University of Aberdeen
Criminology and Sociology MA (Hons)
University of Aberdeen

Key Course Facts

Student Reviews

Below you can see course specific reviews of 40 graduates of Criminology and Sociology MA (Hons) and other courses in Sociology at University of Aberdeen for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in Sociology.

Overall student satisfaction
86 /100
40 total respondents

Primarily based on data from undergraduate degree students.

The NSS is commissioned by the Office for Students

Salary

Salary of Graduates in Sociology

Important: Salary data below is not course specific, but contains data of all students of Sociology at the university. Due to data collection methodology, salary data is mainly based on data related to undergraduate students.

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £25000 £22000 £28000
25-75 percentile range £20500 - £28000 £18500 - £25500 £22500 - £33500


Salary of all UK Graduates of Sociology

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £23013 £20757 £24208
25-75 percentile range £19989 - £26124 £15689 - £25435 £18599 - £30307

Course Description

This interdisciplinary programme combines dedicated Criminology modules, together with modules from Sociology, Psychology and Law, to provide a broadly based and comprehensive Criminology and Sociology joint honours undergraduate degree. Criminology is the study of crime, law, and criminal justice. On this programme, you will investigate questions including:

  • How crime and criminality are defined and understood.
  • How crime and punishment relate to a broad range of social and psychological factors.
  • How key aspects of the legal system developed and are applied.
  • How technological advances are affecting crime and its detection.
  • How social arrangements contribute to social order and disorder.
  • How key aspects of social relations and organisation have developed over time.

A diverse range of topics, including social interaction, the construction of self and social interaction, social inequalities, surveillance, face recognition and social control, biological and forensic psychology, policing and criminal justice, and a number of other related topics will be addressed in this exciting new programme.

This programme is delivered by staff with expertise in criminology, law, psychology and sociology to provide you with a critically informed understanding of crime, including the causes of crime, the impact of crime and the effectiveness of crime prevention measures, including law, policing and prisons.

Our multidisciplinary approach provides you with a broad knowledge base and range of skills to inform your understanding of individuals, social relations and organisation, as well as the psychosocial conditions that contribute to disorder, instability and crime. You will also gain insight into the evolution and operation of the criminal justice system, including policing, prisons, probation and policy.

Finally, this programme also explores public, media and legal perspectives on crime and society, addressing the way in which these relate to different groups based on social class, age, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, mental health and citizenship status.

Sociology at Aberdeen is ranked 10th in the UK and 2nd in Scotland by The Guardian’s Best UK Universities, 2021.

Jobs & Career Perspectives

15 months after graduation, graduates of this course were asked about what they do and, if they are working, about their current job and their perspectives.

Current jobs

Required skill level of job after 15 months

Jobs of graduates of this course (15 months after graduation)

Example below based on all graduates of Criminology and Sociology MA (Hons) at University of Aberdeen

30% Administrative occupations
20% Business and public service associate professionals
15% Managers, directors and senior officials
5% Elementary occupations
5% Business and Financial Project Management Professionals
5% Teaching and Childcare Support Occupation
5% Information Technology Professionals
5% Business, Research and Administrative Professionals

**Students are assessed by any combination of three assessment methods:** coursework such as essays and reports completed throughout the course; practical assessments of the skills and competencies they learn on the course; and written examinations at the end of each course. The exact mix of these methods differs between subject areas, years of study and individual courses. Honours projects are typically assessed on the basis of a written dissertation.

Entry Requirements / Admissions

UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for Sociology

Qualification requirements

HNC in Care and Administrative Practice or Applied Science with B required in graded unit for entry to Year 1 Sufficient science and discursive subjects and a strong academic profile to be competitive. English and Maths at least at National 5 Grade B.

English language requirements

test Grade Additional Details
IELTS (Academic) 6

Overall - 6.0 with: Listening - 5.5 or above; Reading - 5.5 or above; Speaking - 5.5 or above; Writing - 6.0 or above.

IELTS Indicator or IELTS General Training are not accepted

TOEFL (iBT) 78

TOEFL iBT and TOEFL Home Edition (online) - DI code is 0818: Overall 78 with: Listening - 17 or above; Reading - 18 or above; Speaking - 20 or above; Writing - 21 or above.

PTE Academic 59

Overall - 59 with: Listening - 59 or above; Reading - 59 or above; Speaking - 59 or above; Writing - 59 or above.

Online Test is not accepted

Trinity ISE

Pass overall at ISE II with a distinction in writing and merit in the other three skills.

Institution's Own Test

Academic English Pre-sessional Programmes - Pass (valid for one year) OR Academic English Preparation Programme - Pass at Level Four (valid for one year)

Cambridge English Advanced

Overall - 169 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 162; Speaking - 162; Writing -169.

Cambridge English Proficiency

Overall - 169 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 162; Speaking - 162; Writing -169.

When you are thinking about studying overseas, it is important that you understand all the costs involved and budget accordingly. It is essential to budget for your studies prior to leaving your home country and to arrange all your funding for BOTH your tuition fees and your living costs.

View the University of Aberdeen Online Prospectus programme page to find out about any scholarships and funding you may be able to apply for.
Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still study Criminology and Sociology, MA (Hons), if you do not meet the minimum requirements in terms of UCAS score, A levels, or English language requirements.

Costs

Tuition Fees Criminology and Sociology MA (Hons)

Ireland £9250 year 1
EU £21900 year 1
Scotland £1820 year 1
England UK £9250 year 1
Northern Ireland £9250 year 1
Wales £9250 year 1
Channel Islands £21900 year 1
International £21900 year 1
EU £20800 year 1
Channel Islands £9250 year 1
International £20800 year 1

Additional fee information

EU/International Applicants: When you are thinking about studying overseas, it is important that you understand all the costs involved and budget accordingly. It is essential to budget for your studies prior to leaving your home country, and arrange all your funding for BOTH your tuition fees and your living costs.

Average student cost of living in the UK

Rent £518
Water, gas electricity, internet (at home) £50
Supermarket shopping £81
Clothing £35
Eating out £33
Alcohol £27
Takeaways / food deliveries £30
Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food) £24
Holidays and weekend trips £78
Transport within city £17
Self-care / sports £20
Stationary / books £13
Mobile phone / internet £13
Cable TV / streaming £7
Insurance £51
Other £95
  
Average student cost of living £1092

London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.

How to apply

Application deadline:

January 1, 2025

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Possible Entry Points:

  • year 1 (Default entry point)
  • year 2

University Rankings

Positions of University of Aberdeen in top UK and global rankings.

Rankings of University of Aberdeen in related subject specific rankings.

Social Studies & Humanities

    • #3 
    • #176 
    Social Sciences
    THE World University Rankings by Subject
    [Published 19 October, 2023]
    • #3 
    • #211 
    Social Sciences
    NTU Rankings by Subject
    [Published 11 July, 2023]
    • #3 
    • #24 
    Sociology
    CUG The Complete University Guide - By Subject
    [Published 08 June, 2023]
    • #3 
    • #201 
    Sociology
    QS World University Rankings By Subject
    [Published 22 March, 2023]

See all 29 university rankings of University of Aberdeen

About University of Aberdeen

Dating back to the year 1495 we find the University of Aberdeen, located in the Scottish city of the same name. The main site of this ancient institution is Old Aberdeen, where students in the arts and social sciences as well as the physical sciences carry out their learning. Meanwhile on the significantly more modern campus site Foresterhill, learners in the medical and research fields occupy their own purpose-built buildings, such as Suttie Centre.

List of 511 Bachelor and Master Courses from University of Aberdeen - Course Catalogue

Where is this programme taught

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