Criminology and Sociology with Foundation Year BA (Hons)

BA (Hons) Criminology and Sociology with Foundation Year

This degree offers you the chance to strengthen your skills, knowledge and confidence before you advance to stage one of your honours degree.

Why choose this course?

Combining insights from criminology and sociology will give you a deep understanding of what shapes peoples behaviour, beliefs and attitudes. Youll explore the reasons why people commit crime and the social factors at play, including inequality, prejudice and substance abuse. Youll also look at the impact that crime has on both local communities and wider society.

Is this course for you?

Including a foundation year as part of your four-year study programme will give you a head start in your academic and professional life. The foundation year offers the chance to strengthen your skills, knowledge and confidence – with extensive support from our expert staff – before you advance to stage one of your honours degree. It could also be beneficial if you are planning a career change and want to get to grips with aspects of subjects which are new to you.
Our degrees with a foundation year are continuous, meaning that you won’t need to apply again once you have successfully completed the first year.

How you will learn

Youll learn through a combination of lectures, seminars, group work and research projects. You can also take part in regular departmental research seminars delivered by leading professionals and academics from other institutions, as well as hear from guest speakers who are influential within the criminal and social justice sector.

Opportunities and experiences

You’ll work with local and national community organisations on live briefs, offering research and solutions to the key issues they deal with. There is also the chance to go on a bespoke trip that will focus on conflict resolution in your second year, as well as a three-day study trip to The Hague in your third year.

Careers and employability

BA (Hons) Criminology and Sociology provides an excellent basis for developing careers in local or national government, in organisations working towards social justice in a variety of contexts, or in professional settings concerned with conflict resolution or security and risk assessment. Alternatively, students can choose to pursue careers in the criminal justice sector: in policing, prisons, probation as well as private sector companies that operate in the sector.

We're a Top 10 UK University* in the heart of England, with great transport links to London and the rest of the UK.

Ranked 2nd in the UK for employability and course quality*, the University of Derby offers expert, industry-relevant teaching, state-of-the-art study spaces, award-winning accommodation, and a welcoming, inclusive community.

(*Uni Compare 2026)