Program Overview

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Criminology with Foundation BA Honours

Overview

Our degree courses with Foundation year offer the opportunity to prepare you for advanced study before you progress onto a full honours degree at the University of Westminster. Whether you do not feel ready for degree-level study, don’t have the right qualifications, want to change your subject specialism or return to study after an absence from education, we aim to encourage a broad range of students to undertake our Foundation year in order to progress onto their full honours degree with us.

The Foundation year is designed to give you the opportunity to explore new ideas, opening up new perspectives on the key debates within your chosen field. Core modules accelerate your academic and professional development and you will also take modules from areas closely related to your chosen field, giving you the chance to develop a cross-disciplinary perspective on your course.

On successful completion of the Foundation year, you will be able to move on to study for the Criminology BA Honours degree.

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.

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.

• Foundation
• Year 1
• Year 2
• Placement year
• Year 3

Subjects of study include:

• Crime and Society
• Critical Thinking for Academic and Professional Development
• Introduction to Academic Practice
• Law, Power and Authority
• Rights and the Law
• Society, Risk and Crime: Sociological Perspectives

There are no optional or elective modules offered at Level 3, as the focus is on the development of key academic skills through a broad understanding of social sciences and humanities.

Credit Level 3

Subjects of study include:

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

Credit Level 4

Subjects of study include:

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

Credit Level 5

Professional Experience or Study Abroad Year

Between Years 2 and 3, 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:

• Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice
• Critical Policing
• Dissertation in Criminology
• 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

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

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

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

90% of our Criminology BA graduates are in work and/or further study 15 months after finishing their course.

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:

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

Graduate employment:

• 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.

Course Leader

Mark Cambridge has been a member of the criminology team at University of Westminster for just over 16 years. Mark studied LLB (Hons) Law at Kingston University and obtained a MSc in Legal Studies at Edinburgh University. Mark started as a part-time tutor at Westminster, teaching on a wide range of modules in the department before becoming a full-time member of staff.

Mark has extensive experience teaching a broad range of modules and is currently module leader for 4CRIM05W Crime & The London Underworld, 5CRIM001W Radical Criminology and 6CRIM015W Critical Policing. Mark became Course Leader in 2023 and was formerly Senior Tutor for four years.

Mark is proud to lead the criminology team, which is dedicated to delivering a critically and globally focused award-winning criminology programme. With its distinctive focus and innovative teaching and learning strategies, the criminology team ensures students have a positive learning experience where they feel supported and enjoy their course.

Entry Requirements

• UK:
  • A Levels - DDE (64 UCAS Tariff points)
  • T levels – 64 UCAS Tariff points
  • International Baccalaureate - 64 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 - MPP
  • BTEC Diploma - MM
  • Access - 64 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.

• International:
  • International Baccalaureate – 64 UCAS Tariff points from all components of the Diploma Programme. International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme will be considered on a case-by-case basis. You can refer to the UCAS calculator to determine your point score
  • We accept a wide range of international high school level qualifications. Please see information on Country-specific entry requirements
  • We work in partnership with Kaplan International College London who provide International Foundation Certificate courses for students who don’t meet our entry requirements. Upon successful completion, you can progress to your chosen degree at the University of Westminster. Find out about a range of university preparation courses that are accepted for entry.

English Language Requirements

• If your first language is not English, you should have an IELTS score of 6.0 overall, with a score of 5.5 in each component. Please note we accept a wide range of English language qualifications and assessments. Find out more at English language requirements.
• If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, then we offer online and on campus pre-sessional English programmes to help develop your English language skills to the required level before you start your course. Find out more about our pre-sessional English programmes.

Fees and Funding

• UK tuition fee: £5,760 (Price for Foundation year only)
• International tuition fee: £17,000 (Price for Foundation year only)

Teaching and Assessment

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

• F: 24% Scheduled hours, 76% Independent study, 0% Placement
• 1: 24% Scheduled hours, 76% Independent study, 0% Placement
• 2: 25% Scheduled hours, 75% Independent study, 0% Placement
• P: 1% Scheduled hours, 0% Independent study, 99% Placement
• 3: 17% Scheduled hours, 82% Independent study, 1% Placement

Assessments typically fall into three broad categories:

• Practical: examples include presentations, videos, podcasts, lab work, creating artefacts
• Written exams: end of semester exams
• Coursework: examples include essays, reports, in-class tests, portfolios, dissertation

Year

• F: 0% Written exams, 9% Practical, 91% Coursework
• 1: 1% Written exams, 25% Practical, 74% Coursework
• 2: 1% Written exams, 9% Practical, 90% Coursework
• P: 0% Written exams, 50% Practical, 50% Coursework
• 3: 0% Written exams, 16% Practical, 84% Coursework

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

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.

Related Courses

• Sociology and Criminology BA Honours
• Sociology BA Honours
• Law LLB Honours