STUDY

Undergraduate

BSc (Hons) Psychology and Criminology

Prison bars
Course options: Professional Placement, Study Abroad
Institution code: S82
UCAS code: CL8H
Start date: September 2025
Duration: Three years full-time.
Location: Ipswich
Typical Offer: 112 UCAS tariff points (or above), BBC (A-Level), DMM (BTEC), Merit (T Level)
Course options: Professional Placement, Study Abroad
Institution code: S82
UCAS code: CL8H
Start date: September 2025
Duration: Three years full-time.
Location: Ipswich
Typical Offer: 112 UCAS tariff points (or above), BBC (A-Level), DMM (BTEC), Merit (T Level)

Overview

Psychology enables you to study the workings of the human mind and how this is revealed in human behaviour, both consciously and unconsciously. As a psychology student, you will be introduced to psychological theories and will learn to critically evaluate them so that you can reach your own well-informed conclusions about the nature and origins of human and non-human behaviour. Criminology is the scientific study of crime and criminals, including individual motivations, consequences, perpetrators, and preventative measures. In the same way as, psychological theory is used to explain abnormal or atypical behaviour, it can be used to explain deviant or criminal behaviour.   

You’ll have access to excellent facilities and equipment. We have recently invested £320k in new hardware and software for our psychology laboratories and we also have a laboratory in the new £13m state-of-the-art Health and Wellbeing Building officially opened in June 2023. 

Studying psychology enables you to develop a diverse range of transferable skills which are valued highly by employers. We are proud to be ranked 1st in the UK for graduates in career 15 months after graduation for Psychology (Guardian University Guide, 2023). 

On this course, you will be equipped with a thorough grounding in each of the major fields in psychology: social psychology; developmental psychology; biological psychology; and cognitive psychology. In addition, you will explore abnormal psychology, contemporary and historic issues in psychology and individual differences. This will be underpinned by thorough training in research methods, both qualitative and quantitative, and exploration of the scientific method. You will be encouraged to evaluate a range of theories and research evidence, helping you to become a critical thinker whilst encouraging you to reach your own informed conclusions. 

The Criminology modules on this course will develop your skills of critical thinking and professional challenge to seek answer to questions such as:  

  • What is crime?
  • Why do people commit crime?
  • Why and how should we punish offenders?
  • Are we all equal before the law? 
  • How do the police, prisons and courts fit together to form a Criminal Justice System and does it work? 
  • How do we prevent crime?

You will explore these questions with inspirational lecturers and in discussion with your fellow students. Our small class sizes and excellent tutor support help you maximise your achievement and employability skills. The programme has excellent links with Suffolk Constabulary, local magistrates and courts, the Crown Prosecution Service, the probation and prison service. We also have regular guest speakers that work in the field with either victims or offenders integrated into the course.

This programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) which means that on successful completion of your degree, eligibility for graduate based chartership (GBC) of the BPS will be conferred. GBC of the BPS is a mandatory requirement for access to most professional practitioner training programmes. 

Further information about the University's relationship with the British Psychological Society (BPS) is available in the PSRB register.

Psychology at the University of Suffolk

Psychology students in seminar

The University of Suffolk is world-class and committed to our region. We are proudly modern and innovative and we believe in transformative education. We are on the rise with a focus on student satisfaction, graduate prospects, spending on academic services and student facilities.

1st

in the UK for graduates in a career 15 months after graduation for Psychology

The Guardian University Guide 2023

2nd

in the UK for teaching satisfaction in Criminology

The Guardian University Guide 2023

2nd

in the UK for graduate prospects in Criminology

The Times Good University Guide 2023

Course Modules

Our undergraduate programmes are delivered as 'block and blend' - more information can be found on Why Suffolk? You can also watch our Block and Blend video.

Downloadable information regarding all University of Suffolk courses, including Key Facts, Course Aims, Course Structure and Assessment, is available in the Definitive Course Record.

Lecturer teaching in seminar

Foundations in Biological and Cognitive Psychology is a mandatory module for all students taking a psychology degree route. Together with the “Foundations in Social and Developmental Psychology” module, level 4 students will attain a holistic underpinning to the major approaches in psychology. The module will cover conceptual and historical issues of behavioural, biological and cognitive approaches to psychology.

Social Psychology is concerned with the scientific study of human social behaviour, experience and thought. Developmental Psychology is concerned with the scientific study of systematic changes in human psychology across an individual’s lifespan, particularly cognitive, perceptual, social and emotional development in childhood, adolescence and adulthood. This module provides an introduction to key theories and approaches in Social and Developmental Psychology.

