Sociology and Criminology BA
ABB at A level; graduates earn a median £25,500 three years on.
Typical A level offer
ABB
95% of entrants came with A levels · 95% stay on after year 1 · Warwick course page, Discover Uni
Year 13 · applying
What do you need to get in?
ABBtypical A level offer; abb
Typical offer — the grades most applicants are asked for. Contextual offer: BBB, for applicants from under-represented backgrounds.
Warwick course page, read 19 September 2026 · Discover Uni entry profile
Who actually got in: 95% with A levels, 5% with the IB. Based on 40 entrants.
Other qualifications4
| Qualification | Typical offer | Required subjects |
|---|---|---|
| IB | 32 points32 | — |
| BTEC | D*DDWe welcome applications from students taking BTEC qualifications, either alone or in combination with A levels. Our typical BTEC offers are as follows: BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate plus | — |
| Advanced Highers | ABAB in two Advanced Highers, and BBB in three further Highers subjects. | — |
| Access | 45 Credits at Level 3, including Distinction in 33 Level 3 credits and Merit in We will consider applicants returning to study who are presenting a QAA-recognised Access to Higher Education Diploma on a case-by-case basis. Typically, we require 45 Credits at Level 3, including Di | — |
Years 1–3
What do you study?
5compulsory modules in year 1, 7 optional
Compulsory modules this year: social & cultural skills 70% · mathematics & statistics 16% · transversal skills 9% · language & communication 3%.
Module — one course unit, usually a term or a year long; “core” means everyone takes it. One UK credit is about ten hours of study; a full year is 120 credits.
Warwick course page · optional modules vary by year
Year 1 · 5 core, 7 optional · 75 credits ≈ 750 hours
- Researching Society and Culture
What you learn (7)
- explain how sociological research involves reflexive practice
- describe differing philosophical perspectives underpinning sociological research
- explain the rationale behind designing qualitative research studies
- relate qualitative methods to examples of sociological studies
- apply a range of qualitative research methods to a sociological topic
- use library and database resources to support research
- present research findings to peers
- Crime and Society
What you learn (10)
- critique how media and popular culture portray crime
- explain how sociological perspectives illuminate crime and deviance
- situate criminological research within its historical and social context
- situate criminal justice policies within their ethical and political context
- explain why particular behaviours become criminalised in specific contexts
- analyse how race, class, location and gender shape criminalisation processes
- discuss current debates in global sociology and criminology
- analyse criminalisation issues from interdisciplinary social and political perspectives
- conduct research using primary and secondary sources on crime and punishment
- evaluate academic literature to support independent research and essay writing
- History of Sociological Thought
What you learn (5)
- identify distinctive features of sociology as an academic discipline
- describe key approaches to social theory within sociology
- explain the social and historical context behind classical sociological theories
- identify key classical sociological texts and their core arguments
- discuss debates arising from classical sociological texts
- Criminology: Theories and Concepts
What you learn (8)
- describe and assess a range of criminological perspectives
- explain underlying concepts and principles of criminological theory
- interpret qualitative and quantitative data to construct criminological arguments
- explain how criminological thought contributes to understanding crime and deviance
- evaluate limitations of criminological theories and schools of thought
- describe the historical development of criminological theory
- apply research evidence to explain deviance and social control
- evaluate academic literature to support independent research and essay writing
- Introduction to Social Analytics in Social Inequalities Research
What you learn (3)
- explain the role of conceptualisation and measurement in sociological research
- describe fundamental elements of descriptive statistics
- perform basic quantitative analysis of secondary survey data using SPSS
7 optional modules
- International Perspectives on Gender
What you learn (10)
- explain why gender should be studied from a global comparative perspective
- describe how gender interacts with race, class, religion and ethnicity
- identify perspectives marginalised in Western-centred gender scholarship
- critique eurocentric bias in mainstream gender discourse
- describe diverse local and historical contexts of gender formation
- compare different understandings of gender across cultures and periods
- situate case studies within colonial-era global power structures
- retrieve and select relevant academic sources on a given topic
- analyse scholarly material to construct a written argument
- demonstrate engagement with module content in coursework responses
- Sociology of Gender
What you learn (8)
- explain core concepts used in the sociology of gender
- describe how gender is understood as socially constructed
- identify processes that construct gender within different settings
- characterise how institutions shape gendered practices
- describe different sociological approaches to studying everyday gender
- explain how gender intersects with class, disability, race and sexuality
- apply module concepts and scholarly evidence to analyse a gender issue
