Programme Specifications

Details

Professional accreditation

Admission criteria

• A-levels: BBB - BBC or 120 - 112 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of 2 full A-levels.
• BTEC: DDM - DMM or 120 - 112 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of the equivalent of 2 full A-levels. The acceptability of BTECs is dependent on subject studied and optional units taken - email ugquery@essex.ac.uk for advice.
• Combined qualifications on the UCAS tariff: 120 - 112 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of 2 full A levels or equivalent. Tariff point offers may be made if you are taking a qualification, or mixture of qualifications, from the list on our undergraduate application information page.
• IB: 30 - 29 points or three Higher Level certificates with 555-554.
• IB Career-related Programme: We consider combinations of IB Diploma Programme courses with BTECs or other qualifications. Advice on acceptability can be provided, email Undergraduate Admissions.
• QAA-approved Access to HE Diploma: 6 level 3 credits at Distinction and 39 level 3 credits at Merit, depending on subject studied - advice on acceptability can be provided, email Undergraduate Admissions
• T-levels: We consider T-levels on a case-by-case basis, depending on subject studied. The offer for most courses is Distinction overall. Depending on the course applied for there may be additional requirements, which may include a specific grade in the Core.

Contextual Offers:

We are committed to ensuring that all students with the merit and potential to benefit from an Essex education are supported to do so. For October 2024 entry, if you are a home fee paying student residing in the UK you may be eligible for a Contextual Offer of up to two A-level grades, or equivalent, below our standard conditional offer.
Factors we consider:

• Applicants from underrepresented groups
• Applicants progressing from University of Essex Schools Membership schools/colleges
• Applicants who attend a compulsory admissions interview
• Applicants who attend an Offer Holder Day at our Colchester or Southend campus

Our contextual offers policy outlines additional circumstances and eligibility criteria.

For further information about what a contextual offer may look like for your specific qualification profile, email ugquery@essex.ac.uk.

If you haven't got the grades you hoped for, have a non-traditional academic background, are a mature student, or have any questions about eligibility for your course, more information can be found on our undergraduate application information page. or get in touch with our Undergraduate Admissions Team.

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code

English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 6.0 overall, or specified score in another equivalent test that we accept.

Details of English language requirements, including component scores, and the tests we accept for applicants who require a Student visa (excluding Nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries) can be found here

If we accept the English component of an international qualification it will be included in the academic levels listed above for the relevant countries.

English language shelf-life

Most English language qualifications have a validity period of 5 years. The validity period of Pearson Test of English, TOEFL and CBSE or CISCE English is 2 years.

If you require a Student visa to study in the UK please see our immigration webpages for the latest Home Office guidance on English language qualifications.

Pre-sessional English courses

If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.

Pending English language qualifications

You don’t need to achieve the required level before making your application, but it will be one of the conditions of your offer.

If you cannot find the qualification that you have achieved or are pending, then please email ugquery@essex.ac.uk .

Requirements for second and final year entry

Different requirements apply for second and final year entry, and specified component grades are also required for applicants who require a visa to study in the UK. Details of English language requirements, including UK Visas and Immigration minimum component scores, and the tests we accept for applicants who require a Student visa (excluding Nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries) can be found here

Additional Notes

If you’re an international student, but do not meet the English language or academic requirements for direct admission to this degree, you could prepare and gain entry through a pathway course. Find out more about opportunities available to you at the University of Essex International College

Course qualifiers

A course qualifier is a bracketed addition to your course title to denote a specialisation or pathway that you have achieved via the completion of specific modules during your course. The specific module requirements for each qualifier title are noted below. Eligibility for any selected qualifier will be determined by the department and confirmed by the final year Board of Examiners. If the required modules are not successfully completed, your course title will remain as described above without any bracketed addition. Selection of a course qualifier is optional and student can register preferences or opt-out via Online Module Enrolment (eNROL).

None

Rules of assessment

Rules of assessment are the rules, principles and frameworks which the University uses to calculate your course progression and final results.

