2023/24 entry
BA (Hons) Criminology with Foundation Year
Why study Criminology with Foundation Year at Liverpool John Moores University?
- Opportunity to undertake international fieldwork visits to places such as Ljubljana, Slovenia and Gothenburg, Sweden
- Excellent research-led teaching
- Opens up a diverse range of careers including probation work, youth justice, drug referral schemes, victim support, and police and prison services
About your course
The BA (Hons) Criminology at Liverpool John Moores University is taught by research active experts and offers exciting opportunites for international fieldwork.
This interdisciplinary BA course gives you the chance to look at criminology from the perspective of other disciplines such as geography, history, psychology, political science and sociology giving you a much broader understanding of the subject.
Throughout the course, you will be encouraged to develop your critical thinking skills by questioning what we mean by the terms crime, criminals, punishment and justice.
For example, how are such terms constructed and what are the implications for practice? In the third year, you will have an opportunity to choose option modules to explore crime and criminal justice across a range of issues and specialisms and to locate UK based developments and debates within an international context
Foundation Year
The Foundation Year is ideal if you have the interest and ability to study for a degree, but do not have the qualifications to enter directly onto the Criminology honours degree programme yet.
Once you pass the Foundation Year (level 3) you will progress directly onto the first year of the honours degree. If you are a full-time UK student, you will qualify for student financial support for the full duration of your course (subject to eligibility criteria).
Additional course costs
Residential field trips associated with the optional fieldwork module, at level 6, will include flights and bed and breakfast accommodation costs. Locations may be subject to change.
Other study options:
"There were a wide range of modules and the choice to shape the direction of your degree. The support was excellent with tutors always available to help with prompt feedback."
Fees and funding
There are many ways to fund study for home and international students
Fees
The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as:
- Library membership with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources
- Access to programme-appropriate software
- Library and student IT support
- Free on-campus wifi via eduroam
Additional costs
Although not all of the following are compulsory/relevant, you should keep in mind the costs of:
- accommodation and living expenditure
- books (should you wish to have your own copies)
- printing, photocopying and stationery
- PC/laptop (should you prefer to purchase your own for independent study and online learning activities)
- mobile phone/tablet (to access online services)
- field trips (travel and activity costs)
- placements (travel expenses and living costs)
- student visas (international students only)
- study abroad opportunities (travel costs, accommodation, visas and immunisations)
- academic conferences (travel costs)
- professional-body membership
- graduation (gown hire etc)
Funding
There are many ways to fund study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you'll find all of the information you need on our specialist funding pages.
Employability
The choice of careers open to criminology graduates is diverse and exciting.
Your degree could be useful in a range of fields including:
- policy and administration
- government advice
- the children, young people's and youth justice workforces
- social work, prison and probation services
- research
- academia
- policing
- investigating miscarriages of justice
- media research
- crime documentary and fiction screenwriting/production
- writing and journalism
- teaching
- working in charities and community organisations
Student Futures - Careers, Employability and Enterprise Service
A wide range of opportunities and support is available to you, within and beyond your course, to ensure our students experience a transformation in their career trajectory. Every undergraduate curriculum includes Future Focus during Level 4, an e-learning resource and workshop designed to help you to develop your talents, passion and purpose.
Every student has access to Careers Zone 24/7, LJMU's suite of online Apps, resources and jobs board via the LJMU Student Futures website. There are opportunities for flexible, paid and part-time work through Unitemps, LJMU's in-house recruitment service, and we also offer fully funded Discovery Internships.
One-to-one careers and employability advice is available via our campus-based Careers Zones and we offer a year-round programme of events, including themed careers and employability workshops, employer events and recruitment fairs. Our Start-Up Hub can help you to grow your enterprise skills and to research, plan and start your own business or become a freelancer.
A suite of learning experiences, services and opportunities is available to final year students to help ensure you leave with a great onward plan. You can access LJMU's Careers, Employability and Start-up Services after you graduate and return for one-to-one support for life.
