BA(Hons) Law and Criminology (with Foundation Year)

Get access to advanced computing systems, laboratories, mock courtrooms and simulations that give you real-world experience to succeed in your career.

Why study law and criminology?

Studying criminology gives you a deep understanding of offending and victimisation and the realities of societies' responses to crime. This knowledge both complements and critically contextualises the study of the laws through which criminal justice is applied. You'll develop an understanding of how law is applied, which will benefit you whether you wish to practise criminal law or work in the criminal justice system.

Why UWE Bristol?

Here at UWE Bristol, we acknowledge the intrinsic link between law and criminology. In this course, you won't just learn what the law is but how and why it has come about. You'll consider law, criminal justice and society from different perspectives, and learn how concepts and institutions work and could be improved.

You'll be able to explore modules spanning criminal justice, criminal law, crime patterns, policing, media, youth justice, drugs, terrorism, serious offending and penology. You'll gain a solid grounding in criminological research methods and practice, plus you'll develop valuable legal skills such as mooting and negotiating.

Our course gives you real-world insight and you'll be able to develop professional abilities through community engagement and work-based learning. Within your first two years, you'll have bespoke law and criminology modules designed to give you the knowledge and skills required of this joint discipline. In years two and three, you'll select optional modules that allow you to specialise more in law or criminology or study both in equal measure.

Where can it take me?

If you wish to pursue a career in law, our BA(Hons) Law and Criminology will prepare you to sit the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE).

For those who aspire to become barristers, the course can include the subjects you'll need to satisfy the academic stage of training before studying the Bar Training Course (BTC). To do this, you'll need to select certain optional modules within years two and three, which we'll be able to advise you on.

As a full-service Law School, you can study the LLM/PGDip Bar Training Course (BTC), PGDip/PGCert Solicitors Training Course (SQE prep) and LLM/PGDip Solicitors Training Course (SQE Prep) at UWE Bristol.

Careers / Further study

BA(Hons) Law and Criminology graduates are highly valued by employers due to their wide knowledge base and critical, analytical and legal skills. This degree combination leads naturally to a career in criminal law. You could pursue a career as a solicitor or barrister or in areas such as criminal justice and the charity sector.

Our graduates could go on to find employment in the following sectors and roles:

• legal adviser
• paralegal
• prisons and probation
• policing
• education
• research
• social work
• charity sector
• Non-governmental organisations (NGO)
• public sector.

As well as the careers above, alumni from this course have gone onto careers in:

• finance
• fire and rescue
• marketing
• civil service
• Network Rail
• primary school teaching.

Many students train as a barrister or solicitor through the LLM/PGDip Bar Training Course (BTC), PGDip/PGCert Solicitors Training Course (SQE prep) or LLM/PGDip Solicitors Training Course (SQE Prep) or undertake one of our LLMs.

If you major in criminology, you could go into research, education, social work, counselling, charity work and healthcare. There are also opportunities with the police, prison and court services, as well as the legal sector.

Get inspired

Our award-winning careers service will develop your employment potential through career coaching and help you to find graduate jobs, placements and global opportunities.

We can also help find local volunteering and community opportunities, provide support for entrepreneurial activity and get you access to employer events.

Visit our employability pages to learn more about careers, employers and what our students are doing six months after graduating.