Law with Criminology LLB, 3-4 years
Start date:
Course information
Typical offer AAB
UK/EU fee £9,250
UCAS code ML26
International fee £16,825
Institute code L34
Taught by Leicester Law School
Admissions enquiries
+44 (0)116 252 5281
ahladmissions@le.ac.uk
Course enquiries
+44 (0)116 229 7764
ahladmissions@le.ac.uk
Law and criminology are inextricably linked. This degree gives you a solid grounding in law, as well as an understanding of criminology: the nature of crime, its causes, and how best to manage it. This is a joint honours course, in which Law modules make up 75% of the content, with Criminology modules accounting for the other 25%.
Course description
Course description
At Leicester, you will develop skills in legal and academic reasoning and research, and an appreciation of the social and policy issues underlying the law. You will study modules from both Leicester Law School and the School of Criminology which examine the nature, extent, causes, and control of criminal behaviour in both the individual and wider society. You will also explore the factors that underscore processes of law-making, law-breaking and law enforcement. Leicester is ranked #2 in the country for teaching Criminology (The Guardian University Guide 2021), and you'll benefit from our expertise at every step.
You can broaden your perspective with a year studying overseas, or make a difference by giving free legal advice to real clients through our Pro-Bono group. We will also encourage you to build practical skills through our award-winning extracurricular activities.
Law and Criminology are inseparable. Each discipline informs the other - changes in law inevitably lead to criminologists adapting their understanding, and vice versa. This course is ideal if you are interested in criminal law and want to broaden your knowledge to include what goes on outside the courtroom.
Topics that are typically explored in criminology include:
- What is the nature of criminal behaviour?
- Why do individuals commit crime?
- How and why do definitions of crime change over time and between societies?
- How should society deal with criminal activity?
By combining the study of Law with Criminology you can complement and contextualise your Law studies for a broader and deeper understanding of your subject. This is a joint honours course, in which Law modules make up 75% of the content, with Criminology modules accounting for the other 25%.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
No LNAT required - Unlike some universities, at Leicester we do not require applicants to have taken the National Admissions Test for Law. We are not convinced that LNAT scores provide additional information which we cannot get from your exam grades and school report.
- A-levels: AAB. General Studies accepted
- EPQ with A-levels: ABB + EPQ at grade B
- GCSE: English language at Grade C/4 or above
- Access to HE Diploma: Pass relevant diploma with 45 credits at Level 3, including 30 credits at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit
- International Baccalaureate: Pass diploma with 33 points. Plus grade 4 in SL English if not held at GCSE.
- BTEC Nationals: D*D*D with a strong GCSE background
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 is not permitted.
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 Leicester Law School.
English Language Requirements
IELTS 6.5 including 6.0 in writing (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
- £16,825 per year
- Year Abroad: £4,206.25, which is 25% of the full-time tuition fee
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
If you are a resident of Canada or have Canadian nationality, you may be eligible for a Scholarship.
If you are a resident of Malaysia or have Malaysian nationality, you may be eligible for a Scholarship.
Careers and employability
Careers and employability
Whether you're looking for a career in law or are not yet sure where your degree will take you, our dedicated team of Careers Tutors are here to help. With a huge array opportunities to take part in, you'll discover the range of paths available and find the one that's right for you. Along, the way, you'll develop a portfolio of professional skills and also learn what employers are looking for in applications and job interviews.
Some of the careers initiatives within the School include:
- Pro bono projects: Our student-led Pro Bono Group offers hundreds of volunteer roles across an extensive range of projects. Advise real clients in our Legal Advice Clinic or help the local community at the courts in Leicester. Or be part of something really different and carry out research to support vulnerable people on death row in the USA – we’re one of only two universities doing this.
- Legal competitions: The Leicester University Law Society organise mooting, debating, client interviewing, negotiation and mediation competitions for you to develop key transferable skills. For aspiring barristers, we have a brand-new dedicated moot court room and compete in national mooting competitions.
- Networking events: With strong links to local, regional and national law firms, we'll help you to get your foot in the door. Make connections at our annual law fair which attracts over 40 top law firms (including Magic Circle firms) and through our meet-and-greet sessions with successful graduates.
- Workshops: Applying for jobs is a skill in itself and we’ll help you to succeed with tailored workshops on CV-writing, application advice and interview techniques.
- Practice-focused assessments: We’ll teach you how to draft a letter to a client in your first year – an essential skill for any solicitor.
Our courses satisfy the entry requirements for the LPC (Legal Practice Course) and BPTC (Bar Professional Training Course). Applicants wishing to become lawyers outside of England and Wales should consult the appropriate country’s legal statutory body to check the requirements.
Graduate destinations
Graduates from our Law degrees have gone on to work for a wide range of employers including:
- DLA Piper
- Freeths LLP
- Grant Thornton LLP
- Home Office
- Sharkespeare Martineau LLP
- Rolls-Royce
After graduating from Leicester Law School, Michael went on to work at Slaughter & May, a member of the prestigious Magic Circle of law firms.
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.
Related courses
Related courses
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 3: Health and well-being
- Goal 5: Gender equality
- Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth
- Goal 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
- Goal 10: Reduced inequalities
- Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong institutions
Course structure
Year 1
Year 1
In your first year you will study the fundamentals of the legal system and criminology and consider the relationship between the two.
