Criminology BA Honours

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Course Overview

UK Fees £1,540 *
International Fees £2,570 *
Duration 5 years

* Price per 20-credit module

Course summary

With crime frequently in the news and always an important issue, criminology has never been more relevant. The Criminology BA Honours aims to enthuse, inspire and equip you with the skills for a successful career in today's competitive job market.

Criminology draws on a wide range of human and social science disciplines, and the course has been designed to develop your knowledge and understanding of criminology as an interdisciplinary subject area. It will also equip you with the transferable and cognitive skills necessary for lifelong personal and professional development.

Westminster's criminologists are concerned with who commits crimes and how offenders should be punished, but at the heart of criminology are fundamental questions about how 'crime' is defined, how criminal law is made, and how definitions of crime and justice vary historically and cross-culturally.

Where better to study this fascinating discipline than in the heart of the UK's policing and criminal justice systems? Contemporary concerns are reflected as the subject engages with globalisation and culture across theoretical, qualitative and empirical domains.

Our graduates go on to develop careers in a wide range of sectors including the police and policing-support organisations, the National Probation Service, local government and crime prevention.

The course investigates the impact of power, societal structures and inequalities on processes and patterns of criminalisation, crime, harm, victimisation and criminal justice, as well as on knowledge production within criminology. Core and optional subjects cover an extensive range of topics, including processes of criminalisation and victimisation; the social, legal and cultural meanings of crime; the causes and organisation of crime and deviance at all levels; understanding crime in relation to class, gender, race and ethnicity, religious faith, and sexuality; and the practical and political processes of preventing and managing crime.

We make use of Westminster’s central London location to facilitate off-site learning, with visits to the High Court of Justice, theatres and a prison. In Year 3, you'll have the opportunity to take part in a field trip, which, for example, in 2023 took students to the Baltic states, visiting criminal justice institutions.

Top reasons to study with us

  • Work experience opportunities – our work experience module in Year 3 will allow you to gain valuable practical experience. Many of our students find placements in a range of criminal justice agencies
  • Field trips – In Year 3, you'll have the opportunity to take part in a field trip, which, for example, in 2023 took students to the Baltic states. You'll also be able to take part in field walks around London including visits to theatres, prisons and the High Court of Justice
  • Award-winning leadership – former course leader David Manlow was awarded the British Society of Criminology award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (2016) for his design and implementation of the curriculum, which provides the basis for the course studied today

Course structure

Teaching and learning methods include lectures, seminars, independent study, and off-site learning such as visits and field walks which make use of Westminster's central London location.

Assessment methods may include essays, debates, criminal justice policy analysis, individual and group presentations, exams, statistical analyses, and your dissertation.

The following subjects are indicative of what you will study on this course.

The contents of this course are the same, whether you study full-time or part-time. Please note, Level 4 corresponds to Year 1 of the full-time version of the course, Level 5 corresponds to Year 2, Level 6 corresponds to Year 3.

Subjects of study include:

  • Controversies in Criminal Justice
  • Criminological Imagination
  • Criminological Perspectives
  • Justice and Human Rights
  • Researching Crime and Justice
  • Crime and the London Underworld
  • Psychology and Crime

Credit Level 4

Subjects of study include:

  • Globalisation, Crime and Control
  • Radical Criminology
  • Research Methods in Sociology and Criminology
  • Work-based Learning
  • Forensic Criminal Psychology
  • Gender, Crime and Justice
  • Race, Power and Criminal Justice
  • Youth, Crime and Justice

Credit Level 5

Professional experience or study abroad year

Between Levels 5 and 6, you’ll have the opportunity to undertake a professional placement year in industry. Completing the placement year will lead to the final award Bachelor of Arts with Honours - Criminology with Professional Experience.

Alternatively, you can undertake a period of study abroad at one of Westminster’s partner institutions. Successful completion will lead to the final award Bachelor of Arts with Honours - Criminology with International Experience.

Subjects of study include:

  • Dissertation in Criminology
  • Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice
  • Critical Policing 
  • Human Rights and Global Injustice
  • Immigration, Borders and (In)Justice
  • Issues in State Crime
  • Media and Crime
  • Psychology, Crime and the Popular Imagination
  • Punishment and Modern Society
  • Work Experience in Criminology and Criminal Justice

Credit Level 6

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Programme specification

For more details on course structure, modules, teaching and assessment Download the programme specification (PDF).

