Elsewhere on Ulster
Are you fascinated by crime, justice, and how the system really works?
This degree provides knowledge of key criminological concepts, theoretical approaches and the necessary skills required to undertake criminological research. From crime scene to court room, you‘ll explore all aspects of the criminal justice system.
Informed by a range of disciplines including law, public policy, social policy, and economics, you will delve into criminological concepts like victims, policing, sentencing, punishment, corporate, state and environmental crime, allowing you to demonstrate an understanding of the criminal justice system and the political, social and economic context within which it operates. Bring theory to practice by studying a module at Magilligan Prison through the Ulster Prison Project. This unique opportunity allows students to experience first-hand the realities of imprisonment.
Not only will this degree provide you with the knowledge and expertise for exciting employment in organisations with a criminal justice focus, you will also develop transferable skills in communication, critical thinking, presenting and writing which are highly sought after by employers across all disciplines.
Discover Ulster University’s QS 5 Star ratings, a global mark of excellence recognising outstanding achievement across multiple categories.
QS Stars
We know that choosing to study at university is a big decision, and you may not always be able to find the information you need online.
Please contact Ulster University with any queries or questions you might have about:
For any queries regarding getting help with your application, please select Admissions in the drop down below.
For queries related to course content, including modules and placements, please select Course specific information.
We look forward to hearing from you.
QS Stars
This course is currently going through a process of revalidation. There might therefore be some changes to the course structure and content.
Criminology as an area of study has a lengthy pedigree and you will be presented throughout the course with a range of ideas and theories from several different disciplines including law, public policy, social policy and economics. You will study criminological concepts and issues related to criminal justice, such as crime and deviance, victims, policing, sentencing and punishment, and emergent ideas on state, corporate and environmental crime. These, coupled with knowledge of institutions and structures, will provide you with a broad critical understanding of behaviour and activity within the criminal justice system.
The degree will provide you with the opportunity to gain a combination of theoretical knowledge and a range of applied skills and training necessary for employment in organisations with a criminal justice focus within the private, voluntary and statutory sectors.
Diploma in Professional Practice DPP
Diploma in International Academic Studies DIAS
Teaching takes place over two 12 week semesters. Contact hours during the teaching weeks are 9 hours a week, supplemented by at least 25 hours of independent study. In final year students have additional dissertation supervision sessions and throughout the course students have access to their studies advisor and year tutor when the need arises. All course team staff are available for individual consultation at set times and by arrangement.
A variety of teaching and learning methods are used on the degree including lectures, seminars, supervised group-work sessions, directed reading, case study work, directed electronic information retrieval, independent learning, and a work-based-learning opportunity to impart knowledge and understanding of the subject. In addition, a broad range of assessment methods are utilised to measure knowledge and understanding of the subject, including academic essays; report writing; policy analysis/policy brief-writing; directed seminar discussions, small-group project work; writing and delivering seminar papers; presentations; online tests; the dissertation, e-portfolios, blogs and unseen examinations.
The content for each course is summarised on the relevant course page, along with an overview of the modules that make up the course.
Each course is approved by the University and meets the expectations of:
As part of your course induction, you will be provided with details of the organisation and management of the course, including attendance and assessment requirements - usually in the form of a timetable. For full-time courses, the precise timetable for each semester is not confirmed until close to the start date and may be subject to some change in the early weeks as all courses settle into their planned patterns. For part-time courses which require attendance on particular days and times, an expectation of the days and periods of attendance will be included in the letter of offer. A course handbook is also made available.
Courses comprise modules for which the notional effort involved is indicated by its credit rating. Each credit point represents 10 hours of student effort. Undergraduate courses typically contain 10, 20, or 40 credit modules (more usually 20) and postgraduate courses typically 15 or 30 credit modules.
The normal study load expectation for an undergraduate full-time course of study in the standard academic year is 120 credit points. This amounts to around 36-42 hours of expected teaching and learning per week, inclusive of attendance requirements for lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical work, fieldwork or other scheduled classes, private study, and assessment. Teaching and learning activities will be in-person and/or online depending on the nature of the course. Part-time study load is the same as full-time pro-rata, with each credit point representing 10 hours of student effort.
