BSc (Hons) Crime and Criminology

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a distance learning degree for me?

With the increasing costs of not only education but daily living, studying by distance learning not only costs less than a full time degree but allows you to also maintain or begin employment or pursue voluntary work. So whether you are continuing your education from sixth form or college or already employed having not studied for some time the BSc (Hons) Crime and Criminology is designed to allow you to combine study and work.

Am I capable; have I got the right entry qualifications?

There are no formal entry qualifications. Obviously we want to be sure that you will be able to complete the course. We recognise that your current qualifications may have been achieved some time ago, perhaps under adverse circumstances. Much may have changed. Motivation is so important. Please do not assume that university is not for you! Complete your application form and let us know, in detail, about yourself. We are keen to broaden the range of people who study for, and succeed with, this degree.

Am I right for this degree?

The students currently on this course come from a wide range of social, cultural and educational backgrounds. Some students live locally in and around Portsmouth while many others are resident in the UK. In addition we have large numbers of students who live and work overseas. You may be considering this course simply because you have an interest in the topic or you wish to develop your knowledge so that you may develop a new career path or indeed it might enhance your current career as a practitioner in some aspect of the justice system. Many students on this degree are working. Current students work in various areas of the justice and law enforcement such as magistrates, police officers and airport security. Of course many are employed in work which is unrelated to criminology. So the range of occupations students are involved in is very diverse.  Whilst the course will, clearly, assist those in or contemplating a career in a criminal justice occupation, it is not restricted by past experiences. It provides a rigorous study of an exciting topic which is regularly in the news and about which we all have views.

Recognition of prior learning and experience

If you have approved prior learning or experience, so that it would inappropriate to require you to undertake all the units, we can credit you with a number of points. In that case you can complete a stage, and therefore the course, in a shorter period.  See the information regarding accredited prior learning (APL) for a fuller explanation of this, for the process of submitting an application, and the units you will be exempt from studying, if your application is successful. 

Will I cope?

With distance learning you can feel isolated. But notice how the course is structured and supported! Year one begins with a unit in study skills, called ‘Studying Criminology’. That unit addresses many of the things you will be anxious about, such as how to write and structure an academic essay, where and how to undertake research. And you will not be alone! Provided you can get online you can ‘chat’ with others in the same position as yourself – anxious at the start of the course but noticeably gaining in confidence as they progress.

Support for students is essential to the success of our programmes and this is provided via online resources, and discussion boards, which are available throughout the week. The university also provides help through the Academic Skills Unit and also resources available through the university library. The support uses a range of methods and supplies responsive, proactive online and telephone support. The Institute also holds two annual events in Portsmouth which you are invited to attend. A two day induction and re-induction event takes place in September and a Study Conference in late January. This is an opportunity for you to meet the staff and other students who you have worked with and to sample more traditional forms of learning such as lectures and tutorials.

Even if you should decide to withdraw early you can claim a Certificate in Higher Education on completing stage one and a Diploma in Higher Education for completing stage two.

Do I need a computer and access to the internet?

You will need to have use of a computer and access to the internet. You do not need to be especially computer literate, although typing skills are obviously useful.

Course materials, discussions and seminars are contained in an online learning environment called Moodle. The tools and resources available in Moodle are designed to guide and support your learning and study. You can to access the resources in Moodle whenever or wherever you are (as long as you have access to the internet).

You will be introduced and shown how to access and make use of the tools and resources in Moodle during the induction period though ongoing support and assistance is available throughout your study on the course.

If you don’t have access to the internet you will be at a disadvantage since you won’t be able to make use of the tools and resources available. Moodle is designed to be used via a computer. You may be able to access some of the resources through a tablet or smart phone but the functionality will be limited and slower than if you use a computer.