What are the consequences of crime? How are criminals managed and controlled? How can athletic performance be enhanced through Sport Psychology? Explore human behaviour from the criminal mind to high performance sport.
Our teaching team are research active, so your studies will be underpinned by developing knowledge of criminal behaviour, offending and rehabilitation, sports psychology and sport coaching.
Expert Teaching
Your Sport Studies modules will be taught by experts who are specialists in their chosen field. This includes accredited Sport Psychologists, Physiologists and Strength and Conditioning experts who bring their professional experience into the classroom. Our Criminology teaching team is made up of lecturers from a wide range of backgrounds including probation, policing, law, mental health and academia. Our lecturers engage with organisations in the local community, nationally, and around the world – many of them publish in journals and textbooks.
Bringing your subject to life
During the course you’ll will undertake practical work in our outstanding sport facilities. Our physiology laboratory contains the latest equipment for testing and measuring fitness for both participation and performance sport. You’ll will also use a range of computer software packages for performance and statistical analysis.
You’ll have the opportunity to bring the subject to life through our industry links, thanks to our strong relationships with sport and exercise professionals, the police, probation service, and prisons.
Choose your pathway
Studying a Sport Studies and Criminology Joint Honours degree allows you to choose whether you major in one subject or study them both equally.
You begin the 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.
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.
On your Criminology modules you’ll learn through a combination of:
- lectures
- tutorials
- group work
- independent learning
On your Sport Studies modules you’ll learn in a variety of different ways including formal lectures, discussion led seminars, practical demonstrations and other technology-based innovations. There will also be opportunities to get involved in applied case studies, role playing scenarios, coaching sessions and community-based work. You’ll be assessed on your theoretical knowledge and your ability to apply this in practice. Our practice-based learning takes place in our specialised Sport and Exercise facilities.
Learning from both industry experts and peers on your course, you’ll work on both individual and group-based assessments with students from across the world. You’ll also have the opportunity to work on real world and live assessment briefs with external organisations for example, you may be asked to present new ideas for the development or enhancement of external projects to employers.
How you are assessed
Your Criminology assessment is via a stimulating mix of:
- coursework
- portfolios
- individual and group projects/presentations
- examinations
On your Sport Studies modules you’ll be assessed via a range of different methods. This includes:
- written reports
- oral presentations
- practical demonstrations
- examinations
Criminology graduates are well suited to a range of roles in fields such as policing, Crown Prosecution Service, courts, probation and prison services, youth offending teams, law enforcement agencies, social research, public sector management or victim services.
Graduates in the School of Sport and Exercise Science have secured jobs in performance and participation sport. Some work for commercial sport organisations whilst others work at the community level. Outside of this, some graduates work in the National Health Service to support rehabilitation, recovery and fitness whilst others have become teachers at primary or secondary school level.
Further career destinations include the armed services, the police force, personal trainer or lifestyle coach.
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 | 120 |
| A Level | BBB |
| T Level | Merit in Science |
| BTEC | DDM |
| 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: 21, Merit: 24, Pass: 0. Must include passes in compulsory Level 3 subjects |
| 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.
Minimum numbers
Please note that this course is subject to minimum numbers in order to run.
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.
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