LLB (Hons) Law with Criminology
Key Details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Bachelor of Laws
- UCAS Course Code
- M2L3
- Entry Requirements
- AAB
- Course Length
- 3 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2023
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Why you should choose us
Of graduates go on to work and/or study within 15 months after the course
Course Overview
Join a top Law School that offers an intimate and engaging, student-focused learning experience. Gain the skills and confidence you need to excel within or beyond the legal profession or the field of crime and criminal justice.
UEA Law School is housed in historic Earlham Hall. You’ll join a welcoming and collegiate community of legal and criminology scholars and students. You’ll be taught by dedicated lecturers with expertise in a range of legal and criminological fields and will be part of a vibrant student body with an active law society.
This course is aimed at students who want to combine a traditional English Law Degree with the fascinating and popular field of Criminology. This is the study of what causes crime, its consequences and how we respond to it. Combining these will give you a strong understanding of the evolving state of our society and the challenges it faces.
You will be able to enrol on Sociology modules taught across UEA Schools. This is a closely related subject that focuses on the development and functioning of society. It will allow you to explore diverse and sometimes conflicting ideas of what the key issues are and how they should be addressed.
Much of your study will be anchored around contemporary events and live issues that are affecting the world today. This course will give you a broad knowledge and skills base with which to succeed in a wide variety of law and non-related careers.
Our LLB Law with Criminology is ranked in the top 20 for Law by 'The Guardian University Guide 2023'.
The course combines the seven foundation subjects of a traditional law degree with a foundation module in Criminology (Crime and Society), a theories of crime module (which explores various explanations of the causes of crime), and a more advanced Criminology module (Contemporary Concerns in Crime and Justice) and the introductory modules of English Legal System and Law in Practice. These subjects enable students to understand the different ways in which the law impacts and regulates our lives, and the relationship between the individual and the state. They will lay the foundation for you to gain an advanced understanding of law and crime related subjects in your final year.
Thanks to the UEA Law School’s semesterised approach to teaching, each of our modules are taught in one semester, freeing you up to have more choice later in the course. You’ll choose seven optional modules across your second and final years of study.
The wide range of choices the course affords allows you to tailor your degree around the subjects that interest you and stimulate your curiosity. Choices combine subjects in law, such as Company, Employment, Family Law, Law and Medicine and Human Rights, with those related to Crime, such as The Criminal Process, Miscarriages of Justice, Crime and Sentencing, and the advanced Criminology module, Contemporary Concerns in Crime and Justice. Uniquely, you will also be able to choose from optional modules available to UEA students enrolled on the BA Sociology programme, including Gender, Victimisation and Offending; Social Policy and Social Justice; Risk and Resilience: Young People as Victims of Exploitation, Offenders and Survivors; Media, Globalisation and Culture; Power and Society, Digital Politics, and Social Constructions of Childhood.
Throughout the course, you’ll develop important skills such as research, writing, critical analysis, and constructing a reasoned and evidenced argument. The point of legal study is not simply to memorise the law, but to be able to engage with it skillfully. Similarly, in Criminology, you will learn how to think critically and apply different explanations of crime and various perspectives on how we should respond to crime to contemporary issues. As such, many of the skills you’ll acquire are transferable and will be valuable in your chosen career path.
Throughout your degree, you’ll be given guidance on your work and constructive feedback to help you improve. You will be allocated an Academic Advisor to help you get the most from your studies and help you reach your full potential.
You’ll also have many opportunities to build your skills, confidence and professional CV through extra-curricular activities. During your studies, you’ll enjoy the support of our outstanding employability programme and have the opportunity to take part in many voluntary activities. You could, for example, complete an internship at a law firm, or ‘marshal’, spending a day on the bench with a judge during a trial. You could get involved in our Justice Project, where you will work on cases of prisoners who maintain they were the victims of miscarriages of justice. You could also benefit from the alumni-mentoring scheme, where Law School graduates offer career mentoring to individual students. Our many events with law firms, barrister chambers, criminal justice agencies and alumni create great opportunities for finding out about the options for when you graduate. You can also make a difference in the local community, working for the public good (pro bono) with the UEA award-winning Law Clinic, providing free legal advice under the supervision of local solicitors, to members of the local community who cannot otherwise access it.
