Criminology BSc, 3-4 years
Course information
Typical offer ABB
UK/EU fee £9,250
UCAS code M900
Institute code L34
Taught by School of Criminology
Admissions enquiries
+44 (0)116 252 5281
cssadmissions@le.ac.uk
Course enquiries
+44 (0)116 252 5712
criminology@le.ac.uk
Why is knife crime on the rise? How can we tackle terrorism? These are the sort of questions that criminal justice professionals explore. This degree gives you a sweeping overview of criminality – including its causes and impacts on an individual, societal and political level.
Course description
Course description
Crime and its impact are at the forefront of current political and social debate. We only have to check social media, switch on the television or pick up a newspaper to see headlines about crime and victimisation and to realise how relevant to everyday life the study of criminology has become. Our Criminology BSc enables you to explore the reality behind these headlines and examine a topic that is relevant, topical and has real, practical application in contemporary society.
Leicester has one of very few Schools in the country exclusively dedicated to teaching and researching criminology, and we are home to some of the UK’s leading criminologists. As such, you will benefit from a pure, focused and definitive education in the study of crime. Our strong performance in the National Student Survey since it began in 2005 reflects the popularity of the course among our students, as well as the dedication of the academic staff.
This course is designed to enable a smooth transition to higher education, providing you with full study skills support and a comprehensive research methods programme which will enable you to complete a research project of your own in your final year. Our degree offers flexibility and choice with a range of option modules for you to choose from, and you have the opportunity to study a semester (half year) or a full year abroad. The curriculum includes a three-year careers and employability programme, giving you the opportunity to develop the skills you'll need for graduate jobs. Job prospects are excellent, with 97% of our criminology students are employed (or studying for a Masters degree) six months after graduating.
Our research expertise feeds directly into our teaching programme, providing innovative and exciting content, as well as keeping you abreast of current debates on crime and criminal justice. Our award-winning research has real impact in wider society, and it influences policy and practice within the UK and beyond. Our research strengths include:
- Desistance and rehabilitation
- Domestic violence
- Forensic science
- Hate crime
- Investigative psychology
- Policing
- Prisons
- Sex work
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
- A/AS-levels: ABB. All subjects accepted. Two AS-levels may be considered in place of one A-level.
- EPQ with A-levels: BBB + EPQ at grade B.
- GCSE: English at grade C (4).
- Access to HE Diploma: Pass Diploma with 45 credits at Level 3, including 30 credits at Distinction.
- International Baccalaureate: Pass Diploma with 30 points overall.
- BTEC Nationals: Pass Diploma at DDM.
Other national and international qualifications considered. If you do not meet the entry requirements for this course, you can apply for the International Foundation Year – Society and Culture run by the Global Study Centre. The GSC provides academic support to help you progress to your chosen undergraduate degree at the University of Leicester.
Second Year Entry may be possible with suitable qualifications.
Selection Process
When considering your application, we will look for evidence that you will be able to fulfil the objectives of the course and achieve the standards required. We will take into account a range of factors including previous exam results.
Applicants are not normally interviewed. If you receive an offer you will be invited to visit the School.
English Language Requirements
IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. If you do not yet meet our requirements, our English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) offers a range of courses to help you to improve your English to the necessary standard.
International Qualifications
Find your country in this list to check equivalent qualifications, scholarships and additional requirements.
Countries ListFees and funding
Fees and funding
UK and EU Students
Starting in 2021
The University of Leicester has made the decision to keep fees for EU students at the same level as UK student fees for this year, despite this no longer being a UK Government requirement.
- £9,250 in your first year. Tuition fees are subject to government regulations and may change in future years
- Year Abroad: your fee will be £1,250 for that year
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
International Students
Starting in 2021
Tuition fees for 2021/22 are yet to be confirmed. As an indication of what you might pay, the fees for students who started in 2020/21 were:
- £17,450 per year
- Year Abroad: £4,326.50, which is 25% of the full-time tuition fee
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
Careers and employability
Careers and employability
We aim to provide you with a range of transferable skills that will give you a head-start in today’s competitive job market. Your capacity for imaginative, rigorous and critical thinking will be developed throughout the degree. Subject specific skills, such as knowledge of the social processes of crime and the criminal justice system, will be complemented by the type of transferable skills that are highly valued by employers in the graduate job market, including:
- the ability to present and develop a cohesive argument
- IT skills
- research and problem-solving skills
- written and oral communication skills
- working as part of a team
The Careers Development Service and Criminology work together to ensure you improve your employability, as well as recognising the skills you have acquired throughout your degree. All students have the opportunity to participate in the Criminal Justice Insights, which will enable you to gain volunteering experience, enhance your CV and develop transferable skills. There is an optional placement module in the third year which gives you a further range of transferable skills and practical experiences.
Graduate destinations
Graduates from our Criminology and Policing degrees have gone on to work for a wide range of employers including:
- Metropolitan Police
- Prison Service
- London Probation
- Leicestershire Police
- Serjants' Inn-Chambers
The experience Nikola gained has encouraged her to delve into a career as a senior policy officer.
