BA Criminology and Law
About this course
BA Hons in Criminology and Law, a sociology and law degree centered on the multi-disciplinary study of criminal justice, legal systems, and criminological theory. Core topics include Statistics, Research Methods, Fieldwork, Legal Analysis, Communication & Writing, Critical & Analytical Thinking, Ethics & Professional Practice, and Design & Creative Practice. The course includes opportunities to connect with local agencies such as the police and prison service, as well as optional dissertation projects in either criminology or law. The first year covers foundational subjects through Explaining Criminology, Legal Systems and Sources, Contract Law, Legal Systems and Justice, and Criminal Law. In the second year, studies advance through Criminological Thought, Tort Law, and Measuring Crime, alongside various specialised options. Optional modules allow students to explore diverse areas such as Environmental Law, Cybercrime and Cybercriminality, Family Law, Financial Crime, and Intellectual Property Law and Policy. The final year focuses on advanced themes like Prisons, Punishment and Society, with options including Green Criminology, Drugs, Crime and Society, and Crimes and Harms of the Powerful. Students can also participate in the Street Law project to deliver public legal education presentations.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: BBB IB: 30 overall with 15 points from the best 3 HL subjects
Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 82%: 70 offers from 85 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 11 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 92%
- Learning opportunities: 72%
- Assessment and feedback: 83%
- Academic support: 92%
- Organisation and management: 96%
- Learning resources: 96%
- Student voice: 64%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 20 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 95%
- Left higher education: 5%
What graduates do next
Based on about 66 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Working: 60%
- Working and studying: 18%
- Further study: 11%
- Unemployed: 2%
Most common jobs
- Administrative occupations: 20%
- Business and public service associate professionals: 15%
- Protective service occupations: 10%
- Elementary occupations: 10%
- Welfare and housing associate professionals: 10%
- Find their work meaningful: 82%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 78%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 66%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 175 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 2%
- North West: 59%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 5%
- East Midlands: 4%
- West Midlands: 5%
- East of England: 3%
- London: 14%
- South East: 6%
- South West: 1%
- Wales: 1%
- Northern Ireland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 80%
- Baccalaureate: 15%
- Foundation course: 5%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Gold overall, Silver for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- Explaining Criminology
- Legal Systems and Sources
- Contract Law
- Legal Systems and Justice
- Criminal Law
- Crime and Popular Culture
- A Brief History of Crime and Criminology
- Criminological Thought
- Tort Law
- Measuring Crime
- Understanding Criminological Fieldwork
- Youth Justice
- Cybercrime and Cybercriminality
- Business Law and Practice
- Employment Law
- Family Law
- International Law
- Mediation and Conflict Resolution
- Civil Litigation and Dispute Resolution
- Organised Crime
- Contemporary Issues in Policing
- Land Law
- Commercial Law
- European Union Law
- Financial Crime
- Human Rights and Civil Liberties
- International Law on Force, Territory and Human Rights
- Law and Young People
- Legal Tech and Innovation
- Prisons, Punishment and Society
- Criminology Dissertation
- Law Dissertation
- Green Criminology
- Drugs, Crime and Society
- Crimes and Harms of the Powerful
- Company Law
- Environmental Law
- Immigration and Asylum Law
- Inheritance Law
- Healthcare Law and Ethics
- Gendered Harm and Justice
- Hate Crime
- Crime and Media
- Equity and Trusts Law
- Contemporary Issues in Corporate Governance
- Evidence
- Intellectual Property Law and Policy
- Human Rights, Mass Atrocities and Transitional Justice
- Sex Crimes and Sexual Offending
- Street Law
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Criminology and Law at Lancaster University earn?
The median salary is £25,000 after 15 months, £24,500 after 3 years, £32,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £24,000 and £45,000. The £32,500 median after five years is £6,000 more than the UK median for Sociology.
What do graduates of BA Criminology and Law at Lancaster University do next?
89% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Criminology and Law at Lancaster University?
92% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Criminology and Law at Lancaster University?
The typical offer is BBB at A level. The average entrant had 131 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA Criminology and Law at Lancaster University?
82% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 70 offers from 85 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
How many students continue on BA Criminology and Law at Lancaster University?
95% of students continued into their second year, and 5% left higher education.