Postgraduate Master’s courses typically comprise 180 credits, taken in three semesters when studied full-time. A Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) comprises 60 credits and can usually be completed on a part-time basis in one year. A 120-credit Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) can usually be completed on a part-time basis in two years.
Class contact times vary by course and type of module. Typically, for a module predominantly delivered through lectures you can expect at least 3 contact hours per week (lectures/seminars/tutorials). Laboratory classes often require a greater intensity of attendance in blocks. Some modules may combine lecture and laboratory. The precise model will depend on the course you apply for and may be subject to change from year to year for quality or enhancement reasons. Prospective students will be consulted about any significant changes.
Assessment methods vary and are defined explicitly in each module. Assessment can be a combination of examination and coursework but may also be only one of these methods. Assessment is designed to assess your achievement of the module’s stated learning outcomes. You can expect to receive timely feedback on all coursework assessments. This feedback may be issued individually and/or issued to the group and you will be encouraged to act on this feedback for your own development.
Coursework can take many forms, for example: essay, report, seminar paper, test, presentation, dissertation, design, artefacts, portfolio, journal, group work. The precise form and combination of assessment will depend on the course you apply for and the module. Details will be made available in advance through induction, the course handbook, the module specification, the assessment timetable and the assessment brief. The details are subject to change from year to year for quality or enhancement reasons. You will be consulted about any significant changes.
Normally, a module will have 4 learning outcomes, and no more than 2 items of assessment. An item of assessment can comprise more than one task. The notional workload and the equivalence across types of assessment is standardised. The module pass mark for undergraduate courses is 40%. The module pass mark for postgraduate courses is 50%.
The class of Honours awarded in Bachelor’s degrees is usually determined by calculation of an aggregate mark based on performance across the modules at Levels 5 and 6, (which correspond to the second and third year of full-time attendance).
Level 6 modules contribute 70% of the aggregate mark and Level 5 contributes 30% to the calculation of the class of the award. Classification of integrated Master’s degrees with Honours include a Level 7 component. The calculation in this case is: 50% Level 7, 30% Level 6, 20% Level 5. At least half the Level 5 modules must be studied at the University for Level 5 to be included in the calculation of the class.
All other qualifications have an overall grade determined by results in modules from the final level of study.
In Masters degrees of more than 200 credit points the final 120 points usually determine the overall grading.
Figures from the academic year 2022-2023.
The University employs over 1,000 suitably qualified and experienced academic staff - 60% have PhDs in their subject field and many have professional body recognition.
Courses are taught by staff who are Professors (19%), Readers, Senior Lecturers (22%) or Lecturers (57%).
We require most academic staff to be qualified to teach in higher education: 82% hold either Postgraduate Certificates in Higher Education Practice or higher. Most academic and learning support staff (85%) are recognised as fellows of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) by Advance HE - the university sector professional body for teaching and learning. Many academic and technical staff hold other professional body designations related to their subject or scholarly practice.
The profiles of many academic staff can be found on the University’s departmental websites and give a detailed insight into the range of staffing and expertise. The precise staffing for a course will depend on the department(s) involved and the availability and management of staff. This is subject to change annually and is confirmed in the timetable issued at the start of the course.
Occasionally, teaching may be supplemented by suitably qualified part-time staff (usually qualified researchers) and specialist guest lecturers. In these cases, all staff are inducted, mostly through our staff development programme ‘First Steps to Teaching’. In some cases, usually for provision in one of our out-centres, Recognised University Teachers are involved, supported by the University in suitable professional development for teaching.
Figures from the academic year 2022-2023.
QS Stars
Ulster University is situated in the heart of Derry~Londonderry, the capital of the North West. Located where the Wild Atlantic Way meets the Causeway Coastal route, and only a short distance from idyllic County Donegal.
Explore the spaces, studios and social areas you'll use while studying at our Derry~Londonderry campus. Prefer to explore at your own pace? Take the 360° virtual campus tour.
Derry~Londonderry offers a city location with a friendly vibe. Impressive, historic buildings such as our iconic Martha Magee building blend perfectly with our modern state-of-the-art teaching blocks and library facilities, including our School of Medicine.
