Criminal Justice and Criminology BA

Course overview

Drawing on the world-leading research of the Centre for Criminal Justice Studies, this course will give you an advanced understanding of crime and its control.

You’ll explore the complex questions around why crime happens, how offenders should be dealt with and how crime can be prevented. You will examine the individual, social, legal and political forces that shape both crime and how it is controlled. In addition, you’ll study the workings of criminal justice agencies like the police, courts, prisons and probation as well as the private companies and voluntary groups who have increasing roles in offender management and crime prevention.

Core modules will give you a firm grounding in the substantive, methodological and theoretical components of criminology as well as related aspects of the disciplines of law, sociology and psychology. You will gain both the subject knowledge and research skills needed to understand and contribute to wider knowledge of crime and criminal justice. The course offers a range of optional modules to allow you to focus on topics that suit your interests and career ambitions.

Quantitative Research Methods (QRM) pathway

At the end of Year 2, you’ll have the opportunity to apply for a place on our BA Criminal Justice and Criminology with Quantitative Research Methods pathway. This pathway will help you develop advanced analytical skills, which are in high demand across the public, private, and third sectors. You will learn statistical analysis techniques and their application to real data (e.g. survey data, countries’ statistical data) using statistical software. You will also write a dissertation in which you will analyse quantitative data to examine questions about criminal justice or criminology.

You are not required to have done Mathematics at A level. This pathway is open to all students as long as you have attained an overall 2:1 in your second year, and a 2:1 in the Researching Crime and Criminal Justice module.

Studying in the School of Law

Course details

Course structure

The modules shown below represent typical content/components and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.

Year 1 compulsory modules

You'll study 120 credits of compulsory modules:

Criminal Justice Study and Research Skills (20 credits) - This module introduces you to the fundamental study and research skills required to thrive on your degree. It offers teaching on basic study skills and provides directions for further development for you to pursue independently. In addition, the module introduces the research process in criminal justice and criminology, surveying the various forms of data and evidence you'll encounter throughout the course and exploring methods for understanding and analysing data.

Understanding Crime and Criminology (40 credits) - This module focuses on criminology and the ‘crime problem’. It discusses the origins and development of criminology as a field of enquiry and its connections to other disciplines. It showcases the breadth of contemporary criminology and explores major issues in the field today.

Furthermore, it covers what criminological research has to say about crime itself. It outlines the way that our common-sense understandings of ‘crime’ are shaped by our everyday expectations and assumptions over a range of problematic behaviours. This module therefore seeks to challenge taken-for-granted viewpoints about crime, and to provide a more sophisticated understanding of the nature of crime and its varied manifestations in modern society.

As a strategy to develop your critical thinking and sharpen your data analysis skills, you’ll engage in contesting the ‘taken-for-granted’ viewpoints by accessing and analysing key sources of secondary crime data, like the Crime Survey for England and Wales, police statistics, or the Ministry of Justice criminal justice statistics.

Crime, Inequality and Social Issues (20 credits) - This module explores the links between crime and inequality in its many different guises. The module is divided into three parts. The first focuses on theory, data and politics; exploring theories of inequality, evidence on inequality in the UK (particularly in relation to ‘race’, ‘class’ and ‘gender’) and political responses to tackling inequality. The second analyses social issues which are understood as manifestations of inequality, resulting in some groups being more vulnerable than others to engaging in crime and/or being a victim of crime. The final part explores different sites of intervention for tackling inequality with the expectation of reducing crime including the family, the welfare state, the criminal justice process and communities.

Introduction to Criminal Law (20 credits) - This module will provide you with the opportunity to learn about key criminal law principles, cases and legislation, and to recognise the different political and cultural contexts in which criminal law operates at national and international level.

Introduction to Criminal Justice (20 credits) - This module examines the main institutions of the criminal justice system and provides an introduction to the use and methods of punishment in modern society. In so doing, the module introduces a number of key issues and debates relating to the operation of the criminal justice system and the punishment of offenders.

Year 2 compulsory modules

You'll study 80 credits of compulsory modules:

Crime Prevention and Crime Science (20 credits) - Offender decision-making is enormously influenced by the environment. This module looks at how offender decisions can be nudged or forced away from crime. It is underpinned by the major theoretical areas of choice theory and routine activity theory, the role of crime opportunities, the rich repertoire of 25 situational techniques, and an extensive body of evidence.

