Course overview
Start date
September 2020
Subject area
Sociology and Social Policy
Attendance
Full-time
Part-time
Learning
On campus, dual delivery
Course summary
Do you want to make sense of the rapidly changing society in which we live and the freedom with which information, money, goods and services now move across national boundaries? Would you like to understand the effects of this globalisation on modern Britain?
Are you interested in how deviance in social circumstances can lead to crime? Are you fascinated by social justice, human rights and the workings of the criminal justice system?
On this course, you’ll study these issues in the vibrant, multicultural setting of east London. You’ll graduate with a degree that has vocational relevance, while putting no limit on your career options.
If you want to be a probation officer, for example, you need to know about criminology. This course is an exciting way of preparing for a career while studying the wider questions that sociology addresses and the impact it has on our daily lives.
Return to campus: dual delivery
In a Covid-secure environment, enjoy learning on our state-of-the-art campuses and flex between online delivery
Find out morePlacement
Optional placement year available
100%
Student satisfaction
100% of our students said they were 'satisfied' or 'very satisfied' with our course, an incredible seal of approval from our own students, that puts Sociology at UEL amongst the top in the country. (NSS, 2018)
1st
Ranked Top university in London
We are ranked as the top university in London where students to study sociology research according to The Guardian for 2019.
Top
The best place to study Sociology with Criminology in the UK
The diversity of wealth and culture, and fast moving change in the local area East London is like a ‘living laboratory’ for our sociology students. We scored more than 98% satisfaction by the students on the NSS 2018.
Zenani Sibindi
Sociology with Criminology, BA (Hons)
The tutors are all very approachable. You can talk to them about things you are struggling with and they are very happy to help you. It’s an atmosphere of encouragement.
I had a real interest and passion for criminal behaviour and finding out what actually causes it. What stands out to me are all of the different theories about what may cause people to commit crime.Fees and funding
Tuition Fee Loan
You can apply for a loan to cover the cost of your tuition fees, which will be paid directly to UEL. There are no up-front fees required. Repayment only starts after you finish your course and are earning over £25,000. If you haven’t finished repaying your loan after 30 years it will be automatically cancelled.
To apply visit gov.uk/student-finance
Maintenance Loan
You can apply for a loan to help with living costs such as food, travel and accommodation. How much you can borrow depends on where you live and study, and whether you are currently on welfare benefits. The maximum loan you can apply for is £12,729.
To apply visit gov.uk/student-finance
Supplementary Grants
The government also offer the following additional support:
- Parents' Learning Allowance
- Adult Dependants' Grant
- Childcare Grant
- Disabled Students’ Allowance
- All nursing and many allied health students on courses from September 2020 will receive a payment of at least £5,000 a year from the government.
For further information visit gov.uk/student-finance or contact Student Finance England.
All students will receive:
Bursaries Schemes for which you can apply
- Care Leaver and Foyer Bursary - up to £1,500
- Progression Bursary - up to £2,000
- Engagement Bursary - up to £2,000
- Hardship Bursary - up to £2,000
- Helena Kennedy Foundation - £1,500
- Going Global – awards range from £300 - £700
Scholarships Schemes for which you can apply
- Vice Chancellor Scholarship - up to £27,750 over three years
- Dean Scholarship - up to £13,500 over three years
- Civic Engagement Scholarship - £1,000
- EU Scholarship (EU Only) - £1,000
- ELSEF Scholarship - £1,000
- UTC Scholarship - £1,500
- Sports Scholarships - up to £6,000
There are a number of external organisations that offer financial help to
students. Please see the list below list to view additional support options.
Alternatively, you can visit the Scholarship Search website.
Please note that the University of East London is not responsible for
the content of these external sites and is not associated in any way
with the funding schemes and their application processes.
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) are here to help you navigate your finances while you are a student at the University of East London.
We can give you advice, information and guidance on government and university funds so that you receive your full funding entitlement.