Our Sports Yard that sits alongside the School of Health Sciences provides active spaces and an indoor gym and studios to enhance student wellbeing and experience in Derry~Londonderry.
The City of Derry is famous for its festivals, including the Foyle Film Festival, Halloween celebrations, Maritime Festival, and Derry Jazz and Big Band Festival. The vibrant nightlife - recognised with Purple Flag status for being safe and welcoming - is complemented by a wide range of cultural venues and activities, and the city’s fame has spread thanks to the popular TV show Derry Girls. Alongside being one of the most affordable places to live in the UK, the friendliness of the people of Derry~Londonderry will make your student experience truly ‘Legenderry’.
Dive deeper into the places, services and virtual experiences that will shape your student life in Derry~Londonderry.
Here is a guide to the subjects studied on this course.
Courses are continually reviewed to take advantage of new teaching approaches and developments in research, industry and the professions. Please be aware that modules may change for your year of entry. The exact modules available and their order may vary depending on course updates, staff availability, timetabling and student demand. Please contact the course team for the most up to date module list.
Year: 1
Status: C
The module provides students with an opportunity to consider, reflect on and develop key skills that will provide the basis for successful study on the programme. It provides an opportunity to consider personal strengths and learning styles, and to develop strategies to obtain maximum benefit from these and enhance their employability skills.
Year: 1
Status: C
This module encourages students to look beneath the headlines and examine social constructions of crime. Ideas about 'crime', harm' and 'deviance' vary over time and place and the module explores popular discourses on these themes. The module introduces students to criminology as a discipline and to key theoretical traditions. The module provides a foundation of knowledge and skills for the criminology and criminal justice, and criminology minor degree programmes.
Year: 1
Status: C
This module will explore crime and its control through an analysis of the response of the criminal justice system, from the reporting/detection of incidents through the main criminal justice agencies and processes. Students will be introduced to the treatment and experiences of women, children, and victims and witnesses in the criminal justice system drawing upon national and international research.
Year: 1
Status: C
This module introduces students to the principles and practices of criminological research, including key terminology, research design, and qualitative and quantitative methods. Students will explore sampling, data collection and analysis techniques, and ethical considerations. Case studies are used to connect theory with practice. By the end of the module, students will have developed skills for describing research and planning independent projects. The module provides a foundation for more advanced research skills at Level 5 and supports employability in research-orientated professional roles.
Year: 1
Status: C
This module provides an overview of foundational criminological theory and recent developments in criminological explanations of crime, harm and criminalisation These developments are explored and critically evaluated via contemporary issues including criminalisation, violence and victimisation, intersectional issues, environmental harm, border harms, state crime & (de)colonisation.
Year: 1
Status: C
This module introduces Criminology students to how law operates and in particular the institutions and legal system of Northern Ireland. In addition it gives an appreciation of the workings of selected relevant areas of law and how legislation and decided cases affect professionals working in the system.
Year: 2
Status: C
This module introduces students to the principles and practices of qualitative research in criminology. Through interactive workshops and applied tasks, students will learn how to design qualitative studies, collect data using interviews, observations, and documents, and analyse findings using thematic and content analysis. The module includes training in NVivo and Excel to support digital research skills. Students will develop practical research capabilities, ethical awareness, and confidence in applying qualitative methods to real-world criminological issues.
Year: 2
Status: C
What purpose do the police serve in a democratic society? Are they simply 'citizens in uniform', or does the uniform embody a distinctive and potent form of authority? If it does, how is that authority enacted, justified, or abused—and with what consequences for society? How does the exercise of police power shape public trust, legitimacy, and social order? What role do non-state actors play in the broader landscape of policing, and how do these relationships vary across contexts? This module engages with Egon Bittner's enduring question: how can a society devoted to peace sustain an institution grounded in force?
Year: 2
Status: C
This module develops core quantitative research skills for criminology, including survey design, hypothesis testing, and data analysis using SPSS. Students learn to interpret and present findings through practical workshops and applied tasks, preparing for advanced research projects.