- produce a written analysis of gender construction and its consequences
- Life of Media: Past, Present and Future
What you learn (10)
- identify key transitions and revolutions in modern media history
- explain the significance of major shifts in media development
- describe how media has shaped knowledge production in society
- explain the relationship between media and power structures
- compare digital media with traditional print and broadcast media
- identify continuities between older and newer media forms
- explain the evolving roles of journalism throughout media history
- evaluate the emergence of public opinion as a field of media study
- evaluate the development of public relations as a media phenomenon
- analyse how the internet challenges traditional scientific authority
- Sociology of Race
What you learn (5)
- identify basic concepts used in the sociology of race
- describe a range of empirical studies on race relations
- explain how race is socially constructed yet produces real effects
- analyse how racialised power intersects with class, gender and nation
- illustrate racialised inequality through structural, historical and personal examples
- Sociology of Education
What you learn (5)
- explain how educational systems are shaped by social forces
- analyse how political and economic agendas influence education
- describe the current policy landscape of the English education system
- trace the historical development of education policy in England
- explain how social theory contributes to shaping sociology of education
- Class and Capitalism in the Neoliberal World
What you learn (5)
- analyse social phenomena using class relations and political economy frameworks
- evaluate debates on class, capitalism and inequality in contemporary society
- describe the recent history of economic restructuring worldwide
- explain the concept and historical development of neoliberalism globally
- examine how neoliberalism shapes policing, culture, identity and consumption practices
- Borders, Migration and the State
What you learn (6)
- explain fundamental concepts in migration studies
- describe how migration discourses are socially constructed
- evaluate migration policies' stated aims and social consequences
- discuss political and intellectual debates on borders, migration and securitisation
- present a reasoned argument in debates on migration and security issues
- engage with module materials to meet the module's learning goals
Year 2 · 4 core, 14 optional · 60 credits ≈ 600 hours
- Designing and Conducting Social Research
What you learn (6)
- compare the strengths and limitations of different qualitative research approaches
- apply key data analysis techniques used in social science research
- compile a portfolio demonstrating research analysis skills developed in seminars
- evaluate qualitative data using appropriate analytical criteria
- analyse patterns and themes within qualitative data sets
- interpret findings derived from qualitative research data
- Modern Social Theory
What you learn (5)
- explain the nature and purpose of social theory
- apply social theory to develop a sociological imagination
- apply sociological concepts to analyse social phenomena
- evaluate power relations in modern societies using social theory
- produce written arguments on theoretical issues and concepts
- Gender, Race and Sexualities in the Criminal Justice System: Policy and Practice
What you learn (9)
- evaluate the relationship between gender, race, sexuality and criminal justice
- explain links between sociological theories of crime and their historical context
- apply research evidence to explain deviance and social control
- evaluate how the criminal justice system treats different offender and victim groups
- analyse how race, class, sexuality, age and gender shape criminalisation
- locate and evaluate academic literature for independent research
- produce a written essay using research findings
- describe theoretical approaches to gender, race, sexuality and justice
- assess the strengths and limitations of these theoretical accounts
- Policing and Society
What you learn (13)
- describe policing and law enforcement practices across different contexts
- explain key concepts and theories underpinning policing organisations
- compare policing values across the UK and other jurisdictions
- explain how historical and political forces shape policing systems
- explain how global and social processes influence policing practice
- identify contemporary issues and challenges facing policing
- assess how class, race and gender shape police culture
- explain how policing styles affect police-community relations
- analyse contemporary trends such as police militarisation
- evaluate tensions between police accountability and legitimacy
- evaluate the relationship between policing legitimacy and public trust
- evaluate academic literature to support seminar discussion and essays
- relate media representations of policing to academic debates
14 optional modules
- Social Theory of Law
What you learn (13)
- explain the social and political context behind social theories of law
- describe how historical events shaped theories of law
- compare theoretical approaches to law in critical discussion
- locate relevant primary and secondary theoretical sources
- use theoretical texts from books and journals to support arguments
- evaluate the strengths and limitations of theoretical concepts
- assess the domestic origins and international relevance of legal theories
- formulate a personal position on social theories of law through analysis
