Are you interested in building a career in the criminology or law sectors, but need a little extra groundwork and support? With our foundation degree in law and criminology, you’ll first gain the knowledge required to progress to degree-level study. After completing your foundation year, you’ll progress to undergraduate study, building and developing your skills throughout the remainder of your course – from legal study to the psychological and social aspects of criminology.
Your foundation year will help you develop key working skills, IT skills, emotional intelligence and basic learning skills that will prepare you to successfully complete your Criminology and Law programme. As well as gaining confidence in academic skills and a detailed, in-depth understanding of the criminal justice system, this course will enable you to examine elements of the legal system and analyse their connection with criminal behaviour. So, if you’re interested in how crime and law relate to both individuals and wider society, look no further!
But it’s not just about the theory. As with all our courses, our law and criminology degree is strongly focused on the skills you need to build your career. It’s been developed by industry professionals who are leaders in their field, with an emphasis on applied learning, meaning you’ll gain a range of transferable skills long before you graduate.
Our criminology and law foundation year course is designed to refresh your academic skills and enhance your knowledge of two linked and well-established social sciences. The modules of this course have been expertly designed to help you gain a solid understanding of crime’s complex relationship with social policy, by analysing a variety of legal concepts and ethics - as well as the social, psychological and political effect crime has on the world.
We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to graduate with a degree, no matter what your academic background is. That’s why we offer this degree with an integrated foundation year that is designed to provide you with the toolkit you need to succeed in the workplace.
You have 4-12 years to complete this course, meaning that you can take up to three years to complete each level – however, many of our students complete the course in 4-8 years.
Foundation Year
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
At Arden University, a variety of methods are used to assess your progress, allowing you to demonstrate your strengths as you study. For this criminology and law with foundation year course, these assessments include:
At Arden University we consider applications on a case by case basis. If you have significant work experience, have qualifications you have gained elsewhere, or a degree or qualification that isn't a clear pathway to this degree - we are more than happy to discuss your application.
Candidates for our BA (Hons) Criminology and Law foundation degree are required to submit a personal statement (of between 350-550 words) or interview demonstrating an ability to study for the programme. This statement should include:
We also offer an internal English test for applicants who are unable to provide an English Proficiency letter. More information on this can be found here.
Before getting started with any degree, it’s nice to know exactly who you’ll be learning from. The School of Law & Criminology is formed of a group of experienced, qualified and enthusiastic tutors who design the courses alongside industry professionals. Heading up our foundation year programme is Towella Ngambi, who has a wealth of experience in up-skilling individuals to help accelerate their career and personal growth.
The specialist skills you’ll have after graduating include analytical and critical thinking, problem-solving, strong interpersonal and communication skills and an appreciation of organisational behaviour and structures – all of which are highly valued by employers and validate your potential for future development your chosen sector.
As a graduate of the criminology and foundation year degree, you’ll be equipped with a wide range of employability skills, as well as a confident knowledge of your chosen field of study.
After completing your BA (Hons) Law and Criminology with Foundation year degree, you’ll be able to:
While our criminology and law foundation year degree is useful to those looking to practice criminal law or to work in the criminal justice system, this flexible qualification can also open up a world of opportunities in other areas, including:
Studying with Arden is all about getting career-ready. Alongside your foundation course, you’ll also have access to several extra online resources for professional development. You can use these to explore a specialist area of interest and to enhance your CV even further.
Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to student support advisors who are exclusively there to help you. They’ll help you to enhance your academic skills, guide you with your orientation and offer tailored career support. This means you’ll have guidance at every stage of your degree from our extensive community of students and fellow alumni, who can offer 1-2-1 advice for your future beyond Arden University.
Outside of this, you’ll also have unlimited access to our online platform, iLearn – providing you with all the learning resources and tools needed to excel in your studies.
I wanted to study with Arden because it was the only option I found that truly suited my needs and what I was looking for in a university. The affordable cost of the course, and the fact that I could transfer my credits from previous studies really made Arden stand out.
How does it work?
With online learning, you decide when and where you work through your self-guided learning materials, without being held to a set lecture timetable. If you’re interrupted during a lesson, simply pause the materials and continue later. You can also communicate and collaborate with your tutor and classmates through live online forums and email.
Find out more about how Online Learning works.