Year: 2
Status: C
This module introduces students to the criminological study of environmental crime, harm and justice. Through inductive learning methods students will discover the common drivers of environmental crime. They will also learn about compliance, enforcement and justice mechanisms designed to combat environmental criminality.
Year: 2
Status: C
This module focuses on children and young people's experiences as victims of crime, and as 'offenders', exploring these through an intersectional, children's rights-based approach. It examines the underpinning factors contributing to deviance and offending by young people, particularly the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences. The module applies a range of criminology theories to contemporary local and global issues facing children and young people and examines alternatives to punishment and criminalisation.
Year: 2
Status: C
This module examines the relationship between sentencing theory, principle, policy, and practice. Consideration is given to how sentences are constructed, and the range of sentencing technologies available to the courts. Additionally, a variety of theoretical approaches are utilised to explore the broader social impact sentencing and punishment has on communities at a regional, national, and international level.
Status: O
Year: 2
This module is optional
This module seeks to explore the definition and nature of state crime in criminological and political discourse. It aims to develop a critical understanding of the nature of the state and the scale and type of crimes committed by state agents and agencies. A range of state crimes will be explored in both the domestic and international spheres. The module will explore forms of state crime as techniques of 'coercive governance' and will use examples from both democratic and authoritarian regimes.
Status: O
Year: 2
This module is optional
This module further develops analytical skills in criminology and criminal justice. It evaluates, in the national and international context, the experiences, and the actual and potential role of victims of crime within the criminal justice system and explores criminal justice system responses to victims of crime.
Status: O
Year: 2
This module is optional
Since the late 1960s, acts of terrorism have increased in both frequency and scope. The attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in September 2001, along with subsequent incidents in cities such as Madrid and London, have significantly intensified interest in the study of terrorism and political violence—not only within academic research but also among policymakers. At the same time, public awareness of the so-called 'war on terrorism' has become more pronounced.
This module explores key debates surrounding the definition of terrorism and political violence, as well as the psychological, sociological, and broader social science theories that seek to explain them. It also investigates the mutually reinforcing relationship between terrorists, terrorism, and the mass media; the nature of state terrorism; transnational and international forms of terrorism, including historical trends and possible future developments; and the phenomenon of single-issue terrorism. In addition, the module critically evaluates state counter-terrorism measures encompassing policing, intelligence and legal responses, both in terms of their effectiveness and their implications for civil liberties within liberal democracies.
Status: O
Year: 2
This module is optional
This module provides an opportunity to undertake an extended period of study at one of Ulster University's international partner institutions. Students will develop an enhanced understanding of the academic discipline of Criminology and Criminal Justice whilst generating educational and cultural networks.
Status: O
Year: 2
This module is optional
This module is designed to explore the law and institutions involved in policing and to set policing in a legal context. Thus it will consider the role and powers of the office of constable and the legal framework within which a policing service is delivered including the constraints and obligations on police officers and a police service. It will allow for discussion and challenge in regard to ideas about how policing is and ought to be conducted.
Status: O
Year: 3
This module is optional
This module provides an opportunity to undertake an extended period of study outside the UK. It is a required module for all criminology students on an intercalary study abroad year between second and final year. It is not open to non-study abroad students. Students will develop an enhanced understanding of the academic discipline of criminology and criminal justice whilst generating educational and cultural networks.
Status: O
Year: 3
This module is optional
This module provides undergraduate students with an opportunity to gain structured and professional work experience, in a work-based learning environment, as part of their planned programme of study. This experience allows students to develop, refine and reflect on their key personal and professional skills. The placement should significantly support the development of the student's employability skills, preparation for final year and enhance their employability journey.
Status: O
Year: 4
This module is optional
'Lived Experience and Criminal Justice' provides learners with the opportunity to undertake an innovative topic within the unique setting of a criminal justice space alongside students in contact with justice. Students will acquire knowledge on the cutting-edge developments that integrate lived experience of criminal justice into programme delivery, policy reform, peer-led research and discipline advancements in the field of Convict Criminology. They will work with inside students to apply this knowledge and learning to practical group project work-package development over the course of three weeks, culminating with a graduation ceremony in week 12.
