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Criminology with Law

BA (Hons)

Summary

Study level

Undergraduate

Award

Degree

Part time

3 years+

Location

Online

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Faculty of Social Sciences and Technology

What makes Arden University special?

Education for everyone, everywhere

Whether you're constrained by location, cost, time, or other life commitments, we're passionate about giving you access to higher education that fits into your busy, modern life.

You decide how and where to study

We offer a wide range of flexible undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in both our online and blended study modes.

Full support both online and on-site

We're also proud to offer non-standard entry, meaning your work experience and previous qualifications are taken into account when assessing your application.

Strong focus on employability

You will gain in-depth subject knowledge and transferable skills that employers from a huge range of industries will value. Many of our courses at Arden are also accredited by leading professional bodies in the UK.

Course Overview

Are you interested in exploring the interrelated fields of criminology and law? Our BA (Hons) Criminology with Law joint degree explores the relationship between crime, society, and law, as well as the political, psychological, and social aspects of criminology. The course covers both UK and international law, ensuring you graduate with universal skills for your future.

Taking a digital-first and practice-driven approach in line with the UK’s Ministry of Justice Digital Strategy (2025), the course will equip you with the digital and critical analytical tools needed to meet the current and future demands of the sector. By bringing together criminology and law, you’ll gain far-reaching, practical insight into the causes and legal consequences of crime at the individual, organisational, and societal levels. You’ll also explore the various agencies involved in crime response and prevention and in the application of the law.

The course is led by academics and practitioners with strong industry links and first-hand experience in their respective fields. You’ll also have regular webinars and guest speakers ranging from international academics, senior members of the criminal justice system, and policymakers to ex-convicts to give you genuine insight into the field. That means your learning will have a real-world basis that you can apply to a range of future career roles.

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Career development resources

You'll have online access to a huge range of career development tools from the day you start studying.

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Course details and modules

Your course modules cover all the latest developments and best practices in criminology and law both in the UK and internationally so that your degree is relevant across the globe. Taking a digital-first and clearly practice-driven approach, you’ll gain the modern skills needed for rewarding work in diverse areas. You’ll also have the valuable opportunity to get your work published in Arden’s very own Criminology and Social Science Research Journal and start building your professional profile.

For me personally, I feel that the support network as a whole is exceptional. It's not just one particular part of Arden either. It's not just the students, and it's not just student support, it's everything, all combined. Everyone is on the same page. The inclusion portal now is fabulous, I love it, you know, I got really excited when I saw that.

Laura Pearson

Criminology/Sociology student

Modules

You have between 3 to 9 years to complete this course, which means you can take up to 3 years to complete each level. Most of our students, however, aim to complete their studies within 3 to 6 years.

Level 4

Becoming a Criminologist (20 credits)
English Legal System and Legal Skills (20 credits)
Crime 1 (20 credits)
Civil Liberties in Practice (20 credits)
Working within the Criminal Justice System (20 credits)
Policing Priorities (20 credits)

Level 5

Researching the Field (20 credits)
Defending the Realm (20 credits)
Youth Crime and Justice (20 credits)
Crimes of the Powerful (20 credits)
The Prison (20 credits)
Crime 2 (20 credits)

Level 6

Victimology (20 credits)
Miscarriages of Justice (20 credits)
Professional Practice: A case study (20 credits)
Public International Law (20 credits)
Research Project (40 credits)

Authentic assessments. No exams.

No exams in sight! Our innovative assessments are based on the skills needed by employers in the real world and are therefore 100% focused on getting you ready for your career. Each assessment aims to provide you with transferable skills for your future and can include:

Assignments
Essays
Reports
Presentations
Case studies
Portfolios of work
Roleplay
Interactive decision-making
Research proposal

Study options

This course is available to students as a fully online programme, which gives you the convenience of being able to study from anywhere worldwide.

Having flexible study is so important to me… I’ve had to do last-minute school runs to drop my nephews off, but Arden has been so understanding and the flexibility of study suits my life perfectly.

Ryan-Jay Walsh

BA (Hons) Criminology and Psychology

Part-time online learning

How does it work?

Studying this course online gives you the ultimate in convenience. You can enrol with Arden from anywhere in the world and study your degree from the comfort of home, without the requirement to attend classes in a physical location.

Our online students study their degree through ilearn, Arden’s university campus in the cloud. ilearn provides everything you need to study at University. It offers an integrated virtual learning experience, including your virtual classroom, lecture theatre, and access to our Library Portal. The portal includes an extensive digital library including thousands of journal titles, eBooks, and academic and industry databases which you can use to research your assignments and projects. All of these materials are provided to you free of charge, and contain all the research information you’ll need to complete your degree with us.

ilearn is also integrated with Zoom, making it easier to chat with your course tutor during your scheduled seminar sessions. You can even integrate our study materials into your Kindle, making it possible to study wherever you have your Kindle handy.

