Criminology BA (Hons)

Lancaster University

Study a thought-provoking degree which looks critically at crime and examines issues through a social justice lens

Shape your studies with optional modules covering an array of insightful areas from drugs and sex crimes to organised crime

Benefit from an exceptional level of support from tutors who listen to your ideas and help you develop as a criminologist

Create industry connections with our network of professionals at NGOs, charities the police, and other criminal justice agencies

Get specialist career advice – open your eyes to the different options and discover how to get there

Explore theories and perspectives that attempt to explain today’s most pressing issues, from crimes of the powerful to human rights. Studying criminology at Lancaster, you’ll graduate with the skills, experience and contacts you need for a rewarding career within the criminal justice system and beyond.

New perspectives and new ideas

Taught by world-leading academics at our prestigious Law School, our criminology degree is intellectually challenging and exciting. You’ll hear about our research first-hand and untangle the complex relationship between society, crime, and the criminal justice system.

You’ll look critically at the social, cultural, political, and economic contexts of crime and criminal justice, as well as viewing challenges through a social justice lens. To understand the bigger picture, we encourage you to branch out to other subject areas like law or sociology through a wide choice of optional modules.

The Lancaster University Law School is ranked 6th in the UK for research impact in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (2021, published May 2022), with 88% of its impact rated ‘outstanding’.

Opportunities everywhere

Creating new connections is vital to your future. We’ll introduce you to professionals at NGOs and charities, as well as local criminal justice agencies such as Lancashire Police and HMP Lancaster Farms.

Employers value experience. That’s why we’ll help you find voluntary work. Our students have previously been offered opportunities with the Citizens Advice Bureau and Lancashire Constabulary's Special Constables.

We offer a wide range of diverse opportunities and try to ensure that all students can access the opportunities that interest them, however please note that places are limited on some schemes and modules.