Undergraduate Course

Course details

Study options

Full-time: 3 years

UK fee

£9,250 per year (2024/25)

International fee

£14,900 per year (2024/25)

UCAS points

112 (September 2024 entry)112 (September 2025 entry)

UCAS code

MLP3

Start date

September

Location

Kedleston Road, Derby Campus

Top10for teaching qualityCriminology subject area - Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2024
Top20for satisfaction with teachingCriminology - Guardian University Guide 2024
Top15for student experienceCriminology subject area - Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2024

Does prison work? Is rehabilitation effective? How do the justice and penal systems in other countries compare to our own? To what extent do we use media as a way of claiming and understanding identities? 

On this degree, you’ll explore the full breadth of human behaviour, from how social divisions play key roles in both access to the media and modes of representation in media texts, to understanding crime as both an individual and social phenomenon. You’ll also build an awareness of the economic forces that frame the media, cultural and creative industries, and the role they have in areas of contemporary political and cultural life.

Boost your employability

You will have the opportunity to work with our links with local and national media organisations and employers, engaging in projects such as multiplatform advertising and content production, film festivals and screening events, public relations and promotional campaigns and media research.

You will learn how to write for different media platforms, such as journalism, promotional and PR writing, with an emphasis on digital media platforms such as web content writing, blogging and social media. You will also develop your creativity through the planning, design and creation of media projects, learning essential skills in script or treatment writing, digital video and editing. 

Our Criminology team work closely with courts, prisons and youth offender training centres, and bring this expertise into their teaching. 

Academic Expertise

Our Criminology teaching team includes lecturers from a wide range of backgrounds including; probation, policing, law, youth justice, mental health and academia and we seek to maintain a balance between criminological theory and practice throughout the course. Our lecturers engage with organisations in the local community, nationally and around the world and many of them publish in journals, and textbooks and are research active. This allows us to provide a dynamic, exciting and innovative curriculum.  

Our Media team is made up of an enthusiastic group of experienced published academics and practitioners with industry links and experience.

Two female students sat at an interview desk with a video camera recording them


Choose your pathway

Studying a Criminology and Media Joint Honours degree allows you to choose whether you major in one subject or study them both equally.   

You begin this degree by studying both subjects equally in your first year. By the end of your first year, you will then decide whether you would like to major or minor in a chosen subject or continue to study them both equally.

In this combination, Criminology is the major subject and Media is the minor subject.

In this pathway, you study Criminology and Media equally.

In this pathway, you study Media and Criminology equally.

In this combination Media is the major subject and Criminology is the minor subject.

Abstract image of an illustrated padlock surrounded by circles with binary code across the background

Ellen's dream job investigating financial crime at Santander.

A recent Criminology graduate, Ellen is now working as a compliance officer in the financial crime department of Santander. She’s part of a team that investigates money laundering, fraud and terrorist finances.

Read Ellen's storyRead Ellen's story

What is a Joint Honours degree?

A Joint Honours degree offers students the opportunity to study two subjects.

A Joint Honours degree is a great option if:

Kedleston Road, Derby Campus

Big spaces for big ideas

Kedleston Road offers it all: study in our largest library, relax at Basecamp, train in real-world healthcare settings, and stay active in our state-of-the-art Sports Centre.

Discover your campusDiscover your campus

What you will study

The modules below indicate the range of modules you may study as part of this combination, however prescribed and optional modules will vary depending on whether you choose to study both subjects equally, or choose to major or minor in a subject. To find out exactly which modules you would study as part of your chosen combination please contact jhs@derby.ac.uk.

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

Kedleston Road, Derby Campus entrance

Undergraduate Open Days

The best way to find out if studying at Derby is right for you is to experience an Open Day. Get a feel for the city and campus, tour our first-class facilities and see where you could be living.

Book your Undergraduate Open DayBook your Undergraduate Open Day

How you will learn

Our Criminology modules are taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, group work and independent learning.

Our Media teaching and curriculum is underpinned by staff expertise and ongoing research and practice. Team teaching is a key feature of a number of modules with staff and external expertise employed to the best effect. Teaching takes a flexible approach, utilising learning and teaching methods, such as: 

How you are assessed

Your Criminology assessments will be through a mix of coursework, portfolios, individual and group presentations, and exams.

