UCAS code
L311Mode of Study
Full-time, Full-time sandwich with work placementDuration
3 years full-time, 4 years sandwich with work placementStart date
September 2023, September 2024Overview
Join the global mission to stop criminals exploiting the internet. On the UK’s first BSc (Hons) Criminology and Cybercrime degree, you'll explore the future of policing and how criminal organisations operate online. You'll learn to make a difference, not by fighting tech with tech, but by understanding the human aspects of cybercrime.
Cyber is always evolving, so this course does too. You can choose from wide range of innovative and topical modules – from cybersecurity, online terrorism and digital forensics, to cyberdeviance and cyberpsychology.
Course highlights
- Learn from cybercrime, criminology, probation and policing experts whose expertise is requested by organisations around the world
- Tailor the course to meet your interests, by studying modules that match your career aspirations
- Explore up-to-the-minute topics based on our own team’s research, including hacktivism and the incel subculture
- Investigate issues as varied as cyber fraud, cyberbullying and online piracy, to discover how they affect people, organisations and government
- Work with practitioners providing professional cybersecurity advice in our award-winning Cybercrime Awareness Clinic
- Practise digital investigative techniques and develop transferable skills in analysis, research and new technologies
- Meet visiting professionals who work in areas of cyber like the dark web and penetration testing
Recognised by:
The module Economic Crime and Fraud Examination is recognised by ACFE (a global professional body for counter fraud professionals) and undertaking it provides opportunities for full-time students to complete the Certified Fraud Examiner qualification at a subsidised rate.
Why study Criminology and Cybercrime?
Meet students and lecturers from our BSc Criminology and Cybercrime, and discover what they love about the course.
Simon Marsden: I'm just trying to think of what job doesn't involve some aspect of cybercrime. Everybody needs to know this now because we can all be victims of cybercrime.
Simone Ciobotaru: The Criminology and Cybercrime course here at the University of Portsmouth. It's a very social sciences, humanities-oriented course where you learn sort of both technical aspects of cybercrime and also social aspects.
Malou: I've gone around the whole of the UK looking at different universities and different courses and cybercrime was so unique. I just knew that this was something that I definitely wanted to be involved with.
Aanand: So the Cybercrime Clinic was one of the modules in the second year of the university. The variety of opportunities you can either do practical research or you can actually go on a placement like I did. You get a lot of professional skills that are really going to be useful in the workplace. If you are looking to have a useful experience, if you're looking to gain something more than just course credits, the cybercrime clinic is definitely for you.
Simon Marsden: This is a humanities course, so a lot of the rooms we use are lecture theatres and seminar rooms. But where appropriate, we also use the computing labs to look at digital forensics and ethical hacking.
Malou: I love how varied the knowledge is on the course. You get so many different perspectives on crime.
Simon Marsden: I love interacting with the students. I love the debates. I love watching them start off almost awkward about being able to talk about these things, but by the end of the three years, really being confident and really understanding the material.
Simone Ciobotaru: Studying a social sciences and humanities degree here at the University of Portsmouth will open you up to a wide variety of career options. A lot of students can go either into cyber security or NGOs (non-government organisations) and charities, government organisations as well, and agencies. But I think within criminology and cybercrime in general, they have a lot of choice.
Angela: I chose the University of Portsmouth because I grew up in a coastal city, and I thought it would be a good fit for me to have like the beach around me whilst I study.
Malou: I have wholeheartedly enjoyed my experience at the University of Portsmouth. It's been amazing. I'm definitely going to look back on these years very, very fondly.
Entry requirements
BSc (Hons) Criminology and Cybercrime degree entry requirements
Typical offers
- A levels – ABB–BBB
- UCAS points – 120–128 points from 3 A levels or equivalent (calculate your UCAS points)
- T levels – Merit
- BTECs (Extended Diplomas) – DDM
You may need to have studied specific subjects – see full entry requirements and other qualifications we accept
English language requirements
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.
See alternative English language qualifications
We also accept other standard English tests and qualifications, as long as they meet the minimum requirements of your course.
If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Typical offers
- A levels – ABB–BBB
- UCAS points – 120-128 points from 3 A levels, or equivalent (calculate your UCAS points)
- T-levels – Merit
- BTECs (Extended Diplomas) – DDM
- International Baccalaureate – 29–30
You may need to have studied specific subjects – find full entry requirements and other qualifications we accept at UCAS.
English language requirements
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.
See alternative English language qualifications
We also accept other standard English tests and qualifications, as long as they meet the minimum requirements of your course.
