We welcome applications from the United States of America
We've put together information and resources to guide your application journey as a student from the United States of America.
Overview
Top reasons to study with us
6
6th for Criminology
The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide (2025)
12
12th for Graduate Prospects (Criminology)
The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide (2024)
9th in the UK for student satisfaction
The Complete University Guide (2025)
We have outstanding league table rankings for Criminology and Psychology, and a great track record for graduate prospects. These are just two reasons to take a Criminology and Psychology degree at Lancaster University.
This innovative degree explores the relationship between crime and the human mind. Informed by the latest research and combining theory and practice, the degree offers you the opportunity to study both Criminology and Psychology in equal measure. Due to the flexible structure, you can continue on the joint major pathway or switch to a Psychology major (which includes British Psychological Society accreditation) at the end of your first year.
The degree is led and taught by the world-leading, research-active academics based in our prestigious Law School and Psychology Department. They will introduce you to key themes and topics in Criminology and Psychology, as well as helping you to engage with recent and influential research. The degree draws on the Departments’ expertise in forensic psychology, youth justice, decision-making, policing, prisons and punishment, sex work, hate crime, drugs and substance abuse, gender-based violence, climate change, welfare and media.
Your first year will introduce you to core criminological and psychological concepts and perspectives, including explanations for crime and offending behaviour and social psychology. During your second year you will explore a broad range of criminological theories and perspectives, consider how to ‘do’ criminological and psychological research and be able to choose a range of optional modules which explore various criminological and psychological controversies and issues. By year three, you will have the choice to study specialist subjects in depth from our range of optional modules. You will also be required to research a topic of your choice for a crime-based dissertation.
Masterclasses, expert seminars, volunteering and work placement opportunities will also enhance your knowledge, experience and practical skills. Assessment is varied, including coursework, presentations, exams, reflective accounts and dissertation.
80% of the Law School’s research was rated as internationally excellent or world leading in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (2014), and 75% in the Department of Psychology.
Employability Skills
You will benefit from our excellent connections with NGOs, charities, and local Criminal Justice Agencies such as Lancashire Police and HMP Lancashire Farm. You will be able to visit the prison and engage in collaborative learning, and analyse data from Lancashire Police. Our Psychology Employability Programme will help you to develop your skills for a career in Psychology. All of this is designed to enable you to gain experience, make professional connections and get a head start in your career.
A wide range of module choices underpinned by diverse expertise from criminology professionals, delivered in a supportive and friendly environment. Hear from Criminology students on the experience you could have at Lancaster University.
Why Psychology at Lancaster?
Discover why our Psychology staff and students love teaching and studying here at Lancaster, from the flexibility of our courses and strong emphasis on research-led teaching, to the employability support we offer.
The place to be involved
Your future is important to us. The Belong, Engage, Employ (BEE) programme offers a range of activities designed to help you engage with opportunities outside of core teaching and enhance your employability when you leave us. Creating a sense of community is a vital part of the programme.
Careers Cafes
Regular drop-ins where you can seek expert guidance on matters such as work experience, postgraduate study, making career decisions, CVs/cover letters and job applications.
Brain Food
These are monthly sessions that tackle a range of issues such as coping with exam stress, building confidence and resilience, and balancing work and study. These sessions are informal, relaxed and involve free pizza!
Psychology Alumni Evening
An annual event in which our past students return to talk about their career progression. The evening is an excellent opportunity for informal networking, and to hear first hand about how other students have advanced their careers.
Psychology Connect
This scheme offers single day placements for those who can’t commit to undertaking unpaid voluntary work. It’s an excellent opportunity to see how your degree can be applied while expanding your network.
Careers
We support you with a dedicated careers officer and through our links to professional bodies and organisations.
Your degree could open the door to a career within, and beyond, the criminal justice system. It could lead to jobs in areas such as HR, marketing, management and the public and private sectors, including: the police, probation service, prison service, social work, work with young people, Home Office, Ministry of Justice, voluntary sector bodies working with offenders, victims and their families, and welfare charities.
Your degree could also act as a launch pad to a Master's degree or PhD in areas such as criminology, criminal justice or social research methods.
Lancaster University is dedicated to ensuring you not only gain a highly reputable degree, you also graduate with the relevant life and work based skills. We are unique in that every student is eligible to participate in The Lancaster Award which offers you the opportunity to complete key activities such as work experience, employability awareness, career development, campus community and social development. Visit our Employability section for full details.
