external world, gaining an understanding of the processes used to communicate, comprehend, and use information and knowledge.
Assessment: 50% Coursework 50% Exam
- Gender, Sex and ViolenceOptional20 credits
Module details
explores the concept of violence and the various forms it can take. Specifically, the module will focus on the relationships between gender, sex, sexuality and violence, and the ideological, cultural and religious underpinnings of such violent acts. You will be encouraged to look beyond established understandings of what constitutes a violent act to explore more abstract forms of violence such as harm, denial of rights, and poverty. Criminological and social science theory will form the basis of
Assessment: 100%
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
This degree explores crime, criminals and criminal justice alongside the fundamental principles of psychology. You'll usually begin with core psychology foundations, how behaviour, cognition and mental processes work, alongside research methods and statistics. Year 2 typically moves to cognitive, social and developmental psychology, with further advanced research training. In Year 3, you'll choose specialist options such as clinical psychology, forensic psychology, neuroscience, child development or health psychology, and complete an empirical dissertation of your own design. Throughout, you'll engage with how psychological principles apply to understanding criminal behaviour and the justice system.
Who it's for
This course suits students interested in understanding criminal behaviour, the psychology of offending and victimisation, and how justice systems operate. It's appropriate for those considering careers in forensic psychology, criminal justice, law enforcement, probation, victim support or related fields. You'll need to meet entry requirements; most accepted students held A-levels or equivalent (95% of recent entrants), with typical UCAS tariff points ranging from 96 to 111. English-language proficiency is required for this English-taught programme.
Careers & job market
Across psychology courses nationally, 85% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of graduating, with 45% in highly skilled work or further study. National earnings data shows starting salaries of £22,250–£28,000 at 15 months post-graduation, rising to £22,950–£32,400 after five years. These figures reflect national Graduate Outcomes and LEO data, not university-specific guarantees. Career paths typically include forensic psychology, criminal justice roles, research, counselling and policy work.
University & format
This BA (Hons) is studied full-time over 3 years at Edge Hill University, a public university in Ormskirk. Instruction is in English. The degree is nationally recognised by a UK degree-awarding body and carries BPS accreditation. Edge Hill received a Silver award for teaching quality in 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.
- 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.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
Names detected beside accreditation or recognition copy on the provider course page; verify the route and intake.
Work placement. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
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 | 95% |
| an Access course | 5% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
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.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
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.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code CP54). 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.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at Edge Hill University →For students who normally live in England
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.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
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.
Careers & earnings
What Psychology 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 | £24,000 | £21,000 – £28,000 | 60 |
| 3 years after | £20,000 | £16,500 – £23,000 | 120 |
| 5 years after | £24,500 | £19,500 – £29,000 | 125 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 60; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2021-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Assistant / Graduate roleAssistant psychologist or research · 0–2 yrs
- 2Trainee / PractitionerDoctoral training or applied role · 2–6 yrs
- 3Qualified PsychologistChartered / HCPC-registered · 6–10 yrs
- 4Senior / ConsultantLeading services or research · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Psychology nationally
National figures for Psychology 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.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2021-23. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 60; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2021-23. 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 Psychology courses at the same study level.
Compared with 758 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 ProfessionalsSOC 2020 246 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £39,047
- Administrative occupationsSOC 2020 41 · 11% of published destinations · ASHE median £27,006
- Sales occupationsSOC 2020 71 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £15,975
- Caring personal servicesSOC 2020 613 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £23,668
- Protective service occupationsDiscover Uni category · 10% of published destinations
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: 290; response rate: 51%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Psychology graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
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
- Survey scoring and data cleaning
- Literature-search summaries
- Routine report scaffolding
- Standard statistical runs
More human than ever
- Clinical judgement and formulation
- Empathy and the therapeutic relationship
- Designing and interpreting studies
- Ethics with vulnerable people
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Psychology 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
- The NHS
- Schools
- Research & consultancies
- Charities
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Psychology graduates.
Psychology GraduateAcademicsPsychology Graduate: ABA Support for AutismAxcis Education RecruitmentPsychology Graduate for SEND school LincolnAspire PeoplePsychology GraduateTradewind RecruitmentPsychology Graduate TA – Special Needs School ExperienceStepintoteachingPsychology Expert Witness Lead: QA & TrainingSomek & AssociatesIs 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
90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £24,000. 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 8.7 out of 10: NSS 86.7% · in work or study 90% · continued 85%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Edge Hill University
Psychology across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Ormskirk
220 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Psychology right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to Edge Hill University from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £14,500 / 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 Edge Hill 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 Edge Hill University and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Edge Hill University
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Common questions
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