Keystone logo
The University of Law Undergraduate Programmes BA (Hons) Criminology with Foundation Year
The University of Law Undergraduate Programmes

BA (Hons) Criminology with Foundation Year

4 Years

English

Full time

Request application deadline

Sep 2025

GBP 9,250 / per year *

On-Campus

* Sep 2024 fee: UK - ยฃ9,250 per annum; International - ยฃ17,550 per annum London, ยฃ16,700 non-London

Key Summary

    About: The BA (Hons) Criminology with Foundation Year program provides students with a thorough understanding of crime and justice systems. It includes a foundation year to prepare students for higher-level study. The curriculum covers criminological theories, research methods, and the experiences of different groups within the criminal justice system.
    Career Outcomes: Graduates can pursue careers in various fields such as law enforcement, social work, community and youth services, and criminal justice research. They may also explore roles within governmental and non-governmental organizations working on policy development and crime prevention initiatives.

Introduction

The course is a 4 year BA in Criminology including a Foundation Year. The course is aimed at students who may be critical of current criminal justice policies and who are seeking employment in either the criminal justice sector or associated fields. This course benefits from both a theoretical basis as well as a vocational and applied nature. There is a high level of face-to-face tuition delivered by practicing criminologists who are currently active in this field of study.

Students will develop a comprehensive understanding of criminological theorizing and will be able to apply this to current socio-economic policies and conditions. To achieve this, students will develop a critical understanding of the law about current issues such as migration, terrorism, trafficking, drugs, and mass incarceration. Criminology will be considered from a variety of different perspectives including feminist, critical, cultural, and race. This course will be delivered over 4 years, with students undertaking 6 modules per year across 2 semesters.

The introductory year focuses on developing the key skills required to study at the degree level. You will study six modules and on successful completion progress onto any of our three-year degrees. The modules covered will initially enhance your communication skills, digital and information literacy, and ability to think critically. You then have the added flexibility of switching your degree program if another discipline captures your interest, subject to availability and entry requirements.

The degree program is designed so that the Foundation Year provides an underpinning year, incorporating both academic and legal/professional related learning for applicants needing to improve their knowledge and understanding along with the necessary skills needed to participate in the undergraduate programs at levels 4, 5, and 6.

Students will be taught using a variety of digital media and resources. The final year will include a dissertation or research project and a research methods module. Students will have practical issues raised and develop relevant skills in analysis, research, problem-solving, and communication skills to resolve those issues and also the relevant skills to be able to communicate them.

Course Requirements

  • Applicants are required to possess 48 UCAS Points from a maximum of 3 A Levels or equivalent qualifications, plus GCSE English Language at Grade C/4.
  • Students who will be under the age of 18 but no younger than 17 at the commencement of the course are permitted.
  • A non-standard application route is also available.

Route A (September 2022 entry)

  • Applicants should demonstrate a minimum of 2 years of professional work experience evidencing management of people and/or processes and provide a professional reference. All applicants must successfully pass a formal interview. Any applicant without GCSE English language at grade C/4 will be invited to complete The University of Law English Test (ULET).

Route A (January 2023 and beyond)

Please note this route is only available for applicants who do not require a Student Route Visa to study with the University:

  • Applicants who do not possess 48 UCAS points from a maximum of 3 A Levels or equivalent but can demonstrate a minimum of 2 years of professional work experience evidencing management of people and/or processes and provide a professional reference will be considered. All applicants must successfully pass a formal interview. Any applicant without GCSE English language at grade C/4 will be invited to complete The University of Law English Test (ULET).

Career Path

Careers in the criminal justice system, policing, probation service, customs, immigration, social research, housing sector and the NGO and charity sector.

Course Structure

Foundation Year

Semester 1

  • Citizenship
  • Academic and Report Writing
  • Numeracy Skills in Context

Semester 2

  • Foundations of Business Management
  • Foundations of Law
  • Foundations of Social Science

Year 1: 31 study weeks

Semester 1

  • Foundations of Criminology
  • Society and Punishment
  • Media Crime and Control

Semester 2

  • Drugs in the Criminal Justice System
  • Criminal Justice in Modern Britain
  • Contemporary Criminology

Year 2: 30 study weeks

Semester 1

  • Gender, Sexuality, and Crime
  • The Evolution of the Prison System
  • Research Methods

Semester 2

  • Youth and Crime
  • Zemiology (Social Harms)
  • Cybercrime

Year 3: 30 study weeks

Semester 1

  • Urban Criminology - The City and Globalisation
  • Migration
  • Dissertation (all year double module)

Semester 2

  • Dissertation (all year double module)

Choose two*:

  • Race, Ethnicity, and Religion
  • Terrorism
  • The Politics of Policing

*All options are indicative and subject to availability.

Assessment

At the end of each semester, youโ€™ll get a week for revision before two weeks of assessments.

  • Exams: Two hours, ten multiple-choice questions and two long-form questions
  • Coursework: Essay, project report, or portfolio
  • Oral presentation

We run mock assessments to allow you to practise before too.

Course Details

Full-time three-year Criminology

Designed by practising criminologists, this three-year degree programme will allow you to look at areas such as drugs, cybercrime, migration, mass incarceration, terrorism, and trafficking in detail. Youโ€™ll get to consider how these areas are viewed by groups from various backgrounds and with different outlooks, including how gender, race and cultural perspectives and issues can impact opinion.

This course is particularly interesting if youโ€™re looking to work in the criminal justice sector or associated fields. Youโ€™ll benefit from learning in various ways, giving you a well-rounded understanding of both the theory and practice of criminology. This will enable you to develop a comprehensive understanding of criminology and apply this to current socio-economic policies and conditions.

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, you will gain a wide range of analytical, research, problem-solving and communication skills, which are in high demand by employers.

Foundation Year (Four years)

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 the degree level. You will study six modules and on successful completion progress onto any of ourย three-year degrees.

How to Apply

Applications for all our undergraduate courses are open.

Fees

Sep 2024

  • UK - ยฃ9,250 per annum / International - ยฃ17.550 per annum (London), ยฃ16,700 (non-London)
  • Fees are locked for future study years i.e. the student pays the same price each year.

About the School

Questions