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Criminology (with Foundation Year)

BSc (Hons)

UCAS code: LL3F

Start dates: September 2025 / September 2026

Full time: 4 Years, or 5 if year abroad is chosen

Part time: Up to 11 years

Location: Headington

School(s): School of Law and Social Sciences, School of Education, Humanities and Languages

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Overview

Are you fascinated by the world of criminology? Would you like to learn about how crime impacts the world today? At Oxford Brookes you'll experience an exciting blend of theoretical and practical study as you explore criminology in real world situations. You'll investigate who commits crime, why they commit it and how to prevent it.

Criminology with a Foundation Year is a unique integrated degree programme, enabling you to develop academic skills crucial to university study, such as critical analysis, academic writing and collaboration. We'll support you as you grow your confidence, get to know your strengths and build your knowledge. 

In your first year, you'll undertake our Foundation in Humanities course, and you'll then progress to the three year undergraduate programme in Criminology, with an opportunity to do an optional study abroad as an additional year. With the diverse experience and skills you'll gain, you'll be fully prepared for a career in a variety of sectors.

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Why Oxford Brookes University?

  • Perfect Preparation
    Build essential study skills with an integrated foundation year. Gain academic confidence, improve critical thinking, and strengthen subject knowledge for your degree journey.
  • A distinctive social focus
    Being part of the School of Education, Humanities and Languages, 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.
  • Learn a language

    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.

Course details

Course structure

In your foundation year, you’ll study a foundation in humanities, building confidence and developing essential academic skills to prepare you for your degree.

In your first year of the degree, you’ll begin exploring a wide range of topics, from petty crime to the crimes of the powerful. We’ll also ask big questions, like what is crime? Why do some people commit crimes, but not others?

By Year 2, you’ll have a solid understanding of the subject and 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 true crime podcasts. Optional modules help you tailor the course to your own interests. Core modules help you learn 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 and complete your own research project. Optional modules can include topics like the pleasures of crime, visual criminology, queer criminology, drugs, or policing.

Students studying

Learning and teaching

During your foundation year, you’ll have a dedicated academic advisor, for support and guidance when you need it. You’ll also have a 1-1 academic supervisor for your second-semester research project, providing support and guidance as you need it.

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.

Assessment

Various assessment methods are used, including: 

  • exams
  • essays
  • 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 ten hours of contact time per week in your foundation year, and around seven hours of contact time per week during your degree. 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.

Foundation Year

Compulsory modules

  • Being Human: Love, Sex and Death

    Love, sex and death - how do these make us human? In this module, you’ll gain core analytical skills, key to studying Humanities at university, as you explore human bodies and emotions through time. 

    You’ll understand the ideas, practices and experiences that we have around bodies and feelings. You’ll also explore how bodies and emotions are shaped by: 

    • politics
    • religion
    • science
    • medicine
    • literary and artistic fashion.

    You’ll analyse texts, images and artefacts to understand the core role of human emotions and bodies in our world. 

  • Cultural Moments

    How do genres - styles or categories of literature - grow from major events in history and culture? In this module, you’ll explore how drama and literary studies relate to genre. You’ll get to grips with genres as categories that have evolved historically to become key influences on culture, taste and fashion. You’ll investigate real life cases of key movements across a range of disciplines. You’ll also consider how art responds to life and life to art. 

  • Language, Vision and Representation

    In this module, you’ll learn about basic theories of meaning-making. You’ll begin to undertake a critical analysis of systems of representation - which could be spoken or written language, and virtual or physical texts. You’ll come to understand how meaning is made, but also challenged, through acts of interpretation which often we’re not conscious of making. You’ll also be encouraged to reflect on your own role in producing ‘meanings’. 

  • Research Project

    This module gives you the chance to do independent research on a topic that fascinates you. You’ll gain the key skills you need to succeed as a university student, as you create, manage and complete your own research project. You’ll have one-to-one guidance  from an expert academic supervisor in your chosen subject area who will support you to shape your research from your initial ideas through to your completed project. 

  • Nation and Identity

    What is a nation? Do nations develop through shared language or the history of a people? Are they about laws and governance, or habits and customs? In this module, you’ll get to grips with core themes from Humanities subjects, including: 

    • Philosophy
    • Religious Studies
    • History
    • English Literature 
    • English Language.

    You’ll develop a strong understanding of the concepts of a nation (including elements such as borders and national identity) and its challenges.

  • The Reflective Learner

    Do you dream of studying a Humanities subject at university? In this module, you’ll gain the core skills and strategies you need to succeed as a university student. You’ll build up knowledge of each of the subjects within our Foundation in Humanities course and learn how to turn critical reading into clear and successful undergraduate assignments. You’ll also learn effective study strategies, including: 

    • learning from lecture content 
    • taking part in seminars 
    • working and studying in groups.

Optional modules

Death, Disease and Doctors: Medicine and Society

You’ll examine the history of sickness and healing in society. You’ll look at how people have viewed medicine and disease from 1650 to 2000. In seminars, we’ll investigate issues such as:

  • quackery
  • war and medicine 
  • forensic medicine
  • disease control
  • public health
  • madness and society
  • sexual health
  • the patient’s view. 