Additional notes

None

External examiners

External Examiners provide an independent overview of our courses, offering their expertise and help towards our continual improvement of course content, teaching, learning, and assessment. External Examiners are normally academics from other higher education institutions, but may be from the industry, business or the profession as appropriate for the course. They comment on how well courses align with national standards, and on how well the teaching, learning and assessment methods allow students to develop and demonstrate the relevant knowledge and skills needed to achieve their awards. External Examiners who are responsible for awards are key members of Boards of Examiners. These boards make decisions about student progression within their course and about whether students can receive their final award.

eNROL, the module enrolment system, is now open until Monday 27 January 2025 8:59AM, for students wishing to make changes to their module options.

Exit awards

A module is given one of the following statuses: 'core' – meaning it must be taken and passed; 'compulsory' – meaning it must be taken; or 'optional' – meaning that students can choose the module from a designated list. The rules of assessment may allow for limited condonement of fails in 'compulsory' or 'optional' modules, but 'core' modules cannot be failed. The status of the module may be different in any exit awards which are available for the course. Exam Boards will consider students' eligibility for an exit award if they fail the main award or do not complete their studies.

Programme aims

To provide a wide-ranging and sound academic grounding in the disciplines of history and criminology .

To equip students with a range of subject-specific skills fostered by the study of history and criminology, preparing them for subsequent research or further study, and for a wide range of careers .

To enable students to design and conduct an independent research dissertation on an historical and/or criminological topic.

To encourage critical reflection on crime and criminology from a historical perspective.

Learning outcomes and learning, teaching and assessment methods

On successful completion of the programme a graduate should demonstrate knowledge and skills as follows:

A: Knowledge and understanding

Learning methods

Lectures introduce students to course content in a general manner and through specific examples.

Lectures are also designed to stimulate students' interest in the subject under discussion.

Each module entails a weekly class or workshop, for which students have to prepare, and where emphasis is placed on discussion.

Students make independent use of all library resources (databases, books, articles and in some cases films) in preparing for classes and writing essays.

Individual supervision is given on the independent research dissertation; tutors provide feedback on all forms of coursework.

There is strong emphasis on developing students' theoretical understanding of criminology, as well as their sense of the historical construction of criminology as a subject.

Assessment methods

Outcomes A1-A5 are assessed through continuous coursework and written examinations.

Coursework consists mainly of essays, supplemented by other types of assignment such as book reviews, document analyses, glossaries of concepts, assessed presentations and oral contributions.

The Capstone research project tests knowledge of A5 in particular.

B: Intellectual and cognitive skills

Learning methods

Skills B1-B5 are primarily enhanced through all the activities involved in preparing for class discussions and producing essays and other assignments, although lectures and classes provide a means for teachers to demonstrate these skills through example.

Preparation for classes and class presentations involve the reading, interpretation and evaluation of historical and criminological texts and the collection and evaluation of empirical evidence.

Students are provided with feedback on all coursework, including class presentations and contributions to classes through comment and discussion.

Assessment methods

All skills are assessed through the usual means of a variety of types of coursework.

C: Practical skills

Learning methods

Preparation of written work and oral presentations develops C1, C2 and C3, as does participation in class discussions; some courses emphasise work in groups by including assessment of the student's general participation in class discussions.

Students are strongly encouraged to discuss their projects with members of academic staff but are required to conduct their own bibliographic research and formulate their own lines of investigation.

Assessment methods

C1 and C2 are assessed through the usual means of coursework.

C3 is assessed in the final-year dissertation.

C4 is assessed by the requirement that students meet coursework deadlines, as well as by interim deadlines in preparing their final-year dissertation.

D: Key skills

Learning methods

D1, D2, D4, and D6 are acquired and developed through the teaching and learning methods described above, including seminar/class discussions.

Students are encouraged to use the University key skills on-line package.

Early in the first year, specific assignments are given such as carrying out bibliographic or web searches; thereafter students are expected to make routine use of word-processing packages, email, library searches and internet sources as part of effective study and course participation.

Students have the opportunity to discuss essay feedback and essay plans with members of staff.

Assessment methods

Key skills are assessed through the usual methods of coursework, including evaluation of seminar performance.

IT skills are a component in most assessed work which usually entails word processing as well as bibliographic and web searches.