You can also have fun, build your profile and hone valuable skills by joining in Law Society activities. As well as social events, these include beginner and advanced mooting contests where a point of law is debated in a simulated court hearing. Finals are judged by actual judges or barristers. The Law Society also holds negotiation, client interviewing, mediation and legal triathlon competitions, the finals of which are hosted by law firms. In 2016, the UEA Law Society won LawCareers.Net award for ‘Best Pro Bono’ activities and in 2019 the award as the best law society for Commercial Awareness.
Study and Modules
Structure
In your first year, you’ll establish a strong grounding in foundational subjects necessary for further
criminological and legal study. You will take three modules per semester, six in total. These include
Constitutional & Administrative Law, Crime and
Society, Contract Law, and Principles of Criminal
Law. The Law School also runs Skills Development workshops throughout the year. You’ll begin to cultivate important legal skills such as legal reasoning, research and writing and ways of thinking and writing criminologically.
Compulsory Modules
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
Students can typically expect two hours of lectures a week for each module. This is where a lecturer sets out the structure of the subject, identifies key issues and provokes critical thought. The size of lectures varies depending on the subject. Each module will typically also have a two-hour seminar (or tutorial) every fortnight. This is where students are given reading and guiding questions to consider and prepare ahead of class. Seminars are an opportunity to really deepen your understanding of the subject, through critical discussion and debate. Seminars are in small groups, so everybody has a chance to contribute and engage with the scholar leading the session. Seminars can include elements of group work.
Academics at UEA are given the freedom to experiment and innovate with their teaching, so while the above describes the general format of modules, some subjects will vary.
Independent Study
For each seminar, students will be set around 10-12 hours of preparatory work. This will mainly consist of researching, reading and engaging with other sources of material such as video, to formulate thoughts, arguments and ideas that will then be discussed in class. This is an important part of university study, allowing students to make the transition between School and Sixth Form to a professional context after graduation, where individuals will be expected to complete tasks with a high degree of independence.
Students on this programme will be based in the Law School, located in the beautiful and historic Earlham Hall building, although your teaching may be scheduled for other locations on campus. When they need it, help and advice is available through our advising system and our lecturers pride themselves in being approachable and getting to know our students. We also maintain a strong sense of community, in which students and staff provide each other with support and advice.
Additional Support
The UEA Learning Enhancement team, based in the Student Support Service, are on hand to help in various study areas, including study, writing and research skills.
If you have additional needs due to disabilities such as sensory impairment or learning difficulties such as dyslexia, please talk to our Student Support Service about how they can help.
Assessment
Autumn semester modules are generally assessed by coursework and Spring semester modules by examination. This is to ensure a good balance of assessment methods. You’ll have the opportunity to submit non-assessed assignments during the semester to practice your academic writing skills and receive feedback on your work.
Structure
In your second year, you’ll take the remaining law subjects which are the essential building blocks of a legal education: EU Law, Land Law, The Law of Trusts, and The Law of Tort. These subjects will complete the introductory and core teaching on the module, and by the end of your second year, you’ll have completed the seven foundation subjects of a traditional English law degree. As in your first year, you’ll take three modules per semester, six in total. You will also complete the Criminology module, which will provide a more detailed study of the crime and its causes. You’ll begin to tailor your degree by selecting one optional module from a wide range of law and crime related modules taught within the Law school, or other modules taught on the BA Sociology course taught at other UEA Schools.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 20)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
Students can typically expect two hours of lectures a week of each module. This is where a lecturer sets out the structure of the subject, identifies key issues and provokes critical thought.
Each module will typically have a two-hour seminar (or tutorial) every fortnight. This is where students are given reading and guiding questions to consider and prepare ahead of class. Seminars are an opportunity to really deepen your understanding of the subject, through critical discussion and debate. Seminars are in small groups, so everybody has a chance to contribute and engage with the scholar leading the session.
