Sociology and Criminology with Foundation Year
Entry requirements
UCAS Tariff
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About this course
This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.
Our BA Sociology and Criminology degree gives you the opportunity to combine the study of social life and social relations with the field of criminology. On this joint course you will:
- explore the ideas, social processes and social forces that give shape to the contemporary world
- investigate key criminology topics, methods and theories.
You will confront and seek to understand the most challenging social questions of our time by examining social relations and social change alongside the critical analysis of policies, institutions and practices related to crime and its control. Themes of study include migration, human rights, inequalities, policing, deportation, security, institutions, racial justice, and organised, corporate and state crime.
In the study of sociological and criminological theories and practices, you are encouraged to develop rigorous, critical and self-reflective thought. We will also equip you with a wealth of analytical skills that are transferable to a range of settings and career opportunities. To give you a rich, varied and interdisciplinary approach, as well as enabling you to pursue particular interests, we also offer you a wide range of option modules from disciplines including politics, psychosocial studies, geography, history, philosophy and criminology.
The BA Sociology and Criminology at Birkbeck is led by leading academics and develops your independence of thought in confronting the social realities of the contemporary period.
If you opt for the Foundation Year route, this will fully prepare you for undergraduate study. It is ideal if you are returning to study after a gap, or if you have not previously studied the relevant subjects, or if you didn't achieve the grades you need for a place on your chosen undergraduate degree.
**Highlights**
- Birkbeck's innovative, creative and interdisciplinary courses will help you become a competent, critical and responsible student of the social world and the psychological and social forces that shape individuals.
- Follow your interests and choose to specialise in communication, geography, history, politics, psychosocial studies, social anthropology or social policy.
- Ours is a vibrant research culture, powered by a shared passion for learning and intellectual engagement among our academics and students.
**Careers and employability**
Graduates can pursue career paths in local or national government, education, social work or research. Possible professions include:
- charity officer
- journalist
- social researcher
- further education lecturer.
We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.
Modules
For information about course structure and the modules you will be studying, please visit Birkbeck’s online prospectus.
Assessment methods
Assessment methods include non-assessed written exercises and assessed essays. In your final year you will complete a dissertation.
Tuition fees
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The Uni
Birkbeck, University of London
School of Social Sciences
What students say
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How do students rate their degree experience?
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Sociology
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Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
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What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Sociology
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£19k
£30k
£31k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.
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Post-six month graduation stats:
This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.
It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
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Graduate field commentary:
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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