If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
I chose this course as the cybercrime landscape is, unfortunately, expanding exponentially. The course looks to address the potential motives of a cyber criminal as well as a strong focus on the methods used to commit a cyber crime – the bridge between the technical and human side of cyber! Portsmouth University are leading the way in the future of criminology offering a course dedicated to crimes in the digital age.
Careers and opportunities
Employers around the globe are very interested in graduates with cybercrime expertise. In our increasingly digital world, the demand is likely to grow.
You'll be well prepared for a wide range of roles, especially those focused on the human side of cybercrime.
What areas can you work in with a criminology and cybercrime degree?
You'll graduate ready for opportunities in the police force, policy making organisations and new technology. Specialist areas for you in the public and private sector include:
- specialised cybercrime units
- crime prevention
- criminological research
- intelligence analysis
- digital investigations
- security consultancy
- the prison system
You could also progress to postgraduate study in criminology or cybercrime.
What jobs can you do with a criminology and cybercrime degree?
You could have a career in digital investigation, crime prevention, and security consultancy. With skills that are in high demand, potential roles could include:
- policy researcher
- civil service
- vulnerability assessor
- incident responder
- security profiler
- cybersecurity consultant
- law enforcement
Professional recognition
If you're interested in probation work or community justice, you can graduate from this course with pre-entry qualifications for a career in those fields. This can give you a real advantage when applying for jobs. Your lecturers can advise you on the right modules to choose.
Ongoing careers support
Get experience while you study, with support to find part-time jobs, volunteering opportunities, and work experience.
Towards the end of your degree and for up to five years after graduation, you’ll receive one-to-one support from our Graduate Recruitment Consultancy to help you find your perfect role.
Placement year (optional)
After your second year of study, you can choose to do a paid work placement year in the UK or overseas. This lets you put your new skills to work while developing valuable links with employers.
It's fantastic for your CV and will really help you stand out when applying for jobs after graduation.
We'll help you secure a work placement that fits your aspirations – whatever they might be. Previous students have secured placement positions at organisations such as the Hampshire Constabulary High Tech Crime Unit.
Mentoring and support throughout your placement will help you to get the most from the experience.
Studying abroad
You can also spend this year studying overseas at one of our partner universities in Europe, Canada, Australia or South Korea.
Placement experience
Find out about Alfred's placement on ORPHEUS, a cross-European project designed to tackle the radicalisation of young people.
What you'll study on this BSc (Hons) Criminology and Cybercrime degree
Each module on this course is worth a certain number of credits.
In each year, you need to study modules worth a total of 120 credits. For example, four modules worth 20 credits and one module worth 40 credits.
Modules
Core modules in this year include:
- Criminal Justice – 20 credits
- Cyberspace, Subcultures and Online Deviance – 20 credits
- Essential Skills for Criminologists – 40 credits
- Introduction to Digital Forensic Investigations – 20 credits
- Understanding Criminology – 20 credits
Optional modules in this year include:
- Cyber Security and Forensic Computing – 20 credits
Core modules in this year include:
- Cyberlaw Governance and Human Rights – 20 credits
- Questioning Criminology – 20 credits
- Researching Criminology – 20 credits
Optional modules in this year include:
- Crimes of the Powerful – 20 credits
- Cybercrime Clinic – 20 credits
- Empire and its Afterlives in Britain, Europe and Africa - 20 credits
- Engaged Citizenship in Humanities and Social Sciences - 20 credits
- Fundamentals of Forensic Investigation – 20 credits
- Gang Crime – 20 credits
- Global Environmental Justice – 20 credits
- Global Security - 20 credits
- Hate Crime – 20 credits
- Intercultural Perspectives on Communication - 20 credits
- Marketing and Communication - 20 credits
- Modern Foreign Language (Institution-wide Language Programme) – 20 credits
- Modernity and Globalisation - 20 credits
- Nationalism and Migration: Chaos, Crisis and the Everyday - 20 credits
- News, Discourse and Media - 20 credits
- Online Activism, Cyberterrorism and Cyberwarfare – 20 credits
- Penology and Prison – 20 credits
- Policing and Society – 20 credits
- Principles of Economic Crime Investigation – 20 credits
- Professional Experience L5 - 20 credits
- Psychology and Security – 20 credits
- Space, Place and Being - 20 credits
- The Dark Web: Threats, Freedoms and Responses – 20 credits
- Transitional Justice and Human Rights - 20 credits
- Victims of Crime: Key Players in Criminal Justice – 20 credits
- Wildlife Crime: Threats and Response – 20 credits
- Youth Crime, Youth Justice – 20 credits
On this course, you can do an optional work placement year between your 2nd and 3rd years to get valuable experience working in industry.
