Criminology (Placement Year)

BA Hons

  • UCAS code M931
  • Entry year 2025
  • A level requirements ABB
  • Duration Full time 4 years

We welcome applications from the United States of America

We've put together information and resources to guide your application journey as a student from the United States of America.

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)

  • Joint 7th for Criminology The Guardian University Guide (2025)

Why Lancaster?

  • Study a thought-provoking degree which looks critically at crime and examines issues through a social justice lens
  • Shape your studies with optional modules covering an array of insightful areas from drugs and sex crimes to organised crime
  • Benefit from an exceptional level of support from tutors who listen to your ideas and help you develop as a criminologist
  • Create industry connections with our network of professionals at NGOs, charities, the police, and other criminal justice agencies
  • Get specialist career advice – open your eyes to the different options and discover how to get there

Explore theories and perspectives that attempt to explain today’s most pressing issues, from crimes of the powerful to human rights. Studying criminology at Lancaster, you’ll graduate with the skills, experience and contacts you need for a rewarding career within the criminal justice system and beyond.

New perspectives and new ideas

Taught by world-leading academics at our prestigious Law School, our criminology degree is intellectually challenging and exciting. You’ll hear about our research first-hand and untangle the complex relationship between society, crime, and the criminal justice system.

You’ll look critically at the social, cultural, political, and economic contexts of crime and criminal justice, as well as viewing challenges through a social justice lens. To understand the bigger picture, we encourage you to branch out to other subject areas like law or sociology through a wide choice of optional modules.

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’.

Opportunities everywhere

Creating new connections is vital to your future. We’ll introduce you to professionals at NGOs and charities, as well as local criminal justice agencies such as Lancashire Police and HMP Lancaster Farms.

Employers value experience. That’s why we’ll help you find voluntary work. Our students have previously been offered opportunities with the Citizens Advice Bureau and Lancashire Constabulary's Special Constables.

We offer a wide range of diverse opportunities and try to ensure that all students can access the opportunities that interest them, however please note that places are limited on some schemes and modules.

Careers

You’ll graduate with the skills you need for a career within the criminal justice system and beyond. Potential employers will value your knowledge of crime and criminal justice in a range of contexts, as well as your ability to think critically, carry out research and analyse data. Speaking in public and working effectively in a team are skills you can add to your CV too.

We don’t expect you to know exactly what you want to do next. Throughout your time with us, we’ll discuss different career options for you. A dedicated criminology careers officer is always on hand to help, and we’ll explain how to access professional bodies and criminal justice organisations.

Our graduates have gone on to roles with:

  • Criminal justice agencies (the police force, HM Prison Service, the National Probation Service, GSL UK)
  • The Home Office
  • The Department for Health, Social Services,
  • NHS trusts
  • Charities
  • Youth offending services

After finishing this course, you might look at further study options, including our LLM/MA Criminology and Criminal Justice, MSc Criminology and Social Research Methods, or MSc Criminal Justice and Social Research Methods.

Lancaster University is dedicated to ensuring that you gain a highly reputable degree. We are also dedicated to ensuring that you 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 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

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

BTEC Distinction, Distinction, Merit

We welcome applications from students with a range of alternative UK and international qualifications, including combinations of qualifications. 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

International foundation programmes

Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored foundation pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University degrees. Visit the INTO Lancaster University website for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.

Contextual admissions

Contextual admissions could help you gain a place at university if you have faced additional challenges during your education which might have impacted your results. Visit our contextual admissions page to find out about how this works and whether you could be eligible.

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 2025/26 are:

Home International
£9,535 £24,700

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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