Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
Home: See fees section below
International/EU: £17,155 per year (£1,200 for placement year) -
How long will I study?
4/5 Years
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Where will I study?
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What are the entry requirements?
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What is the UCAS code?
A100
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When do I start?
September 2025
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Placement year available?
Yes
Where will I study?
Course summary
- Experience award-winning teaching recognised by the British Society of Criminology.
- Gain experience at the Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice.
- Develop expertise in social justice, global human rights and criminal justice.
- Engage in ethical and social justice issues, driving positive social change and inclusivity.
Study theoretical, conceptual and practical applications of criminology in the real world, including how climate change relates to criminal behaviour and social justice. Engage in pioneering research in topics like prison reform and green criminology, exploring key debates around how to define, explain and respond to criminality – all preparing you for criminal and social justice roles.
If you don't meet the entry requirements for this course, or you’d like extra preparation before starting degree-level study, we recommend you join the foundation year.
How you learn
Our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.
Many of our criminology experts come from professional practice, including prisons, probation and the police. Others are actively involved in current criminological research, providing you with contemporary research-led teaching and delivering real-world impact.
You’ll also engage with external partners and practitioners, gaining the contemporary knowledge, skills and attributes you’ll need for a professional career in the criminal justice or social justice sector. Our goal is to prepare you for further professional training or equivalent pursuits.
You learn through:
- Face-to-face lectures and seminars
- Online lectures and seminars
- Independent learning
- Student-led collaborative learning
- Practice-based learning
- Independent research
Key Themes
You’ll focus on key foundational areas such as the criminal justice system, human rights and values, and social science research methods. Through these you’ll build specialist knowledge of the causes and consequences of crime and deviance within a social, political and international context.
Our course is closely linked to the Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice. Our teaching directly addresses ethical and social justice issues concerning the inclusion and exclusion of various vulnerable groups – with an emphasis on promoting access to community resources.
Our curriculum integrates various opportunities for applied learning, drawing upon real-world sector contexts. You'll participate in an applied project to enhance your practical skills. These include student placement modules and activities with criminal justice and third sector agencies – as well as project work with external agencies, simulation modules, and voluntary work through our employability fair.
Course Support
At each level of the course you’ll be supported throughout your learning journey towards graduate level employment. This will include student support, academic support and employability support.
Course leaders and tutors
Applied learning
Your course has been designed to embrace real-world challenges and provide you with the practical skills and knowledge to be successful within your chosen sector.
Work Placements
You’ll have the opportunity to arrange a year-long work placement in between your second and third years. This gives you valuable work experience to prepare you for your future career – and allows you to graduate with an Applied Professional Diploma to add to your CV.
Previous students have completed placements for companies and organisations such as the Community Rehabilitation Company, HMP Doncaster, Independent Domestic Abuse Service and Victim Support.
International Opportunities
As our curriculum incorporates international perspectives throughout your degree, you'll develop into a globally aware and engaged practitioner.
You’ll also have the opportunity to study abroad at one of our partner institutions – learning about different cultures and learning styles, as well as travelling to new places and meeting new people.
Live Projects
You’ll engage in a range of live projects – working on behalf of real organisations. Previous student projects have included designing materials for hate crime awareness week for South Yorkshire Police, designing educational materials to help young people understand cybercrime on behalf of Victim Support, and researching the experiences of securing housing for those released from prison on behalf on NACRO (the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders).
We actively partner with employers and key stakeholders to provide you with diverse opportunities to create a positive impact on critical issues in our communities. These include support for young people, collaboration with prison-related organisations, involvement in community justice initiatives, engagement with substance misuse services, women's services, accommodation support, and victim services.
Networking Opportunities
Our course benefits from close ties with the Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice, ensuring a curriculum that addresses ethical and social justice issues related to social inclusion and exclusion. We focus on promoting social access to community resources, particularly for vulnerable groups.
Through our connections, you'll develop vital networks and contacts in the field of criminology, preparing you for a meaningful and impactful career.
Come to an open day
Visit us to learn more about our gold-rated teaching and why we were awarded the highest possible rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework.
Future careers
This course prepares you for a career in:
- Citizens advice work
- Community liaison work
- Drug and alcohol services
- Police services
- Probation services
- Prison services
- Social research
- Victim support work
- Youth work
Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for:
- His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service
- The Magistrates Court
- The Ministry of Justice
- The Police
- Sheffield Hallam University
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | City Campus tour
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEquipment and facilities
Most of our teaching is conducted in dedicated lecture studios, small teaching rooms and computer labs.
You’ll work with:
- Innovative digital teaching and learning platforms and apps
- Specialist software
- Data analysis packages
- Data collection tools
We’ve invested over £100 million in new facilities to help you study how and when you want. This means 24-hour libraries and study spaces designed by our students.
Entry requirements
All students
UCAS points
- 64
This must include at least 32 points from one A level or equivalent BTEC National qualifications excluding general studies For example:
- CC at A Level
- MPP in BTEC Extended Diploma.
- Pass overall from a T level qualification with D or E from core
- A combination of qualifications, which may include AS levels and EPQ.
You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.
GCSE
- English Language at grade C or 4 or equivalent
- Maths at grade C or 4 or equivalent
ACCESS
- Access to HE Diploma, with at least 45 level 3 credits.
If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.0 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules
Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.
You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.
Year 1
Compulsory modules
The Exploration Of Law, Crime, Justice And Society
Elective modules
Social Justice In Action
The Practice Of Law And Policing
Year 2
Compulsory modules
Contemporary Criminological Foundations
Contemporary Criminological Practice
Year 3
Compulsory modules
Understanding And Researching Crime And Social Harm
Elective modules
Professional Practice On Placement
Real World Practice
Study Abroad - Institute Of Law And Justice
Year 4
Optional modules
Placement Year
Final year
Elective modules
21St Century Security Threats: Crime, Crisis Or Tragedy
Comparative Criminal Justice
Controversies Of Policing
Crime, Harm And Social Justice
Gender, Power And The State
Pathways To Change
Punishment And Practice In Context
Real World Project
Real World Research
Sex, Gender And Violence
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fees for UK students starting full-time undergraduate study in 2025/26 are regulated by the UK government and are yet to be confirmed. For an indication, our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time undergraduate study in 2024/25 is £9,250 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £17,155 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
Financial support for home/EU students
How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.
Additional course costs
The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
General course additional costs
Additional costs for Sheffield Institute of Law and Justice (PDF, 141.3KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
