Criminology and Psychology BSc Hons | University of Chester

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Course Summary

Looking to pursue a career that makes a difference? Our Criminology and Psychology combined honours degree at the University of Chester offers a unique blend of disciplines that will equip you with the knowledge and skills to tackle society's most pressing issues.

Explore the intersection of crime, psychology and society. Delve into theories, policies and real-world case studies to gain a deep understanding of the factors that contribute to criminal behaviour.

This course develops socially aware students who learn criminology from an interdisciplinary and international perspective. You will handle and interpret evidence, engage with debates about positive social change, and develop an understanding of criminal justice in society. You'll also develop integrity in your real world application of the discipline, which will be assessed through varying means ensuring you become a reflective learner.

You will evolve into a reflective academic and researcher with an active voice, and will approach real world problems relevant to psychology, criminology and criminal justice with cultural awareness and sensitivity. At the end of the course, you'll be able to apply your transferable skills to a range of employment roles and opportunities.

Our experienced team come from a range of backgrounds and will guide you through a dynamic and diverse curriculum, ensuring you're well-prepared for a rewarding career.

Why You'll Love It

Research-informed teaching

A group of students sitting in a lecture room, looking at laptop screens.

Careers focus throughout

black and white close up of hands on a laptop keyboard

Focus on the individual

What You'll Study

The Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Foundation Year route offers you an important preparation year as part of your four-year degree.

For Law and Criminal Justice subjects, you will explore legal frameworks, criminal justice systems, wider social contexts and issues, as well as case scenarios, and research and problem solving in law and criminology.

For Humanities and Social Science subjects, you will explore people and societies and their beliefs, cultures, power structures, stories and narratives, as well as critical inquiry into societal issues and global affairs with contemporary and historical perspectives.

Term 1: Introduction to Law & Criminal Justice
Term 2: Psychology and Behavioural Science
Term 3: Research in Law & Criminology

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

This course promotes your strengths and best interests to prepare you to enter into the real world of psychology, criminology and criminal justice. This is achieved through the skills, knowledge and understanding obtained throughout. This course develops your social awareness when you learn psychology and criminology from an interdisciplinary and international perspective.

You will explore theoretical and practical understandings of crime, harm and victimisation applying your knowledge and building understanding of the criminal justice system. There is critical reflection upon marginalised communities including how stereotypes and representations can lead to disproportionately that exists within criminal justice settings. There is an exploration of experiences of punishments and injustices which are considered in a context of promoting social change.

You will develop a breadth and depth of knowledge and understanding of topics and methods of enquiry across the core areas of the discipline. The course supports the development of a range of skills, including critical thinking, problem-solving, data analysis, ethical awareness, reflective skills, social and personal responsibility, communication and teamwork.

You will develop an active voice as a reflective academic and researcher with cultural awareness and sensitivity in responding to real world problems relevant to psychology, criminology and criminal justice.

The dynamic and interdisciplinary nature of the course is led by research active staff who promote inclusive learning and authentic assessment methods. Experiences during studies encourage curiosity, debate and problem-solving throughout and you will develop your own criminological imagination and values of citizenship. You will communicate with a range of stakeholders across communities to apply acquired knowledge to varying specialist and non-specialist audiences. You will develop academic interdisciplinary team work, project management and research integrity which are key to a highly adaptive work ethic valued by stakeholders and employers. By the end of your course, you will articulate your varying attributes relevant to a range of employment roles and opportunities.

This course is delivered in three terms of ten weeks each. In each term, you will study 40 credits comprised of either one or two modules. Scheduled contact hours range between approximately six and ten hours per week, depending upon the level of study and the complexity of the material being taught. This course is delivered through a mix of in-person and online learning. You can expect to take part in lectures, workshops and peer-led seminars.

If studied, the Foundation Year, as with the following years of study, will be taught in three 10-week blocks across an academic year. Each block will comprise of a large 40-credit subject-specific module that includes a breadth of topics and subject skills. You will have on average 12-14 hours of contact time per week during the Foundation Year. There may be variations to this where subject practical or specialist space teaching is included.

You should expect to spend an average of 30-34 hours per week on independent study, which might include following asynchronous learning material, tutorial time with staff, using the University’s library, working with peers and preparing work for assessment. Teaching will be delivered by experienced academics and practitioners in the subject. This will be supplemented by occasional guest lecturers and speakers.

There will be a broad range of assessment methods so you are exposed to the different types of tasks that you might encounter in the workplace. These will include coursework in the form of essays (long and short form), portfolios and presentations. Assessment support is provided throughout the modules. We continuously review the assessment methods used to ensure they adequately prepare you for graduate level employment.

All teaching is delivered by experienced academics and practitioners, with the fundamental principles of the Chester Future Skills Curriculum at its core - building your subject competence, confidence and key transferable skills to shape you into a world-ready Chester graduate.

Entry Requirements

112UCAS Points

UCAS Tariff	112 points
GCE A Level	Typical offer – BCC-BBC Applicants must also have GCSE Maths at grade C/4 or above and GCSE English at grade C/4 or above
BTEC	BTEC Extended Diploma: DMM
International Baccalaureate	28 points
Irish / Scottish Highers	Irish Highers - H3 H3 H3 H3 H4 Scottish Highers - BBBB
Access requirements	Access to HE Diploma, to include 45 credits at level 3, of which 30 must be at Merit or above
T Level	Merit
OCR Cambridge Technicals	OCR Extended Diploma: DMM
Extra Information	Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced and A level General Studies will be recognised in our offer. We will also consider a combination of A Levels and BTECs/OCRs.

Students from countries outside the UK are expected to have entry qualifications roughly equivalent to UK A Level for undergraduate study and British Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) for postgraduate study. To help you to interpret these equivalents, please click on your country of residence to see the corresponding entry qualifications, along with information about your local representatives, events, information and contacts.

We accept a wide range of qualifications and consider all applications individually on merit. We may also consider appropriate work experience.

English Language Requirements

IELTS Academic: Undergraduate: 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in each band)
Postgraduate: 6.5 (minimum 5.5 in each band)

For more information on our entry requirements, please visit International Entry Requirements.

72UCAS Points

UCAS Tariff	72 points
GCE A level	72 points overall, including grade D in A level Applicants must also have GCSE Maths at grade C/4 or above and GCSE English at grade C/4 or above
BTEC	BTEC Extended Diploma: MMP
International Baccalaureate	24 points
Irish / Scottish Highers	Irish Highers: H4 H4 H4 H4 H4 Scottish Highers: CCDD
Access requirements	Access to HE Diploma – Pass overall
T Level	T Level: Pass (D or E on the core)
OCR Cambridge Technicals	OCR Extended Diploma: MMP
Extra Information	Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced and A level General Studies will be recognised in our offer. We will also consider a combination of A Levels and BTECs/OCRs. If you are a mature student (21 or over) and have been out of education for a while or do not have experience or qualifications at Level 3 (equivalent to A Levels), then our Foundation Year courses will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you will need to succeed in your chosen degree.

Fees and Funding

£9,535per year for a full-time course (2025/26)

Our full-time undergraduate tuition fees for Home students entering University in 2025/26 are £9,535 a year, or £1,590 per 20-credit module for part-time study.

You can find more information about undergraduate fees on our Fees and Finance pages.

Students from the UK, Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey and the Republic of Ireland are treated as Home students for tuition fee purposes.

Students from countries in the European Economic Area and the EU will pay International Tuition Fees.

Students who have been granted Settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans and Maintenance Loans.

Students who have been granted Pre-settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans.

£14,450*per year for a full-time course (2025/26)

The tuition fees for international students studying Undergraduate programmes in 2025/26 are £14,450 per year for a full-time course. This fee is set for each year of study.

The University of Chester offers generous international and merit-based scholarships, providing a significant reduction to the published headline tuition fee. You will automatically be considered for these scholarships when your application is reviewed, and any award given will be stated on your offer letter.

For courses with a Foundation Year, the tuition fees for Year 1 are £10,750 and £14,200 for Years 2-4 in 2025/26.

For more information, go to our International Fees, Scholarship and Finance section.

Irish Nationals living in the UK or ROI are treated as Home students for Tuition Fee Purposes.

Your course will involve additional costs not covered by your tuition fees. This may include books, printing, photocopying, educational stationery and related materials, specialist clothing, travel to placements, optional field trips and software. Compulsory field trips are covered by your tuition fees.

If you are living away from home during your time at university, you will need to cover costs such as accommodation, food, travel and bills.

Students often elect to purchase a laptop; where students choose to do so, the cost is likely to be around £800-£1,000.

Most software specific to your course is available free to students through agreements we have with the software vendors.

Occasional, optional field trips may be offered, depending on student demand. These are typically within the UK and, where chargeable, the cost is likely to be under £100. Students are not required to participate in order to successfully complete the course.

Who You’ll Learn From

Dr Jayne Price

Deputy Head

Dr Liz Whelen

Senior Lecturer

Dr Kim Ross

Deputy Head

Simone Benhafsi

Lecturer

Dr Wayne Campbell

Senior Lecturer, Criminology

Dr Paul French

Lecturer

Dr Emma Price

Senior Lecturer

Where You'll Study Exton Park, Chester

The location

Modern learning resources and library

Seaborne library, seating and reception area.

Fitness facilities

A male student wearing goggles is swimming in the training pool between the red rope lane marker lines.

Student Services

Chapel, chaplaincy and multi-faith spaces

Accommodation

Catering

Your Future Career

Job Prospects

Criminology graduates possess a vast range of skills and expertise that are highly applicable to roles in public, private and charitable sectors. Graduates of criminology are often employed in: criminal justice agencies; third-sector organisations that work with vulnerable individuals and groups; or policy and analyst roles for public service agencies or private companies. Further study including taught postgraduate and doctoral programmes are also an option.

Careers Service

The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service, which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.

Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.

We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs and postgraduate study.

Criminology and Psychology BSc (Hons)

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