Course overview
Does the human mind and behaviour fascinate you? Are you interested in why people commit crimes and whether punishment ever works?
By studying a BSc Psychology with Criminology you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the core areas of psychology stipulated by the British Psychological Society (BPS) alongside learning about crime and the criminal justice system.
This four-year course includes an initial full-time Foundation Year and offers an alternative route into university and gaining a degree.
This route is for you if you do not have the necessary qualifications or don’t yet feel ready to begin degree-level study, or are returning to education and would like some support to get up to speed with learning in a university setting.
The Foundation Year in Psychology will allow you to develop your academic skills and confidence as well as introduce you to key concepts, debates and skills that will support and inform your subsequent years of undergraduate study.
Following successful completion of your Foundation Year, you’ll progress onto Year 1 of our Psychology with Criminology BSc Combined (Hons) degree.
About this course
During your Foundation Year, you will undertake modules to enable you to enhance your academic skills and equip you with the tools you’ll need to study with confidence. You’ll carry out a personal project so you can study an area of interest related to your chosen future subject specialisation.
You’ll be introduced to the main perspectives, investigation methods, key theories, research and controversies across the main areas of psychology. You'll study quantitative and qualitative approaches to research and learn about the application of psychology in a professional context in each of the British Psychological Society (BPS) professional areas.
Following successful completion of the Foundation Year, you’ll progress onto Year 1 of our Psychology with Criminology BSc Combined (Hons) degree.
You’ll learn in a supportive environment which focuses on teamwork and collaboration. As well as teaching you the core elements of psychology and criminology, we’ll support you in developing your research skills from the start of your degree.
In your final year, you’ll work with your supervisor to design and carry out your own research project. In addition, you will have the opportunity to tailor your studies (often with future career goals in mind) by choosing from a range of optional modules from either Psychology or Criminology.
You’ll also put theory into practice through the professional work placements included in your degree, as well as assessments which help you to develop valuable real-world skills.
You’ll graduate with an excellent grounding in both psychology and criminology which will make you ready to become a competent and ethical practitioner within the Criminal Justice System.
Why study with us?
- Build your self-confidence, academic skills and core subject knowledge in preparation for progression onto degree-level study.
- Start your journey to becoming a Chartered Psychologist. This degree is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) which makes you eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership on successful completion of the course.
- Learn from the experts. The course is developed and taught by researchers and practitioners within the fields of psychology and criminology.
- Get professional experience via our excellent links with local criminal justice agencies.
- Tailor your studies in line with your own career aspirations.
Accreditation
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This degree is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) (link opens in a new window/tab) which makes you eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership on successful completion of the course.
Modules
You will study a variety of modules across your programme of study. The module details given below are subject to change and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
Foundation Year
Core modules (students are required to take):
- Academic Skills and Studying with Confidence
We'll help you develop core academic skills such as using electronic resources, planning and note-taking, communication skills related to essay and report writing and delivering presentations. You'll learn how to manage your time, how to prioritise and how to manage stress, and you’ll become more confident in engaging with collaborative learning, debates, discussions and critical reflection. - Psychology Project
You’ll study an area of interest related to your chosen degree. You’ll work individually on your project, whether that's a written report, a presentation and oral examination, a film or a series of blog posts. You’ll undertake problem-solving learning, and formative feedback and support will be provided throughout, helping develop your self-confidence. - Foundations in Psychology
With this module you’ll be introduced to the main perspectives, investigation methods, key studies and controversies in key areas of psychology. You will explore the history of psychology and its themes such as cognitive behaviour, sociology, biology and developmental theories. You will learn via a blend of lectures, discussions and group workshops and develop familiarity with key concepts through individual research. - Foundations in Criminology
You'll study crime and criminology, including patterns of crime and key criminological theories and concepts, such as social control, deviance, victimisation, the media and punishment. You will examine crime statistics, self-report studies and social trends and theories and review policies intended to address important social problems, including criminality. Throughout this module, you will develop your understanding and problem-solving skills and use a range of online resources to enhance and support your learning.
Year 1
Core modules (students are required to take):
- Understanding Human Behaviour
- Introduction to Criminology
- Professional Development for Psychologists 1
- Introduction to Research Skills for Psychologists
Year 2
Core modules (students are required to take):
- Mind, Brain and Social Behaviour
- Crime, Media, Culture
- Professional Development for Psychologists 2
- Research Skills for Psychologists: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches
Year 3
Core modules (students are required to take):
- Psychology Research Project
- Professional Learning Through Work
Students are required to choose two option modules from:
- Business Psychology
- Counselling Psychology
- Psychology of Mental Health and Distress
- Critical Psychology
- Cyberpsychology
- Forensic Psychology
- Health Behaviour Change in Context
- Psychology Negotiated Essay
- Psychobiology of Stress and Illness
- Environmental Psychology
- Illusions, Biases and Cognitive Impairments
Students are also required to choose one option module from:
- Genocide Studies
- Gender and Society
- Justice, Punishment and Human Rights
- Crimes of the 21st Century
- Policing Priorities
Professional work placements
Experience matters. That's why we include professional work placements with every undergraduate degree.
How does it work?
Careers and Placements will work with you to find your perfect placement or help you arrange your own, whether that's in Leeds, another part of the UK or even abroad. You will be able to take part in a series of workshops, events and live ‘employer challenges’ to boost your confidence and prepare you for your placement.
During your placement, you will have an opportunity to gain degree-relevant work experience, build your knowledge of career sectors and secure valuable employer references and industry contacts. This experience will help you to shape your career decisions and find the right path for you.
Typical placement organisations include HM Prison Service, pupil referral units, charities, secure units, drugs services and crime reduction initiatives. Students have worked shadowing psychologists and other professionals, learning to work with vulnerable people in a range of settings.
To find out how we can help you make your career ambitions a reality, visit:
Learning and Teaching
At Leeds Trinity we aim to provide an excellent student experience and provide you with the tools and support to help you achieve your academic, personal and professional potential.
Our Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy delivers excellence by providing the framework for:
- high quality teaching
- an engaging and inclusive approach to learning, assessment and achievement
- a clear structure through which you progress in your academic studies, your personal development and towards professional-level employment or further study.
We have a strong reputation for developing student employability, supporting your development towards graduate employment, with relevant skills embedded throughout your programme of study.
We endeavour to develop curiosity, confidence, courage, ambition and aspiration in all students through the key themes in our Learning and Teaching Strategy:
- Student Involvement and Engagement
- Inclusion
- Integrated Programme and Assessment Experience
- Digital Literacy and Skills
- Employability and Enterprise
To help you achieve your potential we emphasise learning as a collaborative process, with a range of student-led and real-world activities. This approach ensures that you fully engage in shaping your own learning, developing your critical thinking and reflective skills so that you can identify your own strengths and weaknesses, and use the extensive learning support system we offer to shape your own development.
We believe the secret to great learning and teaching is simple: it is about creating an inclusive learning experience that allows all students to thrive through:
- Personalised support
- Expert lecturers
- Strong connections with employers
- An international outlook
- Understanding how to use tools and technology to support learning and development
Programme delivery
Your time on campus, learning through in-person teaching, is at the heart of your academic experience and the way we deliver our programmes. This is supported and further enhanced by additional engagement activities and opportunities provided online and through digital teaching materials. This blended approach seeks to ensure a positive learning and teaching student experience.
Your programme of study has been carefully designed around a three-phase model of delivery:
- Preparation: You will be given clear tasks to support you in preparing for live teaching. This could include watching a short-pre-recorded lecture, reading a paper or text chapter or preparing other material for use in class.
- Live: All your live teaching will be designed around active learning, providing you with valuable opportunities to build on preparation tasks, interact with staff and peers, and surface any misunderstandings.
- Post: Follow-up activities will include opportunities for you to check understanding, for staff to receive feedback from you and your peers to inform subsequent sessions, and for you to apply learning to new situations or context.
Preparation, Live and Post teaching and learning and the digital materials used will vary by course, but will be designed to help you structure your learning, take a full and active part in your course, and apply and test your developing knowledge and skills.
Assessment
A variety of assessment methods are used, matched to the learning outcomes for your programme, allowing you to apply and demonstrate the full range of knowledge and skills that you have developed.