Status: O
Year: 4
This module is optional
This year-long, 40-credit module supports students to design and deliver an independent criminology and criminal justice research project and dissertation, from proposal to final write-up. Across Semesters 1 and 2, students progress through workshops and tutorials, alongside regular individual or group supervision, to develop research questions, review literature, address ethics, select methods, collect/analyse data and communicate findings. Assessment comprises a 7,000-word dissertation (90%) and a short presentation at an end-of-year student conference (10%). The module consolidates advanced research, critical analysis and project-management skills, while strengthening academic writing and professional communication for further study and careers across justice, policy, research and community sectors.
Status: O
Year: 4
This module is optional
This module examines the complex relationship between drugs and crime in local and global contexts. Students will critically evaluate theory, evidence and policy responses to contemporary drug issues. Through innovative assessments and engagement with real-world debates, the module prepares students for careers in criminal justice, social justice, public health, research and advocacy while fostering ethical awareness and global citizenship.
Status: O
Year: 4
This module is optional
This module explores how gender and sexuality shape experiences of crime, victimisation, and justice, drawing on critical theory, research, and real-world case studies. It examines pathways into custody for women, their experiences of prison, including transgender women, and debates over custodial versus community-based responses. The over-representation of men in the justice system is also considered, using ethnographic research with young men to highlight issues such as bullying, violence, substance use, and mental health. Students engage with case studies and guest lectures on sexual and intimate partner violence, digital harassment, and the regulation of women's bodies, as well as the experiences of women and LGBTQ+ professionals in justice agencies, including workplace barriers, entrenched cultures, and the impact of high-profile cases.
Status: O
Year: 4
This module is optional
This module explores penal policy and practice, analysing the impact of incarceration on imprisoned individuals and for society. Sociological and criminological theories are applied to a range of issues including the 'deprivations' and 'pains' associated with imprisonment and following release; the intersectional impact of incarceration depending on ethnicity/race, age, gender, sexuality, disability and social class. The module considers the ways that people in prison respond and resist, including via the lived experience movement. Strategies for decarceration and prison abolition are evaluated.
Status: O
Year: 4
This module is optional
Cybercrime explores how emerging digital technologies—including social media, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and darknet platforms—are transforming the landscape of serious and organised crime. From state-backed hacking and cyberwarfare to online fraud, crypto-enabled financial crime, drug markets on the darknet, and technology-facilitated harassment and abuse, the module examines how powerful actors exploit digital infrastructures to operate across borders and at scale.
Students will investigate how these crimes work in practice, who carries them out, how victims are affected, and why preventing and prosecuting cybercrime presents major challenges for governments, law enforcement, businesses, and civil society. Along the way, students will develop the analytical tools needed to understand how cyberspace is being "weaponised" and how criminal networks adapt to new technologies.
The module also encourages students to think critically about the wider social impact of cybercrime on democracy, economic security, and everyday digital life. Students will explore how criminological knowledge can contribute to building safer and more resilient digital environments, while developing valuable graduate skills in analysing complex global crime problems linked to technology, security, and justice.
Status: O
Year: 4
This module is optional
The module employs an enquiry-based learning approach to empower students to develop a range of theoretical and practical understandings of crime and harm. The applied focus provides opportunities for students to critically examine the ownership of crime and justice set against practical examples and diverse contexts and enables them to explore the potential for restorative justice approaches as a means for improving outcomes for all those affected by harmful behaviour.
Status: O
Year: 4
This module is optional
Corporate crime is a multi-trillion dollar global phenomenon that represents a significant threat to markets, democracy, development, human rights and the environment. Crimes committed by corporations have been identified by the UK and US governments as one of the most pressing challenges for law makers today. This module will critically explore the drivers of corporate crime in a number of thematic areas including serious fraud, financial crime, corruption, environment, and human rights. Students will take a hands-on approach, investigating some of the most significant corporate crimes of the last two decades, using specially curated real-world materials such as indictments and deferred prosecution agreements. This case driven approach will open-up the inner workings of corporate crime and help students theorise some of the key drivers of illicit corporate activity. The module's applied focus will help prepare students for a potential career in the control of corporate crime, which is a fast growing and dynamic industry for criminology graduates.
