Criminology (with Foundation Year) Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)

* Learn from lived experience with academics who've worked across criminal and social justice sector – magistrates, former criminal justice practitioners, and victim advocates.


* Investigate real crimes using professional software and techniques in our on-campus facilities.


* Shape your own path with routes including criminology with law, psychology, or sociology, plus placement or dissertation options.


* Build tomorrow's skills today through cutting-edge modules in culture and media, digital crime, crime mapping, and rehabilitation and desistance strategies that employers are seeking.


* Track your growth with our unique Speed Passport system that documents your developing skills for future employers.


* Experience authentic learning through real world case studies, data analysis and activities mirroring professional practice.


* Join a close-knit community where you are known by name, and supported by the same personal tutor for all three years.


* Graduate career-ready for roles across justice, intelligence, and policy sectors, equipped to lead, innovate, and drive reform in response to their complex and evolving challenges

At Winchester, we believe that understanding crime means critically engaging with the wider social, legal, and ideological forces that shape it. We go beyond the textbook to explore real cases, real issues, and real solutions. You will challenge your assumptions, examine the causes of crime, confront its consequences, and investigate how justice can be made fairer, smarter, and more effective.\
This popular course has been designed to bring together the methodological, academic and practical skills essential to enhance your professional development and career opportunities. As such, you engage with crime related professionals, agencies and organisations to develop your understanding of how they work and apply newly-learnt theories.

A Foundation Year is the perfect way to boost your academic skills, build your confidence and develop your wider subject knowledge so you can succeed at Winchester. This course offers an extra year of study at the start (Year 0) which leads onto a full degree programme (Years 1, 2 and 3).

A Foundation Year is ideal if you are returning to education after a break; haven’t quite achieved the entry qualifications required; are wanting more support during the transition to studying at university; or are unsure about which subject you wish to pursue.

In Year 0, you will study a set of modules from across the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences which are designed to develop your academic and practical skills. This broader focus in your first year introduces you to studying at university level and provides you with a better understanding of Criminology and related subjects.

You will experience a variety of teaching methods including lectures, discussion-based seminars and independent study. You will also receive support to boost your academic skills to prepare you for the rest of your time at Winchester. 

What makes Winchester different is our authentic approach to learning. Your lecturers aren't just academics – they're experts in their field with lived experience and contemporary real-world insight which they bring into every seminar. In our close-knit criminology community, you'll be known by name, supported by the same personal tutor for all three years, and challenged to think critically about justice, ethics, and social change.

Our contemporary curriculum tackles the issues that matter most right now, including digital and organised crime, culture and diversity, escalating violence, criminological psychology, and issues around addiction and sport. You'll develop skills in professional software, examine real-world cases, and explore how inequality shapes criminal behaviour. Every module prepares you for the rapidly evolving world of crime, criminal justice and rehabilitation where digital literacy and ethical reasoning are essential.