BA (Hons) Criminology and Sociology with Foundation Year

Entry year:
2025/26
Start date:
September
Study mode:
Full-time
Course duration:
4 years
Campus:
Mt Pleasant
UCAS Code:
L311
Grades/points required:
DDD-CDD (72-80)

Why study this course with LJMU?

  • Taught by subject specialists with national and international reputations for their research and civic engagement
  • Delivered using innovative teaching, learning and assessment methods, with options for fieldwork at home and overseas, with international study opportunities
  • The teaching team are committed to sociology and criminology in action, and to making a difference in peoples' lives
  • You will have opportunities to participate in 'out of classroom' learning activities including educational field visits to organisations, museums, art galleries, places of worship and walking tours
  • Work placement opportunities in teaching, international development, charities, tourism, media, creative and heritage industries
  • 91% of students surveyed said teaching staff on our Sociology courses were good at explaining things (National Student Survey 2024)

About your course

The BA (Hons) Criminology and Sociology at Liverpool John Moores University combines two contemporary and popular disciplines, providing you with grounding in core elements of both subjects, together with a wide range of optional modules that will enable you to follow your own pathway.

Throughout the course you will be encouraged to develop your critical thinking skills by questioning what we mean by the terms 'crime', 'criminals', 'punishment' and 'justice'. You will learn about the institutions of the criminal justice system and study areas like corporate crime, state crime, miscarriages of justice, policing and drugs. The two disciplines share many concerns, and our degree brings the two subjects together in ways which emphasise the areas of social policy, the variable impact of age, class, gender, sexuality, religion and ethics, disability and ethnicity on social life.

The degree is taught in the Sociology department, and your personal tutor will be a sociologist. The modules will be taught by a team of well-qualified, experienced and dedicated staff from the Sociology and Criminology departments.

You will study social science research methods, including qualitative surveys and qualitative techniques, and be provided with a thorough grounding in theoretical perspectives which are drawn upon in the critical investigations of societies and of criminology.

The degree carefully fosters an international perspective on society and criminology, considers the relationships between the local and the global, and includes opportunities to study abroad, undertake educational field work visits to South Asia or Europe.

Pathways can be built through the study of modules, which concentrate ecological issues, social policy and cultural analysis of media, music, sport and religion. You will also receive training in sociological methods and sociological and criminological theory.

The degree also offers you exciting work-based and work-related opportunities to gain professional experience relevant to your degree.

Foundation Year

The Foundation Year is ideal if you have the interest and ability to study for a degree, but do not have the qualifications to enter directly onto the Criminology and Sociology honours degree programme yet.

Once you pass the Foundation Year (level 3) you will progress directly onto the first year of the honours degree. If you are a full-time UK student, you will qualify for student financial support for the full duration of your course (subject to eligibility criteria).

Course modules

What you will study on this degree

Further guidance on modules

Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.

Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.

Core modules

Core modules

Core modules

Optional modules

Optional modules

Your Learning Experience

Excellent facilities and learning resources

We adopt an active blended learning approach, meaning you will experience a combination of face-to-face and online learning during your time at LJMU. This enables you to experience a rich and diverse learning experience and engage fully with your studies. Our approach ensures that you can easily access support from your personal tutor, either by meeting them on-campus or via a video call to suit your needs.

Teaching is delivered via lectures, seminars, workshops, audio-visual presentations, online activities and fieldwork trips. Online discussion boards allow you to further debate, with your tutors and peers, ideas that arise in the classroom. Outside the classroom you will have access to extensive electronic resources via the LJMU network and print resources via the nearby Aldham Robarts library.

Work-related Learning

Opportunities for work-based and work-related learning are integrated into the programme. This will offer you the chance to put what you have learnt into practice, as well as providing new skills and experiences. It will also add real value to your CV, giving you a professional edge when you come to negotiate your way through the graduate job market.

Careers events and information on volunteering opportunities are incorporated into core modules and you will have the option to undertake placements at Level 6.

You will be encouraged to undertake a work placement during your studies.

Dedicated personal tutor, plus study skills support

If you choose to study Criminology and Sociology, you will join a friendly and stimulating environment in which you will be encouraged to achieve your full potential in both your academic work and your future career. We pride ourselves on our informal and supportive relationships with our students.

You will be assigned a personal tutor who will be responsible for your academic and personal progress throughout your studies. Along with this scheduled one-to-one support, you will receive regular feedback and guidance from your module tutors on your research, writing and study skills.

Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose, but will usually include a combination of exams and coursework.

We understand that all students perform differently depending on how they are assessed, so we use a range of traditional and innovative assessment methods. These include essays, exams, reports, individual and group presentations, policy analyses, online tests, wikis, critical reviews, posters and group work. Approximately 75% of your assessments will be by coursework and the rest by exam, but this varies according to the options you choose.

Constructive feedback on your assessed work is designed to help you achieve your full potential and get the most out of your studies. Your tutors will provide this in writing, by email or in face-to-face meetings where they will help you identify your strengths as well as areas where you may need to put in more work. They can also direct you to further support if you feel you need it.

Where you will study

What you can expect from your School

The School of Humanities and Social Science offers an ideal environment in which to expand your knowledge and horizons. Situated on Mount Pleasant in the new ‘Knowledge Quarter ' of Liverpool, the School is home to five subject areas: English, History, International Relations, Sociology, and Media, Culture & Communication. It has a lively programme of cross-disciplinary research seminars, conferences, visits from international scholars and public events. Research from the School is recognised nationally and worldwide.

Course tutors

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Providing me with the critical, analytical and literary skills that prove so attractive to future employers, LJMU gave me the application, confidence and belief that I may achieve whatever I set out to accomplish.

Career paths

Criminology and Sociology graduates enter a variety of professions and careers, including:

  • local and national government and the civil service
  • youth work
  • criminal justice system
  • academia and teaching
  • career guidance
  • research
  • journalism
  • third sector advocacy
  • think tanks
  • policy development

In addition, our graduates find opportunities in police and probation services; human resource management; legal service; marketing and advertising; ICT development; business and finance; publishing; health services and health promotion; public health; ecology and environmental campaigning; international development; policy and administration; Government advice; the children's and young people's workforce; social services, and youth work and the youth justice workforce.

Student Futures - Careers, Employability and Enterprise Service

A wide range of opportunities and support is available to you, within and beyond your course, to ensure our students experience a transformation in their career trajectory. Every undergraduate curriculum includes Future Focus during Level 4, an e-learning resource and workshop designed to help you to develop your talents, passion and purpose.

Every student has access to Careers Zone 24/7, LJMU's suite of online Apps, resources and jobs board via the LJMU Student Futures website.

Tuition fees and funding

Foundation first year:
£5,760
Second and subsequent years:
£9,535

The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees in accordance with any changes to the maximum allowable fees set by the UK Parliament. In the event of such a change, any fee increase will be subject to a maximum cap of 10% of the total course cost as originally stated at the time of your offer.

The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as:

  • library membership with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources
  • access to programme-appropriate software
  • library and student IT support
  • free on-campus wifi via eduroam

Additional costs

Although not all of the following are compulsory/relevant, you should keep in mind the costs of:

  • accommodation and living expenditure
  • books (should you wish to have your own copies)
  • printing, photocopying and stationery
  • PC/laptop (should you prefer to purchase your own for independent study and online learning activities)
  • mobile phone/tablet (to access online services)
  • field trips (travel and activity costs)
  • placements (travel expenses and living costs)
  • student visas (international students only)
  • study abroad opportunities (travel costs, accommodation, visas and immunisations)
  • academic conferences (travel costs)
  • professional-body membership
  • graduation (gown hire etc)

Funding

There are many ways to fund study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you'll find all of the information you need on our specialist funding pages.

Entry requirements

Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements

Grades/points required from qualifications: DDD-CDD (72-80)

Work out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth by visiting the UCAS Tariff Calculator.

Qualification requirements

How to apply

Securing your place at LJMU

UCAS is the official application route for our full-time undergraduate courses. Further information on the UCAS application process can be found here https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/study/undergraduate-students/how-to-apply.

Applications are welcomed from mature and non-standard applicants, who will be considered on an individual basis.

These applicants may be required to submit an essay and/or attend an interview, and should demonstrate potential and motivation and/or have relevant experience.

International applications will be considered in line with UK qualifications.

Your university life

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Talk to our students

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See what our students are saying

At LJMU we want you to know you're making the right choice by studying with us. You can see what our students are saying about their experience with us through their reviews on the following websites:

The university reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the university. Where this does happen, the university operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.
Further information on the terms and conditions of any offer made, our admissions policy and the complaints and appeals process.