How you learn

Our staff are actively engaged in criminological and psychological research. Researchers work in fields as diverse as health and wellbeing, language and education, social policy, political theory, social inequalities, the criminal justice system, and many more areas across the scope of psychology, sociology and politics. As a result, we offer up-to-date teaching and course content of the highest standard, covering topics with real-world implications. 

Our academics bring a wealth of knowledge and skills from professional practice across the criminal justice and psychological sectors, including the police, prison service, probation, youth organisations, mental health settings and charity sectors. 

You learn through:

• Face-to-face lectures and seminars
• Online lectures and seminars
• Independent study
• Student-led collaborative learning
• Practice-based learning
• Exams and coursework
• Practicals and formative assessments

Key Themes 

You’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of the key theories, debates and perspectives relevant to the study of criminology and psychology. These involve a modern understanding of criminal justice and mental health systems and the current challenges they face – such as policing, probation prison practice, gendered violence, power and harm, trauma, and forensic psychology.

The course approach will involve learning through teaching, working, doing, independent study and learning online. This blend of in-person and online activities creates a collaborative learning environment, allowing you to form communities with your peers and enhancing your overall educational experience.

Our teaching approach is designed to provide a 'real-world' curriculum, emphasising key transferable skills that enhance your prospects for future graduate employment or further study opportunities.

Course Support

You’ll be supported in your learning journey towards highly skilled, graduate level employment through several key areas. These include:

• Access to specialist support services to help with your personal, academic and career development.
• Access to our Skills Centre with one to ones, webinars and online resources, where you can get help with planning and structuring your assignments.
• Industry-specific employability activities such as live projects, learning in simulated environments and networking opportunities.

Course leaders and tutors

Oliver Merry

Senior Lecturer of Forensic Psychology

Profile of Dr Oliver Merry, Senior Lecturer of Forensic Psychology course leader of BSc (Hons) Criminology & Psychology at Sheffield Hallam University

• Twitter

Applied learning

We prepare you to engage in real-life challenges by offering opportunities to apply the knowledge you’ve learned to real-world experiences. 

Work Placement 

You’ll have the opportunity to arrange a year-long work placement in between your second and third year. 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.

To maximise your career prospects, you’ll engage in various curriculum-integrated employability activities. These include student placement modules and interactions with criminal justice and third sector agencies. These experiences encompass project work with external agencies, simulation modules, and voluntary work facilitated through our employability fair.

Previous students have completed placements for companies and organisations such as the Community Rehabilitation Company, Victim Support and Doncaster Prison.

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 work in partnership with employers and organisations to impact on important issues in the local area. You’ll have opportunities to apply your knowledge in real-world community projects that make a positive difference. This engagement includes working with young people, prison-related organisations, community justice entities, substance misuse services, women's services, accommodation services, victim services, and more.

International Opportunities

You’ll have the opportunity to study abroad at one of our partner institutions. You can also choose which modules you want to study. This immersive experience offers insights into different cultures and learning styles while providing you with the chance to explore new places and connect with people from diverse backgrounds.

Networking Opportunities

Our course benefits from strong ties with the Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice and the Centre for Behavioural Science and Applied Psychology (CeBSAP). This makes sure our teaching is directly aligned with contemporary applied fields, addressing ethical and social justice issues, and promoting access to community resources. 

We regularly host events and lectures featuring national and international guest speakers, including police officers, forensic psychologists, probation officers and prison governors.

You’ll also receive career-related support from department specialists, as well as access to graduate opportunities.

Future careers

This course prepares you for a career in:

• Mental health
• Psychology
• Social justice
• Social research
• Service projects
• Offender rehabilitation
• Academia
• The charity sector

Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for:

• Charitable organisations
• Citizens Advice Bureau
• Civil service and local government
• Drug and alcohol charities
• HM Prison and Probation service
• Ministry of Justice
• The police service
• Victim support
• Youth work

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.