Criminology and Sociology BSc (Hons) – 2024 entry

If you are an international student and you don’t meet the entry requirements to this degree, we offer the International Foundation Year at the Surrey International Study Centre. Upon successful completion, you can progress to this degree course.

IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall with 6.0 in writing and 5.5 in each other element.

View the other English language qualifications that we accept.

If you do not currently meet the level required for your programme, we offer intensive pre-sessional English language courses, designed to take you to the level of English ability and skill required for your studies here.

We normally make offers in terms of grades.

If you are a suitable candidate you will be invited to an offer holder event. During your visit to the University you can find out more about the course and meet staff and students.

A foundation year can develop your skills and make it easier to get started at university. It is an extra year of study at the start of your course that leads into a full degree programme.

During a foundation year you’ll learn about your chosen subject, develop your study skills and get acquainted with university life. On successful completion of your foundation year, you’ll be ready to progress to the first year of your degree course.

The programme aims to provide you with knowledge of social science concepts, theories, ideas and tools. Furthermore, we want to help you develop your ability to apply this knowledge and the skills you have acquired, to the solution of theoretical and applied problems in the social sciences.

The foundation year will equip you with appropriate tools of analysis to tackle issues and problems associated with social science policy-making in a global context.

By the end of the programme you will be familiar with ethical frameworks and their repercussions for decision-making, as well as a range of generic skills that will be of value in your future career. These skills include:

• Team working
• Networking
• Independent research skills
• Building an empathetic mindset, social awareness and capacity of intelligence-based decision making
• Enhancing employability through a developing awareness of the workplace and associated skills.

Find out more about our degrees with foundation year.

Recognition of prior learning

We recognise that many students enter their higher education course with valuable knowledge and skills developed through a range of professional, vocational and community contexts. 

If this applies to you, the recognition of prior learning (RPL) process may allow you to join a course without the formal entry requirements or enter your course at a point appropriate to your previous learning and experience. 

There are restrictions on RPL a for some courses and fees may be payable for certain claims. Please see the code of practice for recognition of prior learning and prior credit: taught programmes (PDF) for further information. 

Please contact Admissions on +44 (0)1483 682222 with any queries. 

Our award-winning Professional Training programme offers you the option to spend a career-enhancing year in industry, either in the UK or abroad. We have thousands of placement providers to choose from or you can source your own placement. 

Most placements are paid, and we will support you every step of the way. 

Find out more about Professional Training placements and discover how these have transformed our students’ lives and career choices. 

Criminology and sociology placements

We strongly encourage you to take advantage of our pioneering Professional Training placement programme. You’ll have the opportunity to put your new academic knowledge into practice and gain experience to enhance your employability prospects, with employers such as:

• Home Office
• Citizens Advice Bureau
• HM Prison High Down
• Surrey Youth Support Service
• Ministry of Justice
• Bail for Immigration Detainees
• Government Social Research
• Surrey County Council.

We find that our placement students tend to return for their final year of study feeling more confident, mature and organised, and with clearer career aspirations. After graduation, some take up permanent posts with their Professional Training placement provider.

The competitive process of applying for placement positions also enhances your job-seeking skills, which will give you an advantage in the final year and beyond. We make every effort to match placement opportunities with your interests, career plans and location preferences.

Some of our placements are paid, usually in the region of £12,000 - 15,000 a year. If you work on an unpaid placement, you can claim extra financial support and you may also work for a reduced amount of time.

Applying for placements

Students are generally not placed by the University, however we offer support and guidance throughout the process alongside access to a vacancy portal representing thousands of placement opportunities each year. We also provide support if you wish to source your own placement. 

Find out more about the application process.

Please be aware there may be travel costs incurred when attending interviews and assessment centres at the placement provider’s premises.

Studying at Surry opens up a world of opportunity. We want you to take advantage of our international partnerships, explore the world and expand your skills for the graduate job market.  

Perhaps you would like to volunteer in India or learn about Brazilian business and culture in São Paulo during your summer holidays? With more than 200 partnerships, from 50 different countries worldwide, there is something for everyone. 

View our study and work abroad information to find out more and see where you can go. 

Partner institutions

We offer you the opportunity to internationalise your degree by spending one or two semesters abroad at one of our partner universities:

• Copenhagen University, Denmark
• VU Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
• Seoul National University, South Korea
• University of Cincinnati, US
• North Carolina State University, US
• University of Central Florida, US
• Maryland University, College Park, US
• Monash University, Australia
• La Trobe University, Australia
• Swinburne University of Technology, Australia
• University of Queensland, Australia
• Brock University, Canada
• Virginia Commonwealth University, US
• University of North Carolina, Wilmington, US
• George Mason University, US.