We’ll help you secure a work placement that fits your situation and ambitions. You’ll get mentoring and support throughout the year.
Placement options in this year include:
- ICJS Study Abroad Year – 120 credits
- Work Placement Year – 120 credits
Core units in this year include:
- Cybersecurity: Theory and Practice – 20 credits
- Dissertation / Major Project – 40 credits
Optional modules in this year include:
- Black Criminology, Race and the Criminal Justice System - 20 credits
- Contemporary Terrorism and the Global Response – 20 credits
- Crime and New Technologies: Theory And Practice – 20 credits
- Cyberpsychology – 20 credits
- Dangerous Offenders and Public Protection – 20 credits
- Economic Crime and Fraud Examination – 20 credits
- Forensic Psychology: Investigation – 20 credits
- Gender and Crime – 20 credits
- Green Crime and Environmental Justice – 20 credits
- Information Security Management – 20 credits
- Intelligence Analysis – 20 credits
- Introduction to Teaching – 20 credits
- Miscarriages of Justice – 20 credits
- Money Laundering and Compliance – 20 credits
- Policing: Communities, Intelligence and Information – 20 credits
- Policing: Law, Policy and Practice – 20 credits
- Political Extremism – 20 credits
- Professional Development: Recruiters and Candidates – 20 credits
- Professional Experience L6 - 20 credits
- Treatment and Rehabilitation of Offenders – 20 credits
- True Crime - The Making of a Genre - 20 credits
Changes to course content
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.
Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry. If a module doesn't run, we'll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.
This course combines traditional criminology with an innovative look into information technologies and the future of crime and policing. It offers exciting new modules on cybercrime, the darkweb and digital investigations as well as real-life experience through participation in the cybercrime awareness clinic and interaction with practitioners. Join us into bridging the past with the future of criminology.
How you're assessed
You'll be assessed through:
- coursework
- examinations
- presentations
- group projects
- dissertation
You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.
You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.
Teaching
Teaching methods on this course include:
- lectures
- seminars
- tutorials
- group discussions
- practical workshops
You can access all teaching resources on Moodle, our virtual learning environment, from anywhere with a Web connection.
Teaching staff profiles
These are some of the expert staff who'll teach you on this course:
Ms Simona Ciobotaru
How you'll spend your time
One of the main differences between school or college and university is how much control you have over your learning.
We use a blended learning approach to teaching, which means you’ll take part in both face-to-face and online activities during your studies. As well as attending your timetabled classes you'll study independently in your free time, supported by staff and our virtual learning environment, Moodle.
A typical week
We recommend you spend at least 35 hours a week studying for your BSc Hons Criminology and Cybercrime degree. In your first year, you’ll be in timetabled teaching activities such as lectures, seminars and workshops for about 9 hours a week. The rest of the time you’ll do independent study such as research, reading, coursework and project work, alone or in a group with others from your course. You'll probably do more independent study and have less scheduled teaching in years 2 and 3, but this depends on which modules you choose.
Term dates
The academic year runs from September to June. There are breaks at Christmas and Easter.
Supporting your learning
The amount of timetabled teaching you'll get on your degree might be less than what you're used to at school or college, but you'll also get support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:
Types of support
Your personal tutor helps you make the transition to independent study and gives you academic and personal support throughout your time at university.
As well as regular scheduled meetings with your personal tutor, they're also available at set times during the week if you want to chat with them about anything that can't wait until your next meeting.
You'll have help from a team of faculty learning development tutors. They can help you improve and develop your academic skills and support you in any area of your study.
They can help with:
- Improving your academic writing (for example, essays, reports, dissertations)
- Delivering presentations (including observing and filming presentations)
- Understanding and using assignment feedback
- Managing your time and workload
- Revision and exam techniques
As well as support from faculty staff and your personal tutor, you can use the University's Academic Skills Unit (ASK).
ASK provides one-to-one support in areas such as:
- Academic writing
- Note taking
- Time management
- Critical thinking
- Presentation skills
- Referencing
- Working in groups
- Revision, memory and exam techniques
If you have a disability or need extra support, the Additional Support and Disability Centre (ASDAC) will give you help, support and advice.
Our online Learning Well mini-course will help you plan for managing the challenges of learning and student life, so you can fulfil your potential and have a great student experience.