To request an accessible version please email [email protected]

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Prospectus

Get your copy of the University of Westminster prospectus and browse the range of courses on offer.

Request a prospectus

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Get in touch

Contact us for general course enquiries:

+44 (0)20 7911 5000 EXT 65511
(Mon-Fri, 10am-3pm GMT)

[email protected]

Live chat with us
(Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm GMT)

Open days

Join us at an open day online or on campus. Get a feel for student life at the University of Westminster and talk to course leaders and our support teams.

Careers

With a growing global network of 3,000 employers, our Careers and Employability Service is here to support you to achieve your full potential.

96%

Student satisfaction

96% of our students agreed that they were satisfied with the course.

(Source: Discover Uni, accessed in December 2020)

Transferable skills

You'll gain the knowledge and experience to work in sectors such as crime prevention, local government, the police and policing-support organisations.

90%

Graduates in work or further study

90% of our Criminology BA graduates are in work and/or further study 15 months after finishing their course. (Source: Discover Uni - site accessed in December 2020)

Career development

Many of our graduates are currently pursuing successful careers in teaching, the civil service, criminal justice agencies, law, and higher education administration.

Many of our graduates go on to further study and a number are now pursuing successful academic careers of their own.

Job roles

This course will prepare you for roles such as:

  • Charity/third sector worker
  • Civil Service roles
  • Local government officer
  • Police officer
  • Probation officer
  • Youth justice worker
  • Social researcher

Graduate employment

Graduates from this course have found employment in sectors including:

  • Crime prevention
  • Local government
  • National Probation Service
  • Police
  • Policing-support organisations

International Opportunities

Many of our courses offer international study and work experiences, and the University provides other global opportunities that all students can apply for - so whatever you're studying, you'll have the chance to go abroad.

Opportunities could include:

  • Taking part in semester or year-long exchanges at institutions around the world
  • Attending an international summer school or field trip
  • Developing your CV through volunteering or work placements abroad

International experience broadens horizons, boosts self-confidence, and improves global understanding, alongside being fantastic for your career.

Find out more about our international opportunities, including funding options and where you can go.

Students working and studying internationally

Course Leaders

Why study this course?

Fantastic central London location

Based in our Regent Campus in central London, you’ll enjoy the benefits of studying in a major global city.

Field trips

You'll have the opportunity to take part in a field trip abroad and field walks around London including visits to theatres, prisons and the High Court of Justice.

A supportive environment

We provide our students with the right environment, support and guidance throughout their studies to keep them motivated.

Studying Criminology at Westminster

Entry Requirements

  • A Levels – BCC (104 UCAS Tariff points)
  • T levels – 104 UCAS Tariff points
  • International Baccalaureate – 104 UCAS Tariff points from all components of the Diploma Programme. International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme will be considered on a case-by-case basis
  • BTEC Extended Diploma – DMM
  • BTEC Diploma – D*D
  • Access – 104 UCAS Tariff points from the Access course

In addition to one of the above, you should have:

  • GCSE English Language grade 4/C – IB grade 4 Higher level, GCSE Maths grade 4/C – IB grade 4

If your first language is not English, you will need an IELTS of 6.0 overall, with 5.5 in each component.

We also welcome applications from students who are taking a combination of qualifications listed above. For further information, please contact Course Enquiries.

View more information about our entry requirements and the application process

  • International Baccalaureate – 104 UCAS Tariff points from all components of the Diploma Programme. International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme will be considered on a case-by-case basis

If your first language is not English, you will need an IELTS of 6.0 overall, with 5.5 in each component.

More information

International Foundation course

We work in partnership with Kaplan International College London to provide Foundation Certificate courses for international students who don’t meet our Bachelor’s degree entry requirements.

Find out how to apply for the Foundation Certificate course.

Pre-sessional English programmes

Need to improve your English before starting your course? We offer summer pre-sessional English programmes to help develop your English language skills.

Find out more about our pre-sessional English programmes.

Learn new skills

Learn a new language

From Arabic to Spanish, you can learn a new language alongside your degree with our Polylang programme

Develop your entrepreneurial skills

Our award-winning Creative Enterprise Centre offers industry networking events, workshops, one-to-one business advice and support for your startup projects. 