Criminology: Theories and Concepts (20 credits) - Criminology is the study of the theoretical explanations for offending behaviour. Are offenders free-willed rational actors, or are they driven by external (eg biological, psychological or sociological) forces beyond their control? Are some individuals and acts more likely to be criminalised than others? This module explores traditional (Western) explanations for crime and offending behaviour, charting their development from the medieval period to contemporary times. It also considers recent calls to decolonise criminology and why the decolonisation of the discipline matters.

Policing (20 credits) - This module provides a critical introduction to policing in England and Wales. The module has three central themes organised into 5 (connected) Units.

Theme one considers policing in historical and comparative perspectives. It covers the role and functions of policing and the formal establishment of the policing systems in the nineteenth century. The second theme considers the contemporary landscape of policing. It covers who is involved in the arrangement and delivery of modern policing, the powers and discretion available to the police, the cultures of policing and methods by which policing is governed and made accountable to the law and society at large.

Theme three explores the policing of different types of crime and social groups, more broadly exploring issues related to policing and social justice. It considers the policy and practical implications of different policing approaches. Throughout, the module engages with wider social, political, cultural and economic developments that influence policing. This module will enable you to develop your written skills with critical reference to policing issues.

Researching Crime and Criminal Justice (20 credits) - This module builds upon your knowledge of how empirical research methods are used in criminological study. In addition to engaging with debates on the strengths and limitations of various methodologies, the module provides basic practical experience of their real-world application.

Year 2 optional modules

You can choose either 40 credits of optional modules or 20 credits of optional and 20 credits of discovery modules:

Youth Crime and Justice (20 credits) - This module explores the nature and extent of youth crime and the sources of our knowledge about youth offending and its prevention. It considers social and legal constructions of youth as well as children and young people as victims. It also provides an analysis of the youth justice system in England and Wales and contemporary youth justice debates.

Social Sciences and Emergencies: Contexts, Theories and Approaches (20 credits) - This module will introduce you to the critical role of the social sciences in public understanding and experience of emergencies, such as environmental disasters, pandemics, epidemics, and large-scale social and political upheavals. It will provide you with the conceptual tools and methodological approaches to critically evaluate the response of the government, communities, state institutions and other sectors of society to emergencies and their aftermaths. It will also equip you with the skills to clearly and effectively communicate knowledge and information about these topics to an academic audience.

International Human Rights Law (20 credits) - This module examines the evolution, mechanisms and grounds of international human rights protection. It examines international human rights law as an important branch of international law; the mechanisms, bodies and procedures introduced by the United Nations and other international and regional organisations; and a significant number of substantive human rights.

The module is divided into two parts. The first part provides an introduction to the structure of the international system of human rights protection through law, the difference between human rights law and other areas of international law, and general matters of enforcement machinery. In the second part, the module will address the law in relation to particular rights, covering civil and political rights and economic, social and cultural rights.

Crime, Race and Ethnicity (20 credits) - The module offers you an introduction to the substantive analysis of race, ethnicity, and crime in contemporary society. It will introduce them to key concepts and theories relating to race, ethnicity, and crime. Substantive topics will examine the social, political, and economic processes that define, construct, and respond to crime in a racialised manner. These substantive issues will be addressed in order to analyse the relevance of race and ethnicity in crime studies and the extent to which racialisation affects our understanding of offending, victimisation and punishment in contemporary contexts. Comparisons will be drawn between problems of race, crime and punishment in the USA and Britain.

International Law (20 credits) - International law concerns all aspects of contemporary global problems. Its structures and rules are developed and applied by States, international organisations (and to some extent non-state actors) to create peaceful co-existence. However, this distinct system of law needs to contend with constantly evolving challenges and forces which question international law’s authority, legitimacy and values.

In particular, the decolonisation of international law contests many of its assumptions and Eurocentric focus which have disadvantaged so many. This module will explore a diverse range of subjects. We will study together the laws that decide independent statehood, whether and how the ocean floor should be exploited and when states are allowed to use military force against other states. These are some of the major issues that the module explores with a view to analysing the significant role of the international legal order.

Gender and Society (20 credits) -This module aims to introduce you to major topics and areas of debate in gender and society. This will be achieved through the study of feminist theory and theories of gender as well as some empirical material. The particular focus will be on gender in contemporary industrial societies although to develop an understanding of contemporary gender issues references to historical contexts and development are made at times.

