Our BA (Hons) Criminology and Policing degree gives you an in-depth knowledge of contemporary policing and criminal justice. You’ll learn from both academics and invited speakers with real-world policing experience, getting a genuine feel for key issues related to police work.
In the first two years you concentrate on foundations of criminology and sociology. In years three and four you study the specific areas related to criminal justice and policing, such as:
Criminal investigation and policing in practice.
Cybercrime and policing technology.
Drugs, addiction and society.
Gender, crime and victimology.
The sociology of race and ethnicity.
If you are keen to work for the police, you have the opportunity to apply to be a special constable. This experience puts you in a great position to pursue a career in the police force or to work in the police service after graduation.
We place a strong emphasis on developing your research skills, which are highly valued in the workplace. Whether it's collaboration, assessing evidence, writing reports, researching or completing project work, your criminology studies will make you extremely employable.
After the first two years of study, you can choose to specialise in other areas or carry on studying this pathway. See more in the 'How the Course Works' section below.
Our Criminology degree scored 85% for Teaching and Learning Resources in the 2021 National Student Survey.
Abertay is widely regarded as THE place to come for high quality teaching. But don't just take our word for it:
The Times and Sunday Times UK University of the Year for Teaching Quality 2021.
Guardian University Guide 2020 Top 10 in the UK for Student Satisfaction with Teaching, Course and Feedback.
National Student Survey 2020 Top 10 UK Universities for Student Satisfaction.
Course Details - Modules
Year 1 core modules (subject to change over time) - CRM101 Crime & Punishment; SOC101 Contemporary Social Issues; CRM103 Criminal Justice Processes; SOC120 Social Research in Action 1: Researching Scotland; SOC110 Media & the Digital Society; Abertay 101 Being Successful at Abertay.
You are also required to select three MySuccess modules of your choosing. For detailed module information please check our website.
Course Details – Assessment Method
You’ll learn through a blend of lectures, tutorials, seminars, workshops, online discussion forums, video screenings, guest speaker presentations, directed and private study, and student-focussed group work.
Other assessment methods include supervised examinations, essays, reports, portfolios, presentations, project work, class and online tests, and reflective analyses. In your final year, you’ll design and produce a research project under the dedicated supervision of an academic staff member.
Around one third of the course is assessed through examination, although the exact proportion depends on your module choices.
Put simply, we aim to give you all the skills you need to move straight into a job or further study when you graduate.
Course Details – Professional Bodies
Professional Bodies are not listed for this Course.
How to Apply
26 January This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application Codes
Course code:
L311
Institution code:
A30
Campus Name:
Abertay Campus
Campus code:
Points of Entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
Year 1
Year 2
Entry Requirements for Advanced Entry (Year 2 and Beyond)
Entry Requirements for Advanced Entry are not listed for this Course.
International applicants
Standard Qualification Requirements
To include a literate subject
For entry into Year 2 we would look for ABB to include one from Sociology, Politics, History, Psychology plus one other literate subject
Entry into Year 1 with HNC (BTEC) Health & Social Care
Entry into Year 2 with HND (BTEC) Health & Social Care
Entry into Year 2 with an HNC in one of the following:-
Police Studies - Graded Unit A
Social Science - Graded Unit A
Entry into Year 1 with an HNC in one of the following:-
Additional Support Needs - Graded Unit A
Childhood Practice - Graded Unit A
Counselling - Graded Unit A
Legal Services - Graded Unit A
Social Care - Graded Unit A
Social Services - Graded Unit A
Working with Communities - Graded Unit A
Entry into Year 2 with an HND in one of the following:-
Legal Services - Graded Units AA
Social Science - Graded Units AA
Entry into Year 1 with an HND in one of the following:-
Additional Support Needs - Graded Unit A
Counselling - Graded Unit A
To include a literate subject
Entry into Year 2 to include one from Sociology, Politics, History, Psychology, Modern Studies plus one other literate subject
To include a literate subject at S5 or H4
Entry into Year 1 with one of the following:-
Health & Social Care
Public Services
Travel & Tourism
To include a literate subject
Applicants should have:-
National 5/GCSE English at grade C/4
National 4 Maths or Lifeskill Maths (Pass) or National 5 numerate subject such as Science, Biology, Chemistry or Physics at C
GCSE Maths or numerate subject such as Science, Biology, Chemistry at grade C/4
Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course
Minimum Qualification Requirements
To include a literate subject at B
We may make you an offer at the minimum entry grades if you meet the criteria.
Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course
English language requirements
Test
Grade
AdditionalDetails
We look for applicants to have achieved an overall IELTS score of 6.0 with no individual test lower than 5.5.
Some degrees have higher requirements - refer to the 'entry routes' tab of each degree for more detail.