Gain extra qualifications

We provide access to free online courses in Adobe and Microsoft Office applications, as well as thousands of specialist courses on LinkedIn Learning.

Fees and Funding

UK tuition fee: £1,540 (Price per 20-credit module)

When you have enrolled with us, your annual tuition fees will remain the same throughout your studies with us. We do not increase your tuition fees each year.

Find out how we set our tuition fees.

Funding

As well as tuition fee loans, there is a range of funding available to help you fund your studies.

Find out about undergraduate student funding options.

Scholarships

The University is dedicated to supporting ambitious and outstanding students and we offer a variety of scholarships to eligible undergraduate students, which cover all or part of your tuition fees.

Find out if you qualify for one of our scholarships.

Additional costs

See what you may need to pay for separately and what your tuition fees cover.

International tuition fee: £2,570 (Price per 20-credit module)

When you have enrolled with us, your annual tuition fees will remain the same throughout your studies with us. We do not increase your tuition fees each year.

Find out how we set our tuition fees.

EU Qualifications Welcome Award Scheme

If you are an international student accepted on an undergraduate programme starting in September 2024 or September 2025 at level 3 (Foundation) or level 4 (first year) on the basis of an eligible EU qualification only, you will be awarded a tuition fee reduction which will align your fee more closely to the one for UK students. For more information, see the EU Qualifications Welcome Award Scheme.

International student funding

Find out about funding for international students.

Additional costs

See what you may need to pay for separately and what your tuition fees cover.

Teaching and Assessment

Below you will find how learning time and assessment types are distributed on this course. The graphs below give an indication of what you can expect through approximate percentages, taken either from the experience of previous cohorts, or based on the standard module diet where historic course data is unavailable.  Changes to the division of learning time and assessment may be made in response to feedback and in accordance with our terms and conditions.

How you'll be taught

Teaching methods across all our undergraduate courses focus on active student learning through lectures, seminars, workshops, problem-based and blended learning, and where appropriate practical application. Learning typically falls into three broad categories:

  • Scheduled hours: examples include lectures, seminars, practical classes, workshops, supervised time in a studio
  • Placement: placement hours normally include placement opportunities, but may also include live projects or virtual activity involving employers
  • Independent study: non-scheduled time in which students are expected to study independently. This may include preparation for scheduled sessions, follow-up work, wider reading or practice, completion of assessment tasks, or revision
Year
1
24%76%
2
24%76%
3
24%76%
P
1%2%97%
4
24%76%
5
21%76%3%
Scheduled hoursIndependent studyPlacement

How you'll be assessed

Our undergraduate courses include a wide variety of assessments.

Assessments typically fall into two broad categories:

  • Practical: examples include presentations, videos, podcasts, lab work, creating artefacts  
  • Coursework: examples include essays, reports, in-class tests, portfolios, dissertation
Year
1
21%79%
2
21%79%
3
11%89%
P
25%75%
4
11%89%
5
16%84%
PracticalCoursework

Data from the academic year 2022/23

Alumni

Rachel O Connor

Criminology BA Honours - 2020

Fraud Analyst Investigator | Serious Fraud Office

The most valuable part of the course was the support we received during my time studying. The lecturers ensured that we were always well-resourced and comfortable with the understanding of given tasks and assignments.

Supporting you

Our Student Hub is where you’ll find out about the services and support we offer, helping you get the best out of your time with us.

  • Study support — workshops, 1-2-1 support and online resources to help improve your academic and research skills
  • Personal tutors — support you in fulfilling your academic and personal potential
  • Student advice team — provide specialist advice on a range of issues including funding, benefits and visas
  • Extra-curricular activities — volunteering opportunities, sports and fitness activities, student events and more

Visit our student hub

Course location

Our Regent Campus is comprised of two sites, situated on and around Regent Street – one of the most famous and vibrant streets in London.

Subjects including Criminology and Sociology, English and Creative Writing, History, Languages, Politics and International Relations and Visual Culture are based at 309 Regent Street, which includes recently refurbished social spaces, gym facilities and our Regent Street Cinema.

For more details, visit our locations page.

Contact us

Call our dedicated team on:

+44 (0)20 7911 5000 ext 65511

Opening hours (GMT): 10am–4pm Monday to Friday

[email protected]

Start live chat

Opening hours (GMT): 10am–4pm Monday to Friday

More information

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