Psychology and Criminology - BSc (Hons) Degree

This degree can be studied as a three-year full-time degree or a four-year full-time degree that includes a year of foundational study. Our foundation year is intended to prepare you for your subsequent years of studying, offering you the chance to strengthen your skills, knowledge and confidence.

The foundation year will be relevant to:

1. Students who aspire to enrol onto the first year of a social science-based honours degree programme within the Cardiff School of Health Sciences, who have not achieved the standard entry requirements to enter at year one of the chosen degree.
2. Students who have not studied subjects that provide the necessary background within the scientific disciplines required to enter at year one of the chosen degree.

Find out more about the foundation year.

Please note: You will need to apply using a specific UCAS code if you wish to undertake the 4 years including foundation. Please refer to Key Course Information at the bottom of this page.

Year One Modules

• Foundations of Criminological Theory
• Conceptual and Historical Issues in Psychology
• Fundamentals of Cognition
• Biopsychology and Cognitive Neuroscience
• Conducting and Communicating Research
• Exploring the Criminal Justice System

Year Two Modules

• Research Methods 1
• Comparative Systems of Criminal Justice
• Critical, Social and Developmental Psychology
• Research Methods 2
• Applied Cognitive and Biological Psychology
• Threat, Risk, and Harm

Year Three Modules

• The Race and Gender of Criminology
• Punishment, Prisons, and Penology
• Homicide and Violent Crime
• Applied Forensic Psychology
• Project

A dedicated team of research-active Criminology and Psychology staff including a personal tutor will support you throughout your time with us.

The undergraduate degree programme provides a range of assessment, with the aim of inclusivity at its heart. Assessments are designed to provide authentic experiences for the students to demonstrate the real-world competencies they would be required to use in professional contexts.

The assessments are completed on either an individual or group basis. Modules have integrated assessments: critical essays, exhibitions, portfolios and live scenarios. These all focus on developing students’ knowledge, understanding and skills, to demonstrate their ability to match the real-world competencies.

Students are given the submission dates for assessments at the start of each module, as well as an assessment schedule for the whole of the academic year to help them plan and manage their time effectively. Students receive individual feedback on their work that identifies strengths and areas for improvement.

Graduates will develop a range of transferable skills from their degree, including computing skills, statistical competence; critical thinking; library research; empirical research (in both qualitative and quantitative methods); team working and independent skills; communicational skills (writing, oral, and poster presentations). Graduates will have excellent understanding of how individuals are shaped by biology and social settings and will be able to articulate this within the context of crime and societal change.

Upon graduation you will have a range of career options available within applied psychology and the criminal justice system. There will be options for further postgraduate study within the fields of criminology and psychology, as well as moving into social work, youth work, teaching and housing for instance.

You will also be able to apply for postgraduate courses, such as MSc Forensic Psychology, as well as working with Assistant Psychologists within the NHS.

Typical Offers

The following requirements are based on typical offers relevant to entering year 1 of the degree.

If you do not meet these entry requirements, we also offer a Foundation Year which allows progression to Year 1 upon successful completion.

• Tariff points: 96-112
• Contextual offer: See our contextual offers page.
• GCSE: Five GCSEs at Grade C / 4 or above to include English Language / Welsh First Language, Mathematics / Mathematics – Numeracy.
• English Language Requirement: Academic IELTS 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in all elements, or equivalent.
• A level subjects: Minimum three A levels to include Grades BC. Welsh Baccalaureate – Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate considered as a third subject​.
• BTEC National / Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma: MMM-DMM
• T Level: Pass (C+) – Merit.
• Access to Higher Education Diploma: No specific subjects required.
• International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma: Minimum two Grade 5 in Higher Level subjects.
• Irish Leaving Certificate: 3 x H2. No specific subjects required. Higher level subjects only considered with a minimum grade H4.
• Scottish Advanced Highers: Grades CD. No specific subjects required. Scottish Highers are also considered, either on their own or in combination with Advanced Highers.

Combinations of the above qualifications are accepted if they meet our minimum requirements. If your qualifications aren’t listed, please contact Admissions or refer to the UCAS Course Search.

Further information on Overseas qualifications can be found here.

If you are a mature applicant, have relevant experience or RPL that you would like us to consider, please contact Admissions.

How to Apply

Further information on how to apply can be found here.

For general enquiries please contact the Admissions Team on 029 2041 6044, email askadmissions@cardiffmet.ac.uk or via Twitter @CMetAdmissions.

For course specific enquiries, please contact Dr Joe Davies:
Email: JLDavies@cardiffmet.ac.uk