By the end of the module you should have acquired a broad map of current thinking in the sociology of gender as well as an understanding of key theoretical debates. The module will explore the empirical and theoretical interconnections between gender, bodies, sexuality, 'race' and class, and related inequalities.

Year 2 discovery modules

Depending on the number of optional modules selected, you may also choose up to 20 credits of discovery modules.

Year 3 compulsory modules

You’ll study 80 credits of compulsory modules:

Transnational and Comparative Criminology (20 credits) - This module will focus upon some of the most important contemporary issues of crime and insecurity. Whether it is border controls and the treatment of migrants, strategies to counter terrorism and organised crime, security protocols installed for global mega-events, the transnational illicit drug trade, international efforts to combat tax fraud/evasion, or trials at the International Criminal Court, these various sources of criminological concern all possess important transnational dynamics.

Engaging with global insecurities such as these, this module will expose you to a range of disciplinary perspectives, drawing upon expertise from within the fields of criminology, criminal justice, international relations and law. Not only will this inform deeper critical understanding of how crime phenomena manifest transnational reach and global ambition, but it will also highlight how criminal justice and security ‘solutions’ proposed to address these problems have also become more globally mobile.

Penology (20 credits) - This module examines the use of custodial and community sentences in contemporary society. The aim of the module is to provide detailed knowledge and understanding of issues relating to imprisonment in England and Wales and various ways in which offenders are punished and/or supervised in the community.

Final Year Project (40 credits) - You'll design and undertake an extended independent project in an area or topic relevant to Criminal Justice and Criminology. You’ll use knowledge and skills gained in earlier years of your programme, create new knowledge and understanding, and develop new research and employability skills yourself.

On completion, you’ll communicate the outcomes or outputs of your project in different ways to relevant audiences. It will be the pinnacle of your degree programme, the culminating experience which brings everything you’ve learnt together. It represents an opportunity to apply your learning to a real-world problem and, in so doing, bring reflection, focus and purpose to the whole of your degree experience.

Students who choose to undertake the quantitative pathway will study 120 credits of compulsory modules in final year:

Transnational and Comparative Criminology (20 credits) - This module will focus upon some of the most important contemporary issues of crime and insecurity. Whether it is border controls and the treatment of migrants, strategies to counter terrorism and organised crime, security protocols installed for global mega-events, the transnational illicit drug trade, international efforts to combat tax fraud/evasion, or trials at the International Criminal Court, these various sources of criminological concern all possess important transnational dynamics.

Engaging with global insecurities such as these, this module will expose you to a range of disciplinary perspectives, drawing upon expertise from within the fields of criminology, criminal justice, international relations and law. Not only will this inform deeper critical understanding of how crime phenomena manifest transnational reach and global ambition, but it will also highlight how criminal justice and security ‘solutions’ proposed to address these problems have also become more globally mobile.

Penology (20 credits) - This module examines the use of custodial and community sentences in contemporary society. The aim of the module is to provide detailed knowledge and understanding of issues relating to imprisonment in England and Wales and various ways in which offenders are punished and/or supervised in the community.

Quantitative Social Research I (20 credits) - This module will offer you the opportunity to develop fundamental data analytical skills necessary to conduct quantitative social research. It will introduce you to basic techniques in exploratory data analysis and modelling as part of a coherent framework that helps them structure and conduct independently a quantitative research project, from inception to reporting.

The focus of the module is eminently applied and based on teaching and learning activities that emphasise hands-on work, with widely-used social research datasets on topics of interest to sociology, social policy, and the wider social sciences. This module is aimed at students wanting to undertake quantitative dissertations in social science degrees and/or students wanting to develop the key skills to conduct applied quantitative research in academic and industry settings.

Quantitative Social Research II: Advance Statistical Modelling and Crime Data (20 credits) - This module will offer you the opportunity to enhance your data analytical skills obtained in the module ‘Quantitative Social Research I’. You'll be introduced to a wide range of statistical models used in social science research, and to the most common assumptions invoked in such models. The focus of the module is eminently applied and based on teaching and learning activities that emphasise hands-on work with datasets on topics of interest to criminology, sociology, and social policy.