- articulate a reasoned position on legal theory debates in writing
- present a reasoned position on legal theory debates orally
- collaborate effectively in a team considering diverse viewpoints
- produce written documents using word processing software
- describe in depth the main theoretical approaches in social theory of law
- Practice and Interpretation of Quantitative Methods
What you learn (10)
- explain core concepts of statistical inference
- perform basic statistical analyses on large-scale datasets
- identify sources of bias in large-scale survey data
- use basic SPSS functions for data analysis
- maintain syntax files for data management in SPSS
- apply simple linear regression to sociological data
- apply multivariate statistical methods to sociological questions
- evaluate the quality of published quantitative sociology research
- explain the contribution of quantitative methods to social science
- design a plan for a quantitative research project
- Educational Inequalities
What you learn (7)
- identify variations in educational access among different social groups
- describe differences in educational experiences and outcomes across groups
- evaluate explanations for ongoing inequalities in education
- apply intersectional frameworks to examine educational experiences
- use relevant theories to explore links between identity and education
- analyse empirical data drawn from academic and policy sources
- communicate findings from research materials clearly
- Relationship and Family Change: Demographic and Sociological Perspectives
What you learn (7)
- analyse demographic and sociological issues in relationship and family change
- explain how cultural and economic factors jointly shape family change
- evaluate strengths and weaknesses of theoretical approaches to family change
- evaluate the usefulness and limits of quantitative and qualitative evidence
- interpret published demographic research with appropriate critical caution
- recognise the role of empirical journal articles in demographic scholarship
- construct a coherent argument on family change using empirical and conceptual evidence
- Becoming Yourself: The Construction of the Self in Contemporary Western Societies
What you learn (8)
- distinguish key sociological approaches to the self
- explain how sociological theories of the self evolved historically
- identify links between identity formation and wider social change
- analyse examples of interpellation in personal experience through reflexive writing
- analyse constructions of the self in cultural and policy texts using scholarly literature
- describe key characteristics of neoliberal ideals of selfhood
- define core concepts such as self, identity and interpellation
- illustrate core sociological concepts with relevant examples
- Media, Audiences and Social Change
What you learn (12)
- explain how media shape and are shaped by society
- describe key theoretical perspectives on media audiences
- explain how technological change alters media and audience roles
- discuss the sociological significance of these technological shifts
- explain how news media select and frame major global events
- analyse the sociological effects of media amplification of events
- explain how traditional and social media contribute to social change
- evaluate competing arguments about the role of media in society
- critique research methods used to study media and society
- analyse academic and media texts to support an argument
- present structured oral and written arguments on media debates
- reflect critically on one's own arguments when appropriate
- Surveillance and Security:Race, Class and Gender
What you learn (7)
- explain how surveillance practices are shaped by historical and social contexts
- describe how race, gender and class shape surveillance practices
- identify sociological theories relevant to surveillance and security studies
- evaluate theories explaining the purposes and practices of surveillance technologies
- analyse the race, gender and class dimensions of surveillance and security
- deliver a formal oral presentation on a surveillance-related topic
- facilitate group discussion during seminar sessions
- Beyond the Binary: Trans-forming Gender
What you learn (5)
- explain how trans perspectives shape theoretical and political knowledge
- describe the relationship between trans identities and feminist movements
- evaluate how trans/feminism challenges anglocentric bias in trans studies
- analyse how different forms of oppression intersect beyond sex difference
- examine how sociology engages with trans research methods and topics
- Gender and Violence
What you learn (5)
- describe how gendered violence varies across historical periods and cultures
- assess how cultural depictions of gendered violence affect society
- evaluate competing theoretical explanations for gendered violence
- assess the personal and social costs resulting from gendered violence
- explain policy and practice measures used to address gendered violence
- Youth, Crime and Criminal Justice
What you learn (9)
- evaluate perspectives on youth crime from political and criminological viewpoints
- evaluate sociological and cultural interpretations of criminal justice responses to youth
- explain how media portrayals shape public understanding of youth crime
- analyse how labelling and stigma shape societal responses to young offenders
- evaluate approaches to punishment, rehabilitation and reintegration of young offenders
- analyse key criminological and sociological theories relating to youth crime
- critique contemporary debates in youth criminal justice
