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Why choose the School of Applied Social Sciences
100% of our social sciences students were satisfied with how well our courses developed knowledge and skills for the future (NSS, 2024).
Includes work-related learning in criminal justice through volunteering or paid employment within local communities and industry.
Undertake a final ‘Changemaker’ project in the workplace.
About the course
This innovative degree brings together two complementary fields to offer a broad but in- depth understanding of crime, deviance and offending set alongside the laws that regulate these behaviours, both in the UK and internationally. You explore theoretical approaches to criminology and gain a foundation in the legal system, its institutions and practices, considering the relevance of law and how it impacts on society. You also put theory into practice in real-life settings in the criminal justice system.
Facilities and specialist equipment
- Mock-custody suite
- Police interview room
- Scene-of-crime ‘flat’
Industry links
We have robust associations with local statutory and voluntary agencies including criminal
justice stakeholders, councils, companies, and voluntary sector and practitioners, which
open up opportunities for work experience in the community or in practice.
We also have strong links with Bedfordshire and Thames Valley police forces.
Your student experience
Build your core knowledge in criminology and criminal justice alongside your skills in data analysis and collection while exploring the relationship between the criminal justice system, society and the individual.
Learn from a research-active academic team who regularly publish in areas including youth justice; resettlement; gangs and youth violence; policing; modern slavery; and child trafficking. Examine key issues relating to ethnicity, diversity and inclusion with a unit focusing on identity, inequalities and human rights. Take up opportunities for volunteering, placement and work-based learning.
Build transferable skills in areas such as management and leadership, research analysis, IT/digital proficiency and being a changemaker in your field. Interact with local charities, policymakers and community influencers with our #SASS Change Maker initiative, which aims to increase awareness of topical societal issues. Specialised learning support and guidance from academic success coaches.
with Professional Practice Year
This course has the option to be taken over four years which includes a year placement in industry. Undertaking a year in industry has many benefits. You gain practical experience and build your CV, as well as being a great opportunity to sample a profession and network with potential future employers.
There is no tuition fee for the placement year enabling you to gain an extra year of experience for free.
*Only available to UK/EU students.
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with Foundation Year
A Degree with a Foundation Year gives you guaranteed entry to an Undergraduate course.
Whether you’re returning to learning and require additional help and support to up-skill, or if you didn’t quite meet the grades to pursue an Undergraduate course, our Degrees with Foundation Year provide a fantastic entry route for you to work towards a degree level qualification.
With our guidance and support you’ll get up to speed within one year, and will be ready to seamlessly progress on to undergraduate study at Bedfordshire.
The Foundation Year provides an opportunity to build up your academic writing skills and numeracy, and will also cover a range of subject specific content to fully prepare you for entry to an Undergraduate degree.
This is an integrated four-year degree, with the foundation year as a key part of the course. You will need to successfully complete the Foundation Year to progress on to the first year of your bachelor’s degree.
Why study a degree with a Foundation Year?
- Broad-based yet enough depth to give you credible vocational skills
- Coverage of a variety of areas typically delivered by an expert in this area
- Gain an understanding of a subject before choosing which route you wish to specialise in
- Great introduction to further study, and guaranteed progression on to one of our Undergraduate degrees
The degrees offering a Foundation Year provide excellent preparation for your future studies.
During your Foundation Year you will get the opportunity to talk to tutors about your degree study and future career aspirations, and receive guidance on the most appropriate Undergraduate course to help you achieve this; providing you meet the entry requirements and pass the Foundation Year.
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Careers
The School of Applied Social Sciences has a long history of developing professional skillsets for their students to work with policymakers and service users across a range of fields, including probation, youth justice and community work, and victims of gangs and international trafficking.
This course is designed to prepare you for a career in the field of human services with a particular emphasis on criminal justice. Careers include youth justice and youth work; offending teams; policing; community safety; probation; local government; legal services; charities involved in offender rehabilitation and support; and research into criminal behaviour.
You can also progress to Master’s study in a relevant field or a research Master’s in an area you are particularly interested in.
Entry Requirements
Entry Requirements
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £9,535 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs. See
Excellence Scholarships
Worth £2,500 per year of study over three years when you score a defined number of UCAS tariff points from specified qualifications*
» If you don’t qualify for an Excellence Scholarship but have 120 UCAS tariff points, you have enough points for one of our Achievement Scholarships offering £500 per year of study**
» Other scholarships, bursaries and financial support packages are available
* Points requirements vary depending on type of qualification.
** Threshold is 120 UCAS tariff points across all awarding bodies and qualifications.
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International
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2025/26 is £16,900 per year.
There are range of Scholarships available to help support you through your studies with us.
A full list of scholarships can be found here.
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £9,535 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs. See
Excellence Scholarships
Worth £2,500 per year of study over three years when you score a defined number of UCAS tariff points from specified qualifications*
» If you don’t qualify for an Excellence Scholarship but have 120 UCAS tariff points, you have enough points for one of our Achievement Scholarships offering £500 per year of study**
» Other scholarships, bursaries and financial support packages are available
* Points requirements vary depending on type of qualification.
** Threshold is 120 UCAS tariff points across all awarding bodies and qualifications.
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International
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2025/26 is £16,900 per year.
There are range of Scholarships available to help support you through your studies with us.
A full list of scholarships can be found here.
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