Email: study@uel.ac.uk
Phone: 020 8223 4444
Tuition Fee Loan
You can apply for a loan to cover the cost of your tuition fees, which will be paid directly to UEL. There are no up-front fees required. Repayment only starts after you finish your course and are earning over £25,000. If you haven’t finished repaying your loan after 30 years it will automatically be cancelled.
For information visit gov.uk/student-finance
Please note EU students can only apply for their funding using a paper application form.
To download a form visit www.gov.uk/student-finance-forms
All students will receive:
Bursaries Schemes for which you can apply
- Care Leaver and Foyer Bursary - up to £1,500
- Progression Bursary - up to £2,000
- Engagement Bursary - up to £2,000
- Hardship Bursary - up to £2,000
- Helena Kennedy Foundation - £1,500
- Going Global – awards range from £300 - £700
Scholarships Schemes for which you can apply
- Vice Chancellor Scholarship - up to £27,750 over three years
- Dean Scholarship - up to £13,500 over three years
- Civic Engagement Scholarship - £1,000
- EU Scholarship (EU Only) - £1,000
- ELSEF Scholarship - £1,000
- UTC Scholarship - £1,500
- Sports Scholarships - up to £6,000
There are a number of external organisations that offer financial help to
students. Please see the list below list to view additional support options.
Alternatively, you can visit the Scholarship Search website.
Please note that the University of East London is not responsible for
the content of these external sites and is not associated in any way
with the funding schemes and their application processes.
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) are here to help you navigate your finances while you are a student at the University of East London.
We can give you advice, information and guidance on government and university funds so that you receive your full funding entitlement.
Email: study@uel.ac.uk
Phone: 020 8223 4444
At UEL, we understand that studying in another country is a big financial commitment. If you apply early for an undergraduate, you may be entitled to a scholarship of up to £3,000.You can find out more about the international scholarships here.
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) also run an Emergency International Fund to assist international students in hardship.
You can contact our SMART team on 02082233333 or study@uel.ac.uk
As part of the Tier 4 student visa requirements, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) estimate that you will need £1,265* per month to cover your living costs. It includes expenses for accommodation, food and drink, travel within London, text books, entertainment, clothing, toiletries and laundry. Most Tier 4 students are required to show they have sufficient funds to cover the first nine months of the course before they start- a total of £11,385- in addition to the tuition fees. You can find more information about the specific requirements of the Tier 4 student visa here. The amount that you will spend can vary depending on your lifestyle. The UKCISA International Student Calculator can help you plan and manage your money. Please make sure you also factor in the fees for the visa application and immigration health surcharge when budgeting.
* Please note the Immigration Rules are subject to change and this figure is likely to be increased by UKVI year on year. Please therefore check our ISA pages for more information at the time of preparing your visa application.
Deposits and paying by instalments
International students are required to pay a deposit prior to being issued a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
Your remaining balance will be paid in five monthly instalments over your first term. The first of these instalments must be paid when completing your enrolment on arrival at UEL. Please follow the payment instructions here.
After the required payment has been made, you will be asked to complete the online International Student Reply Form to confirm your acceptance of our offer and of our terms of admittance and fees policy.
Our International team at UEL are available for advice and guidance on studying in London, fees, scholarships and visa requirements.
Email: international@uel.ac.uk
Entry requirements
- September 2020
-
Degree
112
New UCAS Points
Access to HE Diploma (QAA approved) with 60 credits overall and 45 credits at Level 3
We will also consider the UEL New Beginnings pre-entry course
Level 2 equivalences such as Level 2 Functional Skills in English / Maths, Level 2 Key Skills in Communication / Application of Number and Level 2 Adult Literacy / Adult Numeracy
Please note that some courses require applicants to meet the entry requirements outlined on the course page. Our pre-entry Information Advice and Guidance Team are able to provide further advice on entry requirements and suitability for study.
If you do not meet the academic English language requirements for your course, you may be eligible to enrol onto a pre-sessional English programme. The length of the course will depend on your current level of English and the requirements for your degree programme. We offer a 5-week and an 11-week pre-sessional course. Find out more.