This module builds on your material from other level 4 modules. You’ll gain key critical skills as you identify links between other periods and subjects you’ve studied.

Eastern Religious Philosophies

What can philosophies and religions teach us about being human? In this module, you’ll immerse yourself in key themes of Eastern religions, including the Buddhist and Hindu traditions. You’ll gain a core understanding of the philosophical foundations of different religious traditions. 

Introduction to International Development

Why do poor people stay poor? Does a country need to industrialise in order to develop? Does population growth help or hinder development? These are the kinds of questions you’ll confront as you explore key issues in the field of international development. You’ll identify the factors that cause poverty in countries defined as ‘less developed’. You’ll look at possible escape routes from poverty and low levels of economic development. We’ll encourage you to draw on your own knowledge and experience where possible in evaluating the policies around development.

Modern British Art

In this module, you’ll dive into art and artists through the century - from the Camden Town Group, to Modernists like Barbara Hepworth and Pop Artists like Peter Blake. You’ll examine paintings, sculptures and films as you discuss how British artists tried to create modern forms of expression. You’ll also investigate the ways they promoted their work, like:

  • exhibitions
  • manifestos
  • books
  • little magazines.

You’ll enjoy on-site visits, where you’ll examine works of art firsthand. You’ll also attend exciting lectures and seminars where you’ll explore your ideas and enrich your understanding of modern British art.

Young Children's Outdoor Learning

In this module, you’ll explore how young children learn through play. You’ll also discover how adults plan exploration and play for children in outdoors environments. You’ll get to understand two key areas: 

  • maintaining good provisions and interactions in an early years outdoors area
  • teaching and learning through the Forest School approach. 

You’ll look at how children and adults interact in a variety of situations. You’ll also gain core knowledge of health and safety training, as you study issues such as: 

  • children as risk-takers
  • off-site travel
  • maintaining a safe environment.

You’ll develop core analytical skills as you explore how research and the government affect children’s outdoor learning. 

Global Issues

What is ‘global politics’? What do we mean by ‘international relations’? how do our personal values affect our understanding of politics and historical events? In this module you’ll explore the global challenges we face, and how they are understood by different groups. You’ll examine issues like power structures and global conflict. And you’ll come to understand how these issues impact societies and the environment we live in.

French A1 / A2 (1)

In these modules, you’ll gain the practical language skills to succeed in your French degree. As someone with a beginner’s knowledge of French, you’ll develop strong skills in French speaking and writing, translating and interpreting. You’ll be able to express yourself effectively in French, and gain a critical sensitivity to the intercultural differences between France and other countries. 

Theatre Styles and Contexts

In this module, you’ll examine theatre in the spotlight - and gain a range of theatrical skills. You’ll question the false difference between performance in practice and performance theory. You’ll explore a range of key performance ideas, including how to stage expressionist theatre or draw on rehearsal techniques for naturalist performance. You’ll gain firm knowledge of theatrical forms and approaches to performance, such as: 

  • naturalism
  • performing modernist political theatre
  • melodrama
  • staging and lighting.

You’ll also pay attention to your own actions as you learn, enhancing your knowledge of theatrical skills.  

Spanish A1 / A2 (1)

In these modules, you’ll gain the practical language skills to succeed in your Spanish degree. As someone with a beginner’s knowledge of Spanish, you’ll develop strong skills in Spanish speaking and writing, translating and interpreting. You’ll be able to express yourself effectively in Spanish, and gain a critical sensitivity to the intercultural differences between Spain and other countries. 

German A1 / A2 (1)

In these modules, you’ll gain the practical language skills to succeed in your German degree. As someone with a beginner’s knowledge of German, you’ll develop strong skills in German speaking and writing, translating and interpreting. You’ll be able to express yourself effectively in German, and gain a critical sensitivity to the intercultural differences between Germany and other countries. 

Year 1

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 2

On this module, you'll build your sense of a criminology community through collaborating and planning a criminology newsletter. This will help you take ownership of your criminology studies. 

You'll build on the skills and knowledge you gained on Creating Criminology 1, where you will have interacted with guest speakers from careers and with recent alumni. You'll get to use alumni as interviewees for your Criminology newsletter. You'll also engage with discussions for your future after university, and where you can make a positive impact with your Criminology degree. 

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.

Year 2

Compulsory modules

  • 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.

  • Gender and Society

    In this module, you’ll look at gender and its central role in society. You’ll explore the social processes that affect the lives and roles of people in society. You’ll consider the centrality of gender in everyday life, and how society reflects and reproduces gender relations.

  • 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.

  • 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. 

  • 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
    • design 
    • 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.

Optional modules

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.

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.

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 look at the new ethical challenges they present that are prominent in public debate and a source of conflict and division in society. You'll analyse some of these ethical issues from a philosophical perspective. 

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?

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. 