Psychology Employability Programme
The Psychology Employability Programme allows you to undertake an exciting placement either within a local organisation or at the University as a research assistant to build up your employability skill sets.
These roles are part-time and fit around your studies, meaning that you can apply for more than one placement in each year of your degree. By taking on different roles you will get a sense of how your future might look.
Entry requirements
Grade Requirements
A Level AAB
GCSE Mathematics grade B or 6 (Applicants with a GCSE Maths C or 5 considered on a case-by-case basis)
IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each component. For other English language qualifications we accept, please see our English language requirements webpages.
Other Qualifications
International Baccalaureate 35 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 Higher Level subjects
BTEC Distinction, Distinction, Distinction
We welcome applications from students with a range of alternative UK and international qualifications, including combinations of qualifications. Further guidance on admission to the University, including other qualifications that we accept, frequently asked questions and information on applying, can be found on our general admissions webpages.
Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored foundation pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University degrees. Visit the INTO Lancaster University website for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.
Contextual admissions
Contextual admissions could help you gain a place at university if you have faced additional challenges during your education which might have impacted your results. Visit our contextual admissions page to find out about how this works and whether you could be eligible.
Course structure
Lancaster University offers a range of programmes, some of which follow a structured study programme, and some which offer the chance for you to devise a more flexible programme to complement your main specialism.
Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, and the University will make every reasonable effort to offer modules as advertised. In some cases changes may be necessary and may result in some combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.
Developing transferable study and employability skills are both important aspects for studying a degree and securing employment. This module is tailored to the psychology discipline and provides you with an essential foundation to successfully build your degree, as well as equipping you with practical employability skills.
This 100% coursework module allows you to develop key transferable study skills to increase your employability to work in a range of industries. Key topics of study include understanding assessment and feedback, critical thinking and forming an academic argument, writing CVs and cover letters, and effective methods of communication. These skills are combined with developing knowledge of finding and securing voluntary and paid work experience, placements and jobs.
On completing this module you will be equipped with skills to; write essays and lab reports, critically appraise information from a range of resources, produce a CV and cover letter for a prospective employer, present psychological information with confidence and clarity, and be able to find psychology-related opportunities, placements, and jobs, with an understanding of how to secure them.
Cognition is the mental process of acquiring and using knowledge; it underpins our ability to perceive the world around us. This module will equip you with a firm foundation of the conceptual knowledge and terminologies used in cognitive psychology.
You will be introduced to key topics in cognitive psychology, such as attention, perception, categorisation, language, memory, problem-solving, and decision-making. These core topics will be explored using key theories, classic paradigms, and experimental approaches, looking into both past and current research.
Once the module is complete, you will be able to describe key theories and processes, as well as illustrate classic paradigms and experimental approaches used in cognitive psychology. This will provide a foundation for those continuing with psychological studies in Part II.
This module provides an introduction to criminology and criminal justice. You will benefit from a multi-disciplinary approach, which allows you to focus on the social, political, cultural and economic contexts of crime, deviance and criminal justice.
The module has a three-part structure and begins with criminological perspectives. This is your chance to delve into a range of key perspectives in criminology including biological, psychological, sociological and feminist. You’ll also consider the ways in which the media influences representations of crime.
In part two we will move on to contemporary criminological issues such as domestic violence, green criminology, serial killing, revenge porn, drugs, sex offending and hate crime. Part three then provides a critical overview of the key criminal justice agencies in the UK (such as prison, police and probation) – at this point we also explore approaches to punishment.
You will be taught by expert lecturers who will introduce you to cutting-edge research. Due to our unique approach to first year, you will study alongside students from across the University, which brings real diversity to the discussions within our small group teaching and workshops, enriching your learning experience.
Developmental psychology is a scientific discipline that explains how humans develop across their lifespan. You will study topics including Piagetian and Vygotskian theoretical frameworks, the nature vs. nurture debate, and children’s development of crucial abilities to engage in the social world. You will develop a strong understanding of the relationships between psychological theory and experimental evidence, drawing upon classic and state-of-the-art scientific literature, including current cutting-edge investigative research going on in our Psychology Department.
By the end of the module, you will have gained understanding of several foundational topics in developmental psychology, be able to discuss related research in an informed and critical manner, and be able to able to search, synthesise, and evaluate relevant scientific literature. You will also be equipped with an excellent foundation of knowledge for continuing your study of developmental psychology in Part II.