Assessments on our Media modules include:

Who will teach you

You will be taught by our team of engaging, passionate and inspiring subject experts. 

Luke Vinter

Dr Luke Vinter
Senior Lecturer in Applied Criminology

Luke is a Senior Lecturer in Applied Criminology and Programme Leader for the BSc (Hons) Criminology course. He is also a Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol) with the British Psychological Society.

Email
l.vinter@derby.ac.uk
View full staff profileView full staff profile
Gurvinder Aujla-Sidhu sitting at a desk

Dr Gurvinder Aujla-Sidhu
Associate Professor/Head of Discipline - Journalism

Gurvinder Aujla-Sidhu is an Associate Professor and Head of Discipline in Journalism at the University of Derby. Her research focuses on diversity, inclusion and race in journalism practice and representation, radio, diaspora, and ethnic media.

Email
G.Aujla-Sidhu@Derby.ac.uk
View full staff profileView full staff profile

Personal academic tutoring

Your personal academic tutor will work with you to help you get the most out of your time at university. Having someone to talk to about your academic progress, your university experience and your professional aspirations is hugely valuable. We want you to feel challenged in your studies, stretched but confident to achieve your academic and professional goals.

Find out more about personal academic tutoring

Entry requirements

2024 entry

These are the typical qualification requirements for September 2024 entry.

Contextual offers may apply to students who meet certain criteria.

RequirementWhat we're looking for
UCAS points112
A LevelBBC
T LevelMerit
BTECDMM
GCSEGCSE Maths and English Grade 4/Grade C (or above) or equivalent qualification
Access to HEPass Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits: 45 at Level 3 with a minimum of Distinction: 15, Merit: 24, Pass: 6

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.0 (with at least 5.5 in each skills area)

2025 entry

These are the typical qualification requirements for September 2025 entry.

Contextual offers may apply to students who meet certain criteria.

RequirementWhat we're looking for
UCAS points112
A LevelBBC
T LevelMerit
BTECDMM
GCSEGCSE Maths and English Grade 4/Grade C (or above) or equivalent qualification
Access to HEPass Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits: 45 at Level 3 with a minimum of Distinction: 15, Merit: 24, Pass: 6

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.0 (with at least 5.5 in each skills area)

Fees and funding

2024/25

 Full-timePart-time
UK

£9,250 per year

N/A

International

£14,900 per year

N/A

Further information about our fees and support you may be entitled to.

How to apply

Please look at our application deadlines before you apply.


UK students

If you are in Year 13 and applying for a full-time undergraduate course (including our joint honours courses), we recommend that you apply through UCAS.

Apply through UCAS

If you are applying to study part-time, or already have your qualifications, or wish to join at Year 2 or 3, you should apply directly to the University.

Apply directly to the University

Careers

As a Criminology graduate, you will receive an exceptional grounding for a career in the probation service, the prison service, the police, youth justice, voluntary organisations or the wider public sector. Alternatively, you may wish to pursue postgraduate studies at the University. Our strong links with local and regional agencies coupled with our staff’s extensive practice experience means that our criminology teaching is highly relevant to today’s job market.

Media graduates have found jobs in the television industry, public relations, marketing and journalism; or have gone on to take the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) to get a job in teaching; or have enrolled for other postgraduate study.

Media graduates would be well suited for a range of roles in areas such as:

Getting you career ready

Your degree is only part of your story.

We're here to help prepare you for life after university.

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96%
of UK graduates are in employment or further study.

Top 5
for employability.
Uni Compare Annual Student Review Rankings 2025.

87%
of UK graduates say their current activity is meaningful.

Contact us

If you need any more information from us, eg on courses, accommodation, applying, car parking, fees or funding, please contact us and we will do everything we can to help you.

Contact us Contact us

Additional information about your studies

You will typically study your two subjects equally at stage one, before choosing whether you want to major in one subject at stages two and three.

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.

Course updates

The information provided on this page is correct at the time of publication but course content, costs and other individual course details do change from time to time and are updated as often as possible, so please do check these pages again when making your final decision to apply for a course. Any updated course details will also be confirmed to you at application, enrolment and in your offer letter.

If you are thinking about transferring onto this course (into the second year for example), you should contact the programme leader for the relevant course information as modules may vary from those shown on this page.