Independent Study
For each seminar, students will be set around 10-12 hours of preparatory work. This will mainly consist of researching, reading and engaging with other sources of material such as video, to formulate thoughts, arguments and ideas that will then be discussed in class. This is an important parts of university student, allowing students to make the transition between School and Sixth Form to a professional context after graduation, where individuals will be expected to complete tasks with a high degree of independence.
Additional Support
The UEA Learning Enhancement team, based in the Student Support Service, are on hand to help in various study areas, including study, writing and research skills.
If you have additional needs due to disabilities such as sensory impairment or learning difficulties such as dyslexia, please talk to our Student Support Service about how they can help.
Assessment
Autumn semester modules are generally assessed by coursework and Spring semester modules by examination. This is to ensure a good balance of assessment methods. You’ll have the opportunity to submit non-assessed assignments during the semester to practice your writing skills and to receive feedback.
Structure
In your third year, you’ll be able to tailor your course according to your interests, by selecting six optional modules, three per semester. By Year 3, you will have a better sense of the career path you would like to pursue after you graduate and so can make choices accordingly. There is a wide range of optional modules to choose from including, amongst many others, Miscarriages of Justice, Contemporary Concerns in Crime and Justice, Internet Law, Law and Medicine, Company Law, International Human Rights Law, Equality and Work-Life Balance Law, Crime and Sentencing, as well as modules from outside of the Law School such as Digital Politics, The Political economy of Social Movements, Risk and Resilience: Young People as Victims of Exploitation, Offenders and Survivors, and Media, Culture and Learning.
Optional A Modules
(Min Credits: 100, Max Credits: 120)Optional B Modules
(Min Credits: 0, Max Credits: 20)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
Students can typically expect two hours of lectures a week of each module. This is where a lecturer sets out the structure of the subject, identifies key issues and provokes critical thought.
Each module will typically have a two-hour seminar (or tutorial) every fortnight. This is where students are given reading and guiding questions to consider and prepare ahead of class. Seminars are an opportunity to really deepen your understanding of the subject, through critical discussion and debate. Seminars are small groups, so everybody has a chance to contribute and engage with the scholar leading the session.
Independent Study
For each seminar, students will be set around 10-12 hours of preparatory work. This will mainly consist of researching, reading and engaging with other sources of material such as video, to formulate thoughts, arguments and ideas that will then be discussed in class. This is an important parts of university student, allowing students to make the transition between School and Sixth Form to a professional context after graduation, where individuals will be expected to complete tasks with a high degree of independence.
Additional Support
The UEA Learning Enhancement team, based in the Student Support Service, are on hand to help in various study areas, including study, writing and research skills.
If you have additional needs due to disabilities such as sensory impairment or learning difficulties such as dyslexia, please talk to our Student Support Service about how they can help.
Assessment
Autumn semester modules are generally assessed by coursework and Spring semester modules by examination. This is to ensure a good balance of assessment methods. You’ll have the opportunity to submit non-assessed assignments during the semester to practice your writing skills and to receive feedback.
Entry Requirements
- A Levels
- AAB If you are taking an EPQ and three A-levels, we may offer you a one grade reduction on our advertised typical offer, if you achieve an A in the EPQ.
- T Levels
- Not accepted
- BTEC
- DDD. Only acceptable in the following subjects: Applied Science, Business, Applied Law, Forensic and Criminal Investigation or Health and Social Care.
- Scottish Highers
- AAAAA
- Scottish Advanced Highers
- BBC
- Irish Leaving Certificate
- 4 subjects at H2 and 2 subjects at H3
- Access to HE Diploma
- Pass Access to HE Diploma with Distinction in 36 credits at Level 3 and Merit in 9 credits at Level 3
- International Baccalaureate
- 33
- GCSE
- You are required to have Mathematics and English Language at a minimum of Grade C or Grade 4 or above at GCSE.