In this module, you will gain an understanding of the anatomy of the nervous system, the main structures of the brain, and the functions of neurons; the specialised cells which receive, send, and process information in the nervous system.
Once key neural mechanisms are covered, you will examine the effects of drugs on the brain, the processes that allow us to see and hear, the neural control of movement, the control of sleep and dreaming, and the neural bases of learning and memory. Finally, you will explore brain injuries, diseases and disorders.
On completing this module, you will have a broad understanding of brain function, be able to critically evaluate neuroscience research, and express your understanding of such topics through discussions and assessments.
This module introduces you to key topics and debates within psychological research relating to personality and individual differences.
Through the exploration of topics including personality, intelligence and psychometric testing, you will gain key skills to examine and evaluate the impact of individual differences on cognition, behaviour and social relationships.
Completing this module provides you with an understanding of biological, environmental and cultural influences on personality, intelligence and other traits, methods of psychometric testing and their role in psychological research, and the ability to critically evaluate key theories and assess the impact on real-world issues.
How do we determine what is true in science? How do we know which theories are well supported by evidence, and which ones are not? This module focuses on the research process, particularly drawing upon how to identify and avoid questionable practices, in favour of those that are open, transparent, and reproducible.
You will build upon your knowledge of the research process developed in Research Integrity and Open Science 1. Looking at some of the problems faced by researchers, and how research findings are assessed in light of these issues, you will develop tools to help overcome and prevent future issues.
Topics of study include the problem of false-positive findings, questionable research practices, researcher degrees of freedom, fraud, detecting errors and meta-analysis. These topics will allow you to understand how to embed open, transparent and reproducible research methods into your own practices, supporting your ability to plan a research study and provide clear, accurate descriptions of proposed methods and planned analyses.
Once you have completed this module, you will have a deeper understanding of the research process, from concept and design to post-publication. You will have advanced knowledge of the reproducibility crisis and be equipped with practical skills to conduct your own research using a ‘reproducibility toolkit’. You will learn to critically evaluate psychological theory and research in order to identify and avoid questionable research practices and to ensure your own practices are open, transparent and reproducible.
Psychologists engage in the scientific process of developing and testing theories that explain and understand human psychology and behaviour. This module introduces you to the scientific processes and practices surrounding the development and testing of psychological and behavioural theories.
In this module, you will develop an understanding of the importance of transparent and high-quality psychological research and will assess the utility and reproducibility of current studies. You will study the relationship between theory, testing and evaluation and will develop practical skills to conduct your own research.
On completing this module, you will have gained a well-rounded understanding of the research process and an awareness of the importance of reproducibility, and you will have learned how to critically engage with research and its coverage in the media. You will learn key transferable skills, including data management, evaluation of primary and secondary sources, and knowledge of the relationship between theories, concepts and research methods.
Whether we want to understand ourselves or the world around us, social psychology can offer valuable insights. This module will present theories and findings, demonstrating how the principles of this field are relevant to our everyday lives, and it will help to develop a range of knowledge and skills that you will be able to apply to your studies as they progress throughout your degree, as well as approaches that you will find helpful for applying psychological knowledge in practice.
The module will equip you with knowledge of basic issues in social psychology, as well as applied psychology. You will be exposed to classic studies as well as cutting-edge research. Lectures will introduce a range of core topics including attitudes, attraction and the self.
In addition, this module will explore how the topics covered are being updated in relation to the modern digital age and how this affects our social world. The module will help you in understanding the main theoretical ideas and traditions of social psychology and relating individual psychological
Psychology is an evidence-based discipline, and understanding how to carry out psychological enquiry through statistical analysis of data plays a key part in research. This module is designed to equip you with a strong understanding of how data is used to inform decisions about the validity of psychological theories.
You will learn theoretical principles behind introductory statistical analysis techniques in psychological research, developing an understanding of scientific research methods to perform your own statistical analysis using numerical data. You will learn basic skills in data processing, visualisation, and inferential statistical analysis.
By the end of this module, you will understand which statistical methods are appropriate for a given research design, and will have developed some basic skills in data analysis to competently handle numerical data in order to calculate statistical analyses and answer research questions.
Psychology is an evidence-based discipline, and understanding how to carry out psychological enquiry through statistical analysis of data plays a key part in research. This module builds on the knowledge acquired during Statistics for Psychologists 1, allowing you to broaden your skills and develop a deeper understanding of statistical analysis techniques in psychological research.
