How and why do different societies define specific acts as ‘crimes’ and certain people as ‘criminals’?  Why do less equal societies have more crime? What is happening when a person tells a lie? This qualification explores questions like these about how people behave and examines how governments determine what they will and won’t tolerate.

Crime, justice and the workings of the law are matters that affect us all and often dominate the news. This degree takes a critical and analytical view of the role and functions of the legal system, and examines its relationship with criminal behaviour. You’ll explore issues such as anti-social behaviour, poverty, discrimination, hate crimes, child labour, as well as global threats from cyber-crime, terrorism and human rights violations, and their implications for justice.

Studying this MA in Philosophy will hone your ability to think clearly and logically, and develop your writing, research and analytical skills. You'll study texts from different periods and philosophical perspectives, including works by Plato, Friedrich Nietzsche, Michel Foucault and Hannah Arendt; and you'll investigate contemporary debates on environmental aesthetics, consciousness, global justice, emotion, and morality in politics. Finally, you'll undertake a substantial piece of independent research, writing a dissertation on a topic of your choice.

This certificate provides a compelling introduction to the social sciences. You’ll gain fascinating insights into the everyday lives of people in communities, workplaces and many other social sites as you explore ideas from criminology, economics, geography, politics, psychology and sociology. You’ll also discover the ways in which social scientists understand and explain the world and how people, groups and institutions respond to change, exercise power and make decisions.

If you’re interested in psychology and would like to learn more, or find out if it’s the right subject for you, this certificate could be the ideal starting point. You’ll learn about the different ways in which psychologists investigate the human mind and behaviour, and how psychological research addresses real-life issues – including ageing, crime, education, employment, forensic science, mental health, relationships and much more.

If you’re interested in psychology and would like to develop skills and knowledge relevant to a wide range of careers, this diploma is for you. You’ll explore how psychologists use evidence to contribute to debates on ageing, crime, education, employment, forensic science, mental health and relationships; and choose options to suit your particular interests.

The value of counselling to improve wellbeing and quality of life is increasingly recognised. From everyday worries to serious mental health issues like chronic anxiety and depression, counsellors and psychotherapists are helping us cope. This diploma, developed in partnership with the Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body (CPCAB), will prepare you to become a professional counsellor – equipping you with the theoretical understanding and practical skills required to work in this field.

The value of counselling to improve wellbeing and quality of life is increasingly recognised. From everyday worries to serious mental health issues like chronic anxiety and depression, counsellors and psychotherapists are helping us cope. This foundation degree, developed in partnership with the Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body (CPCAB), will prepare you to become a professional counsellor – equipping you with the theoretical understanding and practical skills required to work in this field.

What causes riots? Is commercialisation eroding childhood? Does poverty lead to crime? The social sciences explore such questions and help inform professionals – from police officers to civil servants to business executives – who want to base their decisions on the best evidence. This degree is designed to be flexible, allowing you to specialise in a particular subject or to develop knowledge and skills from a combination of subjects including sociology, psychology, criminology, geography, politics and economics. You’ll be able to draw together ideas about the major issues that affect individuals and society, and you’ll acquire a wide range of valuable transferable skills – opening up employment opportunities in private, public and voluntary sector organisations.

Where do social order (and disorder) come from? How can we make ourselves richer, and does society always gain? What does justice mean, how do we define our rights? Politics, philosophy and economics (PPE) – and the ideas and values that inform them – are central to how modern societies are organised and governed. This degree explores fundamental questions of power and ideology, beliefs and values, and how income and wealth are produced and distributed.