BASS Sociology and Criminology

This course unit is designed to provide students with an opportunity to explore and investigate their own research topic. It is an excellent chance to develop your own independent research project, where you can identify, refine, explore in depth, and evaluate what you produce using the knowledge and skills that you have gained over the previous years of study. 

Throughout the year, there are a mix of Core and Pathway teaching sessions alongside drop-in sessions and one-to-one meetings with your supervisor. This will ensure that you have dedicated discussions and guidance that are tailored to your research project.

Only available to students on either the BA Social Science (BASS) Criminology pathways or LLB Law with Criminology 

By the end of this unit, students will be able to:
1.    Demonstrate a critical understanding of the research process, including how to formulate researchable questions and select appropriate strategies and methods. (Knowledge and Understanding);
2.    Plan and conduct a focused literature search, using appropriate academic tools to identify and evaluate relevant sources.(Practical Skills);
3.    Engage with ethical considerations in research, showing awareness of key debates and how they apply to their chosen topic. (Intellectual Skills);
4.    Develop a coherent research proposal, outlining aims, rationale, methodology, and ethical considerations.(Intellectual Skills);
5.    Communicate research ideas clearly and effectively, using appropriate academic conventions and structure. (Transferrable skills and personal qualities).

The 20-credit dissertation supports students in developing essential digital research and communication skills. Students are introduced to:
•    Digital research tools such as academic databases (e.g. Scopus, Westlaw, Google Scholar) to conduct literature reviews and identify research gaps;
•    Referencing software (e.g. Zotero, EndNote) to manage sources efficiently;
•    Digital submission and feedback platforms (e.g. Blackboard, Turnitin), ensuring students are confident in navigating academic technologies;
•    Accessible formats for research proposals and presentations, supporting inclusive digital communication.
 

Dissertation proposal: 10%
Dissertation: 90%

Formative feedback (both individual and collective) will be given on work produced for each supervision meeting. 

Detailed summative feedback will be given on the submitted dissertation via proposal.This unit is assessed by a 1000 word dissertation proposal (10%) and a 8000-9000 words dissertation (90%).

Across their course units, full-time students are expected to devote a ‘working week’ of around 30-35 hours of studying time. 

Tuition fees for home students will be £10,050 for the 2027/28 academic year. In England and Wales, tuition fees for home undergraduate students are subject to the Government fee cap, which the Government has announced will be £10,050 for the 2027/28 academic year.

Government policy is to increase the fee cap on an annual basis to reflect inflation (i.e. increasing costs), and the tuition fee home students pay in subsequent academic years will reflect any increases in the Government fee cap (which we will communicate to you as soon as we can in advance of the relevant academic year).

Tuition fees for international students will be £29,200 for the 2027/28 academic year. For subsequent academic years, the University reserves the right to increase the tuition fee by up to 7% each year, including to reflect rising costs associated with delivering our education and wider student experience.

For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.

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 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.