You will expand your knowledge of statistical tests and continue to practise the implementation of these with data relating to psychological theories. On completing this module, you will have taken your statistical analysis skills to the next level, with an ability to calculate a range of statistics including correlation and chi-square, important tests for psychology but also for workplace data analysis more generally.
Core
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This module provides you with an introduction to questionnaire design and qualitative methods by which psychological research is conducted, data collected and analysed, whilst also addressing the ethical issues relevant to a range of experimental and non-experimental methods. You will undertake blocks of exercises in which you will design, report and evaluate different forms of psychological research through questionnaires and surveys, in addition to interviewing and qualitative analysis.
Working in small groups, you will design and implement research projects on a given topic, followed by independent analyses and interpretation of the results, which are then written up in the research reports. You will also engage with the various ethical issues affecting psychological research on human participants and the strategies for addressing those issues in conducting psychological research with integrity. The module will support further your abilities to be clear, accurate, complete, and concise in writing up research. You will also develop the ability to use appropriate software and online resources in the generation and analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative data.
Social research is at the heart of social science perspectives on criminology. Research provides an important means of producing evidence within criminology and in the planning and evaluation of policies and provision within the criminal justice system. The module introduces the theoretical foundations and processes of different forms of social research used within criminology focusing in particular on criminological fieldwork.
Optional
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This module concerns the study of basic mental processes, such as memory, attention, learning, and categorisation. You will explore the current issues, debates and approaches in many key areas of cognitive psychology. We will see how research has evolved in these fields, both in terms of the practical challenges, and the development of psychological theories. We will also investigate how basic findings in cognitive psychology can have a wider application to society, such as in treatments for psychological disorders, or in the influence of misinformation in belief formation.
By the end of the module, you will understand more about these core topics, and will be able to show a critical appreciation of research methods, approaches and outcomes in cognitive psychology. You will develop skills to write about a topic in cognitive psychology in an informed and reflective way.
This module introduces students to a range of contemporary crime ‘problems’ through a study of academic debates and perspectives. The historical, socio-economic and cultural contexts will be explored whereby students will be encouraged to critically analyse the process of criminalisation, criminal justice responses, and how these criminal or ‘deviant’ activities have come to be considered problematic. Specialist areas of criminological debate will be addressed, such as cultural criminology, the criminology of everyday life and the relationship between crime, pleasure and transgression.
What role do police forces play within the criminal justice system? What are some of the contemporary issues in policing? Where do the police fit into a broader framework of security, governance and regulation?
This module tackles fundamental questions such as these and helps you to think and write critically about key concepts connected to the nature, culture and structure of police forces in the UK.
The module is led by research-active staff and its content is informed by their latest research. You will explore a range of issues that shape UK policing, including:
police use of force
policing ethnic minorities
policing protest
victims and the police
women in policing
We have excellent links to Lancashire Police, which inform this module. A combination of lectures and seminars is used to enhance your critical thinking skills and your verbal and written communication. Assessment through a group presentation will give you experience of public speaking and team-working.
This option can be taken alongside half-unit modules in Criminology taught in the second year. You can take one of the Criminology option modules and be assessed in the usual way (one essay plus exam) for a half-unit, and can also undertake this half-unit extended essay on a topic related to that particular module. However, the topic does not have to relate directly to a taught module and you can talk to staff about carrying out a small piece of documentary or other research in relevant areas of Criminology.
This module aims to provide you with knowledge and understanding of:
The range, extent and nature of cybercrime in the 21st Century.
The role of the Internet and other ICT in criminal networking, planning and communication for both cyber (online) and 'traditional' (offline) crime.
The challenges inherent in responding to cybercrime and online aspects of traditional crime and criminality.
Criminal justice and other (e.g. personal and private security) responses to cybercrime and criminality.
The application of established criminological theories to cybercrime and online criminality.
The module covers human development from foetus to the end of adolescence, covering changes in cognitive, social, language and emotional abilities over this time span, as well as how these changes can be explained: it is important to ask not just what changes, but also why such changes occur and how the course of development is shaped by multiple interacting factors.
The course provides a foundation for understanding developmental psychology as a discipline from different theoretical and methodological perspectives. The lectures cover a variety of key topics in developmental science, from prenatal to later childhood development and adolescence, spanning motor, perceptual, cognitive, communicative, social, emotional and cultural aspects.