Status: O
Year: 4
This module is optional
Life After Crime and Criminal Justice explores how and why people move away from patterns offending behaviour, and rebuild their lives after involvement in the criminal justice system. The module introduces key theories and debates on rehabilitation, reintegration, and desistance, addressing what supports or hinders change across individual, community, and policy levels. Students will critically analyse the relationships between rehabilitation, risk, and resettlement, and consider how criminal justice practices can promote or obstruct desistance. Drawing on contemporary research, real-world examples, and international perspectives, the module challenges students to think creatively and critically about what it means to support life after crime and criminal justice.
Status: O
Year: 4
This module is optional
The public police have been in a state of perpetual crisis since their inception in the 19th Century. The precise nature of this crisis varies from generation to generation, and from one country to another, but - uniquely among the institutions of a liberal democracy - the legitimacy of the police has always been a source of debate, often bitter debate, amongst the citizens in a liberal democracy. In this module, we will examine how, and why, the police, both as an idea and as an institution, has been a source of such contention; what factors explain variation in levels of public support for the police; whether, and how, we can reform the police; and, if not, whether we ought to consider abolishing the police. The module focuses on the police in the United Kingdom, but also includes comparative cases.
Status: O
Year: 4
This module is optional
This module provides final-year students in Criminology and Criminal Justice with the opportunity to undertake an applied alternative to a traditional dissertation. Working from ready-made briefs supplied by justice and community stakeholders, students scope the problem, gather and analyse appropriate evidence, and produce a professional report with actionable recommendations. Weekly workshops scaffold the project throughout the module, encouraging students to apply their knowledge of criminological theory and policy to evaluate and develop solutions to real world problems relating to crime and criminal justice. CCJ510 supports both scholarly development and applied practice, ensuring students can showcase their strengths in ways that align with their future goals and further develop the intellectual and practical tools required for contemporary research and practice in criminology and criminal justice.
Optional modules are reviewed on a Programme each year and we may change the options available to you, to reflect our staff expertise, changes in Programme requirements or to reflect feedback that we have received from other Students, employers or other interested parties.
If your Programme contains optional modules, you will be provided with a list of these in good time so that you can choose the options right for you each year. Sometimes, we may not be able to run a particular optional module because not enough Students sign up for it or because a member of staff is not available to teach a module. Where this may be the case, we will let you know when you are provided with your option choices, and you will be able to choose an alternative if one of your selected modules does not run.
We recognise a range of qualifications for admission to our courses. In addition to the specific entry conditions for this course you must also meet the University’s General Entrance Requirements.
The entry conditions below apply to applicants presenting qualifications from Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland or Great Britain.
BCC
Applicants can satisfy the requirement for the third A Level by substituting a combination of alternative qualifications recognised by the University.
DMM
RQF Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma/OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 Extended Diploma (2016 Suite)
Award profile of DMM
QCF Pearson BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma/OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 Extended Diploma (2012 Suite)
Award profile of DDM
QCF Pearson BTEC Level 3 Diploma/OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 Diploma (2012 Suite) award profile of DM plus A Level Grade B
RQF Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma/OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 Diploma (2016 Suite) award profile of DM plus A Level Grade C
QCF Pearson BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma/OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 Introductory Diploma (2012 Suite) award profile of M plus A Level Grades BC
RQF Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate/OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 Extended Certificate (2016 Suite) award profile of M plus A Level Grades BC
104 UCAS tariff points to include a minimum of five subjects (four of which must be at higher level)
To include English and Maths at H6 if studied at Higher level or O4 if studied at Ordinary Level.
Overall profile of 60% (120-credit Access Course)
You must satisfy the General Entrance Requirements for admission to a first degree course and hold a GCSE pass at Grade C/4 or above in English Language.
Level 2 Certificate in Essential Skills - Communication will be accepted as equivalent to GCSE English.
Acceptable alternative qualifications include:
Pass HND with overall Merit to include 30 distinctions in level 5 credits.
Pass HNC with overall Merit to include 60 distinctions in level 4 credits.
You will enter Year 1. However, if you can provide evidence of previous relevant study, you may, in exceptional circumstances, be permitted exemption from a restricted number of modules in Year 1.
