Why Choose Lincoln
Options to study abroad for a year
Undertake voluntary placements in local councils
Conduct research alongside our expert academic team
Choose from optional modules to suite your preferences
![Student studying in the library.](/media/responsive2017/collegeofsocialscience/schoolofsocialandpoliticalsciences/7-11-19,Lincoln,Uni,1036.jpg)
Offers from 48-80 UCAS Tariff points and guaranteed accommodation. You could also be eligible for our accommodation or travel bursary. Call us to find out more.
Criminologists use theory to explore some of the most contentious issues in contemporary society, working to understand the causes of crime and the way in which criminal justice agencies respond to offenders.
Criminology and Sociology at Lincoln aims to give students the skills needed to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of social, cultural, and political responses to crime and deviance. Students are asked to apply their knowledge to real-life issues, and have an opportunity to analyse the different social constructions of everyday life in order to better understand the diverse groups and structures that make up modern society.
Criminologists use theory to explore some of the most contentious issues in contemporary society, working to understand the causes of crime and the way in which criminal justice agencies respond to offenders.
Criminology and Sociology at Lincoln aims to give students the skills needed to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of social, cultural, and political responses to crime and deviance. Students are asked to apply their knowledge to real-life issues, and have an opportunity to analyse the different social constructions of everyday life in order to better understand the diverse groups and structures that make up modern society.
Options to study abroad for a year
Undertake voluntary placements in local councils
Conduct research alongside our expert academic team
Choose from optional modules to suite your preferences
The course enables you to advance your discipline-specific knowledge, and provides the opportunity to develop a range of cognitive, practical, and transferable skills that may be relevant to further academic study and employment.
Academic staff undertake research in a broad range of areas. They work closely with local criminal justice agencies and professionals, such as the police and youth offending services, to enable students to access and learn from real-world knowledge and practices. Students are encouraged to build links with employers and develop skills in analytics, problem-solving, research methods, team-working, and public speaking.
In your first year, you can develop skills in independent learning, research, and analysis. As the course progresses, you'll be able to shape your learning around your own interests and career aspirations by choosing from a range of optional modules influenced not only by sociology and criminology, but also social policy and politics. In the third year, you can go on to consider punishment theory and practice alongside the mechanisms of social policy making. You may also choose to specialise in diverse optional topics drawn from across the School, including the study of policing, work, human rights, genocide, and civil society.
The course aims to combine aspects of both directed and independent learning. Each module is usually delivered by means of a weekly lecture and seminar. Seminars are a space for you and other students to discuss and debate the issues raised in the lecture and engage in critical reflection on set readings relating to such issues. Further methods of delivery include visits from practitioners and guest speakers, collaborative workshops, and IT sessions.
You will also have the opportunity to meet with tutors for individual tutorial sessions to explore in greater detail your own individual learning needs. As well as this directed study, you are expected to undertake independent learning utilising traditional library material as well as a wide range of electronic resources.
The course enables you to advance your discipline-specific knowledge, and provides the opportunity to develop a range of cognitive, practical, and transferable skills that may be relevant to further academic study and employment.
Academic staff undertake research in a broad range of areas. They work closely with local criminal justice agencies and professionals, such as the police and youth offending services, to enable students to access and learn from real-world knowledge and practices. Students are encouraged to build links with employers and develop skills in analytics, problem-solving, research methods, team-working, and public speaking.
In your first year, you can develop skills in independent learning, research, and analysis. As the course progresses, you'll be able to shape your learning around your own interests and career aspirations by choosing from a range of optional modules influenced not only by sociology and criminology, but also social policy and politics. In the third year, you can go on to consider punishment theory and practice alongside the mechanisms of social policy making. You may also choose to specialise in diverse optional topics drawn from across the School, including the study of policing, work, human rights, genocide, and civil society.
The course aims to combine aspects of both directed and independent learning. Each module is usually delivered by means of a weekly lecture and seminar. Seminars are a space for you and other students to discuss and debate the issues raised in the lecture and engage in critical reflection on set readings relating to such issues. Further methods of delivery include visits from practitioners and guest speakers, collaborative workshops, and IT sessions.
You will also have the opportunity to meet with tutors for individual tutorial sessions to explore in greater detail your own individual learning needs. As well as this directed study, you are expected to undertake independent learning utilising traditional library material as well as a wide range of electronic resources.
† Some courses may offer optional modules. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by staff availability.
† Some courses may offer optional modules. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by staff availability.
We want you to have all the information you need to make an informed decision on where and what you want to study. In addition to the information provided on this course page, our What You Need to Know page offers explanations on key topics including programme validation/revalidation, additional costs, contact hours, and our return to face-to-face teaching.
We want you to have all the information you need to make an informed decision on where and what you want to study. In addition to the information provided on this course page, our What You Need to Know page offers explanations on key topics including programme validation/revalidation, additional costs, contact hours, and our return to face-to-face teaching.
A notable feature of Criminology and Sociology at Lincoln is the way in which the degree is both taught and assessed involving student-centred work. This might include group-based and individual research projects, multimedia presentations, case studies, auto-critiques, self-appraisal, vocationally relevant 'live' projects, oral examinations, and conferences.
You are encouraged to build links with employers and to develop skills in analytics, problem-solving, research methods, team-working, and public speaking.
In the final year, you have the opportunity to combine your skills and undertake their own chosen area of study in the preparation of an Independent Study. These methods of assessment are designed to enable you to develop a range of transferable skills.
A notable feature of Criminology and Sociology at Lincoln is the way in which the degree is both taught and assessed involving student-centred work. This might include group-based and individual research projects, multimedia presentations, case studies, auto-critiques, self-appraisal, vocationally relevant 'live' projects, oral examinations, and conferences.
