Criminology BA (Hons)

Exploring journeys through justice by broadening understandings of contemporary issues within the criminological context, encouraging students to become active citizens in challenging inequality and promoting social justice.

You deserve a positive teaching and learning experience, where you feel part of a supportive and nurturing community. That’s why most students will enjoy an innovative approach to learning using block teaching, where you will study one module at a time. You’ll benefit from regular assessments - rather than lots of exams at the end of the year - and a simple timetable that allows you to engage with your subject and enjoy other aspects of university life such as sports, societies, meeting friends and discovering your new city. By studying with the same peers and tutor for each block, you’ll build friendships and a sense of belonging.

Overview

Lecturer Nicola Collett talks about the benefits of studying Criminology at DMU.

The Criminology programme provides students with practical knowledge and transferable skills to become active citizens who critically reflect on, and challenge, established institutions and practices to contribute to their community and build a more just society.

It will focus on the sociology of crime, philosophy, social policy, law and jurisprudence to assist students in developing a critical awareness of contemporary issues in criminology in local, national and global contexts. Students will have the opportunity to develop a suite of professional and personal skills to enhance their employability including: reflexivity, critical thinking, ethics and professional conduct, alongside theoretical and practical skills to enter a diverse range of career pathways within criminal and social justice roles.

The programme provides students with skills to support learning for life through inquisitive and reflective practice, and the confidence to respond to the complexity and ambiguity of social change.

Key features

Learn alongside a skilled team of criminologists actively involved in teaching and research, many of whom have worked within criminal justice or allied fields and have strong links with the British Society of Criminology and the British Sociological Association.
Study a variety of topics delivered through a block-taught process that encourages active and experiential learning to engage a diverse student population.
Develop key personal, professional and practical skills that enhance employability upon course completion.
Grow your skillset within criminological research and SDG16 (Sustainable Development Goal 16) as you develop insight into local, national and global criminological contexts.
DMU is an SDG global hub that promotes access to justice for all while building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels through our Peace, Equality and Social Justice (PESJ) framework.
Participate in in-depth learning experiences through our DMU Global programme. Previous trips include the study of state crime at Auschwitz, subcultures in Chicago, and genocide education in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Discover your individuality within the field of Criminology by conducting a self-designed research project from beginning to end that channels your creativity and aligns with your own world views

Benefit from block teaching, where most students study one subject at a time. A simple timetable will allow you to really engage with your learning, receive regular feedback and assessments, get to know your course mates and enjoy a better study-life balance.

Criminology news

UK
EU/International

Institution code: D26

UCAS course code: L390

Start date: September

Duration: Three years full-time

Location: De Montfort University Leicester UK

Fees and funding:

2025/26 tuition fees for UK students: £9,250

Additional costs: You may incur additional costs for this programme, including the cost of travelling to and from project/placement locations.

How to apply

Submit a study-related enquiry

Institution code: D26

UCAS course code: L390

Start date: September

Duration: Three years full-time

Location: De Montfort University Leicester UK

Fees and funding:

2024/25 tuition fees for international students: £15,750

Find out more about available funding for international students.

Additional costs: You may incur additional costs for this programme, including the cost of travelling to and from project/placement locations.

How to apply

Application guidance document

Submit a study-related enquiry

Entry criteria

GCSEs

Five GCSEs at grade C/4 or above including English and Maths

Plus one of the following:

A levels

A minimum of 112 points from at least two A levels

T Levels

Merit

BTEC

BTEC National Diploma - Distinction/Merit/Merit
BTEC Extended Diploma - Distinction/Merit/Merit

International Baccalaureate

24+ points

Access to HE Diploma

Pass in QAA accredited Access to HE overall 112 UCAS tariff with at least 30 Level 3 credits at Merit.

We will normally require students to have had a break from full-time education before undertaking the Access course.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.5 overall is essential.

English language tuition, delivered by our British Council-accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it.

Interview: No

Work experience: No

Personal statement selection criteria:

Clear communication skills, including good grammar and spelling
Information relevant to the course applied for
Interest in the course demonstrated with explanation and evidence

UCAS Tariff changes

Students applying for courses starting in September will be made offers based on the latest UCAS Tariff.

Structure and assessment

First Year (Part 1 - Describe)

Block 1: Studying at university
Block 2: Principles of social research
Block 3: Contemporary issues in Criminology
Block 4: Journeys through justice

Second Year (Part 2 - Analyse)

Block 1: Explaining criminological issues
Block 2: Communities of justice
Block 3: TBC
Block 4: Researching justice journeys

Third Year (Part 3 - Critique)

Block 1: Planning social research
Block 2: Justice in a globalised world
Block 3: Emerging issues in Criminology
Block 4: Final year project

See more detailed module information

Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures (both pre-recorded and in-person), seminars, tutorials, computer laboratory workshops, and self-directed study. The focus is on providing essential knowledge before moving on to discussing and applying key ideas and concepts. Contact (teaching) time is between 8-10 hours per week

For the purposes of designing the delivery of the BA (Hons) Criminology, the following definitions were adopted: 

Lectures: Large-group, academic-led session focused on directed input of knowledge. Where a module is focused on theory, students will attend in person to enable direct engagement with the academic delivering content. This enables a dynamic interaction for students to explore theoretical concepts and develop their understanding.  

Seminars: Small to medium sized group learning activities. Academics lead these sessions to provide a framework for guiding discussions exploring key theories and issues. Commonly students will be asked to engage in pre-session preparation, such as reading key sources, or finding examples of issues that align with their specific interests in criminology. 