What you'll learn
This three-year (full-time) or four-year (part-time) degree course will connect you to the real-world issues that exist in our community.
Sociology is about the world we live in, how we interact and relate to each other. Developing your understanding of people will help your understanding of criminality.
The course combines social theory and the appliance of that theory to the real world beyond the classroom or the lecture hall with an unusual combination of criminology modules.
You can choose to study youth crime and sub-culture, football hooliganism and global illicit drug trafficking. Or perhaps you will be drawn to the appeal of terrorism studies and surveillance, technology and society.
You’ll learn about the different types of crimes that exist and explore various theories about why people commit certain crimes.
As well as providing you with a strong theoretical grounding through a variety of criminology options, we’ll also give you a comprehensive knowledge of criminal law.
What you'll study and when
We consistently review our courses to ensure we are up-to-date with industry changes and requirements from our graduates. As a result, our modules are subject to change.
Introduction to Crime and Punishment
Social Theory 1:Sociological arguments
The Mess We Are In (And how we got here)
Digital Sociology and the 4th Industrial Revolution
Issues in Contemporary Society
Space, power, bodies
Social Theory 2
New Social Entrepreneurship
Theoretical Criminology (Mental Wealth) or Crime and Social History (Mental Wealth) - Option 1
Intersectionality and Digital Cultures or Generations, Age and Meaning - Option 2
This course offers the opportunity of year-long placement between years two and three. If you choose to take this option, you’ll spend your third year on a placement with a relevant company or organisation, adding valuable practical experience to your growing academic knowledge.
The extra placement year means it will take four years to complete your studies, instead of three.
Placement reflections (Mental Wealth)
Psychological Criminology
Youth Crime
Life Histories
Gender Studies
Constructions of Race in Culture and Politics
Surveillance, Technology and Society
Culture, Media and Politics
Bordering and Governance
How you'll be assessed
All modules are assessed through different forms of coursework – typically 2,000-word essays – and some of the optional modules also include exams.
In addition to traditional essays, we’ll expect you to write reports and policy reviews and to give presentations. This is to ensure you’ll gain the relevant skills that can be transferred to the workplace. In your final year, you’ll write a research dissertation.
How you'll learn
Sociology with Criminology at the University of East London is taught by research-active staff who are passionate about their subjects. We’re committed to providing you with a world-class education in a socially diverse environment.
You’ll learn how to gather, organise and use data, information and evidence from a variety of sources. You’ll gain an understanding of how to construct reasoned argument and put forward solutions to problems.
Debate will be at the centre of your learning experience when you study criminology. The amount of data produced, particularly in relation to crime, can be colossal, and interpreting it intelligently – as you will learn to do – is the basis for conducting informed and coherent debate on social issues.
As a student, you'll be able to opt for a work placement and will be eligible to apply for paid summer work as part of our undergraduate research internship scheme. The scheme offers up to £2,000 to enable students to work on important research projects and boost their CVs.
We also have excellent links with postgraduate teacher-training and social work courses, as these are popular destinations for our students after they graduate.
“We have ten people teaching in our sociology department, a big team, which is unique in London,” says Dr Penny Bernstock, Head of Sociology. “So you get a very rich experience and lots of subject choice.”
Your future career
A sociology degree from UEL will prepare you for a wide range of jobs such as teaching, journalism and social work. Add criminology to your qualification and you’ll be able to specialise, should you wish, with a career in the police force, the probation service, pressure groups or central and local government.
UEL has strong links with criminal justice organisations who work with us both in and out of the classroom. You’ll benefit from these links as they can help you choose your career after you graduate.
You may wish to become a prison officer, a community development worker, a probation officer or a youth worker.
This degree will also give you the skills to move into a career as an adult guidance worker, a housing management officer or manager or a social researcher, or it could set you on the road to becoming a solicitor.
Alternatively, you may decide you want to continue your fascinating discovery of the social issues that affect us all by staying on at UEL and helping to shape the local community on one of our postgraduate courses.
Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal
