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Overview

Are you fascinated by the workings of the human mind and the complexities of criminal behaviour in society? Are you curious about understanding what ‘makes a murderer’? Do you wish to develop the analytical expertise to go beyond the depictions of crime that are shown on contemporary streaming services such as Netflix?

In addressing these issues, our interdisciplinary BA (Hons) Criminology and Psychology course offers a unique blend of two closely related academic fields, providing you with the knowledge and skills to make a real difference in society.

Our undergraduate degree – brand new to UWS and the only one of its kind offered by a Scottish university – will help you to develop expertise in criminology, psychology, and research methods so that you’re ready to work in related areas in criminal justice, policing and security agencies, prisons, third sector and community organisations. 

Our exciting degree includes topics such as: 

  • fundamentals of applied psychology
  • offender profiling
  • crime analysis
  • forensic psychology
  • victimology
  • criminal behaviour
  • criminological theory
  • policing
  • prisons
  • youth and gang violence
  • criminal careers

We work closely with experts and practitioners in criminal justice and psychology to provide a firm understanding of crime, justice, offending behaviours, and victimology in Scotland, the UK, Europe and internationally.

You will learn to examine data critically and develop analytical skills that you can take with you into many aspects of your life.

Course highlights

Taught by research active experts and academics with backgrounds in professional practice, you’ll be equipped with the work-ready knowledge and authentic skills for employment in a variety of roles in the criminal justice system and beyond.

Guest lectures from industry professionals and field trips to organisations including Police Scotland, the Scottish Prison Service, Victim Support Scotland and more are offered throughout the degree.

You can join the student-run Crime and Justice Student Society, and the Psychology Society, both of which will provide you with advice, support and networking opportunities – as well as a supportive environment to enter university life and study.

This programme has opportunities for international study thanks to links with partner institutions in Europe and the USA.

Check out our video

What is the relationship between Criminology and Psychology? What are the benefits of combining these two academic fields? Our Programme Leader, Dr Colin Atkinson, explains in 60 seconds why Criminology and Psychology go hand in hand (TikTok video).

"Criminology is interested in behaviour, about why people commit crime and why people stop committing crime. Psychology gives us the tools to answer these questions".

Entry requirements


Please visit our Undergraduate Entry Requirements page for information on our different entry requirements, including country-specific details for EU and non-EU qualifications.

Scottish Highers

  • Standard Entry Requirements: BBCC (96 UCAS Tariff points)
  • Minimum Entry Requirements: CCC (63 UCAS Tariff points)
  • Alternative Minimum Entry Requirements: CC (42 UCAS Tariff points) PLUS successful completion of one of the following:
    • UWS Foundation Academy
    • Foundation Apprenticeship
    • UWS Next Steps to University module
    • Routes for All
    • Top-Up
    • LEAPS

A Levels

  • CCC (96 UCAS Tariff points) 

T Level

  • Full T Level with Grade P (A*-C) (96 Tariff points)

Irish Leaving Certificate

  • H3H3H3H3

International Baccalaureate

  • 24 points

Scottish Wider Access Programme

  • Access to Law & Criminal Justice
  • Access to Humanities
  • Access to Social Sciences
  • Access to Life Science
  • Access to Medicine
  • Access to Primary Education
  • Access to Education
  • Access to Medical Studies
  • Access to Chemical & Biological Sciences
  • Access to Humanities, Business & Law with Grades BBB

SQA HNC/BTEC Level 4 HND

  • HNC Applied Science
  • Counselling
  • Social Sciences
  • Social Care
  • Social Services
  • Working with Communities
  • Police Studies
  • Legal Services
  • Healthcare Practice
  • Childhood Practice
  • Additional Support Needs

SQA Advanced Highers

  • BCC

A Levels

  • BBB

T Level

  • Full T Level with Grade M (120 Tariff points)

SQA HNC/BTEC Level 4 HNC

  • Social Sciences
  • Legal Services with B in Graded Unit

SQA HND/BTEC Level 5 HND

  • Social Sciences 

Course details

The BA (Hons) Criminology and Psychology is a full-time programme. You will study the fundamentals and deeper insights of both disciplines – encompassing theory, concepts, applied to case studies, as well as organisations, policies and practices – involved in understanding and responding to offending behaviours and in supporting victims.

Guest speakers also form part of the programme to further deepen your understanding of the subject.

The programme benefits from the employability support offered by the university, as well as the advice and guidance of academics and experts in both psychology and criminology. 

Year 1

In Year 1 you will be introduced to the foundational theories of criminology and the institutions and processes of criminal justice. You will also begin to develop an appreciation of psychological theory, as well as how to use evidence and apply analytical techniques to data in areas such as offender profiling and crime analysis.

Year 2

In Year 2 you will deepen your understanding of the evolution of psychology as a discipline, looking at psychology past and present and the approaches of developmental psychology. You will also learn in more detail about the currents and complexities of contemporary criminology and its complexities, as well as issues around policing and popular culture.