The fundamental questions of development: what capacities make infants able to learn so much about the world, by what mechanisms are capacities acquired, and how development can take an atypical trajectory, are addressed on the course together with the theoretical debates that have surrounded these questions.
In this module students will explore the intricate and evolving world of financial misconduct, its impacts, and relevant laws and regulations. The module covers a spectrum of financial crimes, including fraud, corruption, money laundering, financing terrorism, and cartels from criminological and legal perspectives. Students will be introduced to global and domestic regulatory frameworks governing the financial system, gain valuable insights into the challenges and strategies in financial crime prevention, and analyse common financial crime modes of operating through real-world case analyses. Ethical considerations in the technological and financial industry as well as the evidence-based approach towards laws and regulation will also be emphasized. Additionally, the module aims to enhance employability by providing knowledge and skills sought after in finance, law enforcement, compliance, and risk management.
The module will introduce you to the fundamental neuronal principles underlying cognition and behaviour, with particular emphasis on perceptual, cognitive, emotional and language processes. You will be provided with basic knowledge about the anatomy, physiology, and functions of the central and peripheral nervous systems.
You will become acquainted with a range of theories and research methods in cognitive neuroscience and explore how knowledge of neural and physiological processes can aid our understanding of a wide range of human behaviour. The module provides you with the essential preparation for neuroscience-related advanced modules in your third year.
How does society respond to environmental harms? What is the legal response to such issues? Which social and/or economic factors cause environmental risk? What influence or impact does media coverage have on ‘green’ issues?
This fascinating and highly relevant module considers the above questions and journeys through the following topics:
Anthropocentric environmental harms (human beings’ ethical relationship with the natural environment)
Environmental victimisation (those harmed by changes in their environment)
Socio-economic factors
Socio-legal responses
Media coverage of ‘green ‘issues
Protest, movements and environmental activism
Animal rights
Zemiology (social harms)
The academics who lead this module are researching the Illegal Wildlife Trade overseas. They will introduce you to this research and will encourage you to consider the overlap between environmental harm and other areas of criminology.
What are human rights? How are they implemented or contravened? What is the relationship between complex human rights issues and society today?
This module uses the context of the European human rights regime to investigate civil liberties and human rights protection. You will adopt a critical and comparative approach as you gain a comprehensive grounding in the law of human rights.
We will tackle some of the most complex and relevant issues such as the right to life, freedom from torture, freedom of expression, and capital punishment. Specific case studies allow you to engage with issues and questions regarding whistle-blowing and enforced disappearances.
Our teaching is research-led and combines seminars, tutorials and lectures. You will be encouraged to read as widely as possible on the subject and we will help you to develop your skills in critical analysis, discourse and debate.
Many commentators claim that organised crime is one of the greatest problems facing contemporary societies. Law enforcement officials around the world have reported a significant increase in the range and scope of international criminal activity since the early 1990s. Worldwide shifts in social, political and economic arrangements- often described as ‘globalisation’ - have opened up opportunities for organised crime groups. The extent of groups involved in transnational organised crime (TOC) and the profits made means TOC has become a priority area for governments around the world.
Expanding on the knowledge gained in Part I, you will further develop your knowledge of theory and research in a number of core areas in this field. Starting with the history of social psychology, you will explore topics such as social beliefs and judgements, intergroup relations, and applying social psychology to everyday life.
The lectures will cover contemporary and empirical developments in the key areas of social psychology, and the accompanying seminar programme will help develop a range of your academic and transferable skills in relation to social psychological subject matters, including the use of technical language, integrating knowledge, analytic skills, argument construction, and presentation.
Our Youth Justice module is an opportunity to consider the tension between perceptions of children as ‘troubled’ and ‘troublesome’. We will also explore the criminal justice response to children who are in conflict with the law.
The competing themes of welfare and justice are closely examined, along with the recent history of youth justice policy. Following these thematic explorations, we take a more in-depth look into specific topics, including:
female offenders
youth imprisonment
comparative youth justice
children in care
This module is led by a research-active lecturer with an interest in children in the care and criminal justice systems; the lecture on children in care draws specifically on their cutting-edge research. The combination of lectures and small group teaching helps you to develop your understanding, deepen your criminological knowledge, and develop your critical evaluation skills.
Optional
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In this module, you will explore current trends in cognitive neuroscience research, including topics such as speech perception, emotion and language, decision-making, brain plasticity, cognition in multilinguals, and the neural representation of concepts. You will also develop skills for critically evaluating different neuroscientific methods and designing your own experiment in cognitive neuroscience.
