Criminology and Security Studies – BA (Hons)

Interested in security sector jobs in Birmingham? Our BA Criminology and Security Studies course covers a range of topics, from war and conflict to counter-terrorism.

Our degree will equip you with a wide range of knowledge about both national and international politics and intelligence. It will also show how politics can impact both security and insecurity in Birmingham and the United Kingdom.

What’s covered in the course?

In your second and third years, this wide knowledge base will be built upon as you specialise in your learning. Your knowledge of the core ideas in Criminology will be re-enforced throughout these two years, and you will learn more about topics such as the role of MI5 and MI6, extremism, terrorism and counter-terrorism, the Middle East and conflict in the modern world, and International Relations.

Together these two years will provide you with a well-rounded knowledge of the political and historical issues which are leading to continued conflict and instability in the world today. This is an exciting and dynamic course whose modules directly reflect what is happening around the world and which is at the cutting edge of current scholarship.

Why Choose Us?

• On all of our programmes you will gain a professional focus and real world experience, ensuring you are equipped to make an immediate impact in your career. You have the opportunity to embark on a year-long sandwich placement as part of your degree course.
• We have a strong relationship with the British Society of Criminology. We hosted the 2018 British Society of Criminology Conference at our City Centre Campus.
• The course’s professional relevance is supported by our close links with local criminal justice organisations, including West Midlands Police Force and Birmingham Community Safety Partnership.
• Regular guest lectures by members of organisations such like the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Military Intelligence and counter-terrorism units.
• All our programmes have an international focus. This is embedded throughout the curriculum, giving you the opportunity to transform your experience with us into a global one. There are a variety of exciting possibilities open to you, ranging from our successful international travel scholarships scheme, through which you can spend a summer working for a charitable organisation overseas, to one of our many overseas study exchange programmes.
• As a student on one of our undergraduate degrees, you will be able to benefit from our Graduate+ initiative. This three-year award programme enables you to gain award levels for all the extra-curricular activities you undertake so that you can stand out from the crowd on graduation.
• You’ll be taught by academics who are established in the field and who regularly work with both the public and private sectors to provide expert advice on these topics.
• Our staff have written or contributed to numerous influential textbooks and research papers, many of which form part of the curriculum.
• We were the first UK University to offer the joint Criminology and Security Studies degree.
• Our Criminology degrees share a common first year, so if you want to specialise, you have the option to switch to another pathway in your second year.
• You’ll be actively encouraged to take part in debates and visits, such as the unique debate with high-security prisoners at HMP Grendon. You’ll also have the option of taking on voluntary work throughout your course.
• Our practice based approach means you’ll get to learn the inner workings of the Criminal Justice System, whilst also studying the theories behind the profession.
• The department has a heavy focus on Birmingham, working within the ever-growing multicultural community on various projects.
• You will study in our state-of-the-art City Centre Campus, ideally located for you to take advantage of our links to industry in the UK’s second city.
• Birmingham City University has just launched the UK’s first Centre for Brexit Studies, researching all aspects of the UK’s vote to leave the EU, including the impact it has on hate crime and national security in the UK.