School of Social Sciences and Humanities

BA (Hons) Criminology and Criminal Justice

BA (Hons) Part-time 6 years, Full-time 3 years

Criminology and Criminal Justice is the study of what crime is, why people commit crime and what happens when they do.

Criminology and Criminal Justice is the study of what crime is, why people commit crime and what happens when they do.

Award
BA (Hons)
Start date(s)
16 September 2024
UCAS Code
MM92
Course specifications
Course length
Part-time (6 years),Full-time (3 years)
Campus location
Wolverhampton City Campus
School
School of Social Sciences and Humanities
UCAS points calculator

Why choose this course?

Criminology and Criminal Justice is the study of what crime is, why people commit crime and what happens when they do.

During your degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Wolverhampton, you will study all the main areas of the subject – including the who commits crime and why, how they are punished, and how crime is controlled. You will be able to study a range of cutting-edge research-focused specialist modules that particularly interest you or may assist in your future career. These include, for example, working in the criminal justice system, police and society, rehabilitation of offenders, victimology, environmental crime, modern punishment, and youth justice and youth crime.

You will be taught by lecturers who are actively researching in their fields together with those working in the criminal justice system, plus a wide variety of other guest speakers. You will also have opportunities to go on relevant trips including prisons and courts. 

Your degree is highly focused upon building your employability profile and transferable skills ready for the workplace. As part of that, completion of your modules will enable you to receive the University of Wolverhampton Employability and Enterprise Award at Silver Level. You will have the opportunity to undertake work placement modules as part of your degree together with gaining further volunteering experience skills should you wish. You will also undertake a research project on an area of your choice which particularly interests you, or that you may wish to work in after graduation.

What's unique about this course?

  • You will be taught by lecturers who are actively researching in their fields together with those working in the criminal justice system.
  • This degree is highly focused upon building your employability profile and transferable skills ready for the workplace. 
  • You will have the opportunity to undertake work placement modules as part of your degree together with gaining further volunteering experience skills should you wish.

What happens on the course?

Crime and its impact are at the forefront of current political and social debate; therefore a degree in criminology and criminal justice enables you to explore the reality behind the newspaper headlines on crime and examine a topic which is relevant, topical and has real, practical application in contemporary society.

During your course you will study criminological theories and gain an understanding of the development of policies and practices within the criminal justice system in England and Wales. You will study a wide range of topics covering the legal and sociological issues of criminology and criminal justice, including the operation of the criminal justice system through punishment and sentencing, policing of society, probation and rehabilitation of offenders, victimisation, as well as social inequalities and the law.

In your final year of study, you will also undertake a piece of individual research on an area of criminology or criminal justice that particularly interests you, and which will further develop your qualitative and quantitative research skills. This course is also suitable if you are currently working in a related profession and want to enhance your existing knowledge and skills.

Students who graduate from the BA (Hons) Criminology and Criminal Justice course will have an in-depth knowledge and understanding of crime, victimisation, social harm, and their consequences, both theoretical and applied. Subject specific topics, such as knowledge of the social processes of crime and the criminal justice system, human rights, rehabilitation and desistance, criminal justice history, and youth crime will be explored and complemented by the type of transferable skills that are highly valued by employers in the graduate job market. These include the ability to present and develop a cohesive argument, the development of a wide range of IT skills, research and problem-solving skills, communication skills, and working effectively as part of a team.

Interested in a career in Probation? You are in the right place!

The University of Wolverhampton can equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to train as a probation officer after they graduate the Criminology and Criminal Justice degrees we offer.

The PQiP (Professional Qualification in Probation) training programme is delivered by HMPPS and the Probation Service.

When you start your training, you’ll be a probation services officer, learning on the job and studying at a contracted university to gain your fully funded Professional Qualification in Probation (PQiP). After successfully completing the programme, you’ll be able to apply to become a fully qualified probation officer and work with higher risk caseload of people on probation, along with opportunities to work in different settings, keep learning and developing through structured career paths.

Did you know?

  • The modules* of our Criminology and Criminal Justice degrees make you eligible for the reduced (15 months instead of 21 months) Probation Officer training (PQiP)
  • Your lecturers have the expertise to enhance your academic knowledge in all things probation
  • Our local links with the Probation Service can provide you with valuable insights and opportunities to discuss the work of probation
  • Guest speakers from the Probation Service deliver talks about their experiences and working with offenders and victims
  • The 6CJ015 Rehabilitation of Offenders and Desistance module examines key rehabilitation and probation imperatives, practices, and models to develop your competence on the topic.
  • Events focusing on rehabilitation, desistance, and probation in academia and practice

*Modules to qualify for the reduced Probation Officer training

  • The Criminal Justice System

What relevant modules we offer:

4CJ002 Working in the Criminal Justice System

  • Understanding Crime and Criminal Behaviour

What relevant modules we offer:

4CJ003 Thinking about Crime

5CJ002 Framing the Criminological World

  • Penal Policy and Punishment

What relevant modules we offer:

5CJ006 Punishment and Society

6CJ002 Prisons and Prisoners

  • Rehabilitation

What relevant modules we offer:

6CJ015 Rehabilitation of Offenders and Desistance

Visit TrainToBeAProbationOfficer.com to find out more about the PQiP!