Modules
- Analysing Law
- Constitutional and Administrative Law
- Contract Law
- Introduction to Criminology
- Law, Justice and Society
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
You will continue your legal education by studying the three major areas of Criminal Law, European Law and the Law of Tort.
You will build upon your first year of criminology by studying the practical matters of punishment and rehabilitation.
Core modules
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.
Optional year abroad
Optional year abroad
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.
The Leicester Law School has links with several 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.
- For the latest information on the future of the Erasmus+ scheme at UK universities please see our Brexit microsite
We have links with the following universities:
- Kobenhavns Universitet, Denmark
- Université Jean-Moulin Lyon 3, France
- Université de Strasbourg, France
- Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Italy
- Universitetet i Oslo, Norway
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Spain
- Stockholm Universitet, Sweden
- Università degli Studi Roma Tre, Italy
- Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain
We also have links with some universities outside Europe. 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. We have links with the following universities:
Australia
- Flinders University, Adelaide
- La Trobe University, Melbourne
Other countries
- University of Windsor, Canada
- Singapore Management University, Singapore
- Rhodes University, South Africa
- Chuo University, Japan
- The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Universidad del Rosario, Colombia
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
During your final year you will have the opportunity to explore the areas of law and criminology that most fascinate you. The three core modules will ensure that you cover the essential topics, but you will be able to choose the remaining modules according to your interests. The option modules reflect our academics' areas of expertise and are all designed to bridge the space between the two disciplines.
Core modules
Option modules
Either choose one law option module from:
- Bioethics
- Commercial Law
- Company Law
- Competition Law and Policy
- Criminology
- Law Dissertation
- Employment Law
- Family Law
- Human Rights in the 21st Century
- Immigration Law
- Intellectual Property Law
- International Law
- Jurisprudence
- Law of Evidence
- Law and Political Theory
- Medical Law
Or choose two law option modules from:
- Clinical Legal Skills – A Law Clinic Module
- Advanced Clinical Legal Skills
- Canadian Constitutional Law
- Caring and the Law
- Inheritance Law
- Mental Health Law
- Advanced Property Law
- International Commercial Arbitration
- Criminal Justice 1: Policing
- Criminal Justice 2: Prosecutions and Criminal Trials
- Dispute Resolution
- Commercial Property
- Real Estate in Practice
Plus choose two criminology option modules from:
- Drugs, Crime and Society
- Hate Crime
- Policing
- Criminal Justice and Mental Disorder
- Violence
- Gender and Crime
- Crime, Risk and Security
- Forensic Science and Criminal Justice
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: 95% of our law students are employed (or studying for a Masters degree) six months after graduating. (DLHE)
Gain practical skills through our Pro Bono Society, which offers hundreds of volunteer roles across an extensive range of projects. Working alongside legal professionals, you can advise real clients in our Legal Advice Clinic and support the local community at Leicester County Court.
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.
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
Law
Teaching is delivered in two main styles: lectures and small group tutorials.
With two lectures in each module per week and a tutorial once a fortnight, you will have approximately 12 contact hours each week.
Lectures will provide you with the framework for each subject, whereas your tutorials will be an opportunity for you to engage with the subjects in more depth. Tutorials are held in small groups of 8 or 9 students, enabling you to participate fully and have your voice heard. In these group sessions, you will discuss the answers to pre-set questions, developing your critical thinking skills and learning how to confidently articulate your arguments. As the groups are small, you will receive close attention from your tutors and get to know them well during your studies.
We use web-based and electronic course materials to supplement traditional teaching methods and support student learning. There is easy access to computers both in the Law School itself and in the David Wilson Library next to the School. You will be able to access information about your courses and tutorials electronically.
Assessment methods include assessed essays/coursework, exams and multiple choice question papers. Professional legal writing - for example, writing a letter of advice to a client - is also built into our curriculum and you will start developing these practical skills from your very first year with us.
Criminology
You will be taught through a combination of lectures and tutorials, supported by materials available on our virtual learning environment. During lectures, you will learn the foundational knowledge of each subject area before attending a seminar where you can explore the subject in more depth through discussion of key ideas with other students.
By accessing the virtual learning environment, you will learn interactively and at your own pace through podcasts, webinars, online discussion forums and audio/visual learning aids. We believe that by giving you the opportunity to be taught by us in a variety of ways, your learning experience and engagement with the subject will be enhanced.
Our team of staff are on-hand to help you with any problems you might have, whether it be through a meeting with your personal tutor about a personal matter, or a drop in session with a member of teaching staff about an academic concern.
We believe in the importance of developing transferable skills while you study with us and our assessment methods are designed to reflect this. You will be assessed mainly through exams, essays, reports and presentations, but you will also have the opportunity to engage in creative forms of assessment such as factsheets, blogs and briefing papers.
Independent learning
When not attending lectures, seminars 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 experienced 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 seminars under the supervision of the module leader. Our teaching is informed by the research we do. You can learn more about our staff by visiting our staff profiles.
Apply now
Course | Qualification | Duration | UCAS Code | Availability |
---|---|---|---|---|
Course Law with Criminology | Qualification LLB | Duration 3 years full-time | UCAS Code ML26 | Availability Apply Now |
Course Law with Criminology with Year Abroad | Qualification LLB | Duration 4 years full-time | UCAS Code ML26 | Availability Apply Now |