- UCAS course code
- VL53
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Bachelor of Arts (BASS)
BASS Philosophy and Criminology
Duration: 3 or 4 years
Year of entry: 2025
UCAS course code: VL53 / Institution code: M20
- Key features:
Study abroad
Industrial experience
- Typical A-level offer: ABB including specific subjects
- Typical contextual A-level offer: BBC including specific subjects
- Refugee/care-experienced offer: BBC including specific subjects
- Typical International Baccalaureate offer: 34 points overall with 6,5,5 at HL, including specific subjects
Fees and funding
Fees
Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2025 will be £9,535 per annum (subject to Parliamentary approval). Tuition fees for international students will be £26,500 per annum. For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).
Scholarships/sponsorships
Scholarships and bursaries, including the Manchester Bursary , are available to eligible home/EU students.
Some undergraduate UK students will receive bursaries of up to £2,000 per year, in addition to the government package of maintenance grants.
You can get information and advice on student finance to help you manage your money.
Course unit details:
Victims, Crime and Justice
| Unit code | CRIM30792 |
|---|---|
| Credit rating | 20 |
| Unit level | Level 3 |
| Teaching period(s) | Semester 2 |
| Available as a free choice unit? | Yes |
Overview
This course provides students with an opportunity to explore and critically evaluate various theoretical and practical aspects of victimology and victimisation. Teaching will promote active learning through a mix of online activities, seminars and workshops, and will focus on providing students with a clear understanding of both the broad subject of victimisation, and more specific aspects of the subject area. The course considers the patterns and extent of victimisation, the development of victimology, the impact of victimisation, the developing role of victims in the criminal justice system, and the contested nature of victimhood. The course will also cover specific topics and case studies (e.g. hate crime, #MeToo, Black Lives Matters, 'Honour'-Based Abuse) and the complex relationship between being a victim and an offender.
Indicative content: (1) Who are the victims of crime?; (2) Changing perspectives in victimology and research victimisation; (3); Victims and the Criminal Justice System; (4) Victims, Protests, and Social Movements; (5) Vulnerability and resilience: responses to victimisation, and understanding fear; (6) Victimology of difference; (7) Vicarious Victimisation: families, friends and the community; (8) Victims and restorative justice; (9) Victims and popular culture; (10) Victimisation by the powerful, ‘victimless’ crimes and forgotten victims.
Aims
The course aims to (1) introduce students to theoretical and practical aspects of victimology; (2) foster an understanding of the nature of victimisation and the criminal justice response; (3) critically evaluate the complex debates and concepts about the nature of victimisation.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module students will be able to: (1) critically discuss the nature of victimisation and the contested concept of the victim; (2) understand the relationship between victims and the criminal justice system; (3) evaluate the development of victimology; (4) apply the above to analyse representations of victims; (5) research, analyse and communicate, in an informed and critical way, theoretical explanations and empirical and policy findings concerning ' victims'.
Teaching and learning methods
Teaching and learning across course units consists of: (1) preparatory work to be completed prior to teaching sessions, including readings, pre-recorded subject material and online activities; (2) a weekly whole-class interactive lecture; (3) a weekly workshop; and (4) one-to-one support via subject specific office hours.
Knowledge and understanding
- Critically discuss the nature of victimisation and the contested concept of the victim.
- Understand the relationship between victims and the criminal justice system.
- Evaluate the development of victimology.
- Apply the above to analyse representations of victims.
Intellectual skills
- Research, analyse and communicate, in an informed and critical way, theoretical explanations and empirical and policy findings concerning ’victims’.
Practical skills
- Discuss, illustrate, debate and evaluate key points/perspectives and communicate these in a clear and effective way.
Transferable skills and personal qualities
- Demonstrate the ability to work effectively in a team.
- Research, organise and deliver key information and findings.
- Prepare an analysis of a case that effectively presents the key points to a wider audience.
Employability skills
- Other
- (i) analyse, critique and (re-)formulate a problem or issue; (ii) rapidly and thoroughly review/rate argument and evidence from targeted bibliographic searches; (iii) plan, structure and present arguments in a variety of written formats and to a strict word limit, (iv) express ideas verbally and organise work effectively in small teams for a variety of written and oral tasks; (v) obtain, manipulate and (re-)present different forms of data; (vi) manage time effectively; (vii) reflect on and improve performance through feedback.
Assessment methods
| Method | Weight |
|---|---|
| Other | 20% |
| Written assignment (inc essay) | 80% |
This unit is assessed by a 3000 word essay worth 80% of the overall mark, and by a group podcast worth 20%.
Feedback methods
There will be plenty of opportunities to gain feedback:
- There will always be time to ask questions during and at the end of all teaching session;
- There will be sessions and online resources specifically dedicated to the assessments. You will receive additional verbal guidance and feedback on your ideas;
- There are weekly office hours where you can receive feedback and support;
- There will also be extra ‘assessment and feedback support’ appointments available towards the end of the unit;
- Additional resources with extra guidance and information on the assessments will be available on Blackboard, which will be updated during the semester, as appropriate.
Recommended reading
Walklate, S (2017). Handbook of Victims & Victimology. London: Routledge.
Study hours
| Scheduled activity hours | |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 20 |
| Tutorials | 10 |
| Independent study hours | |
|---|---|
| Independent study | 70 |
Teaching staff
| Staff member | Role |
|---|---|
| Claire Fox | Unit coordinator |
Additional notes
Across their course units each semester, full-time students are expected to devote a ‘working week’ of around 30-35 hours to study. Accordingly each course unit demands around 10-11 hours of study per week consisting of (i) 3 timetabled teacher-led hours, (ii) 7-8 independent study hours devoted to preparation, required and further reading, and note taking.
Information
Restricted to: all students University wide are permitted to take this course, but they must be FINAL YEAR STUDENTS ONLY.
Pre-reqisites: None
Co-requisites: None
Timetable
Please refer to your personalised Criminology timetable