For more details on specific assessment methods for this course contact hello@leedstrinity.ac.uk
Entry Requirements
Leeds Trinity University is committed to recruiting students with talent and potential and who we feel will benefit greatly from their academic and non-academic experiences here. We treat every application on its own merits; we value highly the experience you illustrate in your personal statement.
Information about the large range of qualifications we accept, including A-Levels, BTECs and T Levels, can be found on our entry requirements page. If you need additional advice or are taking qualifications that are not covered in the information supplied, please contact our Admissions Office.
| Qualification | Grade |
|---|---|
| UCAS tariff | 64 |
| GCSE requirements | GCSE English Language and Maths with grade 4/C or above |
Applications are welcome from mature students with few formal qualifications.
Any previous relevant work experience and learning will be assessed and, where appropriate, we may offer an alternative way to assess suitability to study.
This course is not available to students on a Student Route Visa.
Graduate opportunities
Providing you with the opportunity to develop the professional skills and experience you need to launch your career is at the heart of everything we do at Leeds Trinity University.
Psychology with Criminology graduates are employed within the civil service, healthcare, charitable organisations and education. Graduates may choose to go on to further study in a range of areas, including Forensic Psychology, Neuroscience and postgraduate research.
After you graduate, Careers and Placements will help you as you pursue your chosen career through our mentoring scheme, support with CV and interview preparation and access to graduate employability events.
To find out how we can help you make your career ambitions a reality, visit:
Fees and finance
Funding
UK Home Students:
Tuition fees cost £9,250 a year for this course in 2023/2024.
Part-time tuition fees will be prorated accordingly to the number of credits you're studying.
Depending on government policy, tuition fees may change in future years.
Living costs, e.g. accommodation, travel, food, will also need to be taken into consideration.
Leeds Trinity offers a range of bursaries and scholarships to help support students while you study.
Additional costs
We advise students that there may be additional course costs in addition to annual tuition fees. These include:
- Books - recommended and required reading lists will be provided at the start of your course. All the books and e-books are available from our Library to borrow but you may choose to purchase your own.
- Print costs - the University provides students with a £6 printing credit each academic year which can be topped up either on campus or online.
How to apply
For full-time undergraduate courses, you apply through UCAS. That's the University and Colleges Admissions Service.
On your application form, you'll need to know our institution code - it's L24 - and the course code. If you click through to the UCAS website using the button below, it'll take you to the right place with all the information you need.
You'll need to write a personal statement - we've prepared a guide to help you.
Although the main UCAS deadline has passed for 2023 entry, you can still apply until 30 June if you haven’t applied yet or haven’t used all five choices on UCAS. After this date, all applications will go through Clearing.
Alternatively, if you’ve used all your five choices, but received no offers or declined your offers, you may be eligible to add another choice through UCAS Extra. UCAS will send you information on UCAS Extra if you’re eligible.
UCAS Extra opened on Thursday 23 February 2023 and closes on Tuesday 4 July 2023.
Applications are not yet open for courses starting in September 2024. You can register and start your application for 2024 from 16 May 2023, although you cannot submit it until later in the year. The UCAS application deadline for courses starting in September 2024 is 31 January 2024
There's lots more information about the application process on the UCAS website, or you can get in touch with our admissions team who will be happy to help:
- call 0113 283 7123 (Monday to Thursday, 9.00am to 5.00pm, or Friday 9.00am to 4.00pm)
- email admissions@leedstrinity.ac.uk
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Course Modules
Foundation Year
During your Foundation Year, you'll study four core modules.
Foundations in Psychology (core)
You’ll be introduced to the main perspectives, investigation methods, studies and controversies in key areas of psychology.
Explore the history of psychology and its themes including cognitive behaviour, sociology, biology and developmental theories.
You'll learn through lectures, discussions and group workshops and become familiar with key concepts through individual research.
Researching and Applying Psychology (core)
Get a foundation in quantitative and qualitative approaches to research in psychology, focusing on research terminology and design, data collection, data handling and analysis.
Learn about the application of psychology in a professional context, considering research, ethics and professional issues in each of the British Psychological Society (BPS) professional areas.
You'll be taught through a blended approach to learning, including lectures, discussions and group work.