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Bachelor of Arts

BA (Hons) Criminology and Policing

The BA (Hons) Criminology and Policing degree combines our expertise in contemporary criminology and professional policing to give you a comprehensive understanding of criminological theories that you will be able to apply to current socio-economic policies and conditions. This course will prepare you for a career within the criminal justice system in roles such as policing, research or youth work. You'll benefit from both a theoretical and practical application of the course content, preparing you for your future career.

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Key Facts

Entry requirements

A Level: BBC
BTEC: DMM
UCAS Tariff Points*: 112
GCSE: English Language Grade C/4 or above, or equivalent

Requirements for the Foundation Year differ from those listed.
*From three A Levels or equivalent

Course requirements ➔

Entry requirements

Next start date

September 2024

See all Start Dates

HOW TO APPLY

 

Learn more about the process for applying to us and where to get started.

 

Ranked Top 20 amongst English universities in the 2023 National Student Survey.

We have an overall 5 Star rating from QS World University Rankings and 5 stars in Teaching, Employability, Online Learning, Academic Development and Inclusiveness.

We've been awarded an overall Silver rating, with a Gold rating for Student Experience and Silver rating for the Student Outcomes in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) for 2023.

Course Details

BA Criminology and Policing

UCAS code: LN31

This three year degree allows you to combine criminology study with policing modules which cover aspects of the national policing curriculum. You'll look at areas such as drugs, cybercrime, migration, terrorism, and trafficking in detail. You’ll consider how these areas are viewed by groups from various backgrounds, including how gender, race and cultural perspectives can impact opinion.

Students will be taught by experts in criminology who have worked directly with government departments, as well as former police officers for a practical, hands-on education. This course sets students up for a career in the criminal justice sector, the police service or the NGO and charity sector, among others.

Please note that this BA Criminology and Policing programme does not qualify as a pre-join degree to enable direct entry into a police service. Students wishing to pursue a career as a police officer on graduation would need to enter a service via the degree holder entry route.

You will learn through a variety of group sessions, workshops, digital media and a wide range of learning resources, completing a research methods module and a dissertation or research project in your final year. In addition to your knowledge of criminology and policing, you will gain a wide range of analytical, research, problem solving and communication skills, which are in high demand by employers.

Statistics from the 2023 National Student Survey show that 96% of Policing and Criminology students were positive about learning opportunities on their course and 91% were positive about the teaching on their course.

You will also learn through realistic scenarios and the use of a crime scene suite or pop-up facilities* - watch the video.

 

Foundation Year (Four year)

UCAS code: LN32

You can choose to take an additional Foundation Year before you start your course. This introductory year focuses on developing the key skills required to study at degree level. You will study six modules and on successful completion progress onto any of our three year degrees.

Course Structure

Semester 1

  • Communication Skills
  • Digital and Research Skills
  • Sustainability and Society

Semester 2

  • Foundation Year Project
  • Core Concepts of Criminology and Policing

Choose one*:

  • Core Concepts of Business
  • Core Concepts of Computer Science
  • Core Concepts of Law
  • Core Concepts of Psychology

*Options available are indicative and available subject to numbers and the campus chosen. Students will also complete the Shaping Skills for Success programme.

Semester 1

  • Foundations of Criminology
  • Understanding the Police Constable Role and Professional Standards
  • The Criminal Justice System: Key Legislation, Offences and Civil Matters

Semester 2

  • Drugs in the Criminal Justice System
  • Core Principles of Evidence Based Policing, Information and Intelligence
  • Contemporary Criminology

Semester 1

  • Gender, Sexuality and Crime
  • Research Methods
  • Public Protection: Understanding Abuse & Impact

Semester 2

  • Response Policing and Police Investigations

Choose two*:

  • Cybercrime
  • Forensic and Criminal Psychology
  • Youth & Crime
  • Zemiology - Social Harms

*All options are indicative and subject to availability

Semester 1

  • Dissertation (double module across both semesters)
  • Urban Criminology
  • Responding to Major and Critical Incidents

Semester 2

  • Dissertation (double module across both semesters)
  • Investigating Serious Crime and Understanding Terrorism and Transnational Organised Crime

Choose one*:

  • Race, Ethnicity and Religion
  • Politics of Policing
  • Terrorism
  • Counter-Terrorism and Advanced Road Policing
  • Graduate & Employability Skills

 

*All options are indicative and subject to availability

Foundations of Criminology

This module introduces criminology including the importance of early criminology concepts, theories and ideas.