Studying online doesn’t mean studying alone. As well as receiving regular feedback and guidance from your course tutor, you’ll be studying with like-minded students who you can meet with through our Unitu community, and you’ll have access to community message boards to discuss your course and the topics being raised within it. We’ve even set up community boards embedded into each of the course modules so you can have discussions with your tutor and classmates on the topics you’re currently learning.

Online learning students resident in the UK can apply for a Maintenance Loan if they cannot attend their course in person because of a disability. Please find more information on our fees and funding page. If you're a student from Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland you can find information on Living Cost Loans from your student finance body.

Learn more about online learning

Introducing your Digital Backpack

Once you’ve enrolled on your Criminology and Law degree with Arden you’ll get access to your Digital Backpack, a toolkit of digital resources we’ve put together to help you succeed during your time studying with us.

Here are some of the digital resources you’ll have available throughout your course:

Office 365 subscription
Integrated zoom video conferencing
Careers support available through Arden Futures, your careers platform, to help you throughout your career journey whether you are a Career Starter, Changer or Developer
Free online access to our Library Portal, which includes thousands of eBooks and journals, as well as industry databases which we’ve carefully hand-picked to support your studies – all yours for free while you study with us
Subscription to Togetherall for an abundance of mental health support.

Entry requirements

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.

What you need to study with us

Our aim is to make learning as accessible as possible by ensuring that you can study in a flexible and convenient way. That's why we keep our requirements simple. All you need is a laptop or desktop PC (we recommend one running the latest version of Windows), and a good internet connection. Through ilearn, our online university campus in the cloud, you'll be able to access your course calendar, support services, learning materials, and our online library containing thousands of ebooks, as well as tools for creating assignments, keeping notes, and collaborating with other students on your course.

Find out more

Eligibility

Standard entry requirements

To be eligible for our BA (Hons) Criminology with Law, you should normally have:

Two subjects at GCE A level or equivalent, plus passes at grade C or above in three subjects at GCSE level or equivalent; OR
Completed a recognised Access Programme or equivalent.

Non standard entry requirements

We’re also happy to consider an application from you if you can show us that you have relevant work experience that required critical thinking and analysis skills. We’ll ask you for a personal statement that demonstrates your motivation and ability to study this degree, along with references and evidence of your previous work experience.

English proficiency

IELTS 6.0 (no less than 5.5 in any element); or TOEFL iBT 80; or equivalent
Alternatively, evidence you have previously studied in English, such as a letter to show that the Medium of Instruction was in English, can be accepted.

Course fees and funding

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I am a student from

Use the dropdown above to find course fees and funding information for your country. If you can’t find information for your country in the dropdown, visit our International support page.

Meet the faculty

Dr. Emma Winlow obtained her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Criminology and Crime & Justice from the University of Chester and completed her PhD at the University of Gloucestershire. A public criminologist, Emma has extensive leadership and management experience in higher education and is passionate about accessibility, inclusion, and employability in teaching and learning. She established the School of Criminal Justice with these practices in mind. Emma is also a member of the British Society of Criminology and the British Society of Criminology’s Teaching and Learning Network.

Dr. Emma Winlow

Head of School – School of Criminology, Criminal Justice and Law

Career prospects

The interdisciplinary nature of this degree will equip you with transferable skills you can apply to a range of exciting career paths in areas linked to criminology and law, leaving your career options wide open. So whether you already have a career path in mind or are still figuring things out, we’re here to support you on your journey.

Related Courses

What will the BA (Hons) Criminology with Law do for me?

This degree has been designed to provide you with modern knowledge of the interrelated fields of criminology and law alongside the practical skills needed to meet the current and future demands of the sector. While studying, you will:

Learn the causes and patterns of criminal behaviour at an individual and societal level
Understand key legislation applicable to criminal behaviour alongside its application
Develop an appreciation of the national and international contexts of criminology and law
Reflect on what works and what doesn’t in the justice and legal system
Explore governmental and non-governmental agencies involved in the prevention and response to crime and the application of the law
Apply your knowledge and experience to real-life scenarios

What can I do after Arden University?

Completing a criminology and law degree can open up a world of opportunity in criminal justice and related fields, as well as provide universal skills applicable to diverse industries. With that in mind, a few career options for you could include:

Police
Prison service
Probation
Paralegal
Community Justice
Voluntary sector
Charities or NGOs
Work in the government, home office, or education and more

You can also go on to study at master’s degree level. Arden University offers a variety of master’s programmes and we are developing many more. Keep looking for further developments!

Industry skills

The course stands out in that the topics you’ll study have a global focus that is relevant anywhere in the world. Avoiding the Western-centric focus of many undergraduate criminology courses, your course content will give you experience and knowledge you can apply to careers both at home and internationally.

Campaign for Social Science

Arden University is a member of the Campaign for Social Science.

The Campaign demonstrates how social science improves public policy, society, and all our lives. It highlights the value of applied social science research and advocates for its greater use in decision-making and in government. It is supported by a coalition of universities, social science societies, and publishers.

As a member, Arden receives access to case studies, research into the value provided by social sciences, and insights into the employability of social science graduates. Through this, you will gain a better understanding of the skills you are learning and their value to employers.