Go abroad
LJMU aims to make international opportunities available to every student. You may be able to study abroad as part of your degree at one of our 100+ partner universities across the world. You could also complete a work placement or apply for one of our prestigious worldwide internship programmes. If you wanted to go abroad for a shorter amount of time, you could attend one of our 1-4 week long summer schools.
Our Go Citizen Scheme can help with costs towards volunteering, individual projects or unpaid placements anywhere in the world. With all of these opportunities at your feet, why wouldn’t you take up the chance to go abroad?
Find out more about the opportunities we have available via our Instagram @ljmuglobalopps or email us at: goabroad@ljmu.ac.uk.
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What you will study on this degree
Please see guidance below on core and option modules for further information on what you will study.
Further guidance on modules
Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.
Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules may also be included to provide you with an element of choice within the programme. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.
Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.
Level 3
Core modules
Preparing for Success: Academic Skills
20 credits
This module provides you with the integrated skills required for academic success. You will develop your skills of creating posters, constructing bibliographies, and sourcing relevant materials. Alongside this you will learn to identify and understand academic writing and referencing techniques. The multi-disciplinary syllabus and assessment tasks will enable you to acquire the academic skills needed for successful transition into Level 4 and the completion of the degree.
Investigating Liverpool
20 credits
This module provides you with the necessary skills to develop a research project on the Liverpool City region from your particular subject perspective. You will explain academic research methods, write a coherent piece of academic work based on an understanding of Liverpool, and locate relevant research to support your project. The module will help you to develop an independent approach to learning.
Contemporary Issues in Security and Policing
20 credits
This module provides you with the opportunity to understand contemporary issues in security and policing. You will learn to identify contemporary themes in security and policing and how theory can help explain crime. Through your study you will understand the challenges to mainstream security and policing and develop the ability to express key ideas about security and policing in written form.
Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice
20 credits
This module provides you with the opportunity to understand contemporary issues in Criminal Justice. It gives you a foundation-level knowledge of how Criminal Justice works in 21st-century England and Wales.
Crime, Justice and Diversity
20 credits
This module aims to raise your awareness of the different social factors which can impact on how crime is committed and against whom. The module also builds knowledge of the impact of social factors on crime, victimisation and criminal justice.
Society, Status and Social Policy
20 credits
This module provides a sociological context for students to understand the key contemporary social issues affecting the UK.
Level 4
Core modules
An Introduction to Criminological Theory
20 credits
Criminology Into Action
20 credits
Inside the Criminal Justice System
20 credits
Contemporary Issues in Criminology
20 credits
Researching Crime and Justice
20 credits
Media, Crime and Victimisation
20 credits
Level 5
Core modules
Key Thinkers for Criminology
20 credits
Contemporary Perspectives in Criminology
20 credits
Research Project in Criminology
20 credits
Qualitative Research Methods
20 credits
Optional modules
Study Year Abroad - Criminology
120 credits
The aim is to provide students with an additional year of study at an approved overseas partner that will complement their programme at LJMU. This is an additional year of full-time study at an approved higher education institution. The modules to be studied must be agreed in advance, and must be appropriate for the student's programme of study. Assuming successful completion of this year, mark-bearing credit will be awarded by the Faculty Recognition Group. The grade conversion scale to be used will be made available in advance of the year abroad.
Criminology into Practice
20 credits
Global Crime and Harm
20 credits
It is increasingly recognised that globalisation, socio-economic and ecological interdependence, is revealed in the constant transition of people between places, societies and cultures, and globally generalised ecological impacts. Crime, its control, and social and environmental harms, transcend local and state borders – they have global dimensions. Global processes create newly marginalised and excluded groups, social constructions are destroyed, new ones emerge, organised and serious crime transcends traditional boundaries, places and identities. Globalisation also provides opportunities to contest these new elements of victimisation. This module will address these global dimensions of crime and harm, decolonise their criminological examination, explore emerging 'Southern' criminologies, Social Movements, resistance and the contested nature of crime and justice.
