About the course

Reasons to study

1. You’ll have the opportunity to gain real world experience through a work placement in your second year, where you’ll be able to put the skills and knowledge gained on the course into practice.
2. You’ll be taught by experts from both criminology and law disciplines who have a wide range of research, practice specialisms and knowledge of the areas you’ll study.
3. You’ll hear first-hand experiences and viewpoints from guest speakers such as legal professionals, senior police officer, drug outreach workers and criminal justice staff to enhance your learning.

We’ve ranked Top 15 in the UK for Criminology (The Guardian University Guide 2022).

Why Criminology with Law?

As crimes exists where laws prohibit behaviours and make provision for a criminal justice response, Criminology and Law are natural partners. Through a critical social sciences perspective this course enables you to study the foundations of criminology in partnership with your study of legal systems, criminal law and legal evidence. You’ll explore key explanations for crimes and criminal offending, how crimes are defined and constructed, the work and practice of criminal justice systems and related work, as well as theories and practice of punishment and crime prevention.

Through the course you’ll have the opportunity to specialise your study around particular areas of interest in both criminology and law, from crime prevention, criminal justice and punishment, to particular types of crime or offending such as mentally disordered offenders or violent and organised crime. You’ll also be able to explore the law relating to particular criminological concerns, such as medical, family, immigration and human rights law.

How will you learn?

• You’ll be taught by experts from both criminology and law disciplines who have a wide range of research, practice specialisms and knowledge of the areas you’ll study. From policing work, prisons, probation and offender management, sentencing, legal advocacy and criminal law practice, they’ll give you an insight into key contemporary debates, concerns and practices, as well as insight into what it’s like working in positions in the criminal justice or legal practice fields.
• In your second year you’ll complete compulsory work experience. Previous work experiences within the criminology and policing subject area have included working with the police, youth offending teams, in prisons, restorative justice organisations, CCTV units as well as in voluntary agencies supporting offenders and victims in the community.
• In your second year you may also have the opportunity to study abroad for a term.

Course detail

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Teaching and assessment

Teaching excellence

Global Professional Award

Entry requirements

BBC-BCCat A Level .

112-104UCAS tariff points from a combination of Level 3 qualifications including a Grade B at A Level or a Distinction in BTEC Subsidiary Diploma or National Extended Certificate.

Meritat T Level

DMM-MMMin BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma.

Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits at Merit or above. 112-104 UCAS tariff points from International Baccalaureate qualifications including a Higher Level at grade 6.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our Where are you from information pages.

You may be eligible to gain accreditation for your prior learning towards this course.

We are keen to support a wide and diverse range of applicants on to our courses. Other suitable experience or qualifications will be considered. For further information please see the University's minimum entry requirements.