Combine the study of human behaviour from the perspectives of both criminal and community justice professionals with a multi-disciplinary social science approach to education, focusing on current educational curriculum, policy and trends.
Who do we label as ‘offenders’, and why? Learn about human behaviour from the perspectives of both criminal and community justice professionals and wider society. You’ll explore the relationships of crime, deviance and offending, and victimisation to social divisions such as age, gender, sexuality, social class, race, ethnicity and religion.
Combine this with a multi-disciplinary social science approach to education, focussing on current educational curriculum, policy and trends. You’ll explore the concept of education through four key academic disciplines; sociology, history, psychology and philosophy to gain a broad understanding of education policy and practice.
Bringing theory to life
As well as traditional lectures and tutorial sessions, the programme features a strong practical element. You’ll develop your criminology skills through activities such as interviewing, negotiation, decision making, research and argument, and problem-based learning, ensuring that you achieve a wide-ranging understanding of systems of criminal and community justice. Our Criminology team work closely with courts, prisons and youth offender training centres, and bring this expertise into their teaching.
As part of your Education Studies modules, you could have the opportunity to undertake a work placement or work experience, take fieldtrips and study visits, or study abroad to explore education on a global scale.
Academic expertise
Research is visible in the programme through the creative input of teaching staff, who are experts in their curriculum areas and incorporate latest research in taught sessions and resources. Students are encouraged to pursue their own interests in many module seminars and assignments, which supports students in becoming active researchers in their own right.
Choose your pathway
Studying a Education Studies and Criminology 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’ll then decide whether you would like to major or minor in a chosen subject or continue to study them both equally.
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:
- You want to study two subjects you’re passionate about
- You’ve got a specific career in mind and want to create a tailored degree to prepare you for the future
- You want to study a new subject alongside one you’re already familiar with
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.
Our Criminology modules are taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, group work and independent learning.
Our Education Studies modules are taught through methods such as directed study, lectures, seminars and tutorials.
How you are assessed
Your Criminology assessments will be through a mix of coursework, portfolios, individual and group presentations and exams.
Your Education Studies modules will be assessed through course work such as essays, presentation, portfolios, reports and case study analysis.
Who will teach you
You will be taught by our team of engaging, passionate and inspiring subject experts.
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.
Education graduates have gone on to a variety of employment opportunities, including primary and secondary teaching, teaching assistants, education liaison roles, social work, youth and community work; or further postgraduate study.
2025 entry
These are the typical qualification requirements for September 2025 entry.
may apply to students who meet certain criteria.
| Requirement | What we're looking for | | UCAS points | 112 |
| A Level | BBC |
| T Level | Merit |
| BTEC | DMM |
| GCSE | GCSE Maths and English Grade 4/Grade C (or above) or equivalent qualification |
| Access to HE | Pass 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) |
2025/26
| | Full-time | Part-time |
|---|
| UK | £9,535 per year | N/A |
| International | £16,900 per year | N/A |
Further information about our fees and support you may be entitled to.
How to apply
Please look at our before you apply.
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.
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
-3x2.jpg)
-(1)-(1).jpg)
-400x600.jpg)
/prod01/derbyacuk/media/derbyacuk/assets/organisation/services/centre-for-excellence-in-learning-and-teaching/Animation-5098-0131-(1).jpg)
/prod01/derbyacuk/media/derbyacuk/assets/study/support/module-evaluation-questionnaire-promo.jpg)
/prod01/derbyacuk/media/derbyacuk/assets/study/postgraduate/Why-Choose-Derby-PG-Tutor-01---2000-x-1333-1066x1333.jpg)
/prod01/derbyacuk/media/derbyacuk/assets/study/employability/Image---employability.jpg)