Overview
Law with criminology is an extremely popular combination for anyone who wants to focus on law and gain valuable insights into the causes and consequences of crime.
You will study:
- how the law is made and administered - its relationship with the broader social, political, and cultural context in which it operates
- two criminology modules each year, with the rest of your course devoted to law.
As an LLB degree, this law with criminology course meets all the requirements of the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board. We also offer a Criminology and Law degree if you'd prefer to do a joint honours degree and study both subjects equally.
This course is in Clearing
Our LLM course is a top choice
UEL’s LLM programme has been recognised as a top choice in the latest PTES survey, achieving 1st place rankings for satisfaction, teaching and more.
What makes this course different

1st in London
Our sociology courses ranked 1st in London for “Teaching on my course” and “Assessment and Feedback” (National Student Survey 2023, Results published 10 August 2023)
See full NSS survey results
Superb facilities
You’ll be joining a cosmopolitan community of more than 1,000 law students at our ultra-modern campus, where you’ll benefit from fantastic legal facilities, including a chamber for moots and mock trials.
See our facilities
Professional qualifications
All of our law courses are qualifying law degrees – and you can obtain an additional diploma from the National Association of Licensed Paralegals as an extra benefit of studying at UEL.
Course modules
In the foundation year of your law with criminology degree, you will develop essential skills in legal methods, key concepts, and communication for law undergraduate studies. Modules such as Crime, Justice, and Surveillance introduce law criminology perspectives, while courses on globalisation and digital sociology prepare you for the evolving legal and societal landscape.
This law with criminology degree will give you a comprehensive understanding of the law and its place in the criminal justice system. In your first two years, you'll build firm foundations by studying the fundamentals of the law, taking modules that include the Legal System and Legal Methods, and Constitutional and Administrative Law.
In year 2 of your law with criminology degree, you will deepen your understanding of key legal areas such as Tort Law, Equity and Trusts, and Land Law, essential for law undergraduate studies. Modules like Policing and Society and Public Law II integrate law criminology perspectives, examining human rights and the role of policing in modern society.
As a student on a two-subject degree, you take professional skills modules to prepare you for employability, from essential skills to leadership. You also take core modules from criminology in contemporary issues and policing, followed by a choice of options in your final year. You'll be encouraged to 'learn by doing' by taking the chance to gain work experience and take an active role in student clubs and societies.
NOTE: Modules are subject to change. For those studying part time courses the modules may vary.
Download course specification
Your future career
We have a dynamic and cooperative research culture. You will become a member of an institution that influences the future of the field. Our innovative Legal Advice Centre and courtroom offer opportunities for you to gain valuable experience with law firms and develop vital skills for a career in the legal field.
Industry links
Our law programmes are accredited by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, Bar Standards Board, giving you a good foundation for your future career in the legal field.
Graduate employers
Our alumni have gone into roles at organisations such as the Metropolitan Police and joined law firms. Graduating in both law and criminology opens up your career options more widely so you can go into both legal and criminal fields.
Job roles
Our law with criminology graduates have gone into roles such as paralegal and legal apprentice.
We offer postgraduate courses for further specialisation and you can explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal.
Further study
We have several master's degrees if you wish to specialise further. You could study:

I love law and my time at the University was really positive and has opened up new horizons – one of them being a place on the prestigious Civil Service Fast Stream graduate scheme."Zain Ulmer
Law (LLB Hons)
How you'll learn
Teaching methods vary throughout the course - and you'll find this variety to be stimulating and challenging. You'll learn through lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops, and individual supervision, supported by digital materials, notes, and handbooks. For some of the law elements, you'll have the chance to learn through moots and mock trials in our chambers.
Degrees are more demanding than A Levels, so you'll need to be motivated to earn your degree by doing a lot of independent study outside of the formal teaching times.
Our law and criminology lecturers have strong links with government, industry, and the wider academic community. This means you'll have lots of opportunities to learn outside of the lecture theatre and seminar room which will help your future career.
If you play an active role throughout the course, joining in with debates and attending guest talks, conferences, and events, you'll enhance your learning and find that the more you put in, the more you get out.
You'll be encouraged to volunteer or do work experience to broaden your horizons and learn in ways that academic study alone can't give you. Many law students volunteer at our acclaimed community Legal Advice Centre, working alongside solicitors to advise local residents on real legal problems.
Guided independent study
When not attending timetabled lectures you will learn independently through self-study. This will typically involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, Microsoft Teams, and Moodle.
Academic support
We are investing in key areas beyond your studies including our career services, library, and well-being, to be available both face-to-face on campus and online with many of these available 24/7.
Students are supported with any academic or subject-related queries by an Academic Advisor, module leaders, and former and current UEL students. If you need a bit of extra help with certain skills such as academic writing, English, maths, or statistics, our Academic Tutors offer workshops, drop-in sessions, and one-to-one appointments to help our students achieve their potential.
You can receive advice and guidance on all aspects of the IT systems provided by the university from our IT Service Desks located on all three campuses. Our Student Support hubs in Docklands and Stratford feature centralised helpdesks to cater to your every need. We have new, modern library facilities on both campuses offering inspirational environments for study and research. Libraries contain resources in print and digital formats, a range of study spaces, and a dedicated librarian who can assist with your learning.
Dedicated personal tutor
UEL provides support and advice for disabled students and those with specific learning difficulties (SPDs). Your overall workload consists of class and online tutor-led sessions, individual learning, and practical activities.
Our aim is to prepare our students for a broad range of careers so that they can make amazing contributions to their communities. When you arrive, we'll introduce you to your personal tutor. This is the member of staff who will provide academic guidance, who will support you 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 workload hours for this course are:
- Scheduled teaching - TBC hours
- Guided independent study - TBC hours
Your timetable
Your individualised timetable is normally available to students 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
Class sizes are to be confirmed but can vary according to academic year and type of teaching.
How you'll be assessed
We'll assess you with a 50-50 mix of coursework and exams. Coursework includes essays, a reflective diary, oral presentations, practical exercises and answering hypothetical problem questions.
Assessment is designed to enable us to see how you manage in a variety of situations that reflect the real world of work rather than simply focusing on traditional unseen exams. Throughout the course you'll be given plenty of feedback to help you improve.
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
Our campus and the surrounding area
University Square Stratford is one of London's most modern and well-equipped campuses. It serves 3,400 students and is the base for our courses in law and criminology, dance and performing arts, and the Master of Business Administration (MBA).
Modern facilities include: performing arts spaces; three performance studios; the Harvard lecture theatre, with live lecture capture technology; the multimedia Weston Learning Centre; a dedicated MBA suite and teaching space; a 300-seat specialised tiered lecture; and a simulated courtroom for mooting experience.
The campus is close to Stratford developments such as Westfield Stratford City and the Theatre Royal. You can be in Canary Wharf in 20 minutes, the English National Ballet in 15 minutes and Sadler's Wells East in 8 minutes.
Who teaches this course
This course is delivered by Royal Docks School of Business and Law
The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.
- Course leader
Augustina Akoto
Department of Law & Criminology, Royal Docks School Of Business And Law - Course leader
Catherine Hobby
Department of Law & Criminology, Royal Docks School Of Business And Law - Course leader
Patrick Glennon-Farris
Department of Law & Criminology, Royal Docks School Of Business And Law - Course leader
Dr Annalisa Meloni
Department of Law & Criminology, Royal Docks School Of Business And Law - Course leader
Olubunmi Onafuwa
Department of Law & Criminology, Royal Docks School Of Business And Law - Course leader
Mark Tsagas
Department of Law & Criminology, Royal Docks School Of Business And Law - Course leader
Emma Cunningham
Department of Law & Criminology, Royal Docks School Of Business And Law - Course leader
Dr Tonny Raymond Kirabira
Department of Law, Justice and Policing, Royal Docks School Of Business And Law
What our students and staff say

I enjoy being a law teacher as it can change student’s view of the world around them. Teaching is most rewarding when I assist students in developing an understanding of complex or technical aspects of the law that they can then apply to solve practical legal problems. It is also great to use my research to put the law into context for students so they appreciate the law is not neutral but created by legislators and policymakers to impact individuals."
Catherine Hobby
Senior lecturer in law

Working in the law clinic has taught me a huge amount. It's improved my understanding of the ideas we've learned about. It's been a way of getting involved in the local community."
Irene Nambi
Law graduate