Introduction to Criminology aims to introduce students to the history of criminological thought, combining biographical fact with historical and cultural context. Students will develop an understanding of how crime is defined and measured and examine theoretical perspectives that seek to explain causes of criminal behaviour. 

This module is designed to provide students with two essential aspects of further psychological study. Firstly, an introduction to psychological research methods; including a consideration of methodology and data analysis for both quantitative and qualitative data.  Secondly, this module will also equip students with the essential academic study skills required for their degrees.

This module will introduce students to political concepts, principles and theories that shape the operation of politics in the UK, and how this affects policy responses to various social issues and problems with a particular emphasis placed upon crime and deviance. As well as introducing students to the political institutions of the UK, the module examines the different ways that political choices are framed and made in the UK and the process of debate and dialogue is a key part of the content of the module.

This module aims to introduce you to key features of the sociological perspective and what many call the sociological imagination. It is concerned with making the everyday strange and the far away near to gain a better grasp on key aspects of social life. This leads into a key concern of sociology with questions of power and inequality. Students will be able to engage with key debates about the nature of inequality and power using contemporary examples and analysis.

Biological psychology (biopsychology) looks at psychological processes from a biological perspective, dealing with issues such as behaviour genetics, endocrinology and physiological psychology. Cognitive psychology studies how information is processed by the brain and sense organs. It is concerned with issues of how people perceive, understand, make decisions about and remember information.

This module builds upon the foundations laid in the module Introduction to Criminology and explores theoretical perspectives that influence criminology and social control. ‘Scientific’ theories of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries were crucial to the construction of a new ‘common sense’, in which the solutions of social problems would be found - it was believed - in an applied science and technology of social order and control. 

All researchers require a basic understanding of qualitative research methodology. This module develops the knowledge gained in the Psychological Research Methods Module, and provides students with the skills to carry out research of sufficient quality and rigour to complete their own independent studies.

This module provides students with the skills to carry out quantitative research of sufficient quality and rigour to complete their own independent studies.  Students will attain a holistic underpinning to the major research skills utilized within psychology.

This module will build on the broad introduction at Level 4 and seek to provide research-based accounts of social and developmental behaviour in key areas, such as people in groups, prejudice and discrimination, aggression, social influence, emotional and social development, life-span adult development and developmental social psychology. 

Contemporary Issues in Criminology students will engage with selected contemporary issues, debates and perspectives in criminology, developing a critical overview of the discipline as it stands. Students will explore and critique the influence of current political and cultural contexts on particular policies and practices.

Criminal Justice aims to analyse the social, economic and political factors that underpin the policing, court, penal and probation institutions. Issues to be discussed include the implementation of legislation, the balance between due process and crime control and the impact of Human Rights legislation on criminal justice policy. 

The Policing module seeks to being together key areas of criminological inquiry and explore the role of policing. Students will develop an understanding of contemporary concerns such as antisocial behaviour and terrorism, and demonstrate the ways in which law has become a significant area of public concern. 

The relationship between psychology and crime is an important area of study. The purpose of this module is to explore the ways in which psychology can be applied to criminology and to critically discuss the relationship between psychology and crime. The module examines the ways in which key approaches, perspectives, theories and debates in psychology can contribute to understanding criminal and deviant behaviour.

Youth Crime and Justice aims to enable students to develop a critical understanding of the contemporary youth justice system through examining the main concerns and policies applied to young people in trouble with the law. Students will critically evaluate the impact of current legislation on youth justice services and identify and analyse themes on oppression and discrimination.

Abnormal Psychology seeks to explain unusual or maladaptive behaviour through the examination of rigorous, research-based subject matter. The concept of ‘abnormal’ can be problematic given negative connotations with ‘not normal’ and this will be a key area of debate: the essence of normality and the appropriateness of labels which may have important ramifications for how people suffering psychopathology are in some way perceived as ‘not normal’ or as inferior members of society.

This module seeks to primarily explore and touch upon individual differences in personality and intelligence. The module also aims to introduce students to other elements of differential psychology for example creativity, cognitive styles, motivation and leadership.

Research is an important and integral part of your degree, and the Research Dissertation gives students the opportunity to expand learning and develop interests in a particular topic. Students will critique research by others and will reflect on their own work, moving students from a theoretical knowledge of research toward a more informed level of skill and application. 