You are encouraged to build links with employers and to develop skills in analytics, problem-solving, research methods, team-working, and public speaking.
In the final year, you have the opportunity to combine your skills and undertake their own chosen area of study in the preparation of an Independent Study. These methods of assessment are designed to enable you to develop a range of transferable skills.
You'll have the opportunity to apply for the voluntary, competitive work placements scheme which is run with a local council. This offers valuable experience of a professional policy environment and a chance to observe how policy is set by central government and executed by local authorities, including how competing priorities can result in different decisions about where to allocate resources. Please note, this opportunity is subject to the council’s ongoing commitment to the scheme, and that students are responsible for their own travel, accommodation, and general living costs while undertaking a placement.
An optional year abroad is available for full-time students between the second and third years. A Study Abroad Tuition Fee is payable to the University of Lincoln during this year for students joining in 2025/26 and beyond. No extra tuition fee is payable to the host university, but students are expected to cover their own travel, accommodation, and living costs. Travel grants and an overseas rate maintenance loan may be available for eligible students from Student Finance. The University’s Global Opportunities Team can provide further support and guidance.
The teaching team have excellent links with local criminal justice agencies, including the Lincolnshire Police, local youth offending service, local councils, policy makers, and the third sector. These provide opportunities for partnership delivery of modules, guest lectures offering professional insights, as well as volunteering, dissertations and additional student projects.
Graduates have gone on to positions in a a diverse range of areas, including roles in the probation and prison services, health and social services, police authorities, youth work, victim support, government policy, and education. Some students progress to further study at Master’s and doctoral level.
104 UCAS Tariff points from a minimum of 2 A levels
International Baccalaureate: Pass Diploma from a minimum of 2 Higher Level subjects.
BTEC Extended Diploma: Distinction, Merit, Merit or equivalent qualification
T Level: Merit
Access to Higher Education Diploma: 45 Level 3 credits with a minimum of 104 UCAS Tariff points.
Applicants will also need at least three GCSEs at grade 4 or above, which must include English. Equivalent Level 2 qualifications may also be considered.
The University accepts a wide range of qualifications as the basis for entry and do accept a combination of qualifications which may include A Levels, BTECs, EPQ etc.
We will also consider applicants with extensive and relevant work experience and will give special individual consideration to those who do not meet the standard entry qualifications.
Non UK Qualifications:
If you have studied outside of the UK, and are unsure whether your qualification meets the above requirements, please visit our country pages for information on equivalent qualifications.
https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/studywithus/internationalstudents/entryrequirementsandyourcountry/
EU and Overseas students will be required to demonstrate English language proficiency equivalent to IELTS 6.0 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. For information regarding other English language qualifications we accept, please visit the English Requirements page.
If you do not meet the above IELTS requirements, you may be able to take part in one of our Pre-sessional English and Academic Study Skills courses.
If you would like further information about entry requirements, or would like to discuss whether the qualifications you are currently studying are acceptable, please contact the Admissions team on 01522 886097, or email admissions@lincoln.ac.uk
104 UCAS Tariff points from a minimum of 2 A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications.
BTEC Extended Diploma: DMM
T Level: Merit
Access to Higher Education Diploma: 45 Level 3 credits with a minimum of 104 UCAS Tariff points
International Baccalaureate: 28 points overall.
GCSE's: Minimum of three at grade 4 or above, which must include English. Equivalent Level 2 qualifications may be considered.
The University accepts a wide range of qualifications as the basis for entry and do accept a combination of qualifications which may include A Levels, BTECs, EPQ etc.
We may also consider applicants with extensive and relevant work experience and will give special individual consideration to those who do not meet the standard entry qualifications.
Non UK Qualifications:
If you have studied outside of the UK, and are unsure whether your qualification meets the above requirements, please visit our country pages
https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/studywithus/internationalstudents/entryrequirementsandyourcountry/ for information on equivalent qualifications.
EU and Overseas students will be required to demonstrate English language proficiency equivalent to IELTS 6.0 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. For information regarding other English language qualifications we accept, please visit the English Requirements page
https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/studywithus/internationalstudents/englishlanguagerequirementsandsupport/englishlanguagerequirements/
If you do not meet the above IELTS requirements, you may be able to take part in one of our Pre-sessional English and Academic Study Skills courses.
If you would like further information about entry requirements, or would like to discuss whether the qualifications you are currently studying are acceptable, please contact the Admissions team on 01522 886097, or email admissions@lincoln.ac.uk
Going to university is a life-changing step and it's important to understand the costs involved and the funding options available before you start. A full breakdown of the fees associated with this programme can be found on our course fees pages.
For eligible undergraduate students going to university for the first time, scholarships and bursaries are available to help cover costs. To help support students from outside of the UK, we are also delighted to offer a number of international scholarships which range from £1,000 up to the value of 50 per cent of tuition fees. For full details and information about eligibility, visit our scholarships and bursaries pages.
Going to university is a life-changing step and it's important to understand the costs involved and the funding options available before you start. A full breakdown of the fees associated with this programme can be found on our course fees pages.
For eligible undergraduate students going to university for the first time, scholarships and bursaries are available to help cover costs. To help support students from outside of the UK, we are also delighted to offer a number of international scholarships which range from £1,000 up to the value of 50 per cent of tuition fees. For full details and information about eligibility, visit our scholarships and bursaries pages.
The best way to find out what it is really like to live and learn at Lincoln is to visit us in person. We offer a range of opportunities across the year to help you to get a real feel for what it might be like to study here.
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