Informed by the latest research, this module critically examines the complex interactions between the media and crime.
Included in this fascinating area of study are:
theories of deviancy, moral panics and newsworthiness
representations of youth and female offenders
sex and hate crimes
revenge pornography and cybercrime
critical explorations of the use of media in the context of crime and criminal justice
We take a multi-disciplinary approach to the module so you will study key media concepts and then discuss how these relate to crime, deviancy and criminal justice issues.
The module assessment is both novel and creative. You will produce a media portfolio - completing a literature review on a topic of your choice - before engaging in a critical analysis using sources such as newspapers, documentaries or social media content. This approach helps to ensure that you develop a practical understanding of media analysis and of the representation of crime in the media.
Our academic staff research extensively in the areas of crime and media. They will use their research to guide lecture content and, where appropriate, will provide you with data from their projects to analyse and discuss.
This full-unit option offers you the opportunity of developing and using research skills by undertaking a piece of documentary or field research in an area of criminology.
You will prepare a dissertation based on empirical research on a topic within the field of criminology. You should agree your topic with your supervisor, who will need to have expertise in the agreed area so that they can provide guidance for your research.
This option can be taken alongside third year taught half-unit modules in Criminology. You can therefore take one of the third year Criminology option modules and be assessed in the usual way (one essay plus exam) for a half-unit, and can also undertake this half-unit extended essay on a topic related to that particular module.
The topic does not have to relate directly to a taught module and, if you wish, you can talk to staff about a small piece of documentary or other research in relevant areas of Criminology.
For this extended essay you will be individually tutored and therefore the availability of the option is subject to the department's ability to provide a suitable supervisor for you chosen subject.
The module will enable you to engage critically and constructively with social psychological research and theory. The module encourages a broad range of skills that include the ability to critically evaluate academic arguments and to creatively apply social psychological theories and knowledge to real-world issues. The innovative assessments you will take involve the application of social psychological knowledge within a practical exercise. The topics covered in this module reflect current topics in social psychology that reflect active research interests among the lecturers, and have recently included: the psychology of religion, animal treatment, the moral self, online behaviour, smartphone use and social media, and the psychology of genocide.
This module introduces students to a range of topics and perspectives related to decolonisation, with a focus on those demographics whose needs have been historically neglected, marginalised and overlooked within the fields of Criminology & Criminal Justice. This is a key point made by an evolving and expanding body of decolonial scholarship, criminology itself has accused of neglecting to represent the voices and therefore needs of a wide majority of populations. Criminology has been concerned with criminality, criminal behaviour, offenders, and offending behaviour. This prioritizes a focus on the individual, in terms of punishment, reform, and rehabilitation. Per decolonization, students will be introduced to more expanded perspectives, looking at concerns with criminalization and deviance invention and ultimately how institutional rules and practices impact the ability of individuals to participate and contribute, in law abiding ways.
An engaging and highly relevant module, Drugs, Crime and Society examines the nature and extent of drug taking in the UK and beyond.
We will:
explore the difficulties of researching hidden populations, like drug users
engage with theories of drug use from a sociological, psychological and cultural perspective
consider global and national drug markets
investigate the links between drugs and crime
evaluate policing responses to drugs
You will be taught by research-active lecturers who will introduce you to the latest research in this field and contemporary debate. For example, you might study current research and publications concerning cannabis cultivation, world markets, and drug distribution among friends (also known as ‘social supply’).
This module focuses on how psychology can help in forensic settings, including police investigations and dealing with antagonists and courtrooms. Specific topics discussed include offender profiling, lie detection, investigative interviewing and interrogation.
You will gain an appreciation of what can be learned from studying the behaviour of criminals in a scientific framework, and will be able to discuss different explanations and theories of crime and criminal behaviour. The module will explain how to apply psychological theories of behaviour to explain criminal case studies and experiences in criminal contexts, including within the court. You will also gain an understanding of the strengths and limitations of classifications of criminal behaviour.
This module will equip you with the skills to discuss the merits of different approaches to offender treatment, interviewing, and detecting deception, plus the capacity to think critically about a range of controversial issues within forensic/investigative psychology.
This module will focus on hate crime, but will draw on notions from a range of international sources and jurisdictions.