The module explores key issues, themes and debates from the field of drugs, crime and society. Students explore established and more recent academic and policy debates surrounding drug use, regulations and criminalisation. It is expected that students will come to the module with a 'taken-for-granted' perspective on the nature of drugs, their links with crime, and their wider social consequences and the module aims to challenge some of these.

This module will involve discussions of the theory and practice of contemporary forensic psychology and an exploration of the role it plays in prisons, probation, policing and the courtroom. In studying this module students will appreciate the interaction between psychology and the investigation and detection of crime, legal and trial processes and in dealing with offenders.

The purpose of the module is to critically analyse and evaluate theoretical justifications of punishment together with political ideology that impact upon penal policy and practice. This module considers both custodial and non-custodial punishment and a range of issues and dilemmas that might derive from these two key strategies of penal intervention.

Victimology allows students to recognise the extent, patterns and impact of victimisation which is fundamental to enable informed discussion regarding crime and deviance. Through exploring the concept of victimisation, the experience of crime victims and developments in response to them, students will have the opportunity to broaden their understanding of contemporary crime and criminal justice.

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WHY SUFFOLK

2nd in the UK for Career Prospects

WUSCA 2024

3rd in the UK for spend on academic services

Complete University Guide 2025

4th in the UK for Teaching Satisfaction

Guardian University Guide 2024
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The Health and Wellbeing Building
Student and teacher using Psychology equipment
Watch our Psychology course video
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The Library
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SU Social Space

Entry Requirements

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Career Opportunities

There are many opportunities open to psychology degree holders, including:
  • Psychologist 
  • Psychotherapist 
  • Social Worker 
  • Counsellor 
  • Educational Psychologist 
  • Human Resource Manager 
  • Teacher 
  • Research roles 
  • Media roles 

 

Criminology graduates are good at problem solving, have good analytical, research and data management skills. Potential roles include:

  • Civil service administrator
  • Community development worker
  • Crime scene investigator
  • Detective
  • Police officer
  • Prison officer
  • Probation officer
  • Social worker
  • Youth worker

Your Course Team

Dr Rachel Grenfell-Essam

Rachel is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology and Course Leader for the BSc (Hons) Psychology and Associated Routes Programmes.

Rachel Grenfell-Essam staff profile photo

Dr Jennifer Coe

Dr Jennifer Coe is a Lecturer in Psychology.

Jennifer Coe staff profile photo

Dr Emmanouil Georgiadis

Manos is an internationally known expert in applying motivational constructs in Sport and Exercise Psychology.

Manos Georgiadis staff profile photo

David James

David is Head of Law and Social Sciences, and sees himself as an educator dedicated to helping students to learn effectively within the social sciences.

David James staff profile photo

Dr Stuart Lipscombe

Stuart has been a Lecturer at University of Suffolk since 2014 and is also an alumnus of the University.

Stuart Lipscombe staff profile photo

Dr Rachael Martin

Dr Rachael Martin is the Course Leader for the MSc Applications of Psychology

Rachael Martin staff profile photo

Dr Kate McCulloch

Kate is a Lecturer in Psychology.

Kate McCulloch staff profile photo

Dr Abbie Millett

Abbie is an experienced educator and is Lecturer in Psychology.

Abbie Millett staff profile photo

Sarah Beane

Psychology Technical Learning Instructor Sarah joined the University of Suffolk in 2021.

Sarah Beane staff profile photo

Sharon Versey

Sharon is Academic Administrator for all undergraduate Childhood and Education courses.

Sharon Versey staff profile photo

Fees and Funding

UK Full-time Tuition Fee

£9,250

per year
International Full-time Tuition Fee

£15,090

per year

The decision to study a degree is an investment into your future, there are various means of support available to you in order to help fund your tuition fees and living costs. You can apply for funding from the Spring before your course starts.

UK Fees and Finance UK Bursaries and Scholarships International Fees and Scholarships

Ipswich Award

The University of Suffolk is offering a £1,000 Award for students joining the University of Suffolk’s Ipswich campus. The Award is based on specific eligibility criteria based on your year of entry.

More information
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How to Apply

To study this course on a full-time basis, you can apply through UCAS. As well as providing your academic qualifications, you’ll be able to showcase your skills, qualities and passion for the subject.

Apply Now Further Information on Applying
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Donna Morrison, BSc (Hons) Psychology and Criminology

"The University of Suffolk gave me a chance, and not just to further my education, but also to live my future now."

read more
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