Career Development Service
Get career-ready at Leicester with guidance from our award-winning Career Development Service. We're here to give you a lifetime offer of support, even after graduation. Our team of specialist careers advisers and mentors will help you every step of the way. From supporting you with CVs and interviews, to volunteering opportunities and placements, we're here to help you reach your professional goals.
Sustainable Development Goals
Sustainable Development Goals
We are committed to providing skills and knowledge to help prepare you tackle global challenges. We have mapped our undergraduate degrees for learning which aligns to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
This degree includes learning which relates to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals:
- Goal 5: Gender equality
- Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong institutions
- Goal 17: Partnerships for the goals
Course structure
Year 1
Year 1
Modules
- Introduction to Criminology (double module)
- Criminal Justice in Action (double module)
- Victims of Crime (double module)
- Theories of Crime and Criminality (double module)
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Year 2
Year 2
Core modules
- Understanding Criminological Research (double module)
- Doing Criminological Research (double module)
- Punishment and Rehabilitation (double module)
Option modules
Choose one option module from:
Then choose one option module from:
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Year Abroad (optional)
Year Abroad (optional)
If you want to, you can spend your third year studying abroad at one of our partner institutions (eligibility is dependent on your academic performance in Years 1 and 2). Alternatively, you can opt to continue studying at the University and complete your degree in three years.
Studying abroad is not just for people who are interested in travelling and meeting new people. It is about acquiring life skills that are becoming increasingly significant for a wide range of jobs in our modern globalised society. Whether you go on to work in the private sector, the state sector, a non-governmental organisation, or become self-employed you will find the experience invaluable. Find out more from our Study Abroad Unit.
Please note that a year spent abroad still incurs a tuition fee, but this is much lower than for a normal year at Leicester. See our Fees and Funding section for details.
Criminology at Leicester has links with European universities, administered through the Erasmus+ scheme. If you are eligible for a loan from Student Finance you can apply for a travel grant from them. Languages courses, at both beginners and advanced level, are available through the University’s Languages at Leicester scheme.
We have links with the following universities:
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Universitetet i Oslo, Norway
Criminology at Leicester also has links with California State University Long Beach, USA. If you are receiving financial assistance from Student Finance your support will continue and you may also be eligible to apply for additional travel grants or scholarships.
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Final Year
Final Year
Core modules
- Being a Criminologist (double module)
- either Student Research Project (double module) or Student Placement Project (double module)
Option modules
Choose two option modules from:
Then choose two option modules from:
- Forensic Science and Criminal Justice
- Drugs, Crime and Society
- Policing
- Criminal Justice and Mental Disorder
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Why Leicester?
Job prospects are excellent: 97% of our criminology students are employed (or studying for a Masters degree) six months after graduating. (DLHE)
You won't just be sitting in lecture theatres and seminar rooms. Our brand new Crime Scene Room, Police Interview Room and Court Room bring a practical aspect to the course.
We were ranked 2nd in the UK for criminology teaching in the Guardian University Guide 2021.
The Scarman Series of criminology lectures is a chance to hear from major names in law, policing and politics. Previous speakers have included Keir Starmer and Shami Chakrabarti.
Teaching and learning
The modules you take are taught using a combination of lectures and workshops, as well as more contemporary virtual learning environments. Lectures provide you with the foundational knowledge needed to study the subject area, while the workshops give you the opportunity to discuss key ideas with your peers and your workshop leader. The virtual learning environment, which include podcasts, webinars, online discussion forums and audio/visual learning aids, gives you the opportunity to explore the subject area at your own pace and offer an alternative approach to learning and teaching. In addition to this you will be given a personal tutor who can provide one-to-one support on a range of academic and personal issues, and all the teaching staff in the School have regular ‘drop in’ sessions where you are able to discuss any problems you may have.
Our assessment strategy allows you to develop a range of academic and transferable skills throughout your degree. You will be assessed through exams, essays, reports and presentations. You will also have the opportunity to produce factsheets, blogs, posters and a range of other creative forms of assessment. In your third year you will also produce a dissertation focusing on an area of criminology that particularly interests you. The dissertation is the culmination of your academic studies and it allows you to demonstrate all of the skills and knowledge you have acquired throughout your studies. It is also a fantastic opportunity to study a particular topic area in depth and to conduct your own research. You will also receive dedicated one-to-one dissertation supervision from one of the academics in the School.
Independent learning
When not attending lectures, workshops or other timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams. To help with your independent learning, you can access the Library and our social study spaces in halls of residence.
Your contact hours will depend on the option modules you select. You can see details of the contact hours on individual module pages.
Academic support
Our Student Learning Development Team provides help in the following areas:
- study and exam skills
- academic writing
- presentations
- dissertations
- numerical data skills
- referencing sources
Our AccessAbility Centre offers support and practical help for students with dyslexia or other specific learning difficulties, including physical, mental health or mobility difficulties, deafness, or visual impairment.
Teaching staff
You will be taught by an award-winning teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. PhD research students who have undertaken teacher training may also contribute to the teaching of workshops under the supervision of the module leader. You can learn more about our staff by visiting our staff profiles.