Course Modules

Potential Career Paths

Additional Information

Everything you need to know about this course!

We pride ourselves on our supportive culture, with a large team of academic and student support staff to provide excellent pastoral care together with a welcoming academic environment in which to undertake your degree. We will help you achieve the very best work that you can throughout the rich, fascinating and varied subject matter that our degree offers; and to gain as many wide-ranging transferable skills and practical work experience as possible to enhance your future prospects.

 

As a graduate of this course you will be able to demonstrate:

  1. Knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to graduate employment and specifically to employment within the criminal justice system and related areas.
  2. Understanding of the key concepts and theoretical approaches that have developed and are developing in relation to crime, responses to crime and the practices of the criminal justice system.
  3. A critical and reflective approach to criminological theory and the practices of the criminal justice system.
  4. A broad range of transferable skills, both personal and academic, enabling you to maximise graduate employment opportunities.
  5. The ability to undertake research using relevant research methodologies and communicate findings appropriately.
  6. Critical awareness of social, political and cultural diversity in the context of criminological theories and the criminal justice system.

Location Mode Fee Year
Home Full-time £9250 per year 2022-23
Home Full-time £9250 per year 2023-24
Home Full-time £9250 per year 2023-24
Home Full-time £9250 per year 2024-25
Home Part-time £3120 per year# 2022-23
Home Part-time £4625 per year# 2023-24
Home Part-time £4625 per year# 2023-24
Home Part-time £4625 per year# 2024-25
International Full-time £13450 per year 2022-23
International Full-time £14450 per year 2023-24
International Full-time £14450 per year 2023-24
International Full-time £14950 per year 2024-25

The University is committed to a transparent fee structure, with no hidden costs, to help you make an informed decision. This includes information on what is included in the fee and how fees are calculated and reviewed

# Undergraduate part-time fees for 50% rate of study

Typical entry requirement: 96 UCAS points

  • A Levels - grades CCC / BCD
  • BTEC L3 Extended Diploma or OCR Cambridge L3 Technical Extended Diploma - grades MMM
  • BTEC L3 Diploma - grades DD
  • Access to HE Diploma (60 credits) of which a minimum of 45 must be at Level 3 (96 UCAS point equivalence, minimum 45 credits at merit)

Use the UCAS Tariff calculator to check your qualifications and points

Other Requirements

Students must usually have studied for a minimum of two years post GCSE level. However, we will consider applications from mature students who do not have two years of post-16 study, where they have relevant work experience. Please see http://wlv.ac.uk/mature for further information.

 

Tuition Fees Loan (Home Fee Status):

Most students will be able to apply for a loans to pay for these subject to eligibility. To find out more information please refer to the government Student Finance website.

Changes for EU students:

The UK government has confirmed that EU students starting courses from 1 August 2021 will normally be classified as having Overseas Fee status. More information about the change is available at UKCISA:

EU citizens living in the UK with 'settled' status, and Irish nationals living in the UK or Ireland, will still be classified as Home students, providing they meet the usual residency requirements, for more information about EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) click here.


Self-funding:

If you don’t want to take out a loan to pay your fees or if you aren’t eligible to receive a loan, you might want to take advantage of the University’s scheme to pay by instalments: See How to pay.

For more information please contact the Gateway.


Your employer, embassy or organisation can pay for your Tuition fees:

If your employer, embassy or organisation agrees to pay all or part of your tuition fees; the University will refer to them as your sponsor and will invoice them for the appropriate amount.

We must receive notification of sponsorship in writing as soon as possible, and before enrolment, confirming that the sponsor will pay your tuition fees.


Financial Hardship:

Students can apply to the Dennis Turner Opportunity Fund.

for help with course related costs however this cannot be used for fees or to cover general living costs.


Bursaries and Scholarships:

In addition the University also offers a range of Bursaries and Scholarships packages

You can find more information on the University’s Funding, cost, fee and support pages.

Telephone

01902 32 22 22

Email

enquiries@wlv.ac.uk

Online

Order a prospectus

How We Compare

Find out how our course is rated on Discover Uni, the official website for comparing UK higher education courses

Full-time Course

Part-time Course