Victims and Justice
20 credits
This module is concerned to address the substantive and growing criminological interest in the issue of victimization. It explores different theoretical perspectives associated with the study of victims and the victims place within regulatory and criminal justice practices. It will encourage students to critically explore the state's recognition of and responses, to victims and their demands for justice, along with the work of groups that campaign on behalf of particular groups of victims. The module will involve students' participating in interactive 2-hour workshops involving lecture input, small group activities and IT skills; attending tutorial (drop-in) sessions and receiving input from guest speakers who are experts in their fields.
Crimes and Harms of the Powerful
20 credits
Social Divisions and Social Justice
20 credits
Level 6
Optional modules
Dissertation – Part 1
20 credits
Dissertation – Part 2
20 credits
Green Criminology – Crimes and Harms to the Global Environment
20 credits
International Fieldwork in Criminology
20 credits
Police, Power and Social Order
20 credits
Drugs, Intoxication and Society
20 credits
Children and Young People 'at Risk'
20 credits
Theorising Sexed Violence
20 credits
Power, Politics, and Human Rights
20 credits
Crime Media Culture
20 credits
Child and Youth Justice
20 credits
Security, Terrorism, and War
20 credits
Criminology at Work 1
20 credits
Criminology at Work 2
20 credits
Understanding and Challenging Inequalities and Stigma
20 credits
Teaching and work-related learning
Excellent facilities and learning resources
We adopt an active blended learning approach, meaning you will experience a combination of face-to-face and online learning during your time at LJMU. This enables you to experience a rich and diverse learning experience and engage fully with your studies. Our approach ensures that you can easily access support from your personal tutor, either by meeting them on-campus or via a video call to suit your needs.
Teaching is delivered via a combination of lectures, workshops, seminars, online activities and one-to-one consultations with your tutors. You will also be expected to study independently and conduct your own self-directed research.
Work-related Learning
The degree provides opportunities for you to undertake supervised independent study on a Criminological issue of your choice, enabling the development of a wide variety of transferable skills and abilities essential for your future employability. For example, the Dissertation and Work Placement modules require students to identify an appropriate topic; develop a programme of study and present a clear, coherent and robust piece of written work. While the International Fieldwork module provides students with a unique opportunity to develop and improve these transferable skills within an international context.
Support and guidance
Dedicated personal tutor, plus study skills support
It is often useful to discuss course-related issues on a one-to-one basis and for this reason we will assign you a personal tutor for the duration of your studies at LJMU. Your tutor will also help you put together your personal development plan so that you can monitor progress and set your own targets. Module tutors also provide support in the form of online learning materials, course guides and one-to-one consultations if you need them, and there will be study skills sessions to help you prepare for assessments.
Assessment
Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose, but will usually include a combination of exams and coursework.
We understand that all students have different strengths and preferences when it comes to assessments, so we use a variety of methods to assess your work. These include:
- essays
- exams
- fieldwork projects
- reports
- case studies
- portfolios
- blogs and wikis
- workplace practice
- posters
- presentations (individual and group)
- debates
- reviews and group work
You will normally receive extensive written feedback on your assessments and regular verbal feedback.
All feedback is designed to help you achieve your full potential and get the most out of your studies, so staff will be available to discuss it with you and direct you to further support if you feel you need it.
Course tutors
Our staff are committed to the highest standards of teaching and learning
Dr Stephen Wakeman
Programme leader
Dr Stephen Wakeman
Programme leader
Janet is Subject Leader for Criminology and manages the BA (Hons) Criminology and the and BSc (Hons) Criminology and Psychology undergraduate degree programmes. She joined LJMU in September 2007 as a Senior Lecturer having previously taught Criminology at Lancaster University and held Research Fellowships within the Young Justice Research Centre at the University of Liverpool and the Social Work Research Centre at the University of Stirling.
This degree provides opportunities for you to look at Criminology from the perspective of other disciplines such as geography, history, psychology, political science and sociology giving you a much broader understanding of the subject.
