BA (Hons) Available in Clearing

Criminology and Policing

Jump-start your career in the criminal justice sector with our specialist Criminology and Policing degree.

Start date
September
Location
Cambridge
Duration
3 years
UCAS course code
L311

Start date
September
Location
Cambridge
Duration
4 years with foundation
UCAS course code
L311

Start date
September
Location
Cambridge
Duration
4 years with placement
UCAS course code
L313
Top 10%

in the country for the number of graduates going into paid employment or further study.

Source: GOS

Explore the English legal and criminal justice systems, including the police, courts, prisons, probation, and youth justice system.

You’ll discover the origins, cultural and political ethos, and legal and ethical frameworks of the system, as well as complex issues including media representation, public attitudes and the position of victims and offenders.

Why ARU?
  • Learn with the latest case studies and research, interactive sessions, and opportunities for field trips.

  • Specialise with optional modules including Cyber Crime, the Dark Web, and Trafficking and Exploitation

  • 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.

Careers

Work towards your career goals from day one. You’ll have opportunities to engage with professionals from the criminal justice sector through guest lectures, workshop events, study trips and research projects.

We’ll support you to get involved in justice causes and campaigns, charities and voluntary work that contributes to civic duty so you can gain relevant experience in the criminal justice system. You’ll also boost your CV as you become proficient in critical analysis, research and communication.

You could also develop a specialism or start a career in research by taking part in our academic shadowing scheme or Cambridgeshire County Council’s violence prevention analysis programmes.

Teaching and modules

In Year 1, you’ll start to explore the key elements of England’s criminal justice system: police, courts, prisons, probation, and youth justice. You’ll also consider how media representations of crime shape public perceptions.

In Year 2, you’ll examine the ‘rise’ in evidence-based policing, major disaster planning, and how you can make a difference in the world, researching, pitching and evaluating an idea that could make a positive contribution to society.

Finally you’ll learn more about the youth justice system and how agencies use criminological theories, before pooling your learning in a Major Project.

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
  • Introduction to Policing
  • Into ARU
  • Media, Society and Crime *
  • Policing Practice *
Year 2
  • Evidence-Based Policing
  • Researching Society and Culture
  • Ruskin Module (15 credits)
  • Policing Vulnerability *
  • Cybercrime and Policing *
  • Lessons Learned: Inquests, Tribunals and Truth *
  • Violence and Confrontation *
  • Anglia Language Programme (15 credits) *
  • Intoxicants and Intoxication *
  • Revolving Doors: Punishment and Rehabilitation *
  • Violence, Gender and Victimisation *
  • Using Linguistics: An Introduction to Forensic, Clinical and Computational Linguistics *
  • Dark Web Policing and Control *
  • Introduction to Youth Work and Safeguarding *
Year 3
  • Youth, Crime and Aggression
  • Criminology and Policing in Policy and Practice
  • Undergraduate Major Project - Criminology *
  • Undergraduate Major Project - Policing *
  • Investigative Psychology *
  • Exploitation, Trafficking and Sexual Violence *
  • Neighbourhood Policing and Community Safety *
  • Race, Racism and Ethnic Identity *
  • Anglia Language Programme (15 credits) *
  • Police and Counter-terrorism *
  • Organised Crime *
  • Comparative and Global Criminal Justice *
  • Concepts of Good and Evil *
  • 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.

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, and study abroad for a semester with funding available to help cover the cost.

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

Take a guided tour and meet our students.

Entry requirements

Fees and funding

Apply for Criminology and Policing

Clearing places available

UK students, apply through Clearing for a September 2025 start

UK students

Call our Clearing line

01245 686868

UK students

Apply through UCAS for 2026

International students

Apply direct

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