Issues covered will focus on the question of what is ‘hate crime’, before ensuring that you gain an understanding of the harms of ‘hate crime’. There will be a discussion of the perpetrators of ‘hate crime’ as well as the policing of such. The international perspective to this module will be gained from a discussion of ‘hate crime’ as a human rights problem, with a particular focus on freedom of speech. Substantive issues will also be explored, notably, the notion of criminalising collective memory, with a focus on outlawing Holocaust denial and other crimes against humanity.
This module will assess the legal and practical issues surrounding responses to massive violations of human rights, before the political and moral issues involved in using national and international courts will be discussed. The imposition of truth commissions as well as other techniques of ‘transitional justice’ to respond to massive human rights violations will be critically analysed in order to deduce the success of such responses.
How should we understand the role of punishment under democracy? How do the historical, cultural and ideological relationships that underpin and, to a certain extent, determine punishment inform our conceptions of Justice, Fairness, and Equality?
This module examines both the historical and philosophical dimensions of modern democratic punishment. We will probe the punitive landscape charted by theorists like Michel Foucault, Norbert Elias, and Emile Durkheim. This module will also consider the “new punitiveness” and the “old” in search of an explanation for the rise of the incapacitative approach to punishment, its permanence and its implications for the legitimacy of the democratic project.
This module will introduce the concepts of human psychopharmacology, as will the theoretical background of drug-induced modification of nervous system function and behaviour. The module provides insight into psychoactive drugs and how they act upon the brain to influence behaviour.
You will be taught about the biological bases of drug actions and how these might contribute to our knowledge of psychological function in general, the acute and long term consequences of psychoactive drug use, and current pharmacological treatment strategies for Alzheimer's, depression and schizophrenia.
The module will explore why individuals differ in responsiveness to psychoactive drugs and discuss current controversies in the area of psychopharmacology.
This module will introduce you to a range of sexual crimes and forms of sexual offending as defined by UK and international law.
The module will cover a number of key areas:
types of sexual crimes governed by UK and international law – what constitutes a particular sexual crime, how it is sometimes committed, and the extent of such crimes;
ways in which sex crimes and offending behaviour is explained – considering who the perpetrators are and why they commit crimes of a sexual nature, as well as the wider social context which may help explain why some sexual crimes are defined by law and how new crimes emerge as the social context changes;
critically examine how the crimes are dealt with by the criminal justice system such as the laws and policies which surround these crimes, their implementation and how well they operate in practice in terms of treatments, support and punishments given to sexual offenders and their victims.
This module will enhance your knowledge of developmental psychology building on knowledge gained during Year Two. Specifically, you will gain a better knowledge of current developmental theoretical debates in developmental psychology, such as Nativist versus Empiricist accounts of development, and how the study of diverse settings can inform such arguments. The module samples specialisations in a diverse range of topics spanning the development of perceptual, cognitive, and social abilities, from before birth through to childhood.
In this module you will discover what clinical psychology is - learning about key theoretical frameworks and treatment approaches, and developing an understanding of how research is related to practice. Covering various populations (including children, adults and older adults), this module will discuss various psychological disorders in terms of their assessment, aetiology, research background and interventions. A small series of guest lectures delivered by experienced practitioners will introduce issues in professional practice and confer a realistic appreciation of the work of clinical psychologists.
By the end of the module, you will recognise and be able to discuss several specific and overarching aspects of clinical psychological practice, as well as a range of prominent psychopathologies.
Fees and funding
Our annual tuition fee is set for a 12-month session, starting in the October of your year of study.
We set our fees on an annual basis and the 2025/26 home undergraduate
entry fees have not yet been set.
There may be extra costs related to your course for items such as books, stationery, printing, photocopying, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits. Following graduation, you may need to pay a subscription to a professional body for some chosen careers.
Specific additional costs for studying at Lancaster are listed below.
College fees
Lancaster is proud to be one of only a handful of UK universities to have a collegiate system. Every student belongs to a college, and all students pay a small college membership fee which supports the running of college events and activities. Students on some distance-learning courses are not liable to pay a college fee.
For students starting in 2025, the fee is £40 for undergraduates and research students and £15 for students on one-year courses.
Computer equipment and internet access
To support your studies, you will also require access to a computer, along with reliable internet access. You will be able to access a range of software and services from a Windows, Mac, Chromebook or Linux device. For certain degree programmes, you may need a specific device, or we may provide you with a laptop and appropriate software - details of which will be available on relevant programme pages. A dedicated IT support helpdesk is available in the event of any problems.
