BA (Hons) Criminology and Law

Criminology and Law are a perfect fit, combining a social science approach to crime with an understanding of core legal principles and institutions.

You'll learn about the causes and consequences of crime through a study of the current theories, issues and debates, backed by an understanding of the criminal justice system and its institutions and roles such as the police, courts, prisons and probation service.

And you'll explore the inter-relationships between the law, individuals and society, studying how the law fits into the social, political and cultural context of the society we live in.

You should note that this very popular course does not provide exemption from the academic stage of qualifying as a solicitor or barrister. Please see our LLB (Hons) Law with Criminology if this interests you.

The Level 3 course prepares students for successful transition to a wide range of honours degree courses in the complementary subject areas in the Law and Criminology department within the Royal Docks School of Business and Law, including: 
 

• LLB (Hons) Law
• LLB (Hons) Law with Criminology 
• LLB (Hons) Law with International Relations
• LLB (Hons) Business Law 
• BA (Hons) Criminology and Law 

This course will give you a comprehensive understanding of the law and its place in the criminal justice system.

In the first two years you'll build firm foundations by studying the fundamentals of the subjects, taking modules that include the Introduction to Criminology and Criminal Justice, the Legal System and Legal Methods and Criminal Law.

In your final year you'll be expected to complete a large, independently researched project on a relevant topic that interests you. Plus you'll have a choice of 23 distinctive options to tailor the course to suit your motivations and interests.

These final-year options include Global Illicit Drug Trafficking, Civil and Criminal Litigation, Race, Ethnicity, Crime and Justice, and Introduction to Islamic Law.

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.

We consistently review our courses to ensure we are up-to-date with industry changes and requirements from our graduates. As a result, our modules are subject to change.

• Tawjihi: 60% for Foundation
• 3 x AS Levels: Foundation
• US High School Diploma: GPA 2.0 for Foundation
• US High School Diploma: GPA 3.0 + SAT1 1070 for Direct Entry to Bachelor's
• International Baccalaureate (IB): 25 points with minimum 15 at Higher Level for Direct Entry to Bachelor's
• 3 x A Levels: Direct Entry to Bachelor's

UEL Criminology and Law graduates have found work in a wide variety of roles, with some pursuing a career in related fields while others have used the transferable skills they learned to pursue other opportunities.

The course has a strong focus on preparing for employment, with a specific employability module in year two geared towards providing you with the best advice on preparing for the job market and applying for jobs.

Whether you decide to pursue a directly relevant career or not, you’ll learn skills that appeal to employers in any sector, including writing and presenting, the ability to make a case, meet deadlines and work independently.

Students have found jobs in a number of related areas, such as:

•  The police, prison and probation services
• Central and local government
•  Social work
• Voluntary organisations and charities.

Our graduates have also found roles in other fields, such as market research, journalism, teaching and other public-sector roles, or gone on to postgraduate study.

To enhance your career prospects, we run a dedicated employability programme for students in the School of Business and Law. Called 'Employ', it includes employability workshops, skills training sessions, guest speaker events, voluntary work, student ambassador roles and work experience opportunities.

Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal.