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BA (Hons) Criminology and Sociology

  • Placement year available
How to apply Come to an Open Day

Introduction

Which ARU Criminology and Policing course is right for you?

Studying Criminology and Sociology at ARU

Explore pressing crime and social issues and prepare careers including policing, probation, youth offending and government by studying for our Criminology and Sociology degree in Cambridge. Find out what makes this course unique with our short video.

Times Higher Education (THE) Awards 2023 logo

Study at an award-winning university

We're the Times Higher Education (THE) University of the Year. We've also been awarded a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework – a reflection of the outstanding education we offer our students.

On this degree you will explore the most recent ideas, issues and debates in Criminology and Sociology such as the media, its moral panics and promotion of fear; sex, violence and the profiling of such offenders; deviant behaviour; youth offending; war and terror and genocide, giving you a specialist perspective on crime and society.

You can tailor your BA (Hons) Criminology and Sociology degree to your interests and career goals through a wide choice of optional modules. You might choose to focus on issues from corporate crime to human rights, and sexual violence to burglary. Or you might want to explore the link between intoxicants and crime, or religion and crime.

Our Sociology courses ranked 18th in the UK in the Guardian University Guide 2024.

Course options

Course options

Key facts

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Entry requirements

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Fees and paying for university

Facilities and showcase

Hands-on learning

All our BA (Hons) Criminology and Sociology students have the opportunity to:

Outstanding student support

Join our student community and:

  • benefit from award-winning learning facilities, including extensive library and IT resources
  • learn from expert staff who will guide your research interests and career development
  • access support, should you need it, with study skills, careers advice, health and wellbeing, and more.

Take a closer look

Our Creative Showcase shines a spotlight on what makes ARU creative and cultural – our spaces, places and people. Find out more about our community, the difference we make, the stories we tell, and the things that inspire us.

Meanwhile, Present is an exhibition that you curate for yourself. Explore the work of our graduating students in this eye-catching virtual degree show.

Alternatively, take a guided tour and meet our students.

Careers

Our Criminology and Sociology degree will equip you with skills in independent, creative, critical and analytical thinking. These are valued in industries as wide-ranging as journalism and the media, business administration and management, health management, the Civil Service, teaching, social care, social research, the police, prison and probation services.

Specialist modules in years 2 and 3 and our excellent links with employers such as Cambridgeshire Police, the National Crime Agency and the Probation Service will help you tailor your degree towards your career goals.

You could also learn more about sociology, develop a specialism or start an exciting career in research with our MA Sociology or MA Criminology. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.

Employability and personal career development

Informed by employers, our courses support an integrated approach to employability. You’ll have opportunities to develop the skills and abilities they are looking for and gain a deeper understanding of how your academic learning relates to the world of work through Live Briefs and Ruskin Modules.

You will need to dedicate time outside of your course to develop your employability, through placements, internships or volunteering or through our partner scheme Students at the Heart of Knowledge Exchange (SHoKE). You can evidence this experience on your CV and talk about it in interviews to give you that all important edge.

Our Employability and Careers Service offers a range of expert advice and support to build your unique professional profile, including tailored career appointments, advice on writing your CV, and help to complete job applications. You’ll have 24/7 access to the Careers Centre, our comprehensive online digital resource, which empowers you to start building a Personal Career Development Plan from the very start. Design your future at ARU.

Keziah and Amber's stories

Criminology at ARU

Keziah and Amber share their experiences of studying with us.

Amy Noakes

“Studying sociology at ARU has allowed me to see the world in a different perspective, and given me the ability to critically analyse theories and concepts.”

Amy Noakes

BA (Hons) Sociology

Read Amy's blogs about studying Sociology at ARU

Apply now for BA (Hons) Criminology and Sociology

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Our friendly, bustling campus is a stone’s throw from the centre of Cambridge, often described as the perfect student city.

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Do you have a question that we haven't answered so far? Talk to our application experts. You can also ask our Student Ambassadors about life at ARU.

We're here Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm (please note we close at 3.30pm on the first and third Thursday of the month for staff training), and Friday 9am-4.30pm.

Placement year available

You have the option to take a placement year as part of this course. It’s a great chance to get hands-on experience in the industry you want to work in.

Your guide to placements

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