We accept many international qualifications. For each course, we clearly explain the entry requirements and the level of English you need.
View international entry requirements
Explore pathway programmes for international applicants who require:
Grades CCC or higher and may include course specific subjects aligned to the degree.
Entry requirements will vary depending on your country of residence.
Check the specific entry requirements for your country here:
In addition to academic entry requirements, there are also English Language requirements for each course:
Applicants can satisfy the requirement for the third A Level by substituting a combination of alternative qualifications recognised by the University.
You must satisfy the General Entrance Requirements for admission to a first degree course and hold a GCSE pass at Grade C/4 or above in English Language.
Level 2 Certificate in Essential Skills - Communication will be accepted as equivalent to GCSE English.
English language requirements for international applicants
The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5 or an accepted alternative test.
Applications to Ulster University are carefully reviewed and applicant supporting documentation, including qualifications are verified.
If we are unable to make the verification ourselves, we will require applicants to submit a verification check using Qualification Check.
If this applies to you, we will contact you to request for a Qualification Check.
If you have any questions related to entry requirements, please get in touch
QS Stars
Graduates from this course are now working for:
With this degree you could become:
This highly applied course equips students for a variety of careers within organisations with a criminal justice, public policy or community focus, spanning private, voluntary and statutory sectors. It also prepares students for a range of postgraduate opportunities in related fields.
Opportunities to study abroad include the Erasmus scheme and International Student Exchange Programme.
Whilst there is no formal work placement, there is a compulsory work based learning opportunity, entitled work volunteering and criminological issues for students who have secured two hours per week (or equivalent) volunteering or work experience for the duration of the 12 week module. The module aims to inform students about developments within current criminal justice policy and to encourage them to critically assess the role of their chosen organisation within this context and future employability.
Undergraduate fees are subject to annual review, 2027/28 fees will be announced in due course.
See our tuition fees page for the current fees for 2026/27 entry.
The Criminology and Criminal Justice degree has two awards sponsored by the Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland:
Criminology and Criminal Justice students can also be considered for the School of Applied Social & Policy Sciences' Global Studies Award for the best dissertation with an international focus. Additionally, Criminology and Criminal Justice students are encouraged to submit their final year work to The Undergraduate Awards, an international awards programme which recognises creativity, excellence and innovative thinking within student coursework. We have had a number of entries which have been highly commended.
See if you can access financial or other forms of support, including mentorship to excel in your studies.
It is important to remember that costs associated with accommodation, travel (including car parking charges) and normal living will need to be covered in addition to tuition fees.
Where a course has additional mandatory expenses (in addition to tuition fees) we make every effort to highlight them above. We aim to provide students with the learning materials needed to support their studies. Our libraries are a valuable resource with an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as first-class facilities and IT equipment. Computer suites and free Wi-Fi are also available on each of the campuses.
There are additional fees for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.
Students choosing a period of paid work placement or study abroad as a part of their course should be aware that there may be additional travel and living costs, as well as tuition fees. See Tuition Fees for most up to date costs.
It is important to remember that costs associated with accommodation, travel (including car parking charges) and normal living will need to be covered in addition to tuition fees.
Where a course has additional mandatory expenses (in addition to tuition fees) we make every effort to highlight them above. We aim to provide students with the learning materials needed to support their studies. Our libraries are a valuable resource with an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as first-class facilities and IT equipment. Computer suites and free Wi-Fi are also available on each of the campuses.
There are additional fees for examination resits and library fines. Where a graduation ceremony is part of your course, please be aware that additional fees will apply.
Students choosing a period of paid work placement or study abroad as a part of their course should be aware that there may be additional travel and living costs, as well as tuition fees.
See the tuition fees on our student guide for most up to date costs.
QS Stars
Ulster continues to develop and support sustainability initiatives with our staff, students, and external partners across various aspects of teaching, research, professional services operations, and governance.
At Ulster every person, course, research project, and professional service area on every campus either does or can contribute in some way towards the global sustainability and climate change agenda.
