Criminology and Criminal Justice BA (Hons)

This course is in clearing

Overview

Course modules

The Criminology and Criminal Justice BA (Hons) foundation year encompasses core modules that enhance employability through skills development, community engagement, and critical thinking. You explore the interplay of crime, justice, and surveillance while investigating societal changes and digital sociology to prepare you for a future criminology career.

We recently revised this criminology degree course to ensure you benefit from the most up-to-date ideas, concepts, and research in the evolving field of criminology. In the first two years, you'll gain a solid grounding in the subject through an introduction to criminology and criminal justice. You'll study contemporary issues in criminology, the legal framework, research methods, crime, deviance, and social history.

The Year 2 Criminology and Criminal Justice BA (Hons) degree programme delves into theoretical criminology, exploring historical and cultural contexts of crime. Core modules focus on crime as a social construct, essential skills for justice, and the interplay between crime policy and practice. You'll critically examine policing in contemporary society, fostering independent thought on the role of law enforcement within the criminal justice system.

This criminology course offers the opportunity of a year-long placement between years two and three, preparing you for future criminology jobs. If you choose to take this option, you’ll spend your third year on a placement with a relevant company or organisation, adding valuable practical experience to your growing academic knowledge.

In Year 3, you'll build on your foundational knowledge by developing leadership skills and exploring critical issues such as cybercrime, race and ethnicity in the justice system, and youth crime policies. You'll also examine the roles of policing and mental health in relation to crime, integrating psychological perspectives that enhance your understanding and employability in criminology and related sectors.

NOTE: Modules are subject to change. For those studying part time courses the modules may vary.

Download course specification

Entry requirements

Degree: 112 UCAS points
Degree with foundation year: 64 UCAS points

What makes this course different

Highly rated by our students

Our exceptional NSS results testify to RDSBL's student-led approach, bridging the gap between classroom learning and practical application via experiential workshops and industry simulations.

Satisfied graduates

87% of students surveyed on this course responded positively to questions on “Satisfied with Teaching” in the 2026 Guardian University Guide (Results published 13 September 2025)

Flexible study

You can tailor your criminology degree to your own interests with a choice of optional modules in your final year of the degree programme.

Course options

Start date

Degree

UCAS code: M930

Criminology and Criminal Justice BA (Hons), home applicant, full time

  • Home Applicant ,
  • Full time, 3/4 years
  • £ 9,790 per year. Subject to change, see Fees, Funding and Additional Costs below

Criminology and Criminal Justice BA (Hons), international applicant, full time

  • International Applicant
  • Full time, 3/4 years
  • £ 16020 per year

Degree with foundation year

with foundation year
UCAS code: 4L25

Criminology and Criminal Justice BA (Hons), home applicant, full time

  • Home Applicant ,
  • Full time, 4/5 years
  • £ 9,790 per year. Subject to change, see Fees, Funding and Additional Costs below

Criminology and Criminal Justice BA (Hons), international applicant, full time

  • International Applicant
  • Full time, 4/5 years
  • £ 16020 per year

Your future career

A degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice prepares you for careers across the justice system, public services and the voluntary sector. You’ll develop the knowledge and practical skills employers value, opening routes into roles that influence policy, protect communities and support social change.

Industry links

You will be taught by practitioners and world-renowned experts and advisors in criminology and policing.

Graduate employers

Our graduates work in policing, probation, prisons, youth justice, research and community safety, as well as in voluntary, non-governmental and international development organisations.

Job roles

What jobs can you get with a criminology degree? Typical career paths include:

  • Criminal justice and policing: Police officer, detective, crime analyst, intelligence officer, probation officer or prison officer

  • Policy, research and governance: Policy advisor, researcher, civil service or local authority roles

  • Voluntary and NGO sector: Youth justice worker, victim support specialist, community safety officer, or advocacy roles within human rights and rehabilitation organisations

Further study

Many graduates choose to continue into postgraduate study to deepen their expertise or specialise in a particular area of criminology, criminal justice or human rights. Popular routes include a MSc in Criminology, a MA in Human Rights, or a Master of Laws (LLM).

Postgraduate study can support careers in policy development, research, academia, law, and specialist criminal justice roles. Graduates may progress into research posts within universities, think tanks, charities, or government departments, where advanced analytical and methodological skills are essential.

Further study also strengthens your professional profile, particularly for roles that require evidence-based decision-making, critical evaluation of policy, or advanced legal and ethical understanding.

