BA (Hons) Criminology

Why study Criminology at ARU?

• Explore the latest themes in crime and crime prevention with a wide range of modules to suit your interests and career direction, including cyber crime, the dark web, and trafficking and exploitation.
• Prepare for your career from the first semester: build a portfolio and CV, attend volunteer and employment fairs, attend our annual Criminology conference, and hear from key figures in criminal justice.
• Get hands-on with the latest case studies and research, interactive sessions, and opportunities for field trips.
• Receive support from staff with real-world experience: a significant part of your teaching in some modules will be delivered by policing and criminal justice practitioners such as former and active crime scene investigators.
• Take advantage of our links to local and national organisations, including regional police forces, which give you the chance to gain relevant work experience and engage with professionals from the criminal justice sector.
• Attend events organised by our International Policing and Public Protection Research Institute (IPPPRI), including conferences, workshops, study trips and research projects.
• Join a university at the forefront of investigating and initiating cultural change in uniformed services: our record £11million research grant from Research England is allowing us to extend our links with organisations within the sector.

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

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

Our BA (Hons) Criminology course places value on hands-on learning. You'll learn through case studies, the latest research and interactive sessions – and you might also have the opportunity for field trips to courts, prisons and sites such as Auschwitz.

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.