Writtle University College and ARU have merged. Writtle’s full range of college, degree, postgraduate and short courses will still be delivered on the Writtle campus. See our guide to finding Writtle information on this site.

BA (Hons) Criminology and Policing

  • Placement year available
How to apply Come to an Open Day

Introduction

Which ARU Criminology and Policing course is right for you?

Studying Criminology and Policing at ARU

Jump-start your career in the criminal justice sector with our specialist Criminology and Policing degree in Cambridge. Find out what makes this course unique with our short video.

Times Higher Education (THE) Awards 2023 logo

Study at an award-winning university

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

As a BA (Hons) Criminology and Policing student at ARU, we’ll help you work towards your career goals from day one.

Through our relationship with regional police forces and practitioners, you’ll have opportunities to engage with professionals from the criminal justice sector through guest lectures (including those organised by our Policing Institute for the Eastern Region), workshop events, study trips and research projects.

You may also have opportunities to work closely with local police forces. A recent student project, sponsored by Cambridge Constabulary, carried out research on police officer demographics and recruitment.

You’ll learn 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. Our criminology lecturers are active researchers with experience of working on real-life crimes with the police. You can also choose to an optional placement year.

Course options

Course options

Key facts

Looking for different course options?

Entry requirements

Loading...

Entry requirements are not currently available, please try again later.

Fees and paying for university

Facilities and showcase

Hands-on learning

All our BA (Hons) Criminology and Policing students have the opportunity to:

  • go on field trips in the UK and overseas
  • take part in workshops, research projects and other events with regional police forces and other professionals
  • study abroad for a semester, with funding available to help cover the cost
  • choose from a range of optional modules and pursue their own areas of interest.

Outstanding student support

Join our student community and:

  • benefit from award-winning learning facilities, including extensive library and IT resources
  • learn from staff who have first-hand experience of working in public service
  • attend events and seminars organised by our Policing Institute for the Eastern Region
  • access support, should you need it, with study skills, careers advice, health and wellbeing, and more.

Take a closer look

Our Creative Showcase shines a spotlight on what makes ARU creative and cultural – our spaces, places and people. Find out more about our community, the difference we make, the stories we tell, and the things that inspire us.

Meanwhile, Present is an exhibition that you curate for yourself. Explore the work of our graduating students in this eye-catching virtual degree show.

Alternatively, take a guided tour and meet our students.

Careers

Our graduates go on to work in the police force, probation, prisons and youth justice, as well as the Border Force, the military, security, charities and NGOs, local government, and the public sector more generally. Others are using their skills in areas such as policy, PR, communication and the media.

If you’re already working in the criminal justice sector, you could follow in the footsteps of former students who’ve been able to progress their careers to graduate level.

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.

Or there’s the option to study for a Masters, such as our MA Contemporary Policing, MA Criminology or MA International Relations. 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.

Apply now for BA (Hons) Criminology and Policing

Life in Cambridge

Our friendly, bustling campus is a stone’s throw from the centre of Cambridge, often described as the perfect student city.

Our favourite places in Cambridge Did you know...? Facts about Cambridge Watch: Our Cambridge

Want to talk to someone?

Do you have a question that we haven't answered so far? Talk to our application experts. You can also ask our Student Ambassadors about life at ARU.

We're here Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm (please note we close at 3.30pm on the first and third Thursday of the month for staff training), and Friday 9am-4.30pm.

Placement year available

You have the option to take a placement year as part of this course. It’s a great chance to get hands-on experience in the industry you want to work in.

Your guide to placements

Loading...