Workshops: Medium sized group learning activities focused on developing practical skills, such as practicing the application of research methods, learning about IT packages, or developing projects. 

Tutorials: Individual or small group sessions where students set the agenda by identifying aspects of their learning that they feel they need support to develop. The focus is as much on peer-to-peer learning as it is on academic-led interventions. 

Throughout the course, contact time is supplemented by extra-curricular lectures, employability events, group meetings, meetings with tutors, optional trips and other activities. As a full-time student, you will be expected to devote a considerable amount of time to independent study, voluntary placements and extra-curricular activities. In the final year, the research project will include 1:1 supervision.

Assessment

Over the whole programme, there is a varied mix of assessment that incorporates diverse learning styles including: group presentations, case study analysis, reflective essays, essays, multiple choice exams, individual presentations, posters. There will also be a range of formative assessments including weekly knowledge checks through quizzes and similar variations. Moreover, to help students prepare their skills for future assessments in upcoming blocks, teaching activities will include those that connect to future assessments.

Staff at DMU come from a variety of backgrounds so students will be taught by a team with varied interests, experiences and skills. Indeed, some of our teaching team have professional experience working in and around the CJS whilst others have developed through teaching and research.

We are passionate about what we do and hold memberships with various professional and research bodies. Our national and international research is incorporated into our teaching. Projects include:

Research into probation training in Europe and development of a curriculum
European research into victim empowerment, risk assessment and multi-agency safety planning

Facilities and features

Health and Life Sciences facilities

Substantial investment has developed our teaching and learning facilities to help you expand your practical experience and theoretical knowledge beyond the classroom.

The 19th century Hawthorn Building has facilities designed to replicate current practice in health and life sciences, including contemporary analytical chemistry and formulation laboratories, audiology booths and nursing and midwifery clinical skills suites.

Recently renovated, the Undercroft offers dedicated break out spaces and study spaces allowing for collaborative and interprofessional learning beyond the classroom.

Library and learning zones

On campus, the main Kimberlin Library offers a space where you can work, study and access a vast range of print materials, with computer stations, laptops, plasma screens and assistive technology also available.

As well as providing a physical space in which to work, we offer online tools to support your studies, and our extensive online collection of resources accessible from our Library website, e-books, specialised databases and electronic journals and films which can be remotely accessed from anywhere you choose.

We will support you to confidently use a huge range of learning technologies, including the Virtual Learning Environment, Collaborate Ultra, DMU Replay, MS Teams, Turnitin and more. Alongside this, you can access LinkedIn Learning and learn how to use Microsoft 365, and study support software such as mind mapping and note-taking through our new Digital Student Skills Hub.

The library staff offer additional support to students, including help with academic writing, research strategies, literature searching, reference management and assistive technology. There is also a ‘Just Ask’ service for help and advice, live LibChat, online workshops, tutorials and drop-ins available from our Learning Services, and weekly library live chat sessions that give you the chance to ask the library teams for help.

More flexible ways to learn

We offer an equitable and inclusive approach to learning and teaching for all our students. Known as the Universal Design for Learning (UDL), our teaching approach has been recognised as sector leading. UDL means we offer a wide variety of support, facilities and technology to all students, including those with disabilities and specific learning differences.

Just one of the ways we do this is by using ‘DMU Replay’ – a technology providing all students with anytime access to audio and/or visual material of lectures. This means students can revise taught material in a way that suits them best, whether it's replaying a recording of a class or adapting written material shared in class using specialist software.

Opportunities and careers

Volunteering Opportunities

Our strong links with criminal justice and allied agencies enable you to volunteer within the sector. You will be supported to find opportunities that suit your personal and professional development.

You can also access volunteering and research opportunities through De Montfort Students’ Union and DMU Local, develop your practical and professional skills, and enhance your employability upon graduation. Previous students have volunteered with local criminal justice agencies, including prison, probation offices, youth offending services and victim support. Students are also encouraged to visit the local magistrates’ courts and prisons.

Graduate Careers

We have an employability lead for Criminology BA (Hons) who focuses on building up employment links and hosting events to encourage students to think about careers.

Past events include a Frontiers for Future Careers webinar series where local and national organisations hosted session with our criminology students. Guests included CJS agencies, charities and career support services.

Graduate career opportunities are varied, with recent graduates going on to work in sectors including:

Policing
Youth justice
Community safety
Crime prevention
Victim Support
Prison Service
National Probation Service and probation partner organisations
Substance misuse services
Social work
Teaching
Policy related employment
Academia

DMU Global

Our innovative international experience programme DMU Global aims to enrich your studies and expand your cultural horizons, helping you to become a global graduate, equipped to meet the needs of employers across the world. Through DMU Global, we offer a wide range of opportunities including on-campus and UK-based activities, overseas study, internships, faculty-led field trips and volunteering, as well as Erasmus+ and international exchanges.

Previous opportunities have seen Criminology students gain a better understanding of state crime at the Auschwitz concentration camp, explore sub-cultures in Chicago, and visit Bosnia and Herzegovina to explore the experiences of victims of the Bosnian genocide.

Take your next steps

Nine halls of residence and around 2,300 rooms, all of which are within easy walking distance of the campus.

Run by students for students, DSU offers more than 150 societies and almost 40 different sports clubs for you to get involved in.

Criminology BA (Hons)

Block teaching designed around you