BA (Hons) Placement year available

Criminology

Explore the nature of crime, justice and punishment and prepare for a career in criminal justice and crime prevention.

You'll learn hands-on through case studies, the latest research and interactive sessions – and might have the chance for field trips to courts, prisons and sites such as Auschwitz.

Consider the causes of crime, the effectiveness of punishment, and how crime and victimisation are represented in the media.

By learning how sociologists, psychologists, political theorists and law experts approach crime and complex social problems, you’ll challenge your existing opinions, and develop skills in evaluating contrasting evidence, critical thinking, and crafting arguments.

  • Stack of books relating to criminology and sociology

    Hear more about our criminology degrees in Cambridge, which include opportunities to explore policing or sociology in-depth.

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Why ARU?

  • Learn from staff with real-world experience, with modules delivered by policing and criminal justice practitioners.

  • Build a portfolio and CV, hear from key criminal justice professionals, and attend employment fairs.

  • Use our links to local and national organisations, including police forces, to find work placements and engage with professionals.

  • Join a university at the forefront of shaping cultural change in uniformed services, with our record £11million research grant.

Logo: THE Awards 2023
 

Study at an award-winning university

We were named Times Higher Education University of the Year 2023. We've also been awarded a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework – a reflection of the outstanding education we offer our students.

Course options

Key facts

Looking for different course options?

Modules are subject to change and availability, and may vary by location. If you have the choice of optional modules, these are indicated with a *.

Year 1
  • Introduction to Contemporary Issues in Criminology (30 credits)
  • Criminal Justice in England and Wales
  • Media, Society and Crime
  • The Evolution of Crime and Criminology
  • Into ARU
Year 2
  • Violence and Confrontation
  • Revolving Doors: Punishment and Rehabilitation
  • Researching Society and Culture
  • Ruskin Module (15 credits)
  • Lessons Learned: Inquests, Tribunals and Truth *
  • Cybercrime and Policing *
  • Sociology of Health Inequalities *
  • Spirituality, Religion and the Secular *
  • Hanging, Prisons and Community Service: Crime and Punishment in Britain throughout the Ages *
  • Using Linguistics: An Introduction to Forensic, Clinical and Computational Linguistics *
  • Violence, Gender and Victimisation *
  • Dark Web Policing and Control *
  • Intoxicants and Intoxication *
  • Introduction to Youth Work and Safeguarding *
  • Anglia Language Programme (15 credits) *
Year 3
  • Undergraduate Major Project - Criminology
  • Youth, Crime and Aggression
  • Criminology and Policing in Policy and Practice
  • Exploitation, Trafficking and Sexual Violence *
  • Race, Racism and Ethnic Identity *
  • Investigative Psychology *
  • Global Feminisms *
  • Politics and Social Media *
  • Concepts of Good and Evil *
  • Organised Crime *
  • Sexuality and Social Control *
  • Police and Counter-terrorism *
  • Comparative and Global Criminal Justice *
  • Anglia Language Programme *
  • Crime and Data Science *
Module details

To prepare you for university study, you can take a foundation year at the start of this course. Find out more about foundation years.

Year 1
  • Foundation in Law and Policing
Module details

You can choose to take an optional placement year as part of this course. Placements typically happen in Year 3, and your course will take four years overall. Find out more about placement years.

Year 3
  • Work Placement - Humanities and Social Sciences
Module details

Read profiles of teaching and research staff on this course.

Student experience

Our student showcase
  • Emma Moldevanu standing in front of ARU poster

    Emma works as a Probation Officer in Cambridge after graduating from our Criminology degree.

  • Dani Redgrave in front of window on ARU Cambridge courtyard

    Dani studied on our BA Criminology and MA Criminology as a mature student, and has since taught at a local secondary school as well as working as an Associate Lecturer at ARU. Hear how Criminology at ARU helped Dani follow her interests.

  • John Greenan

    Hear from ARU lecturer John Greenan in this Springpod Subject Spotlight. Watch the full lecture on Springpod.

  • Illustration of three activists holding placards reading Equal Rights, and Human Rights

    Find out why there's more to criminology than you might think.

  • Colleen Moore

    ARU researcher Colleen Moore tells us what hides behind the headlines.

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  • Emma Moldevanu standing in front of ARU poster
  • Dani Redgrave in front of window on ARU Cambridge courtyard
  • John Greenan
  • Illustration of three activists holding placards reading Equal Rights, and Human Rights
  • Colleen Moore
  • Emma Moldevanu standing in front of ARU poster
  • Dani Redgrave in front of window on ARU Cambridge courtyard
  • John Greenan
  • Illustration of three activists holding placards reading Equal Rights, and Human Rights
  • Colleen Moore

Facilities

Join our student community and benefit from award-winning learning facilities, including extensive library and IT resources. There's the opportunity to go on field trips in the UK and overseas, too. 

You can also access support, should you need it, with study skills, careers advice, health and wellbeing, and more.

Take a guided tour and meet our students.

Careers

As a BA (Hons) Criminology graduate you’ll be well-equipped for a career in a number of public services. These include the probation service, prison service (officers and governors), police (crime scene and victim liaison officers), the Home Office (researchers and policy analysts), the Crown Prosecution Service, the Court Service, youth offending teams and crime reduction partnerships.

The multidisciplinary nature of this course, and its focus on employability and transferable skills, can also open doors elsewhere for example in adult guidance work, charity work, counselling, local government, political analysis, and legal careers.

Our past students have taken up volunteering placements with organisations such as Romsey Mill, or completed their undergraduate major project research with a number of police forces including Essex, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire.

Graduation doesn’t have to be the end of your time with us. You might choose to stay at ARU and study for a Masters, such as our MA Criminology. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.

Employability and personal career development

Informed by employers, our courses support an integrated approach to employability. You’ll have opportunities to develop the skills and abilities they are looking for and gain a deeper understanding of how your academic learning relates to the world of work through Live Briefs and Ruskin Modules.

To amplify your career ambition, you will need to actively dedicate time outside of your studies, whether you choose to explore placements, internships or volunteering. Or you could make a social impact by collaborating with our partner organisations through our volunteer scheme Students at the Heart of Knowledge Exchange (SHoKE). These all give you an edge, providing you with experience that you will be able to evidence on your CV and talk about in interviews.

Our Employability and Careers Service offers a range of expert advice and support to build your unique professional profile, including tailored career appointments, advice on writing your CV, and help to complete job applications. You’ll have 24/7 access to the Careers Centre, our comprehensive online digital resource, which empowers you to start building a Personal Career Development Plan from the very start. Design your future at ARU.

Entry requirements

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