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

Alex Black

Senior Lecturer in Criminology

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.

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 

Location

Howard Street
Sheffield
S1 1WB

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Adsetts library

Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.

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Entry requirements

Fees and funding

• Home students
• International students

Home students

Our tuition fee for UK students on full-time undergraduate courses in 2025/26 is £9,535 per year (capped at a maximum of 20% of this during your placement year). These fees are regulated by the UK government and therefore subject to change in future years.

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.

Learn more

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.