Where you will study
What you can expect from your School
Based within the John Foster Building, in the Mount Pleasant Campus, the School of Justice Studies is a leading provider of education in Policing Studies, Criminology and Criminal Justice. We provide specific training for policing students wishing to enter the service as a graduate recruit. The John Foster Building has many outstanding facilities, including well-equipped IT Suites, a light-filled Student Common Room and dedicated study areas. At the back of the John Foster Building is the Aldham Robarts Library, where you have access to an exceptional range of materials to support your studies.
Entry requirements
Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements
Minimum points required from qualifications: 72
Qualification requirements
GCSEs and equivalents
Prior to starting the programme applicants must have obtained Grade C or Grade 4 or above in English Language and Mathematics GCSE or an approved alternative qualification below:
- Key Skills Level 2 in English/ Maths
- NVQ Level 2 Functional skills in Maths and English Writing and or Reading
- Skills for Life Level 2 in Numeracy/English
- Higher Diploma in Maths/ English
- Functional Skills Level 2 in Maths/ English
- Northern Ireland Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
- Welsh GCSE in Maths or Numeracy
- Wales Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
A levels
- Minimum number of A Levels required: 2
- Subject specific requirements: Preferably including Humanities and Social Science subject.
- Is general studies acceptable? Yes
- Average A Level offer: DDD
- Are AS level awards acceptable? Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
- Maximum AS Level points accepted: 20
BTECs
- National Certificate (RQF): Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
- National Extended Certificate: Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
- National Diploma (RQF): Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- National Diploma subjects / grades required: DM if studied on its own or to the total of 72 UCAS points when combined with other qualifications
- National Extended Diploma (RQF): Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- National Extended Diploma subjects / grades required: MMP if studied on its own or to the total of 72 UCAS points when combined with other qualifications
Access awards
- Access to Higher Education Diploma acceptability: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- Further information: At least 24 Merits and 21 Passes, or any other combination that equates to 72 UCAS Tariff points in a relevant subject
International Baccalaureate
- International Baccalaureate: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- Additional information: 72 UCAS Tariff points from IB Composite parts, or in combination with other Level 3 qualifications
Irish awards
- Irish Leaving Certificate: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- Grades / subjects required: 72 UCAS points with a maximum of 20 from Ordinary level
Welsh awards
- Welsh Baccalaureate: Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
T levels
- T Level requirements: 72 UCAS Tariff points in a relevant subject
NVQ
- Are Level 3 NVQs acceptable? Acceptable when combined with other qualifications
Alternative qualifications considered
Applications are welcomed from mature and non-standard applicants, who will be considered on an individual basis. These applicants may be required to submit an essay and/or attend an interview, and should demonstrate potential and motivation and/or have relevant experience.
International applications will be considered in line with UK qualifications.
Additional requirements
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Interview required
Will I be interviewed?
Mature and non standard applicants may be invited to attend interview
International requirements
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IELTS
6.0 (minimum of 5.5 in each component) or equivalent English language proficiency test.
Further information
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Reduced offer scheme
As part of LJMU’s commitment to widening access we offer eligible students entry to their chosen course at a reduced threshold of up to 16/8 UCAS points. This applies if you are a student who has been in local authority care or if you have participated in one of LJMU’s sustained outreach initiatives, e.g. Summer University. Please contact the admission office for further details.
Please Note: All international qualifications are subject to a qualification equivalency check.
Application and selection
Securing your place at LJMU
UCAS is the official application route for our full-time undergraduate courses. Further information on the UCAS application process can be found here https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/study/undergraduate-students/how-to-apply.
The following criteria are desirable but not essential. Please demonstrate your development of these attributes in the personal statement included in your application:
- A critical interest in how societies are constructed and the issues and chalenges presented
- A questioning mind
- Good written and verbal communication skills, as you will be expected to convey knowledge to other people
- Good analytical skills, so that you can evaluate policies and practice
- Good reading and information retrieval skills - obtaining information from a range of sources and using it to support analysis
The University reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the University. Where this does happen, the University operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.
Further information on the terms and conditions of any offer made, our admissions policy and the complaints and appeals process.