As a result of the applied teaching approach followed, you'll not only learn useful data analysis techniques but also familiarise yourself with many engaging and relevant research questions. These include the gender gap, disparities in sentencing, geographical crime concentration, compliance with the law, public trust, and the determinants of riots to name a few. This module would be an ideal choice for students wanting to undertake quantitative dissertations in social science degrees and/or students wanting to develop the key skills to conduct applied quantitative research in academic and industry settings.

Final Year Quantitative Project (40 credits) - You'll design and undertake an extended independent project in an area or topic relevant to Criminal Justice and Criminology, including a component of primary or secondary data analysis. You’ll use knowledge and skills gained in earlier years of your course, create new knowledge and understanding, and develop new empirical research and employability skills yourself.

On completion, you’ll communicate the outcomes or outputs of your project in different ways to relevant audiences. It will be the pinnacle of your degree programme, the culminating or Capstone experience which brings everything you’ve learnt together. It gives you an opportunity to apply your learning to a real-world empirical problem and, in so doing, bring reflection, focus and purpose to the whole of your degree experience.

Year 3 optional Modules

You can choose to study 40 credits of optional modules or 20 credits of optional and 20 credits of discovery modules:

State Crime and Immorality (20 credits) - This module covers a range of topics related broadly to the central themes of organised crime and terrorism. It introduces you to issues and theories relating to the nature of organised crime, terrorism, state and political violence and then offers a detailed coverage of these through some key case studies.

Social Sciences and Emergencies: Case Studies & Critical Analysis (20 credits) - This module investigates emergencies from the perspectives of the social sciences. You’ll utilise real-world cases to analyse the societal implications of various emergencies. The module prioritises critical thinking and provides you with the skills to assess the role of the social sciences in shaping knowledge of emergencies and formulating strategies for managing their impact on communities, institutions and individuals. Module key themes and concepts are drawn from sociology, social policy, politics, law, criminal justice and education.

Disability Law (20 credits) - Law has a key role to play in constructing a society in which disabled people (who make up approximately 15% of the UK's population) are able to live, flourish and contribute on an equal basis with others. This innovative module adopts a socio-legal approach. It will introduce you to theoretical perspectives (particularly those which have political significance such as the social model of disability). It aims to encourage you to reflect critically on law's potential to be 'enabling' - in the sense of facilitating full inclusion and equality for people who have (or have labels of) physical, sensory, cognitive, emotional or other 'impairments'.

Disability and Development (20 credits) - This module will draw on scholarship from disability studies and development studies in order to explore both the creation and position of disabled people in the global south. Attention will be paid to the role that various agents of development play in improving disabled people’s situation, and the usefulness of rights-based approaches and Community Base Rehabilitation will be critically evaluated.

Evidence (20 credits) - This module aims to introduce key rules of evidence in the context of their rationale, their historical development, and modern criminal justice policy. It explores the connection between the rules of evidence and the nature of the common law adversarial trial, and aims to promote critical awareness of the balance between the interests of the state and the individual.

Crime, Law and Social Change: Crime and Criminal Justice in Historical Perspective (20 credits) - This module explores the history of crime and criminal justice. It examines both the development of key criminal justice institutions – such as policing and the penal system – as well as changing historical patterns in offending, including the decline of violence in modern societies. These two broad areas will be consistently analysed with reference to the wider historical context. You will, therefore, examine the social, political, moral and economic factors which shape crime, our understandings of crime and our attempts to deal it with through the criminal justice system.

Global Terrorism and Violence (20 credits) - This module is concerned with the sociological analysis of political violence in the 20th and 21st century. It will introduce you to the current theoretical debates and primary analytical perspectives in the study of political violence and terrorism. These will be illustrated and explored through historical and comparative examples from Western Europe, the Middle East and Latin America.

Gender and the Law (20 credits) - This research-led module takes different areas of law as the object of study and seeks to examine how gender, sex and sexuality are understood in those contexts. This will involve reading cases and statutory materials. However, this is not a traditional law module. It is not only concerned with cases and statutes.

A basic assumption of the approach to the law in this module is that the law is not a social practice that is isolated from the rest of culture. That culture is given form and meaning within the law. At the same time, the law itself is a representation of the world that has very distinctive and idiosyncratic characteristics. As such the law makes a distinctive contribution to the social order. This module seeks to examine both these aspects of the law as a cultural practice.

Gender, Technologies and the Body (20 credits) - This module explores the intersections between gender, technology and the body in relation to both mundane and spectacular bodily practices and transformations. Ranging from washing machines to branded clothing to syringes full of steroids to smart phones, the module explores what it means to transform (or resist transforming) the gendered body in interaction with technology.

