Criminology and French Studies

BA Hons

  • UCAS code MR91
  • Entry year 2024 or 2025
  • A level requirements ABB
  • Duration Full time 4 years

Overview

Top reasons to study with us

  • 6

    6th for Criminology

    The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide (2025)

  • 12

    12th for Graduate Prospects (Criminology)

    The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide (2024)

  • 9th in the UK for student satisfaction The Complete University Guide (2025)

We have outstanding league table rankings for Criminology and French, and a great track record for graduate prospects. These are just two of the reasons to take a Criminology and French degree at Lancaster University.

Taught by world-leading, research-active academics from our prestigious Law School and the School of Global Affairs, our unique approach to your first year introduces you to topics including drugs and crime, youth justice, sex offending, and the cultural context of the French language.

Year 2 is your chance to build on your language skills and study the culture, politics and history of the French-speaking world in more depth. You will also explore the ways that crime is measured and engage with the social and legal responses to crimes against the environment.

Your third year, a compulsory year abroad, provides you with a rare opportunity to develop your language and criminological skills in a global context. You can study at a partner institution or conduct a work placement.

In your final year, you will consolidate your French language skills and tailor your degree to your personal and professional interests, selecting from a range of modules including Criminal Careers and Criminal Justice Research.

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’. The School of Global Affairs has research collaborations across several disciplines including the Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts and is ranked 8th in the UK for research impact.

Employability Skills

You will benefit from our excellent connections with NGOs, charities, and local criminal justice agencies such as Lancashire Police and HMP Lancaster Farms. There will be opportunities for you to visit the prison and engage in collaborative learning, and analyse data from Lancashire Police. All of this helps you to make professional connections, learn more about criminal justice agencies, and get a head start on your career.

We’ll also support you if you wish to take on voluntary work experience, and we have previously provided opportunities with the Citizens Advice Bureau and Constabulary's Special Constables.

Throughout your degree, you will gain vital skills for a career within or beyond the criminal justice system. You will develop your ability to think critically, communicate, speak in public, work in teams, write for academia, carry out your own research and competently analyse data.

Beginners Languages

Studying a language from beginners level is somewhat intense in nature so we only allow students to study one language from beginners level. Please bear this in mind when looking at our first year module options. If you apply to study a degree with a language from beginners level, your optional modules will only include higher level languages and modules in other subject areas.

Careers

Your degree can open doors to a career in, or beyond, the criminal justice system. It could lead to jobs in the private, public and voluntary sector including the police and prison service, the Home Office, National Criminal Intelligence Service, and welfare charities.

In addition, language graduates find careers in a wide range of fields including accountancy, IT, e-commerce, business development, community engagement, civil service, events management, finance, journalism and publishing, as well as teaching and translating both in the UK and beyond.

Alternatively, you may be interested in furthering your studies with a Master's Degree: MA Translation, Language & Cultures; LLM/MA Criminology and Criminal Justice; MSc Criminology and Social Research Methods; MSc Criminal Justice and Social Research Methods; or PhD-level studies.

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.

Entry requirements

Grade Requirements

A Level ABB

Required Subjects A level French, or if this is to be studied from beginners’ level, AS grade B or A level grade B in another foreign language, or GCSE grade A or 7 in a foreign language. Native French speakers will not be accepted onto this scheme.

IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each component. For other English language qualifications we accept, please see our English language requirements webpages.

Other Qualifications

International Baccalaureate 32 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 Higher Level subjects including appropriate evidence of language ability

BTEC Distinction, Distinction, Merit accepted alongside appropriate evidence of language ability

We welcome applications from students with a range of alternative UK and international qualifications, including combinations of qualification. Further guidance on admission to the University, including other qualifications that we accept, frequently asked questions and information on applying, can be found on our general admissions webpages.

Contact Admissions Team + 44 (0) 1524 592028 or via ugadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk

Course structure

Lancaster University offers a range of programmes, some of which follow a structured study programme, and some which offer the chance for you to devise a more flexible programme to complement your main specialism.

Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, and the University will make every reasonable effort to offer modules as advertised. In some cases changes may be necessary and may result in some combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.

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Fees and funding

Our annual tuition fee is set for a 12-month session, starting in the October of your year of study.

Our Undergraduate Tuition Fees for 2024/25 are:

Home International
£9,250 £23,750

Fees and funding information

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Scholarships and bursaries

You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.

You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status:

Unfortunately no scholarships and bursaries match your selection, but there are more listed on scholarships and bursaries page.

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We also have other, more specialised scholarships and bursaries - such as those for students from specific countries.

Browse Lancaster University's scholarships and bursaries.

Important information

The information on this site relates primarily to 2025/2026 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

Our Students’ Charter

We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies.

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