BA (Hons)
Sociology with Criminology
Content navigation menu
Why study BA Sociology with Criminology at Goldsmiths
Explore how societies are organised, and how people are united and divided. Within the context of modern forms of power, examine the nature of crime and criminality from a critical, sociological perspective.
- You'll be taught by researchers at the cutting edge of on urban crime, control and security, and globalisation and crime.
- As part of a tight-knit group of students, you'll benefit from the support and expertise of your teachers throughout your degree.
- This Sociology with Criminology degree brings issues of social inequality and social justice to the foreground. You will learn how ‘race’, gender, class and nationality connect to crime and control.
- We are international in our outlook: you will learn about crime and control in the UK and beyond.
- You’ll be encouraged to take on a work placement that matches your interests and aspirations. You could find yourself supporting a victim of crime, attending court, or mentoring young people.
- Based in New Cross, a changing area of south London, we’ll take you on walking tours of the local area so you’ll be able to see how theories learnt in lectures apply to the local community.
- Studying at Goldsmiths means you’ll study in one of the world’s leading sociology departments. We've been rated top 10 in the UK for Sociology in the QS World University Rankings 2023.
Contact the department
If you have specific questions about the degree, contact David Hirsh.
UCAS code
3L3L
Entry requirements
A-level: BBB
BTEC: DDM
IB: 33 points overall with three HL subjects at 655
Length
3 years full time, 6 years part time
Fees
Home - full-time: £9535
International - full-time: £20650
Department
This programme will allow you to consider the subject of criminology from a sociological perspective. You will study:
- How our knowledge of crime and criminality is refracted through culture and how the media represent crime, law and social order
- How governments respond to ‘crime’, and how they might respond differently
- The growth and development of the modern state, the formation of modern society and culture
- Social control, policing, surveillance and security
- Crime as a global phenomenon and its policing in the context of global inequality, the movement of peoples, international trade, human rights and state violence
- Research methods for the empirical investigation of sociological and criminological topics
Our intention is that you consider the problem of crime from a critical perspective in the context of modern forms of power.
What you'll study
The first year of this programme will introduce you to sociological knowledge and training, but it will also offer an understanding of criminology in the context of the nation-state.
You will take the following compulsory modules:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Modern Knowledge, Modern Power | 30 credits |
| Methods of Worldmaking 1 | 30 credits |
| Crime, Control and the State | 15 credits |
| Culture and Society 1A | 15 credits |
| Culture and Society 1B | 15 credits |
| Imaginative Criminology | 15 credits |
Note about optional modules (if available): The above is indicative of the typical modules offered, but is not intended to be construed or relied on as a definitive list of what might be available in any given year. The module content and availability is subject to change.
Teaching style
This programme is mainly taught through scheduled learning - a mixture of lectures, seminars and workshops. You’ll also be expected to undertake a significant amount of independent study. This includes carrying out required and additional reading, preparing topics for discussion, and producing essays or project work.
How you'll be assessed
You’ll be assessed by a variety of methods, depending on your module choices. These include coursework, examinations, group work and projects.
Entry requirements
We accept the following qualifications:
A-level: BBB
BTEC: DDM
International Baccalaureate: 33 points overall with three HL subjects at 655
Access: Pass with 45 Level 3 credits including 30 Distinctions and a number of merits/passes in subject-specific modules
Scottish qualifications: BBBBC (Higher) or BBC (Advanced Higher)
European Baccalaureate: 75%
Irish Leaving Certificate: H2 H2 H2 H2
If you can't find your qualification here, then please visit our entry requirements page for a list of alternative qualifications.
Alternative requirements
See our full list of undergraduate entry qualifications.
We welcome students with a range of educational experiences. If you believe you may not meet the standard qualification requirements we would still encourage you to apply because we consider all aspects of your application when making a decision.
We’ll pay particularly careful attention to your personal statement, which is your opportunity to demonstrate your interest in the subject you’ve applied for. Your referees are also welcome to include any relevant contextual comments around your academic achievements. We’ll look at all these things when making a decision on your application, as well as your qualifications and grades.
International qualifications
We also accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.
If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.0 with a 6.0 in writing and no element lower than 5.5 to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for degree-level study.
Fees and funding
Annual tuition fees
These are the UG fees for students starting their programme in the 2025/2026 academic year.
- Home - full-time: £9535
- International - full-time: £20650
If your fees are not listed here, please check our undergraduate fees guidance or contact the Fees Office, who can also advise you about how to pay your fees.
It’s not currently possible for international students to study part-time if you require a Student Visa, however this is currently being reviewed and will be confirmed in the new year. Please read our visa guidance in the interim for more information. If you think you might be eligible to study part-time while being on another visa type, please contact our Admissions Team for more information.
If you are looking to pay your fees please see our guide to making a payment.
Funding opportunities
We offer a wide range of scholarships and bursaries, and our Careers Service can also offer advice on finding work during your studies. Find out more about funding your studies with us.
Additional costs
In addition to your tuition fees, you'll be responsible for any additional costs associated with your course, such as buying stationery and paying for photocopying. You can find out more about what you need to budget for on our study costs page.
There may also be specific additional costs associated with your programme. This can include things like paying for field trips or specialist materials for your assignments. Please check the programme specification for more information.
Careers
Getting you ready for work
Sociologists enter careers that centre on the challenges and demands that members of a society face. The BA Sociology with Criminology degree will provide an excellent base for careers in:
- Civil society organisations
- Human rights organisations
- Policing and probation work
- A range of research, planning and policy-oriented careers
- Social services, criminal justice, welfare services
- Education
- Local or national government
Over the last three years, some of the graduate level careers for Goldsmiths Sociology graduates have been:
- Events Co-ordinator
- Grants officer
- Housing and welfare officer
- Learning support worker
- Local Government graduate trainee
- Marketing Manager
- Personnel manager and officer
- Public relations officer
- Researcher
- Social and youth worker
- Sustainability officer
You might decide to continue your studies at postgraduate level, by undertaking a Graduate Law Diploma or with the aim of making a career in higher education either as a lecturer or as a specialist researcher.
Read more about possible career options on our Sociology careers pages
Skills
We work closely with the Goldsmiths Careers Service, part of the University of London Careers Service – the biggest in the UK. Through the Careers Service you'll have access to a wide range of facilities to help you plan your future effectively. You'll have the opportunity to meet our Department’s graduates and find out how their sociology degree gave them skills intrinsic to careers development.
We also work closely with the College’s Synapse programme, which provides workshops that will help you to develop both your employability and personal skills in critical and creative ways. In the context of a rapidly changing social and economic climate, these workshops provide you with valuable thinking time in which you can develop practical skills and also explore your ideas for your future.
Find out more about we help you improve your employability while at Goldsmiths