- locate and evaluate academic literature to support independent research
- produce written and oral presentations of research findings
- Victims and Victimology
What you learn (9)
- describe key schools of victimological theory
- explain how victim status is socially constructed
- evaluate implications of constructed victim status for justice policy
- identify challenges victims face across different contexts
- evaluate the usefulness of the concept of victim
- propose alternative terms to the concept of victim
- analyse how victims' experiences are represented through narrative and visual forms
- appraise academic literature to support discussion and writing
- relate academic debates to current events using media sources
Year 3 · 1 core, 17 optional · 30 credits ≈ 300 hours
- Dissertation
What you learn (12)
- select and define an original dissertation topic independently
- summarise key research literature relevant to a chosen topic
- critically appraise the quality and relevance of research literature
- formulate a testable research question or hypothesis
- situate a research question within existing scholarly debates
- explain the ethical considerations relevant to a research area
- identify the theoretical and methodological limitations of a research project
- demonstrate advanced subject knowledge suitable for further study
- locate and access relevant data sources independently
- analyse collected data to address a research question
- conduct secondary research independently on a chosen topic
- report research findings in relation to wider disciplinary debates
17 optional modules
- Racisms and Antiracisms
What you learn (5)
- explain key concepts and theories of racism and antiracism
- describe processes through which racism and antiracism operate
- analyse how racism intersects with other forms of power such as class and gender
- relate present-day social divisions to historical patterns of domination and resistance
- identify connections between social divisions across local, national and global scales
- Transnational Media Ecologies
What you learn (9)
- evaluate political, social and economic issues arising in transnational media contexts
- construct a reasoned argument on media-related issues in spoken and written form
- explain theoretical concepts relevant to transnational media ecologies
- present ideas and analysis to peers using oral, visual and written formats
- collaborate with peers on a group project applying module concepts creatively
- apply ethical considerations when engaging with module material
- reflect critically on one's own positionality within local and global contexts
- compare and evaluate differing theoretical approaches to transnational media ecologies
- situate module content within the wider discipline of sociology
- Punishment, Justice and Control
What you learn (11)
- describe the range of punishment and alternative justice approaches worldwide
- identify issues of punitiveness, crime control and social exclusion
- explain sociological perspectives on crime, justice and punishment
- describe the historical and colonial origins of the modern prison system
- evaluate tensions between offender accountability, community support and victim recovery
- identify how inequality shapes experiences of imprisonment
- compare theories and rationales underpinning imprisonment and justice
- assess empirical evidence on imprisonment's effectiveness as crime control
- discuss key debates and problems in penal policy
- evaluate academic literature to support seminar discussion and written work
- produce structured arguments for presentations and essays using research findings
- Postcolonial Theory and Politics
What you learn (3)
- describe current debates in postcolonial theory and politics
- analyse primary texts in postcolonial theory
- present interpretations of postcolonial primary texts to an audience
- State Crime, Human Rights and Global Wrongs
What you learn (13)
- explain key sociological and criminological theories of state crime and deviance
- describe core concepts of human rights and their violation
- identify different disciplinary perspectives on state crime and human rights
- critically evaluate competing theories of human rights violations
- relate theoretical debates to specific case issues in state crime
- structure and deliver oral arguments in seminar discussions
- facilitate group discussion among peers in a classroom setting
- organise written arguments clearly for essays and exams
- present written analysis coherently under assessment conditions
- use library e-journal databases to locate scholarly sources
- organise research materials gathered from online resources
- critically review academic literature on a chosen topic
- produce a well-researched essay or exam response
- Sociology of End Times
What you learn (6)
- describe the historical origins of modern end-times discourse
- compare theoretical assumptions underlying different end-times accounts
- identify empirical assumptions underlying different end-times accounts
- explain the social functions served by end-times rhetoric
- evaluate the challenges of fairly assessing end-times arguments
- contrast European and Asian perspectives on the end of times
- Drugs, Crime and Society
What you learn (12)
- evaluate how concepts of drugs and drug abuse are shaped by history and society
- describe different categories of drugs and their effects
- distinguish between problematic and non-problematic drug use
- explain how gender, race, age and class relate to patterns of drug use
- challenge common misconceptions about drug use and addiction
- evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different responses to drug addiction
- explain how prevention and treatment programmes address drug misuse
- compare the development and outcomes of drug control policies across countries
- evaluate theoretical explanations linking drug use and crime
- debate patterns linking drug use to criminal behaviour
- assess how the global illicit drug market shapes national drug policies
- discuss how drug policies affect users and the justice system
- The Social Life of Things
What you learn (7)
- identify key concepts used in the study of material objects
- explain major theories relating to objects and materiality
- evaluate theoretical approaches to understanding material objects
- assess the complex roles objects play within social contexts
- identify ways objects influence social relationships and practices
- describe how objects shape personal and cultural identity
- apply module concepts to analyse one's own relationship with objects
- Queering Sociology
What you learn (6)
- describe the historical development of queer theory as a scholarly and political approach
- evaluate the contested relationship between queer theory and sociology
- define what constitutes a queer method within research practice
- explain when and why queer methods are applied in sociological research
- evaluate the challenges and benefits of applying queer approaches to sociological topics
- analyse potential problems of using queer perspectives in empirical research
- Global South Feminisms
What you learn (6)
- evaluate feminist theories addressing sectarianism and revolutionary struggles
- explain indigenous and postcolonial intellectual debates on sovereignty and security
- critique political arguments on borders, sectarianism and authoritarianism
- deliver a structured oral presentation on a feminist studies topic
- facilitate group discussion during seminar sessions
- compose a coherent academic essay presenting written arguments clearly
- Social Data Science
What you learn (5)
- describe foundational concepts of social data science
- identify applications of social data science in research
- evaluate the benefits and risks of social data science methods
- explain key methods used in social data science research
- conduct a social data science research project
“What you learn” restates each module’s published learning outcomes in our own words, as short skill statements in the same form as the GCSE and A level curriculum, with the help of an AI model; fields of knowledge follow the twelve fields of the knowledge sphere. The university’s module page, linked from each title, is the authoritative description.
After graduating
Where does it lead?
£25,500median pay three years after graduating
Lower quarter£23k
Median£26k
Upper quarter£32k
Median — the middle earner: half earned more, half less. Pay is for graduates of this subject at this university who finished in 2016-18, not adjusted for inflation; based on 70 graduates.
Discover Uni dataset (HESA and Office for Students, CC BY 4.0, contains HESA data); earnings from the Longitudinal Education Outcomes data (Department for Education) · aggregation level 14, 13, 23
Half of graduates earned between £22,500 and £32,000. Five years on, the median is £35,500. 90% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing; 45% of those in work were in professional or managerial jobs.
All outcome figures7
| Measure | Value | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| Continue after year 15% left | 95% | 45 |
| In work or study, 15 months on10% studying | 90% | 15 |
| Professional or managerial job | 45% | 10 |
| Pay 15 months on, median | £27,000 | 20 |
| Pay 3 years on, median | £25,500 | 70 |
| Pay 5 years on, median | £35,500 | 75 |
Money
What does it cost?
£10,050a year for UK students, 2027/28 entry
Tuition fee loan — paid straight to the university; repayments start the April after you leave, at 9% of income above the threshold. UK fees are capped by government and rise with inflation; placement and study-abroad years are usually charged at a lower rate.
Warwick fees page · source
About £30,150 in fees over 3 years, covered by a tuition fee loan you repay only when earning above the threshold.
National Student Survey 2025-26
What do students say?
95%agreed the course was good overall (question 26)
NSS — a yearly survey of final-year students at every UK university; 55% of this course’s final year answered. Small groups can swing a lot year to year.
National Student Survey, via Discover Uni · 20 students answered
Highest: 100% agreed on question 1; lowest: 38% on question 13.
All questions26
| Question | Agree |
|---|---|
| Question 1 | 100% |
| Question 2 | 75% |
| Question 3 | 90% |
| Question 4 | 90% |
| Question 5 | 100% |
| Question 6 | 100% |
| Question 7 | 95% |
| Question 8 | 85% |
| Question 9 | 86% |
| Question 10 | 71% |
| Question 11 | 81% |
| Question 12 | 86% |
| Question 13 | 38% |
| Question 14 | 76% |
| Question 15 | 90% |
| Question 16 | 95% |
| Question 17 | 95% |
| Question 18 | 100% |
| Question 19 | 100% |
| Question 20 | 95% |
| Question 21 | 100% |
| Question 22 | 90% |
| Question 23 | 76% |
| Question 24 | 57% |
| Question 25 | 79% |
| Question 26 | 95% |
Question texts are published by the Office for Students; the dataset carries only the question numbers.
Modules, entry requirements and fees are facts read from University of Warwick’s course page on 2026-09-19 and may change; the university’s page is authoritative. Descriptions are not reproduced. Outcome figures are from the Discover Uni dataset. University of Warwick is a trade mark of the university; sch.today is independent of it.