Criminology and Social Policy, BSc (Hons)

Your early studies will introduce you to the key principles of law, criminal justice, human rights, and the sociology, history, and politics of social policy.

Later options allow you to focus on a range of topics including youth justice, extremism, offender management, drugs and alcohol, poverty and social exclusion.

Our standard offer for our single honours and joint honours criminology programmes is 3 A-Levels at grades ranging from ABB-BBB or equivalent.

Alternative entry requirements can be found here

For applicants whose first language is not English we require a minimum IELTS score of 6.0 (or equivalent) further information can be found here.

Year 1 consists of a set of compulsory core modules, which cover both Criminology and Social Policy.

Year 2 will comprise of four compulsory modules, but will also give you the opportunity to study another two modules of your choice.

By year 3, you will be able to shape your learning experience, choosing from a range of optional modules.

Teaching is completed through lectures (which are recorded), seminars and tutorials. Assessments include a range of modern methods, from blogs and vlogs to writing policy, research proposals and portfolio work, resulting in a smaller number of exams.

This course offers some modules taught through the medium of Welsh or bilingually for students who consider themselves to be fluent Welsh speakers. For more details on the provision available see the Welsh Provision expander below.

There are opportunities for Welsh speakers to study this subject through the medium of Welsh and our dedicated academy, Academi Hywel Teifi, is here to support you throughout your time at Swansea University. We offer you:

• An interview through the medium of Welsh when applying for a place.
• The option to receive your personal correspondence in Welsh, English or bilingually - we will then communicate with you in your language of choice.
• Access to generous Welsh-language study scholarships or bursaries.
• Access to modules taught wholly or partly in Welsh.
• The option to write and submit your coursework or exams through the medium of Welsh (even if you have chosen to study in English), and your work will be marked in Welsh.
• A Welsh-speaking academic tutor.
• One-to-one support to improve your academic Welsh language skills.
• An opportunity to gain an additional free qualification that serves as evidence of your Welsh language ability for future employers.

To see further details about the level of provision delivered in Welsh on this particular degree scheme, please see the Welsh-language course page for further information.

Since 2011, there has been a 40% increase in the number of students studying through the medium of Welsh at Swansea University and our *TEF data over the last two years shows that Welsh-medium students are high achievers in regards to employability (*Swansea University TEF return 2017 and 2018).

Our Criminology & Social Policy degree will give you the opportunity to learn from industry experts with a wealth of academic and practical experiences. Together, the Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law and College of Human and Health Sciences offer an exceptional student experience and a progressive curriculum, which will help you to understand how crime can affect individuals and society.

You can find out more about our academic expertise on:

The School of Law’s staff pages.
The College of Human and Health Sciences’ staff pages.

Annual tuition fees for entry in the academic year 2019/20 are as follows:

Fees for full time Undergraduate UK/EU students may be increased in subsequent years of study by an inflationary amount determined by Welsh Government.

Fees for full time Undergraduate International students will increase by 3% for each subsequent year of study.

You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Current students: You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study.

To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Academi Hywel Teifi at Swansea University and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol offer a number of generous scholarships and bursaries for students who wish to study through the medium of Welsh or bilingually. For further information about the opportunities available to you, visit the Academi Hywel Teifi Scholarships and Bursaries page.

You may face additional costs while at university, including (but are not limited to):

• Parking and travel to and from campus
• Printing, photocopying, stationery and equipment costs (e.g. USB sticks)
• Purchase of books or texts
• Printing and binding
• Gowns for graduation ceremonies

Careers and Employability Swansea Employability Academy (SEA) will support you at each stage of your career journey helping you build a bright future.

Our career support services include:

• Employability workshops, employers’ talks, bespoke events and careers fairs
• Individual advice and guidance from professionally qualified Careers Advisers
• Help with finding jobs, internships, work placements and volunteering opportunities
• Access to information resources on a wide range of career management topics
• Advice and guidance on postgraduate study and funding
• Funding to support student internship opportunities and Student Society/Club events.

We also provide help and advice for Swansea University Alumni up to two years after you graduate.

EMPLOYABILITY AT THE SCHOOL OF LAW AND THE COLLEGE OF HUMAN AND HEALTH SCIENCES

The School of Law and College of Human and Health Sciences both take a proactive approach to enhancing graduate employability, with dedicated Employability and Placements Officers. Together, they offer a range of local, national and international work placements, professional courses and the advice and support to help you develop the skills to achieve your ambitions.

Find out more about your opportunities on:

The School of Law’s employability webpage.
The College of Human and Health Sciences’ employability webpage.

As well as subject specific support by college teaching staff and your personal academic mentor, the Centre for Academic Success provides courses, workshops and one-to-one support in areas such as:

• Academic writing
• Maths and statistics
• Critical thinking
• Time management
• Digital skills
• Presentation skills
• Note taking
• Revision, memory and exam techniques
• English language skills (if English is not your first language).

In addition, if you have a Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD), disability, mental health or medical condition, the Centre for Academic Success have Specialist Tutors to support your learning, working alongside the Disability Office and Wellbeing Service to support all your needs and requirements whilst studying at Swansea University.

Each student is assigned an Academic Mentor to help with:

• Academic Guidance
• Personal Development Planning
• Guidance on finding help with Personal Issues (which affect your wellbeing, attendance, and progress through University)

There are student representatives in each year of our law programme as well as a School representative for undergraduate students. The school also has a dedicated Student Information Office who will be able to offer academic assistance throughout your studies.

Your degree programme may already give you an option to study or work abroad but in addition to this you can also consider an international summer programme.

These programmes are open to all our undergraduate students and include culture and study tours, volunteering programmes and internships across destinations such as China, Zambia, South Korea, Japan, Europe and Canada. Programmes are typically 2 – 6 weeks long and funding is available. See our Summer Programmes for further information.

Apply now – UK, EU and international students.

For further guidance please visit our how to apply pages.

Student Societies

Meet your fellow students and take part in a variety of social opportunities by joining the Swansea Criminology Society, which is run for students, by students.

Contact Details
For further details on our undergraduate criminology programmes, please contact:

Ms Gemma Champion (Recruitment Officer)
Tel: +44 (0)1792 602194
Email: Gemma 

Dr Jonathan Burnett (Head of Undergraduate Admissions) 
Email: Jon

General Enquiries: 
Tel: +44 (0)1792 295831
Email: Study

For EU/International Enquiries: 
Tel: +44 (0)1792 602600
Email: International