We are guided by both our University Strategy People, Place and Partnerships: Delivering Sustainable Futures for All and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Our work in this area is already being recognised globally. Most recently by the 2024 Times Higher Education Impact rating where we were recognised as Joint 5th Globally for Outreach Activities and Joint Top 20 Globally for Sustainable Development Goal 17: Partnership for the Goals.
Visit our Sustainability at Ulster destination to learn more about how the University strategy and the activities of Ulster University support each of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Explore cutting-edge solutions to today’s global challenges. From climate change and renewable energy to sustainable leadership, design, and the arts, our programs empower you to make a real impact. Dive into Sustainable Societies and Justice, lead innovation in operations and management, and become part of the next generation driving environmental, social, and cultural change.
Join Ulster University and turn your passion for sustainability into action. Apply today!
1. We prepare our prospectus and online information about our courses with care and every effort is made to ensure that the information is accurate. The printed version of the prospectus is, however, published at least a year before the courses begin. Information included in the prospectus may, therefore, change. This includes, but is not limited to changes to the terms, content, delivery, location, method of assessments or lengths of the courses described. Not all circumstances are foreseeable, but changes will normally be made for one of the following reasons:
2. If there are insufficient enrolments to make a course viable, it may be necessary for the University to withdraw a course. If you have received an offer for a course that we subsequently have to close, we will contact you as soon as possible to discuss alternative courses. If you do not wish to study any alternative courses at the University, you may withdraw your application by informing us by email to admissions@ulster.ac.uk.
3. Please note that the University’s website is the most up-to-date source of information regarding courses, campuses and facilities and we strongly recommend that you always visit the website before making any commitments.
4. We will include a durable PDF when we send you an offer letter which will highlight any changes made to our prospectus or online information about our courses. You should read this carefully and ensure you fully understand what you are agreeing to before accepting a place on one of our courses.
5. The University will always try to deliver the course as described in the durable PDF you receive with your offer letter.
6. At any point after an offer has been made, students will be notified of any course changes in writing (usually by email) as soon as reasonably practicable and we will take all reasonable steps to minimise their impact where possible. The University will, where possible and reasonably practicable, seek the express consent of the student in regard to any changes concerning material or pre-contract information.
7. The University website will be updated to reflect the changed course information as soon as reasonably practicable.
8. If, after due consideration, you decide that you no longer want to study your course or to study at the University because of the changes, you may withdraw your application or terminate your contract with the University. In order to do so, you should notify us in writing by emailing admissions@ulster.ac.uk (and update UCAS if applicable). We will, on request, recommend alternative courses that you could study with us, or suggest a suitable course at an alternative higher education provider.
9. If you do not agree that the changes are fair, you can seek redress under the Student Complaints Procedures.
10. Providing the University has complied with the requirements of all applicable consumer protection laws, the University does not accept responsibility for the consequences of any modification, relocation or cancellation of any course, or part of a course, offered by the University. The University will give due and proper consideration to the effects thereof on individual students and take the steps necessary to minimise the impact of such effects on those affected.
11. The University is not liable for disruption to its provision of educational or other services caused by circumstances beyond its reasonable control providing it takes all reasonable steps to minimise the resultant disruption to such services.
12. The published Academic Calendar sets out the University’s standard teaching, assessment, and vacation periods. These dates do not apply to all programmes. Individual programmes may operate different start dates, teaching periods, assessment schedules, or vacation arrangements, and some may include teaching or assessment outside the standard University terms. This is particularly common for programmes with professional accreditation requirements, clinical or practice‑based teaching, placements, fieldwork, or intensive study blocks. Full‑time 12‑month programmes, particularly postgraduate taught courses, may operate across the full academic year and typically continue through the summer period without a standard vacation break.
Applicants and students should not rely solely on the central academic calendar when making decisions about accommodation, travel, employment, or other commitments. Programme‑specific schedules will normally be confirmed in programme information, offer documentation and programme handbooks.
The University takes reasonable steps to ensure the accuracy of published information but reserves the right to make changes where reasonably necessary, including to maintain academic standards or to comply with regulatory or professional requirements. Where changes materially affect students, the University will take reasonable steps to notify affected students and applicants in advance where possible.
13. Further information can be found in our terms and conditions.
The full Student Terms and Conditions is now available.
