Criminology
As one of the very few dedicated Departments of Criminology in the UK, we offer you genuine expertise in a supportive environment that is geared towards criminological research and study.
| Course Title | UCAS Code | Duration | Typical Offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| BA Criminology | M930 | Three years full-time | ABB |
| LLB Law with Criminology | ML26 | Three years full-time | AAB |
Criminology at Leicester
Criminology is the study of how crime is defined, why some people commit crime and what happens when they do. It is also the study of victims, the police, the courts and the penal system, as well as the prevention and deterrence of criminal behaviour.
Crime and its impact are at the forefront of current political and social debate. We only have to switch on the television or pick up a newspaper to see headlines about violent crime, anti-social behaviour, hate crime or online fraud to realise how relevant to everyday life the study of criminology has become. A degree in criminology enables you to explore the reality behind these headlines and examine a topic which is relevant, topical and has a real, practical application in contemporary society.
If you choose to study criminology at the University of Leicester you will be joining a thriving and internationally-renowned department. Leicester is one of the very few universities in the country to have its own department exclusively dedicated to researching and teaching criminology, and our students benefit from learning in an environment that is home to some of the UK’s leading criminologists. The Department is a first point of contact for national and international journalists needing information and advice on crime issues and it is regularly called on by national and local governments to assist with policy development.
At the Department of Criminology our teaching is inspired by the findings from our cutting-edge research. Lecturing staff have a wide array of research interests, ranging from policing and offending behaviour to hate crime, sentencing, prisons, probation and the media. This research expertise feeds directly into our teaching programme, helping to shape course content and keeping our courses abreast of current debates on crime and criminal justice.
Our teaching environment combines innovative lecturing methods with groundbreaking research findings, providing a stimulating yet friendly atmosphere in which to study. You are encouraged to engage in current criminological debates and to air your ideas in group discussions and seminars.
Why Choose Criminology at Leicester?
Places: 75
Applications: 669
Example Jobs: Administrator/Legal Clerk; Account Manager; Cambridge Constabulary Administrator; Civil Enforcement Officer; Hate Incident Officer/Approved Premises Duty Worker; Induction and Placement Officer; Police Constable (Special) and Crime Prevention Officer; Recruitment Consultant; Security Officer; Support Worker.
Example Employers: Accredo; Benefit Cosmetics; Cambridge Constabulary; Derbyshire Constabulary; Hays; Human Rights and Equalities Charnwood; Marks and Spencer; Nationwide; Northamptonshire Probation Service; NSL Services; Permits2work Ltd; Showsec; Sytner.
Example Postgraduate Courses: Graduate Diploma in Psychology; Law Conversion Course; LLM; MA Criminology; MA International Relations and World Order; MA New Media and Society; MA Social Work; MSc Criminology; MSc Terrorism, Security and Policing; PGDip in Nursing (Adult).
Example jobs and employers information comes from the University’s ‘Where Did They Go?’ survey, and shows destinations of 2010/11 graduates six months after graduation.
Flexibility and choice: The Department of Criminology offers a comprehensive and exciting range of modules, thereby enabling you to tailor your studies towards topics that you are interested in.
Excellent support: We pride ourselves in our supportive culture, providing a welcoming academic environment in which to undertake your degree.
Research-led: Our philosophy of research-led teaching ensures that you will be learning about the very latest debates in policy and practice.
Forward thinking: Our innovative array of teaching and assessment methods encourages you to engage in critical debate.
Career prospects: Studying criminology at Leicester will enhance and broaden your academic knowledge, develop key skills and provide good career opportunities.
Student satisfaction: In the National Student Survey 96% of students studying Criminology were satisfied overall with their course.
League Table: We are ranked 4th in the Guardian 2013 league table.
Teaching, Learning and Assessment
All modules are taught using a mixture of lectures and seminars. Lectures are designed to provide you with the key aspects of a topic and facilitate further exploration. You then have the opportunity to impart this knowledge during discussions in seminars. You will typically have two lectures and one seminar per week for each module.
In addition, we provide online access to teaching resources and administrative support for the BA programme via the University’s virtual learning environment, Blackboard.
All core modules are assessed by a combination of essays and exams, whilst option modules are assessed by essays, presentations, posters and even podcasts.
In the third year you will also be required to complete a piece of empirical or literature-based research in order to produce a dissertation. The dissertation provides an opportunity for independent study in an area of criminology that particularly interests you.
Skills Gained
The Department of Criminology provides you with a whole host of transferable skills that will give you a head-start in today’s competitive job market, and works closely with the University’s Student Development Service to alert you to relevant opportunities.
Students who graduate from the BA Criminology course will have an in-depth knowledge and understanding of crime and its consequences, both theoretical and applied.
Your capacity for imaginative, rigorous and critical thinking will be developed throughout the degree programme. Subject specific skills, such as knowledge of the social processes of crime and the criminal justice system, and the ability to understand and use different types of evidence, will be complemented by the type of transferable key skills that are highly valued by employers in the graduate job market, including the ability to present and develop a cohesive argument, IT expertise, research and problem-solving abilities, communication skills and working as part of a team.
Graduate/Career Opportunities
A degree in criminology offers routes into a wide range of criminal justice and criminology related careers. Possible career options include: the police service (officers and analysts); the prison, probation and youth offending services; community and voluntary organisations (such as NACRO, drugs projects, youth work); government agencies (whether at the Home Office or at local government level); and academic research.
We have developed a strong reputation for the quality and breadth of our postgraduate teaching and continue to offer a range of campus-based and distance-learning MSc programmes in the fields of criminology, policing and security, as well as an MPhil and PhD programme. This provides our undergraduate students with the option of pursuing their studies of criminology at a higher level on completion of their degree without having to leave the familiar surroundings of their first-choice university.
Opportunities to Visit and Further Information
Choosing a degree programme and university are two of the most important decisions you will ever make. We believe it is important to provide as much information as possible to enable you to make an informed decision. We would therefore like to offer you the opportunity to talk to our admissions' team so that you can decide whether our programme is the right choice for you.
For further information, please contact:
BA Course Administrator
Department of Criminology,
University of Leicester
154 Upper New Walk
Leicester, LE1 7QA
0116 252 5712
Fax: 0116 252 5788
criminology@le.ac.uk
www.le.ac.uk/criminology/