The University provides limited financial support to assist students who do not have the required IT equipment or broadband support in place.
Study abroad courses
In addition to travel and accommodation costs, while you are studying abroad, you will need to have a passport and, depending on the country, there may be other costs such as travel documents (e.g. VISA or work permit) and any tests and vaccines that are required at the time of travel. Some countries may require proof of funds.
Placement and industry year courses
In addition to possible commuting costs during your placement, you may need to buy clothing that is suitable for your workplace and you may have accommodation costs. Depending on the employer and your job, you may have other costs such as copies of personal documents required by your employer for example.
The fee that you pay will depend on whether you are considered to be a home or international student. Read more about how we assign your fee status.
Home fees are subject to annual review, and may be liable to rise each year in line with UK government policy. International fees (including EU) are reviewed annually and are not fixed for the duration of your studies. Read more about fees in subsequent years.
We will charge tuition fees to Home undergraduate students on full-year study abroad/work placements in line with the maximum amounts permitted by the Department for Education. The current maximum levels are:
Students studying abroad for a year: 15% of the standard tuition fee
Students taking a work placement for a year: 20% of the standard tuition fee
International students on full-year study abroad/work placements will be charged the same percentages as the standard International fee.
Please note that the maximum levels chargeable in future years may be subject to changes in Government policy.
Scholarships and bursaries
You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.
You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status:
Unfortunately no scholarships and bursaries match your selection, but there are more listed on scholarships and bursaries page.
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We also have other, more specialised scholarships and bursaries - such as those for students from specific countries.
Like many other students, I wasn't sure of what to pursue at university. I was split between two areas: Biology and Psychology. I have always enjoyed Biology throughout my school years, but I decided to take Psychology in my final year at school and loved it just as much. So, I chose to study both at Lancaster University.
Although this combined degree might seem a bit unusual to many people, it could not make more sense to me. The BSc in Biology with Psychology has allowed me to learn so much about the human brain through two incredibly different yet complementary perspectives. Each module in Biology has helped me understand those in Psychology and vice-versa. It is a great fit for those interested in neuroscience, as it has a specific focus on the functioning of the brain and the consequences of when something goes wrong. Although working in two distinct departments can be a challenge sometimes, it is also a great opportunity to meet people with a wide variety of interests.
Taking this degree has allowed me to better understand what I want to pursue in the future and, more importantly, what to do to get there.
Ju Ribeiro, BSc Biology with Psychology
A day in the life of a Psychology student
Join Libby, a second year Psychology student, as she takes you through what her typical day is like for her at Lancaster University!
Our Facilities
Lancaster University's Psychology Department hosts a wide range of labs dedicated to the cutting-edge of psychological research. As an undergraduate student, you may get the opportunity to work alongside some of our researchers in these labs as a part of your third year project, or within a PEP placement.
Levy Lab
The Levy Lab is our dedicated to you for working with data analysis, developing research methods, and group work. It comprises a suite of computer facilities with state-of-the-art data projection and sharing resources.
EEGs
At Lancaster we have a suite of Electroencephalograms (EEGs) which allow us to monitor human brain activity for a variety of different studies, from psychological disorders and diseases, to how we process sounds and learn new skills.
Eye Tracking Lab
Our Eye Tracking Lab is at the forefront of psychological research into disorders of the brain. In this lab, we use a range of equipment including eye trackers, EEGs, and NIRS in order to study how illnesses such as Alzheimer's impair cognitive function.
The Babylab
Within our Department, we have a lab dedicated to infancy and early childhood development studies, known as the Babylab. This lab comes fully equipped with multiple types of eye trackers and motion capture cameras in order to study child-caregiver interactions and how children play. We also have EEG machines that allow us to gain insight into the patterns of brain activity that children experience as they learn new words, objects, and actions!
Virtual Reality Suite
In our Virtual Reality Suite, we explore the influence of the body on space perception in real and virtual environments, spatial memory, and visual processing. Our VR Suite comes equipped with a number of Oculus VR headsets, motion capture suits, and tracker cameras, allowing our test subjects to interact with large VR environments.
The information on this site relates primarily to 2025/2026 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.
The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.
More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.
Our Students’ Charter
We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies.
Our historic city is student-friendly and home to a diverse and welcoming community. Beyond the city you'll find a stunning coastline and the picturesque Lake District.