It is an opportunity to ask what counts as the 'good' body, what novel forms of embodiment arise out of the interaction with technology, and in what ways the social relations of class and race are obscured or made visible in those processes. The module will also include visits by guest speakers engaging in particular practices and activities, with the opportunity for questions and discussion.

Cyberlaw: Law and the Regulation of the Information Society (20 credits) - The internet and networked technologies have changed the nature of our world as we experience it. So much so, that we are becoming an 'information society' in which the creation, manipulation distribution and exchange of information in its various forms has become a significant social, economic, political, cultural and legal activity.

This module will examine the emerging trends that signify the formation of the information society and also its relationship with law, technology, and public policy. This module will cover UK and European Union law, along with a variety of international regulatory perspectives that seek to harmonise law. The module will analyse the many legal and regulatory challenges that the information society generates for society, particularly with regard to privacy, the creation of products and the media.

Particular focus will be upon whether these challenges can be best resolved by law or some other means, such as technology, education or simple market forces. The aim of the module is to make you aware of the legal and regulatory policy issues which are intimately connected with the information society.

Learning and teaching

We use a wide range of learning and teaching methods, including lectures, seminars and workshops. These are complimented with learning resources on our virtual learning platform Minerva. There will also be opportunities to hear guest speakers from local criminal institutions and visit criminal justice agencies.

Independent learning is the basis of the course and you will spend much of your time reading around and researching the topics covered in your modules. We help you to develop academic skills throughout the course, and the University Library has extensive collections on Criminal Justice and Criminology that form a fantastic resource for your work.

On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

This course is designed to provide you with an inclusive and authentic, course-level package of assessment and feedback activities that will effectively scaffold learning and cultivate the knowledge and skills that you need to fulfil your aspirations for yourself and for your community. We prioritise assessment for learning by investing in practice (formative) assessment activities and providing individual feedback to help you to develop your knowledge, understanding and skills in readiness for your end of module (summative) assessments.

Each module is assessed separately, and assessments are designed to align with the course's learning outcomes, providing a comprehensive and authentic evaluation of your skills and knowledge. Written assignments play a central role, but you'll also encounter other assessment methods, designed to foster the development of a broad spectrum of skills and capabilities. Across your assessments you'll have opportunities to demonstrate your ability to conduct independent research, critically analyse information, and articulate complex ideas.

At the culmination of your studies, you'll carry out a final year project. This significant piece of independent work will provide an opportunity for you to showcase your ability to synthesise information, critically evaluate contemporary debates and/or real world problems, and articulate your findings and recommendations comprehensively.

Entry requirements

A-level: AAB

Two of your A-levels must be in traditional academic subjects. Please see our accepted subjects document to check your subjects.

If your choice of A-level subjects has been constrained by factors outside your control (such as if your school or college did not offer certain subjects), please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office to discuss your application.

Alternative offers will not be made for applicants taking the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) alongside A-levels.

GCSE: grade 5/B or above in English Language, or an appropriate English language qualification.

Alternative qualification

Read more about UK and Republic of Ireland accepted qualifications or contact the School’s Undergraduate Admissions Team.

Alternative entry

We’re committed to identifying the best possible applicants, regardless of personal circumstances or background.

Access to Leeds is a contextual admissions scheme which accepts applications from individuals who might be from low income households, in the first generation of their immediate family to apply to higher education, or have had their studies disrupted.

Find out more about Access to Leeds and contextual admissions.

Typical Access to Leeds offer:

• BBB at A level. Applicants must also meet the University’s GCSE matriculation standard and pass the Access to Leeds module.

• For alternative qualification offers please contact the admissions team.

If you do not have the formal qualifications for immediate entry to one of our degrees, we offer a foundation year for UK students who meet specific widening participation criteria. Learn more about the BA Social Science (foundation year).

Pathways to Law

Pathways to Law provides opportunities for students from state schools in England who are interested in a career in law and who will be the first generation of their family to go to university. It offers support to students from under-represented backgrounds throughout years 12 and 13 and into university. Find out more about Pathways to Law.

BA Social Science (foundation year)

BA Social Science is a foundation year course for students who don’t meet the standard admissions requirements for an undergraduate degree.