Male student standing in front of books in the library
Presenting evidence at the United Nations in Geneva was an extraordinary experience not just for me, but for what it represents. It’s proof that students from East London can stand on international platforms, challenge injustice and be part of shaping the global conversation on human rights.”
Zoe Allen

BA (Hons) Criminology and Criminal Justice, First-Class Graduate

How we support your career ambitions

We offer dedicated career support and further opportunities to thrive, such as volunteering and industry networking. Our courses are created in collaboration with employers and industry to ensure they accurately reflect the real-life practices of your future career and provide you with the essential skills needed. You can focus on building interpersonal skills through group work and benefit from our investment in the latest cutting-edge technologies and facilities.

Career Zone

This digital platform provides you with careers and employability resources, including: 

  • Jobs board for internships, placements, graduate opportunities, flexible part-time work
  • Mentoring programmes for insight with industry experts
  • 1-2-1 career coaching services
  • Careers workshops and employer events
  • Learning pathways to gain new skills and industry insight

Mental Wealth programme

Our Professional Fitness and Mental Wealth programme which issues you with a Careers Passport to track the skills you've mastered. Some of these are externally validated by corporations like Amazon and Microsoft.

Our Mental Wealth programme

We are careers first

Our teaching methods and geographical location put us right up top: 

  • Work-based projects
  • Networking and visits to leading crime-related organisations
  • Support in starting a new business
  • London on our doorstep

Official student data from Discover Uni

The banner below displays some key factual data about this course (including different course combinations or delivery modes of this course where relevant).

How you'll learn

Studying criminology and criminal justice at UEL means learning through analysis, discussion and real-world experience. You will explore key ideas about crime, punishment and social harm, and learn how these theories apply to contemporary justice systems and lived realities.

Teaching combines lectures with small, discussion-based seminars where you can debate current issues, test ideas and develop your own critical voice. You will also take part in tutorials, workshops, presentations and research projects designed to build confidence, professional communication skills and analytical thinking.

A work-based learning module allows you to put theory into practice. This may include volunteering with local community organisations, supporting youth justice initiatives, or working alongside partners in policing and social policy. This experience can count towards your degree and adds practical value to your CV.

Your learning is enriched through field trips, guest lectures and conferences, connecting you with professionals across the criminal justice, voluntary and NGO sectors. Throughout your studies, you’ll receive structured learning materials, online resources and personalised academic guidance from staff engaged in active criminological research. By graduation, you won’t just understand criminology, you’ll know how to use it to contribute to fairer, more effective justice systems.

Guided independent study

When not attending timetabled lectures or workshops, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This will typically involve skills development through online study, reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects and preparing coursework assignments and presentations.

Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, and specialist facilities, such as edit suites, the library, the full Microsoft Office software, including MS Teams, and Moodle: our Virtual Learning Environment.

Academic support

Our academic support team provides help in a range of areas - including learning and disability support.

Dedicated personal tutor

When you arrive, we'll introduce you to your personal tutor. This is the member of the academic course team who will provide academic guidance, be a support throughout your time at UEL and who will show you how to make the best use of all the help and resources that we offer.

Workload

Each year you will spend around 300 hours of timetabled learning and teaching activities. These may be lectures, workshops, seminars, and individual and group tutorials. Contact hours may vary depending on each module.

The approximate hours for this course are:

  • Year 1: scheduled teaching - 300 hours; guided independent study - 900 hours
  • Year 2: scheduled teaching - 300 hours; guided independent study - 900 hours
  • Year 3: scheduled teaching - 300 hours; guided independent study - 900 hours

Your timetable

Your individualised timetable is normally available within 48 hours of enrolment. Whilst we make every effort to ensure timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week between 9.00am and 6.00pm. For undergraduate students, Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities, but there may be occasions when this is not possible. Timetables for part-time students will depend on the modules selected.

Class sizes

To give you an indication of class sizes, this course normally attracts 40 - 50 students a year. Lecture sizes are normally 40 plus students.

In workshops, you will be taught in groups of 12 - 15 students. However, this can vary by academic year.

How you'll be assessed

We'll assess you through coursework, including essays, reflective reports and group and seminar presentations. You'll be given plenty of feedback to help you improve. You will also have the chance to complete a work-based learning module, where you'll be assessed on your practical work. In your final year, you'll complete a project based on your own independent research.

More details will be included in the student handbook and module guides. You will always receive detailed feedback outlining your strengths and how you can improve. We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 15 working days, although you will receive immediate feedback following many of our face-to-face assessments.

Campus and facilities

What our students and staff say

Students at USS Campus
It was fantastic - a really good course. My degree was essential in helping me to get a full-time job with the Met and I'd encourage anyone to volunteer in the community early on as it backs up your theoretical learning."

Besnik Vrapi

BA (Hons) Criminology and Criminal Justice graduate

Emma Cunningham, seated and smiling
I love teaching Criminology to my UEL students, as well as using the amazing facilities on campus. I find that they have something new to teach me each year, too."

Dr Emma Cunningham

Senior lecturer, Criminology

Criminology and Criminal Justice FAQs