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.

Nations and Nationalism

In this module, you’ll explore the effect of nationalism. You’ll get to grips with the different concepts, debates and controversies in the study of nationalism. You’ll gain fantastic analytical skills as you apply these approaches to real world cases and explore the implications of their different perspectives. 

You’ll also look at how globalisation impacts the politics and identity of a country. You’ll analyse whether globalisation is a force for good, or if it is divisive, leading to nationalist resistance

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.

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.

Uncivil Society: Constituting Global Order

How do we govern the world when it’s no longer dominated by states and national governments? How do different types of migration shape the movement of people across the world? In this module, you’ll get to grips with a key part of international relations - borders and solidarities (groups with a common identity or interest). You’ll explore the various forms of borders and solidarities, including:
  • migrations across national boundaries
  • regional organisations
  • trade agreements.
You'll then link them to key forces and events, such as: 
  • NGOs
  • corporations
  • colonisation
  • refugee movements
  • the migrant ‘crisis’.
You’ll gain valuable practical and professional knowledge as you explore leading issues today and how global governance or migration shapes our lives.

Optional Year Abroad

Optional modules

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.

Final Year

Compulsory modules

  • 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. 

Optional modules

Advanced Study in the History of Crime

In this module, you’ll gain specialist insight into the history of crime. You’ll choose a topic based on staff research interests, meaning you’ll always be taught by an expert. You’ll gain invaluable critical skills as you dig into the current research around your topic. You’ll also develop excellent research skills, including how to analyse primary sources.

Border Criminology

In this module, you’ll examine border criminology, which is the study of the intersection of border control and criminal justice.  You’ll get to grips with key issues around:
  • migration
  • punishment
  • citizenship and belonging.
You’ll investigate core developments of border criminology, including:
  • immigration removal centres
  • foreign national prisons
  • policing of borders.
You’ll gain key critical skills as you explore debates surrounding immigration, punishment and national identity. You’ll examine the institutions concerned with border control, and the increasing use of punishment and force around immigration control in the UK and abroad.

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:
  • nature
  • objectives
  • motivations 
  • denial. 
You will engage and explore the resistance and challenges within, including:
  • social movement activism
  • legal challenges 
  • armed liberation struggles.

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. 

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.

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.

Interdisciplinary Dissertation in Criminology

For your dissertation, you’ll carry out research on a topic that fascinates you. The topic will be interdisciplinary, meaning that it will be relevant both to Criminology and your other subject. This allows you to be creative in your thinking, making original or unusual connections between your different subject areas. 

Whatever the topic, you’ll gain in-depth knowledge of it. You’ll develop excellent project management skills as you define your research area, plan your research and manage your own schedule. You’ll also acquire great research skills to take forward into your career.

Picturing the Criminal: From Mugshot to Fine Art

In this module, you’ll study images of crime, including:
  • the world’s most troubling mugshots
  • early crime-scene photographs
  • bloody and brutal paintings
  • criminal courtroom artworks.
Seeing and picturing is a key way of understanding crime. You’ll get to grips with the fast-growing field of visual criminology. You’ll discover the importance of images at the birth of criminology, and how they perpetuate stereotypes about race and gender. You’ll also consider why, because of this, criminologists have been sceptical about working with images. 

You’ll have the rare chance to go behind the scenes and visit Western-Europe’s most unique visual arts and social scientific-imaging collections, held in Oxford at:
  • the Pitt Rivers Museum
  • the Ashmolean Museum.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Careers

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:

  • NGOs
  • 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.

Entry requirements

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: 72

A Level: DDD

IB Points: 24

BTEC: MMP

Further offer details

Applications are welcomed from candidates with alternative qualifications, and from mature students.

How to apply

Application process


Full time Home (UK) applicants
Apply through UCAS


Part time Home (UK) applicants
Apply direct to the University


International applicants
Apply direct to the University

Full time international applicants can also apply through UCAS

Tuition fees

Please see the fees note
Home (UK) full time
£9,250
Home (UK) part time
£1,155 per single module
International full time
£15,950
Home (UK) full time
£5,760 (Foundation); £9,535 (Degree)
Home (UK) part time
£720 per single module (Foundation); £1,190 per single module (Degree)
Home (UK) sandwich (placement)
£1,700
International full time
£16,750
International sandwich (placement)
£1,700

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Tuition fees

2024 / 25
Home (UK) full time
£9,250
Home (UK) part time
£1,155 per single module
International full time
£15,950
2025 / 26
Home (UK) full time
£5,760 (Foundation); £9,535 (Degree)
Home (UK) part time
£720 per single module (Foundation); £1,190 per single module (Degree)
Home (UK) sandwich (placement)
£1,700
International full time
£16,750
International sandwich (placement)
£1,700

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

+44 (0)1865 534400

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 2025-26 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.

Funding your studies

Financial support and scholarships

Featured funding opportunities available for this course.

Oxford Brookes Bursary for home students 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 Scheme

All financial support and scholarships

View all funding opportunities for this course

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.