UWE Bristol - BA Hons Criminology and Law

UWE Bristol

BA Hons Criminology and Law

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

Why study criminology and law?

Studying criminology gives you a deep understanding of crime and criminal justice in the real world.

It complements and contextualises legal study, and is useful for those looking to practise criminal law or work in the criminal justice system.

Why UWE Bristol?

BA(Hons) Criminology and Law is a flexible course that allows you to explore topical modules spanning criminal justice, penology, sexual offences and offending.

Gain a solid grounding in criminological research methods and practice. Develop valuable legal skills such as mooting and negotiating alongside your academic studies. Graduate with crucial skills that enhance your employability and prepare you for diverse careers in law or criminology.

This hands-on course gives you real-world insight and helps you develop professional abilities through community engagement and work-based learning.

You'll study both law and criminology in equal measure in your first year and then opt to major in one or the other from year two.

If you major in law, you'll have the option to graduate with a Qualifying Law Degree (QLD). This gives you access to our Legal Practice Course (LPC), which includes the option to do an LLM in Advanced Legal Practice (LPC LLM) or Bar Professional Training Studies (BPTS) to become a solicitor or barrister.

Law majors can choose from a range of modules that provide academic discourse as well as examples of real-life cases. Criminology majors get to explore contemporary issues through practical lab sessions.

Where can it take me?

The knowledge and professional skills you'll gain on this course are highly valued by employers. They also provide a solid foundation for a variety of careers.

This degree combination leads naturally to a career in criminal law. But depending on your specialism, you could pursue a career as a solicitor, barrister, legal adviser or paralegal, or as a teacher, social worker, counsellor or charity worker.

There are also opportunities with the police, prison and court services, as well as the legal sector.

Entry Requirements

  • Tariff points: 112
  • GCSE: Grade C/4 in English Literature or Language and Mathematics, or equivalent. We do not accept Level 2 Key Skills, Functional Skills or Certificates in Adult Numeracy and Literacy as alternatives to GCSEs.
  • English Language Requirement: International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component 
  • A-level subjects: No specific subjects required.

Career Prospects

Criminology and Law students are highly valued by employers because of their broad skillset and knowledge base.

This degree combination leads naturally to a career in criminal law. If you major in law, you could pursue a career as a solicitor, barrister, legal adviser, legal executive or paralegal.

You could also begin a career in HR, finance, teaching, advice and charity work or the public sector.

Many students train as a barrister or solicitor through the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) or Legal Practice Course (LPC LLM), or undertake 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.

Course Details

After Year one, you can continue to study BA (Hons) Criminology and Law, or change to LLB(Hons) Law with Criminology or BA(Hons) Criminology with Law.

If you decide to change to LLB(Hons) Law with Criminology or BA(Hons) Criminology with Law, the course structure will differ from the one below, as some of the modules will be different. For further information, please contact the programme leaders.

If you study on the four year (sandwich) course, you'll spend a year away from the University on a work placement after Year two.

You will complete a placement learning module.

Year 1

Foundations for Law
Criminal Law.

Criminology modules:
Introduction to Criminological Theory
Introduction to Criminal Justice.

Year 2

Criminology in Action: Engaging with the Real World
Nature and Use of Research.

Two optional law modules
Forensic Evidence
Sexual Offences and Offending: Criminal Justice Responses
Law of Torts
Land Law
Migration Law and Policy
Criminal Procedure and Punishment.

Optional criminology modules
Criminal Psychology
Angels or Demons: Understanding and Managing Youth Offending
Drugs, Crime and Society
Contemporary Issues in Policing
Difference: Race, Ethnicity and Diversity in Contemporary Society
Prisons
Crime, Media and Culture.

Placement year

Final Year

International Crime and Criminology.

Two optional law modules
European Union Law
Dissertation
Law of Evidence
European Human Rights
Family Law
Gender and the Law
Medical Law and Practice
Organised Crime and Criminal Justice
Information Technology Law
Cross Cultural Learning and Development
Law Project

Optional criminology modules
Protest, Policing and Public Order
Terrorism
Victims and Victimology
Gender, Sex and Social Control
Hate Crime: Offending, Victimisation and Policing
Risk and Risk Management
Punishment and Human Rights.

*The information’s are correct at the time of publishing, however it may change if university makes any changes after we have published the information. While we try our best to provide correct information, It is advisable to call us or visit university website for up to date information.

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