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BA | Undergraduate

Criminology and Social Policy

Entry year
Academic Year 2025/26
Entry requirements
ABB
Attendance
3 years (Full-time)
UCAS Code
ML94

Criminology focuses on the causes and consequences of crime, as well as how the criminal justice system responds to crime. Criminologists are interested in how activities come to be defined as criminal, and why definitions of crime vary across countries and over time. The subject includes a wide range of sociological and psychological theories that attempt to explain criminal behaviour, the harms associated with offending and how the criminal justice system operates.

Social Policy students learn how to tackle major policy problems. They do this by applying core concepts from social science to intractable social problems such as gender inequality, eldercare, children's rights and climate change. There is strong crossover between criminology and social policy as many of the people who end up within the criminal justice system have experienced poverty, inequality or discrimination. As an applied and critical social science, you will gain knowledge and understanding of contemporary government policies, their impacts, and consider how we can achieve improvements.

To find out more about studying criminology and social policy at Queen’s University Belfast, hear from students about their experiences of studying at Queen’s University Belfast, meet the criminology and social policy staff, as well as read about our research, please visit https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/ssesw/subject-area/criminology

Criminology is ranked 14th in the UK and Social Policy is ranked 16th in the UK at Queens, according to The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024

Criminology and Social Policy highlights

Internationally Renowned Experts

Criminology and social policy are taught by a group of internationally-recognised researchers who specialise in areas, such as justice and conflict, international criminal justice policy, prisons, policing, youth crime, alcohol and drug use, victimisation, criminology of war, trauma and violence, social justice, gender inequality, population ageing, disability and human rights. Please click on the link below for more information on the staff teaching this programme.
https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/ssesw/people/social-policy-people/

Student Experience

We offer a high quality, supportive, student-centred learning experience in a top Russell Group University, as evidenced by our excellent National Student Survey student satisfaction rates. Students in the School are educated in a dynamic academic environment by award-winning teaching staff, and in a recent government-sponsored review of research, staff in the School achieved 'world-leading' and 'international excellence' status for the high quality of their research work. Moreover, students can expect personal attention as classes can be smaller when they take joint honours social policy with criminology or sociology.

To hear from more students about their experience of studying criminology at Queen’s University Belfast, meet the criminology staff and read about our research, please visit
https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/ssesw/subject-area/criminology/

In addition, Queen’s University Belfast is one of only 17 Universities within the UK that was funded by the Nuffield Foundation to provide specialist, advanced quantitative research skills training to undergraduate social science students. This provides students with the opportunity to specialise in advance quantitative research methods which has enhanced students’ employment prospects, as these skills are highly desired by many employers.
https://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/students-teachers/q-step

A range of free student support services are also provided to help students successfully complete their studies, while obtaining their best grades and maintaining their health and wellbeing. Students are also assigned a personal tutor to help them during their studies as well as being encouraged to avail of opportunities to work with peer mentors to help develop their skills. Students are assigned a Personal Tutor during induction. This member of academic staff will provide one-to-one support and mentoring throughout your studies at Queen’s. Please see the link below for information on some of the support services available to students at Queen’s University Belfast.
https://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/sgc/

Career Development

Criminology and social policy students have access to a dedicated Careers Consultant who works with students to provide one-to-one support and advice on applying for jobs, preparing for interviews, developing C.V.s and enhancing career prospects. Information on volunteering and internship opportunities are also available to enhance the skills and desirability of our students to employers. Moreover, students can choose to complete the Future Ready Skills Certificate which increases the employability of our students and provides them with the opportunity to hear the career journeys of former students. Students also have the opportunity to engage with potential employers through field trips, guest lectures, and the research collaborations they are exposed to throughout their studies.
Please click on the link below to access a video from our dedicated Careers Consultant talking about the careers available to students studying criminology.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1Ap6qChY5w

Global Opportunities

Students can spend time studying in one of our linked Universities in Europe, North America (Canada and US), and the Asia-Pacific region. There is also the opportunity to study or work abroad, supported by schemes, such as European Study Exchange programmes and Study USA across the world. For example, past students have studied criminology and social policy in various Universities across Europe and the USA. Supported by the dedicated ‘Go Global’ team at Queen’s University Belfast, our students have the opportunity to study or work abroad, with various events run throughout the year to highlight the opportunities available and provide information on funding to support such travel. Please see the link below for more information.
https://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/sgc/careers/GlobalOpportunities/

World Class Facilities

The newly opened Queen’s Student Centre and Students’ Union at One Elmwood has also won awards, including the Commercial Construction Project of the Year award and Education Project of the Year award. This state-of-the-art building combines access to student services with the Student’s Union, in a space that provides a range of facilities for students to collaborate together in shared spaces, socialise, as well as get support and advice in world class facilities. Please see the link below for more information about the Queen’s Student Centre and Students’ Union at One Elmwood and to take a virtual tour.
https://www.qub.ac.uk/students/one-elmwood/

Further Study Opportunities

If students want to continue studying once they have completed their undergraduate studies, they can choose from a wide range of postgraduate taught or postgraduate research programmes offered in the School, such as the MRes in Social Science Research and the MSc in Youth Justice. More information on postgraduate programmes offered in the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work can be found at the link below.
https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/ssesw/study/

Student Testimonials

85%of students say teaching staff have supported their learning well.

Data for Criminology and Social Policy (Full time) at Queen's University Belfast, over two years

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