University of Westminster

Criminology BA Honours

With crime frequently in the news and always an important issue, criminology has never been more relevant. The Criminology BA Honours aims to enthuse, inspire and equip you with the skills for a successful career in today's competitive job market.

Criminology draws on a wide range of human and social science disciplines, and the course has been designed to develop your knowledge and understanding of criminology as an interdisciplinary subject area. It will also equip you with the transferable and cognitive skills necessary for lifelong personal and professional development.

Westminster's criminologists are concerned with who commits crimes and how offenders should be punished, but at the heart of criminology are fundamental questions about how 'crime' is defined, how criminal law is made, and how definitions of crime and justice vary historically and cross-culturally.

Where better to study this fascinating discipline than in the heart of the UK's policing and criminal justice systems? Contemporary concerns are reflected as the subject engages with globalisation and culture across theoretical, qualitative and empirical domains.

Our graduates go on to develop careers in a wide range of sectors, including the police and policing-support organisations, the National Probation Service, local government and crime prevention.

Our course is organised around three distinctive themes – justice, human rights, and crime in its local and global contexts. However, the core and optional subjects cover an extensive range of topics, including processes of criminalisation and victimisation; the social, legal and cultural meanings of crime; the causes and organisation of crime and deviance at all levels; understanding crime in relation to class, gender, race and ethnicity, religious faith, and sexuality; and the practical and political processes of preventing and managing crime.

We make use of Westminster’s central London location to facilitate off-site learning, with visits to the High Court of Justice, theatres and a prison. In Year 3, as part of the core module Criminological Research in Action, you'll have the opportunity to take part in a field trip, which in recent years took students to Berlin.

Top reasons to study with us

• Work experience opportunities – our work experience module in Year 3 will allow you to gain valuable practical experience. Many of our students find placements in a range of criminal justice agencies
• Award-winning leadership – our course leader was awarded the British Society of Criminology award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (2016) for his design and implementation of the curriculum
• Field trips – In Year 3, you'll have the opportunity to take part in a field trip, which in recent years took place in Berlin. You'll also be able to take part in field walks around London, including visits to theatres, prisons and the High Court of Justice

Why study this course?

• Fantastic central London location
  Based on our Regent Campus in central London, you’ll enjoy the benefits of studying in a major global city.
• Field trips
  You'll have the opportunity to take part in a field trip abroad and field walks around London, including visits to theatres, prisons and the High Court of Justice.
• A supportive environment
  We provide our students with the right environment, support and guidance throughout their studies to keep them motivated.