Program Overview

Crime and Criminal Investigation BSc (Hons)

Overview

This course focuses on crime and criminal investigations, with a strong emphasis on the investigative process. Students will develop a comprehensive understanding of the Criminal Justice System and the role of investigators within it, while exploring current challenges faced by law enforcement and investigators.

Study Style

Students will engage with a range of teaching and learning styles, from large lecture halls to small classrooms, as well as making use of state-of-the-art practical investigation spaces in the Crime House and Custody Suite. Guest speakers from local organisations, businesses, and alumni will provide inspirational insights.

Course Modules

Level 4 (Undergraduate Year 1)

• Researching a Connected World (NS4441)
  • Introduces academic skills required for social science degree completion.
  • Develops independent learning, skills for lifelong learning, transferable skills for employability, and critical thinking.
  • Scheduled Contact Hours: 72
  • Independent Learning Hours: 228
  • Assessment:
    • 50% Assignment: Individual: 2000 words or equivalent
    • 50% Assignment: Individual: 2000 words or equivalent
• Criminal Justice: From Crime Scene to Court (NS4502)
  • Comprehensive examination of the police response to crime and the system of criminal justice.
  • Scheduled Contact Hours: 72
  • Independent Learning Hours: 228
  • Assessment:
    • 50% Exam: Multiple Choice: 1.50 hours
    • 50% Practical Assessment: Groupwork: 1,500 words or equivalent
• Crime, Punishment, and Society (NS4511)
  • Introduces the practical and theoretical foundations to understand and evaluate contemporary issues around crime and criminal justice.
  • Scheduled Contact Hours: 72
  • Independent Learning Hours: 228
  • Assessment:
    • 60% Assignment: Individual: 2000 words
    • 40% Assignment: Group: 30 minutes + 500 words
• Fundamentals for Policing (NS4552)
  • Provides a broad introduction to policing, the criminal justice process, and criminology.
  • Scheduled Contact Hours: 36
  • Independent Learning Hours: 114
  • Assessment:
    • 100% Presentation: Group: 20 minutes
• Principles of Investigation Practice (NS4554)
  • Introduces students to the principles of investigation practice, exploring how practitioners carry out investigations alongside recognising the importance intelligence management and evidence gathering to the investigation process.
  • Scheduled Contact Hours: 36
  • Independent Learning Hours: 114
  • Assessment:
    • 100% Practical Assessment: Groupwork: 1500 words or equivalent

Level 5 (Undergraduate Year 2)

• Developing as a Social Researcher (NS5441)
  • Builds upon the social science research methods training completed by students at Level 4.
  • Scheduled Contact Hours: 48
  • Independent Learning Hours: 252
  • Assessment:
    • 30% Assignment: Individual: 1000 words or equivalent
    • 30% Assignment: Individual: 2000 words
    • 40% Assignment: Individual: 2500 words
• Crime Science (NS5505)
  • Examines the specific methods and approaches of 'crime science' used to predict characteristics in unknown offenders, assess risk in dangerous offenders, and predict or identify patterns of crime.
  • Scheduled Contact Hours: 24
  • Independent Learning Hours: 126
  • Assessment:
    • 100% Portfolio: Individual: 2500 words or equivalent
• Equality, Diversity and Human Rights for Policing (NS5553)
  • Provides an overview of legislation that underpins equality, diversity, and human rights responsibility and activity across policing.
  • Scheduled Contact Hours: 24
  • Independent Learning Hours: 126
  • Assessment:
    • 100% Assignment: Individual: 2000 words or equivalent
• The Practice of Policing (I) - Policing Communities & Response Policing (NS5556)
  • Examines police law, policy, and procedure across the core policing disciplines of policing communities and response policing.
  • Scheduled Contact Hours: 72
  • Independent Learning Hours: 228
  • Assessment:
    • 40% Presentation: Group: 20 minutes
    • 60% Portfolio: Individual: 3000 words or equivalent
• Forensic Investigative Case Study (NS5567)
  • Gives students an enhanced level of knowledge and skill within the forensic realm and the applied forensic issues they will face when working cases within the justice system.
  • Scheduled Contact Hours: 24
  • Independent Learning Hours: 126
  • Assessment:
    • 100% Assignment: Individual: 2500 words
• Forensic Techniques in Crime Scene Investigation (NS5568)
  • Provides a comprehensive examination of the way in which the police respond to crime and provides a grounding to our system of criminal justice and how it works.
  • Scheduled Contact Hours: 24
  • Independent Learning Hours: 126
  • Assessment:
    • 100% Assignment: Individual: 2500 words or equivalent

Level 6 (Undergraduate Final Year)

• Homicide (NS6508)
  • Explores how we define and respond to homicide, who commits it and why, and suggestions to reduce its prevalence.
  • Scheduled Contact Hours: 24
  • Independent Learning Hours: 126
  • Assessment:
    • 100% Assignment: Individual: 3000 words
• Evidence-Based Research Project (Policing) (NS6551)
  • Allows the student to develop an interest in an aspect of policing which relates to an agreed area of learning and / or associated attachment to a specified area of police work.
  • Scheduled Contact Hours: 24
  • Independent Learning Hours: 126
  • Assessment:
    • 10% Presentation: Individual: 15 minutes or equivalent
    • 90% Dissertation / Major Project: evidence-based research project, 7500 words or equivalent
• Civil Emergencies and Critical Incident Management (NS6552)
  • Gives students the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the legislative framework which underpins the work of UK Government and the emergency and armed services when planning and responding to an emergency.
  • Scheduled Contact Hours: 24
  • Independent Learning Hours: 126
  • Assessment:
    • 100% Assignment: Individual: 3000 words or equivalent
• The Practice of Policing (II) - Digital Policing & Policing the Roads (NS6556)
  • Examines police law, policy, and procedure across the core policing disciplines of digital policing and policing the roads.
  • Scheduled Contact Hours: 72
  • Independent Learning Hours: 228
  • Assessment:
    • 40% Assignment: Individual: 2000 Words
    • 60% Portfolio: Individual: 3000 Words
• Forensic & Applied Criminology: the application of theory and practice (NS6571)
  • Gives students an enhanced level of knowledge and skill within the forensic realm and the applied forensic issues they will face when working cases within the justice system.
  • Scheduled Contact Hours: 24
  • Independent Learning Hours: 126
  • Assessment:
    • 100% Assignment: Individual: 3000 words
• Crimes: Legislation, Forensic Processing & Court Presentation (NS6575)
  • Provides students with the opportunity to further refine their crime scene processing skills but goes beyond the scene to actions in an investigation taken after the incident and understanding the wider context.
  • Scheduled Contact Hours: 24
  • Independent Learning Hours: 126
  • Assessment:
    • 100% Assignment: Individual: 3000 words

Fees and Costs

• Full Time (3 years)
  • Start date: Sep 2025
  • Location: Francis Close Hall, Cheltenham
  • UCAS code: L315
  • Fee (UK): £9,535
  • Fee (International): £17,425

Teaching Staff

• Dr Charlie Parker
  • Academic Course Leader for Crime and Criminal Investigation

School of Business, Computing and Social Sciences

• Gain new skills and develop innovative projects using cutting-edge facilities, labs, and suites.
• Work with expert lecturers and professionals from across the industry.

UoG Career Promise

• 95% of our graduates are in work or further study
• If you’re not in a job 6 months after graduating, we’ll guarantee you 6 months of free support, followed by the offer of a paid internship to kickstart your career – plus we’ll commit to lifetime career coaching. Eligibility conditions apply.

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