If you feel you missed out on education and want to realise your potential, this course will give you a firm grounding in the social sciences and prepare you for one of our social science degree courses.

The course lasts four years. Your first-year acts as a ‘Level 0’ foundation year, which gives you the skills for studying social sciences at undergraduate level. It’ll also introduce you to key ideas in sociology, politics, crime, education and law.

You’ll need to pass this year to progress onto one of our three-year undergraduate degree courses in a related subject. These include BA Childhood Studies, BA Sociology, BA Social Policy, Sociology and Crime, BA Politics, LLB Law, BA Social Work, BA Criminal Justice and Criminology and many others.

Find out more about BA Social Science.

International

We accept a range of international equivalent qualifications. For information contact the School of Law Undergraduate Admissions Team.

International foundation year

International students who do not meet the academic requirements for undergraduate study may be able to study a foundation year. Find out more about International Foundation Year programmes.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English
If you're an international student and you don't meet the English language requirements for this programme, you may be able to study our undergraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

Fees

UK: To be confirmed

International: To be confirmed

Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2024/25
Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students are set by the UK Government and will be £9,250 for students starting in 2024/25.

The fee may increase in future years of your course in line with inflation only, as a consequence of future changes in Government legislation and as permitted by law.

Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2025/26
Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students starting in 2025/26 have not yet been confirmed by the UK government. When the fee is available we will update individual course pages.

Tuition fees for international undergraduate students starting in 2024/25 and 2025/26
Tuition fees for international students for 2024/25 are available on individual course pages. Fees for students starting in 2025/26 will be available from September 2024.

Tuition fees for a study abroad or work placement year
If you take a study abroad or work placement year, you’ll pay a reduced tuition fee during this period. For more information, see Study abroad and work placement tuition fees and loans.

Read more about paying fees and charges.

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There is help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more in our Undergraduate funding overview.

Applying

Apply to this course through UCAS. Check the deadline for applications on the UCAS website.

We typically receive a high number of applications to our courses in the School of Law. The number of applicants exceeds the number of places available so, to ensure that we treat all applications fairly and equitably, we wait until after the UCAS equal consideration application deadline has passed before making a final decision on applications.

If we put your application on hold for review after the UCAS application deadline, we will send you an email to let you know. Although you may have to wait longer than usual to receive a decision, you will hear from us by mid-May at the latest, in line with the deadline that UCAS sets universities for making decisions on applications submitted by the January UCAS deadline.

Offer decisions are made based on an overall review of applications including predicted grades, breadth of knowledge demonstrated through qualifications, personal statement, extra-curricular and work experience, and contextual information. We look for enthusiastic and talented students who have the potential to succeed in their studies with us and contribute to our community.

International students apply through UCAS in the same way as UK students. Our network of international representatives can help you with your application. If you’re unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

University of Leeds Taught Admissions Policy 2024

This course is taught by

School of Law

Contact us

School of Law Admissions Team

Email: uglaw@leeds.ac.uk
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Career opportunities

This flexible degree will equip you with valuable subject knowledge and a wide range of transferable skills. It lends itself to careers in criminal justice, such as the police, prison or probation services, or as researchers in this area. Many of our graduates pursue postgraduate study in related fields. We also see students pursue a wide range of careers, from the Civil Service to the media.

As a student in the School of Law we will provide you with a host of opportunities to help boost your career prospects, from developing skills in negotiating, hearing from prospective employers at specialist talks or career fairs or taking part in career mentoring. The support you will receive at the School of Law will help you kickstart your career, whether in criminal justice or another field.

Careers support

In the School of Law, we offer a range of careers support including criminal justice career and volunteering events and talks by prospective employers. We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

Leeds for Life is our unique approach to helping you make the most of University by supporting your academic and personal development. Find out more at the Leeds for Life website.

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.

Study abroad and work placements

Study abroad

On this course you have the opportunity to apply to spend time abroad, usually as an extra academic year. We have over 300 University partners worldwide and popular destinations for our students include Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Africa and Latin America. 

Find out more at the Study Abroad website.

Studying criminal justice and criminology in a different jurisdiction will provide you with a new perspective on your studies, as well as gaining an insight into life in another country with new social and cultural experiences.

Work placements

Practical work experience can help you decide on your career and improve your employability. On this course you have the option to apply to take a placement year module with organisations across the public, private and voluntary sectors in the UK, or overseas.

Find out more about work experience on the Careers website.

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