Year 3

In Year 3 you will broaden your knowledge and understanding to incorporate specialist topics, including social psychology, cognitive psychology, and an understanding of key issues in criminology, such as the philosophical and practical development of the contemporary British prison systems. Students will also develop their research skills as they begin their journey towards selecting a specialist dissertation topic and designing an approach to investigate this topic in detail in their fourth (Honours) year.  

Year 4

In Year 4 (Honours) you will carry out a research dissertation on a specialist topic related to criminology and psychology, as well as the chance to deepen your knowledge of contemporary issues and debates through specialist modules including Forensic Psychology and Victimology.

Teaching and Assessment

Students are taught and assessed through a wide and varied selection of approaches.

In addition to standard essays and reports in assessment, there are a number of authentic and work-ready learning and assessment activities implemented throughout the programme. These include, for example, the ways to use and analyse crime and intelligence data to create offender profiles.

There are opportunities to showcase student work through organised poster presentations, and further engagement with criminal justice professionals from organisations including Police Scotland, the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner, Victim Support Scotland and many more through guest lectures and workshops.

The central aim is to ensure that all graduates from the BA (Hons) Criminology and Psychology are equipped with a balance of theoretical knowledge and practical skills and experience to ensure that they are ready to enter employment in the criminal justice sector and beyond with confidence upon graduation.

Career prospects

This programme will prepare you for employment across a range of agencies and organisations, including the police and prison services, security and intelligence agencies, criminal courts and third sector criminal justice services. Criminology and Psychology graduates may also find opportunities in restorative justice and mediation, community safety, and working with offenders, victims and witnesses. 

As well as other major organisations linked with criminal justice in Scotland and the UK, Criminology and Psychology graduates may gone on to work for:

  • Police Scotland
  • The Scottish Prison Service
  • The Police Investigations and Review Commissioner
  • The Scottish Police Authority
  • Sacro
  • Turning Point Scotland
  • The National Crime Agency
  • The Security Service
  • The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service

Undergraduate tuition fees

Tuition fees for this course 2024/25

Scottish

£1,820 cost per year of study (usually paid by the Scottish Government via SAAS*)

All other UK & Republic of Ireland

£9,250 Cost per year of study, but not more than £27,750

Channel Islands & Isle of Man

£9,250 Cost per year of study, but not more than £27,750

International (all other EU plus Non-EU)

£15,500 per year of study

More on tuition fees and funding

Modular Tuition Fees (20-credit points) 2024-25

International (all EU - excluding RoI - plus Non-EU)

£2,580 per module (20 credits)

More on tuition fees and funding

Tuition fees for this course 2025/26

Scottish

£1,820 cost per year of study (usually paid by the Scottish Government via SAAS*)

All other UK & Republic of Ireland

£9,250 Cost per year of study, but not more than £27,750

Channel Islands & Isle of Man

£9,250 Cost per year of study, but not more than £27,750

International (all other EU plus Non-EU)

£15,500 per year of study

More on tuition fees and funding

Modular Tuition Fees (20-credit points) 2025-26

Scottish

£305 per module (20 credits)

All other UK & Republic of Ireland

£1,550 per module (20 credits)

Channel Islands & Isle of Man

£1,550 per module (20 credits)

International (all other EU plus Non-EU)

£2,580 per module (20 credits)

More on tuition fees and funding

Apply via UCAS

Ready to apply? All UK & EU undergraduate applications should be made through UCAS. Further information for international, part-time and exchange applications can be found below.

UCAS

Further application information

Full-time (domestic & EU/EEA)

All UK and EU applicants for undergraduate study, not applying through an agent or partner, should apply through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service)

The on-time application deadline for 2025/26 entry is 29 January 2025, 18:00 (UK time). For some courses it may still be possible to apply beyond this period, subject to suitable vacancies remaining. The final deadline for late applications via UCAS is 30 June 2025. Beyond this deadline, you may be able to apply via ‘UCAS Clearing’ if the course you are interested in has remaining places.

Please refer to our Undergraduate Application Guide for domestic & EU/EEA to find more information on when and how to apply to study at UWS.

You can find out more about applying for this undergraduate course on UCAS.

 

Full-time (non-EU/non-EEA), Part-time & Online (all students), Erasmus & International Exchange

Students from non-EU/non-EEA countries can apply directly to UWS via our dedicated online application system. The latest we can process your application is 6 weeks before the course start date to allow for visa processing times. For more information on when and how to apply to study at UWS please refer to our International Undergraduate Application Guide.

For part-time & online study, you should apply directly to the University through our online application system, not through UCAS. Please select the part-time mode of study when submitting your application. Before you begin your application, it is important to read the part-time application step-by-step guide for a smooth process.

To come to UWS as a visiting student on a study abroad or exchange programme, you must apply entirely through our online system.

An ATAS certificate is not required for overseas students applying for this course.

Get in touch

Do you have a question about applying for this course? Get in touch. We are here to help!

We will always try to make sure that we publish accurate course information but we do not accept responsibility for any mistakes or omissions. We will also try to make sure that we deliver our courses in line with our published information. However, we may not always be able to do so and you can find further information about this in our enrolment terms and conditions.