Social Policy and CriminologyBA

Gain the knowledge and practical skills to drive meaningful change. From shaping policies to addressing social justice issues, you’ll graduate ready to build a career that makes a real difference.

• World-Class Expertise: Learn from leading academics in a top research-intensive university.
• Real-World Impact: Tackle pressing global challenges like inequality, health, and education through a dynamic curriculum.
• Interdisciplinary Learning: Combine insights from social policy and criminology to tackle pressing societal challenges.
• Placements: Apply learning in real-world settings through optional placements, gaining practical experience and industry insights.
• Most targeted UK university by top graduate employers (High Fliers report, The Graduate Market 2024).

Enhance your future with a Placement Year

In your second year, you’ll receive tailored support from our placements team and our School of Social Policy and Society, including expert advice on CVs, interviews, and career planning. The College of Social Sciences Careers Network team will also support you in securing a placement that aligns with your interests.

Your placement is an opportunity to apply your knowledge to real-world social and public policy challenges and may be in the public, private, or voluntary sectors. You may find yourself engaging directly with policies around crime, poverty, healthcare, and education – the core issues of social policy. Alternatively, you might review your organisation’s HR policies, assess its social media presence, or conduct research on key topics affecting its work. Whatever your role, you’ll gain invaluable experience, develop skills such as problem-solving and adaptability, in addition to building a network of professional contacts resulting in boosting your employability by standing out in the job market.

With assessments such as reports and skills journal, the Placement Year also enhances your final-year studies. To take part, you’ll need to achieve at least 58% in Year 1. If you decide it’s not for you, you can easily return to the three-year programme.

• Lectures: Gain foundational knowledge and insights from expert academics on key concepts, theories, and real-world social policy issues.
• Seminars: Engage in discussions, debates, and collaborative activities to deepen understanding and enhance critical thinking skills.
• Group Work: Develop teamwork and problem-solving abilities by working collaboratively on projects and case studies.
• Projects: Academic projects typically require students to conduct research, analyse data, and draw conclusions based on their discoveries. They may also be expected to work in a team, present their work to an audience, and defend their findings.
• Placements: Apply learning in real-world settings through optional placements, gaining practical experience and industry insights.

Assesment methods and feedback

You will be assessed in a variety of ways across your degree. At the beginning of each module, you will be given information on how and when you will be assessed. Assessment methods will vary within each module and may include: written coursework, such as essays, formal exams and group work.

Support during your studies

You will have access to our comprehensive support system to help you make a smooth transition to university-level study.

• Personal tutors - will get to know you as you progress through your studies. They will provide academic support and advice to enable you to make the most of your time here at Birmingham.
• Wellbeing Officers - provide professional support, advice and guidance to you across a range of issues. They can discuss extensions, disabilities, reasonable adjustments, extenuating circumstances, and help you access wider support on campus and beyond.
• Academic Skills Centre - helps you become a more effective independent learner through a range of high-quality support, with workshops on topics such as note-taking, reading, academic writing and presentation skills.
• Student Experience team - will help you get the most out of your academic and social experience, including research opportunities, study skills support and preparing for your post-university careers.

Contact hours: For all undergraduate modules students usually attend 1 lecture and 1 seminar per week.

To secure a place at Birmingham, you'll need to meet our general entry requirements as well as those specific to your course.

Number of A Levels required: 3

Typical offer: ABB

General Studies: Not considered

T Levels: all subjects considered. Standard offer: Distinction overall with A in the Core Component.

English language requirements

If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification or a Presessional English course.

• TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 in Listening, 22 in Speaking and 21 in Writing.
• IELTS: 6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 in any band.
• Pearson Test of English (PTE): PTE 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills.
• Cambridge English(exams taken from 2015): Cambridge English: Advanced Minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component
• Language Cert ESOL SELT (UKVI): B2 ‘Communicator’ with no less than 33 in each skill
• Trinity ISE II: Not applicable
• Trinity ISE III: Pass in each Skill

Presessional English courses

If you have a conditional offer for Birmingham where English is a requirement, you can take a Presessional English course as an alternative to retaking IELTS or a similar qualification. We offer on-campus courses all year round starting from September, including additional online courses in the summer term. Teaching takes place in small classes with no more than 18 students to maximise class participation.

The University will charge the maximum approved tuition fee per year. If your offer is for 2025 year of entry, we expect that the tuition fee for your first year of study will be £9,535 for UK students.  If Parliament agrees on an increase in tuition fees, the University will increase fees for each year of study normally in line with these changes and will communicate any change in the fees to you without delay.  If you are applying for 2026 year of entry, you will be advised of the annual tuition fee closer to the time.

Undergraduate loans

To help with the cost of studies, undergraduate students from the UK can apply for student finance through the Student Loans Company. The support available is made up of a tuition fee loan and a maintenance loan which helps to cover living costs.

Scholarships, grants and bursaries

At Birmingham, we believe that financial worries should not be a barrier to accessing higher education. That’s why we offer a range of additional financial support for students through scholarships, bursaries and other awards.

View further information on how to apply for undergraduate courses, including advice for UK and overseas applicants.

Studying Sociology and Criminology at Birmingham equips you with critical thinking, research, and problem-solving skills highly valued by employers. With opportunities for placements, networking, and career coaching, you'll be ready to pursue careers in law, social policy, criminal justice, and beyond. Our strong links with industry ensure you graduate with the experience and connections needed to succeed in a competitive job market.

Careers Network

Our aim is to make sure that success in your studies leads you on to a fulfilling career. Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network offer support to help you identify your options, develop your skills and gain access to opportunities that propel you towards your career goal.

Our bustling campus with its beautiful grounds, friendly community, and excellent facilities will quickly make you feel at home. We offer you a huge variety of accommodation options in the UK’s second city, exciting activities to get involved in outside your studies, as well as all the support and advice you need.