You can get personal, emotional and mental health support from our Student Wellbeing Service, in person and online. This includes 1–2–1 support as well as courses and workshops that help you better manage stress, anxiety or depression.
If you require extra support because of a disability or additional learning need our specialist team can help you.
They'll help you to
- discuss and agree on reasonable adjustments
- liaise with other University services and facilities, such as the library
- access specialist study skills and strategies tutors, and assistive technology tutors, on a 1-to-1 basis or in groups
- liaise with external services
Library staff are available in person or by email, phone, or online chat to help you make the most of the University’s library resources. You can also request one-to-one appointments and get support from a librarian who specialises in your subject area.
The library is open 24 hours a day, every day, in term time.
If English isn't your first language, you can do one of our English language courses to improve your written and spoken English language skills before starting your degree. Once you're here, you can take part in our free In-Sessional English (ISE) programme to improve your English further.
Course costs and funding
Tuition fees (2023 start)
- UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £9,250 a year (may be subject to annual increase)
- EU students – £9,250 a year, including our Transition Scholarship (may be subject to annual increase)
- International students – £17,200 a year (subject to annual increase)
Tuition fees (2024 start)
- UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £9,250 a year (may be subject to annual increase)
- EU students – £9,250 a year, including our Transition Scholarship (may be subject to annual increase)
- International students – £18,100 a year (subject to annual increase)
You won't pay any extra tuition fees to another university for taking part in a study/work abroad activity if you choose to do it for the whole academic year. During a year abroad you'll only have to pay a reduced fee to the University of Portsmouth.
Funding your studies
Find out how to fund your studies, including the scholarships and bursaries you could get. You can also find more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.
Applying from outside the UK? Find out about funding options for international students.
Additional course costs
These course-related costs aren’t included in the tuition fees. So you’ll need to budget for them when you plan your spending.
Additional costs
Our accommodation section show your accommodation options and highlight how much it costs to live in Portsmouth.
You’ll study up to 6 modules a year. You may have to read several recommended books or textbooks for each module.
You can borrow most of these from the Library. If you buy these, they may cost up to £60 each.
We recommend that you budget £75 a year for photocopying, memory sticks, DVDs and CDs, printing charges, binding and specialist printing.
If your final year includes a major project, there could be cost for transport or accommodation related to your research activities. The amount will depend on the project you choose.
You'll need to pay additional costs anywhere between £50–£1,000 to cover travel, accommodation or subsistence if you take a placement abroad.
The amount you'll pay will vary, depending on the location and length of your stay. It will also depend on additional funding the UK Government makes available after Brexit and if the UK remains part of the Erasmus+ student mobility programme or not.
During your placement year or study abroad year, you’ll be eligible for a discounted rate on your tuition fees. Currently, this discount amounts to 90% of the year’s fees.
Tuition fees for that year are:
- UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £925 a year (may be subject to annual increase)
- EU students – £925 a year, including Transition Scholarship (may be subject to annual increase)
- International students – £1,800 a year (subject to annual increase)
The costs associated with your specific destination will be discussed during your second year, as well as possible sources of additional funding.
Apply
How to apply
To start this course in September 2023, please apply through Clearing.
Got your results? Apply online now
Alternatively, call our Clearing Hotline on +44 (0)23 9284 8074 or visit our Clearing Hub to chat with us online.
Our Clearing Hotline is open:
- 9am–5pm Monday to Thursday
- 9am–4pm Fridays
- 8am–8pm Thursday 17 August (A Level/T level results day)
- 8am–7pm Friday 18 August
- 10am–3pm Saturday 19 August
Waiting for your results?
Visit our Clearing Hub for the latest information and to request a results day call back.
International students
We welcome Clearing applications from international students and you can apply in exactly the same way as UK students do.
Applying for year 2 or 3
If you've already completed part of this course with us or another university and would like to apply for the second or third year, please apply here.
To start this course in 2024, apply through UCAS. You'll need:
- the UCAS course code – L311
- our institution code – P80
If you'd prefer to apply directly, use our online application form.
You can also sign up to an Open Day to:
- Tour our campus, facilities and halls of residence
- Speak with lecturers and chat with our students
- Get information about where to live, how to fund your studies and which clubs and societies to join
If you're new to the application process, read our guide on applying for an undergraduate course.
Applying from outside the UK
As an international student you'll apply using the same process as UK students, but you’ll need to consider a few extra things.
You can get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region.
Find out what additional information you need in our international students section.
If you don't meet the English language requirements for this course yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Admissions terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.