Course Overview
Taught by lecturers who are nationally and internationally renowned researchers, your degree is informed by cutting-edge criminological research and contemporary debates on crime, deviance and punishment.
You begin your degree exploring relevant contemporary criminological issues. Themes of your first-year course in Crime and Social Life include gathering and evaluating criminological evidence; how and why crime problems are defined and the merits of competing arguments about crime, deviance and punishment.
You will set issues in the context of class, gender, race and ethnicity, age, disability and sexuality. You will be introduced to key concepts in Criminology as an academic discipline.
In your second and third years, you will take modules in Criminological Thought, Understanding Criminological Fieldwork and Measuring Crime. You can also tailor your degree to areas of personal and professional interest by selecting from a range of options including Crime and the Media; Cybercrime; Youth Justice and Police and Policing.
Alternatively, you can take modules from other departments such as Law or Sociology.
In part two of your degree, you'll also have an opportunity to write a crime related extended essay or dissertation on a topic of your choice, supported by a leading academic in the field.
Related Courses
Modules
Lancaster degree programmes are flexible, offering students the opportunity to cover a wide selection of subject areas to compliment their degree. The following is an example list of modules which our previous students have studied. For a full list contact the Applied Social Science department.
Year 1
- Crime and Social Life
Year 2
- Understanding Criminological Fieldwork
- Measuring Crime
- Criminological thought
- Criminal Investigation
- Understanding Criminal Justice
- Crime, Poverty and Social Security
Year 3
- Crime and the Media
- Cybercrime
- The Police and Policing
- Drugs, Crime and Society
- Criminal Careers
- Hate Crime, Human Rights and the State: International Perspectives
- Historical and Philosophical Aspects of Punishment
Lancaster University offers the chance to follow a structured study programme or the option to devise a more flexible programme. We divide academic study into 2 sections - Part 1 (Year 1) and Part 2 (Year 2, 3 and sometimes 4). In Part 1 you will take three modules of study which, depending upon your programme, will be drawn from one, two or three different academic subjects, a higher degree of specialisation then develops in subsequent years. For more information about our teaching methods at Lancaster visit our Teaching and Learning section.
For further information about the department, staff and courses please visit the Applied Social Science department website.
Entry Criteria
General Studies: Accepted as one of the best 3 grades, if 4 A-levels presented
Irish Leaving Cert: Offers will be made on the basis of 5 or 6 Higher level subjects
BTEC: DDD/DDM
HNC/HND: Can be considered for direct entry to Part II on basis of mainly merits
New UK 'Diploma' & Cambridge Pre-U: Contact us for information
Careers
Criminology graduates from the University have gone on to various roles in the public and private sectors, including criminal justice agencies, social welfare organisations, central and local government, commerce and industry.
Your degree course enables you to develop valuable transferable skills in research, analysis and communication, giving you plenty of options for your future career. Abilities such as these have assisted previous graduates in finding employment in the public and private sectors.
The Criminology degree also provides a solid foundation for postgraduate study or specialised training in a related field such as social work or teaching.
Lancaster University is dedicated to ensuring you not only gain a highly reputable degree, but that you also graduate with relevant life and work based skills. We are unique in that every student is eligible to participate in The Lancaster Award which offers you the opportunity to complete key activities such as work experience, employability/career development, campus community and social development. Visit our Employability section for full details.
Studying
Teaching and Learning Methods
At Lancaster we offer a broad range of learning environments designed to best support the requirements of your chosen degree programme. These may include lecture and tutorials, interactive workshops, laboratory sessions, other practical activities, student-led seminars and web-based elivery.The modules which make up a programme of study are assessed using a variety of different methods, enabling students to demonstrate their capabilities in a range of ways. Typical coursework assignments include laboratory reports, essays, literature reviews, short tests, short and sharply focussed critical reports, poster sessions and oral presentations. Formal examinations include short answer questions, essays and data analysis. Multiple choice formats are also employed where appropriate. Students are supported in the production of final year project reports and dissertations. Details of the assessment methods for individual modules can be accessed via the university's online module catalogue. In addition to these learning and teaching methods we encourage independent study, meaning you take responsibility for your own learning. For more information visit our Teaching Approach page.
Assessment Methods
We offer you a variety of stimulating and effective approaches to teaching, learning and assessment. This enables you and your tutors to explore the very latest thinking within your subject and develops your skills in problem solving, analysis and critical reflection, communication, application of knowledge and modern technologies.
As a University, we commit to providing all our undergraduates with a minimum number of contact hours per week, providing you with timely feedback on your work and a maximum number of 15 students per seminar group.
Funding
Lancaster University has committed £2.7m in scholarships and bursaries to help with your fees and living costs. Our financial support depends on your circumstances and how well you do in your A-levels (or equivalent academic qualifications) before starting study with us.
Lancaster University's priority is to support every student to make the most of their life and education. For students starting their study with us in 2014, over 600 each year will be entitled to bursaries and/or scholarships to help them with the cost of fees and/or living expenses. For UK students entering in 2014 we will have the following financial support available:
- An Academic Scholarship of £2,000 for the first year of study to any student from the UK entering with A*, A*, A or equivalent academic qualifications
- An Access Scholarship of £1,000 per year for all UK students from households with an income of less than £42,600 who achieve grades of A*, A, A or the equivalent academic qualifications
- A Lancaster Bursary of £1,000 per annum for all students from England with a household income of more than £25,000 but less than £42,600
- As part of the National Scholarship Programme, a £1,000 Bursary, a £1,000 Fee Waiver and a £1,000 Accommodation Discount in the first year of study, for students from England with a household income of less than £25,000. Plus a Lancaster Bursary of £1,000 in subsequent years.
*All of the financial awards above are subject to approval by the Office for Fair Access July 2013.
For full details of the University's financial support packages including eligibility criteria, please visit our fees and funding page