Understanding the Police Constable Role and Professional Standards

We look at the history of policing in the UK and how the modern police service was created. We will also cover what it means to be a Police Constable and the structure of the police service (various ranks and departments within the police).

The Criminal Justice System, Key Legislation, Offences & Civil Matters

This module will give an overview of the criminal justice system, the basic principles of criminal liability and an introduction to actus reus, mens rea, strict liability and some statutory defences. It will also include sexual offences, drug offences and offences under the Public Order Act.

Drugs in the Criminal Justice System

Looking at the relationship between illicit drugs and crime. Also, the effect of drug policies on marginalised communities, and the links between illicit drugs and cultural contexts.

Core Principles of Evidence-Based Policing, Information, and Intelligence

Within this module, we will look at the concept of evidence-based policing. Students will discuss the merits as well as potential constraints associated with an evidence-based policing approach.

Contemporary Criminology

In this module we discuss and evaluate some of the challenges commonly encountered in the application of contemporary criminological theory. Including rural criminology, queer criminology, radical criminology, and cultural criminology.

Gender, Sexuality and Crime

This module helps to develop a critical understanding of traditional criminological theory through feminist critiques and perspectives, as well as of feminist critiques of criminology outside of the global Northwest. Also looks at the different patterns of victimisation and offending amongst women and men.

Public Protection: Understanding Abuse & Impact

This Module will introduce you to public protection in a policing context. You will learn about serious offences such as child abuse, female genital mutilation (FGM), domestic abuse (DA), modern slavery, trafficking and honour-based abuse.

Response Policing and Police Investigations

We will be looking at the purpose of response policing. This will also include learning about assessing risk, safeguarding, intelligence, use of technology and responding to different environments. We will also further develop our knowledge of powers concerning lawful search and entry, arrest and stop and search. The module also introduces concepts, terminology, principles, powers and legislation that are essential to conducting police investigations.

Urban Criminology

This module covers all aspects of urban criminology in the context of issues such as urban youth, segregation in the city, homelessness and marginalisation, protests and riots.

Responding to Major and Critical Incidents

This module discusses the role and responsibilities of the police at a major incident and examines the effectiveness of joint interoperability between the emergency services.

Investigating Serious Crime & Understanding Terrorism and Transnational Organised Crime

Students will be provided with an overview of transnational organised crime (TOC) and current academic terrorism research. The second part of the module focuses on the investigative process. We will be discussing homicide investigations and how additional sources of intelligence can be obtained during a complex investigation.

Course Start Dates

  • BA (Hons) Criminology and Policing
    • Full-time: Birmingham, Leeds and London Bloomsbury
  • BA (Hons) Criminology and Policing with Foundation Year
    • Full-time: Birmingham, Leeds and London Bloomsbury

Make an Enquiry

Course requirements

The course demands show you the requirements, prior knowledge and commitments our course will involve.

Find out more ➔

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Course Information

 

To get a full picture of how studying this course works during the year, take a look at our course date breakdowns.

Calendar

 

A wide range of assessment methods will be used across all modules to ensure that all programme outcomes can be demonstrated by students. These include unseen essay type exams, written coursework assignments, oral presentations, role plays and a dissertation module.

This variety of approach reflects the diversity of the curriculum and enables students a greater chance of success. It also helps to remove barriers to some students who may find that more traditional assessment methods do not truly reflect their abilities.

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You must pass each module to be awarded your degree. A pass mark is 40% and above.

70%                  1

60-69%             2.1

50-59%             2.2

40-49%             3

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Employability We Set You Up For Success

We care about your career, which is why we offer support with job applications and other work experience opportunities as soon as you accept your place.

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Fees and Applying

 

Applications for all our undergraduate courses for September 2024 entry are open.

Take a look at our How to Apply for an Undergraduate Course page to learn more.

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2024/25:

UK - £9,250 per year

International (London) - £17,550 per year

International (non-London) - £16,700 per year

 

If you need to fund your studies with a student loan you can apply via Student Finance.

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We have students from over 120 different countries throughout our campuses, with a dedicated team to help international students.

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Official course data