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UK and international students need to apply through UCAS.  Except those inside the Crimea Region/Sevastopol, the so-called Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) / Luhansk People's Republic (LNR), Cuba, Iran, North Korea or Syria who need to use our alternative application form.

Course information

Entry requirements

UCAS code

LL33

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

Department

Sociology

Course overview

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.

This degree is for anyone who wants to understand how modern societies are structured, but also for those with an interest in crime and criminality. This interdisciplinary degree will give you the skills and experience to pursue a wide range of careers.

Why study BA Criminology at Goldsmiths

  • You'll be taught by researchers at the cutting edge of criminological and sociological research on urban crime, control and security, and globalisation and crime. And, as part of a tight-knit group of students, you'll benefit from the support and expertise of your teachers throughout your degree.
  • Reflecting on contemporary society, you’ll develop a deep understanding of the problems of crime and control and how this affects people’s lives today.
  • You’ll learn to discuss crime and control in a sophisticated way, drawing on a wide range of sociological and criminological concepts and theories.
  • You’ll learn essential analytical and methodological tools that will help you analyse and understand criminological problems.
  • 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’re international in our outlook: students learn about crime and control in the UK and beyond. You’ll explore themes such as genocide, environmental harm, state crime, and crimes by corporations to get you to think about the idea of criminology in broader terms.
  • You’ll have the opportunity 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.
  • You’ll learn from leading experts in the Department of Sociology, and benefit from their research in the areas of crime and justice, culture, human rights, socio-legal studies, urban sociology, science and technology studies, and more.
  • Your studies will be further enriched by guest speakers, visiting lectures and industry professionals who offer first-hand knowledge and experience, including criminal justice professionals and those working in non-governmental or community organisations.
  • 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.
  • By studying at Goldsmiths, you’ll join one of the world’s leading departments of Sociology. 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 Dr Jennifer Fleetwood or Dr Brett St Louis.

What you'll study

Note about optional modules (if available): The below 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.

A sociological perspective on criminology

This programme enables you to consider crime and control from a sociological perspective. You’ll study: 

  • How our knowledge of crime and criminality is refracted through culture and how the media represent crime, law and social order 
  • Explanations for why people commit ‘crime’ 
  • How governments respond to ‘crime’, and how they might respond differently 
  • The history and development of criminology as a discipline 
  • 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 
  • Practical cases and stories from people working in and with experience of the criminal justice system 
  • Research methods for the empirical investigation of sociological and criminological topics. 

Year 1 (credit level 4)

In your first year, 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 1a 15 credits
Crime, Control and the State 1b 15 credits
Culture and Society 15 credits
Imaginative Criminology 15 credits

Year 2 (credit level 5)

In your second year, you'll take the following compulsory modules:

Module title Credits
Methods of Worldmaking 2 30 credits
Criminal Justice in Context 15 credits
Gender, ‘Race’ and Crime 15 credits
Explaining Crime 15 credits

You'll then take up to 45 credits of recommended second-year modules, one of which must be The Goldsmiths Elective.

The Goldsmiths Elective allows you to choose a relevant interdisciplinary module from another academic department.

Module title Credits
Crimes Against Humanity 15 credits
Law and Contemporary Society 15 credits
Governing Everyday Life 15 credits
Religion, Crime, and Law 15 credits
The Goldsmiths Elective 15 credits

With any remaining credits, you can then choose from the full list of optional modules across the Department of Sociology. This list is updated annually and may include:

Module title Credits
Sociology Work Placement 15 credits
Goldsmiths’ Social Change Module 15 credits
Law and Contemporary Society 15 credits
The Making of the Modern World 15 credits
Knowledge and Subjectivity 15 credits
Social Change and Political Action 15 credits
Leisure, Culture and Society 15 credits
London 15 credits
Sociology of Culture and Communication 15 credits
Central Issues in Sociological Analysis 15 credits
Migration in Context 15 credits
Food and Taste 15 Credits

Year 3 (credit level 6)

In your final year, you'll take the following compulsory modules:

Module title Credits
Confronting climate crisis 15 credits
Dissertation 30 credits
Police, Prisons and Power 15 credits

You'll also choose 60 credits of optional modules, including the possibility of a work placement. The list of optional modules will be produced annually by the Department of Sociology, and recent modules have included:

Module title Credits
Citizenship and Human Rights 15 credits
Race, Racism and Social Theory 15 credits
Law, Identity and Ethics 15 credits
Globalisation, Crime and Justice 15 credits
Crime, Control and the City 15 credits
Crimes of the Powerful 15 credits
Privacy, Surveillance and Security 15 credits
Social Theory Through Film 15 credits
Identity and Contemporary Social Theory 15 credits
Analysing the Complexity of Contemporary Religious Life 15 credits
Visual Explorations of The Social World 15 credits
Childhood Matters: Society, Theory and Culture 15 credits
Thinking Animals 15 credits
Migration, Gender and Social Reproduction 15 credits
Subjectivity, Health and Medicine 15 credits
Thinking with Others, Philosophy and Cultural Difference 15 credits
Experiment Earth Sciences Politics Disasters 15 credits

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.

The following information gives an indication of the typical proportions of learning and teaching for each year of this programme*:

  • Year 1 - 13% scheduled learning, 87% independent learning
  • Year 2 - 13% scheduled learning, 87% independent learning
  • Year 3 - 13% scheduled learning, 83% independent learning, 3% placement learning

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.

The following information gives an indication of how you can typically expect to be assessed on each year of this programme*:

  • Year 1 - 75% coursework, 25% written exam
  • Year 2 - 75% coursework, 25% written exam
  • Year 3 - 88% coursework, 13% written exam

*Please note that these are averages are based on enrolments for 2022/23. Each student’s time in teaching, learning and assessment activities will differ based on individual module choices. Find out more about how this information is calculated.

Credits and levels of learning

An undergraduate honours degree is made up of 360 credits – 120 at Level 4, 120 at Level 5 and 120 at Level 6. If you are a full-time student, you will usually take Level 4 modules in the first year, Level 5 in the second, and Level 6 modules in your final year. A standard module is worth 30 credits. Some programmes also contain 15-credit half modules or can be made up of higher-value parts, such as a dissertation or a Major Project.

Download the programme specification.

Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.

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

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.

Alternative qualifications

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.

Fees & funding

Annual tuition fees

These are the fees for students starting their programme in the 2024/2025 academic year.

From August 2021 EU/EEA/Swiss nationals will no longer be eligible for 'Home' fee status. EU/EEA/Swiss nationals will be classified as 'International' for fee purposes, more information can be found on our fees page.

  • Home - full-time: £9250
  • International - full-time: £19640

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 under a student visa. 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.

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.

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.

Staff

The degree is taught by experts in the Department of Sociology.

Careers

Skills

This degree will help you develop a practical, but conceptually sophisticated, set of skills that will equip you for a range of careers. These skills include: 

  • Critical and analytical thinking
  • Awareness of social, political and cultural processes
  • Awareness of 'difference'
  • Communication skills
  • Thinking creatively

Careers

Sociologists enter careers that centre on the challenges and demands that members of a society face and there are many routes for criminology graduates:

  • You could take an accelerated route to train as a probation officer or professional youth worker or pursue a career in the prison service or police via graduate training schemes.
  • You might decide to pursue postgraduate study, including undertaking a Graduate Law Diploma or with the aim of making a career in higher education as a lecturer or specialist researcher.
  • Our comprehensive research training means you'll be well-placed to apply for jobs in research in sectors as diverse as the civil service, security service and independent research companies.
  • Your criminology degree will open doors to a variety of other careers, including in the charity sector and local or national government. 

Find out more about employability at Goldsmiths as well as specific Sociology employability. You can also find out more about the career paths open to you after graduation in our Sociology careers pages.

About the department

About our Department

The programme draws on the strengths of the Department of Sociology for research in the areas of:

  • Crime and justice
  • Culture
  • Human rights
  • Socio-legal studies
  • Urban sociology
  • Science and technology studies, and methods. 

You’ll learn from speakers external to Goldsmiths who offer first-hand knowledge and experience, including criminal justice professionals and those working in non-governmental or community organisations