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
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IELTS: 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in all components) for year 1 entry
-
IELTS: 6.5 overall (minimum 6.0 in all components) for year 2 entry
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study:
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- Interviews
Most applicants will not be called for an interview and a decision will be made via UCAS Track. However, for some applicants an interview will be requested. Where an interview is required the Admissions Service will contact you directly to arrange a time.
- Deferred Entry
- We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year. We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.
- Intakes
- This course is open to UK and International applicants. The annual intake is in September each year.
Additional Information or Requirements
UEA are committed to ensuring that Higher Education is accessible to all, regardless of their background or experiences. One of the ways we do this is through our contextual admissions schemes.
We welcome and value a wide range of alternative qualifications. If you have a qualification which is not listed here, please contact us via Admissions Enquiries.
Important note
Once enrolled onto your course at UEA, your progression and continuation (which may include your eligibility for study abroad, overseas experience, placement or year in industry opportunities) is contingent on meeting the assessment requirements which are relevant to the course on which you are enrolled.
International Requirements
We accept many international qualifications for entry to this course. View our International Students pages for specific information about your country.
INTO University of East Anglia
If you do not meet the academic and/or English language requirements for direct entry our partner, INTO UEA offers progression on to this undergraduate degree upon successful completion of a preparation programme. Depending on your interests, and your qualifications you can take a variety of routes to this degree:
International Foundation in Humanities and Law (for Year 1 entry to UEA)
Fees and Funding
Tuition Fees
View our information for Tuition Fees.
Scholarships and Bursaries
We are committed to ensuring that costs do not act as a barrier to those aspiring to come to a world leading university and have developed a funding package to reward those with excellent qualifications and assist those from lower income backgrounds. View our range of Scholarships for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
View our information about Additional Course Fees.
The Law School invests heavily in online resources and so most prescribed reading is available for free to UEA students.
How to Apply
Apply for this course through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Services (UCAS), using UCAS Hub.
UCAS Hub is a secure online application system that allows you to apply for full-time undergraduate courses at universities and colleges in the United Kingdom.
Your application does not have to be completed all at once. Register or sign in to UCAS to get started.
Once you submit your completed application, UCAS will process it and send it to your chosen universities and colleges.
The Institution code for the University of East Anglia is E14.
View our guide to applying through UCAS for useful tips, key dates and further information:
Employability
After the Course
You’ll graduate ready to begin your chosen career path having acquired and developed a range of transferable skills including, the ability to effectively research and assess the merits of competing theories, approaches and explanations in relation to the law and crime, and more widely. You’ll be able to apply theory to real world situations and make informed judgements about which explanation is most plausible and what can be done to resolve a particular problem. You will also have developed wider transferable skills, such as communicating and writing clearly and concisely, presenting arguments effectively and being able to swiftly extract key information from large documents.
If you are looking to the legal profession, you’ll progress to the next stage of training and continue the process of qualifying as a barrister or solicitor. If you’re looking at a career within criminal justice, you will also have developed the relevant skills and subject area knowledge to be able to do so. You’ll also be equipped to pursue other routes such as business, accountancy, the civil or diplomatic service, the charitable sector, management and human resources, teaching, journalism or academia, to name a few.
Many of our graduates have gone on to build careers as solicitors in leading firms in London and internationally, and in a variety of firms of all sizes and types. Others work as in-house counsel in companies, public authorities and the Government Legal Service. We also have a significant number of alumni who are barristers, including several Queen’s counsel.
Criminology graduates often pursue careers within the many agencies of the Criminal Justice System and with the wide variety of organisations and charities who work with offenders.
Careers
A degree at UEA will prepare you for a wide variety of careers. We've been ranked 1st for Job Prospects by StudentCrowd in 2022.
Career Destinations related to your degree include:
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Legal Practice (solicitor, barrister (with further study)
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Other law related careers (NGOs, international organisations, in-house compliance, legal researchers, police)
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Public Sector (civil service, local government, politics, education, research)
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Criminal Justice related agencies and organisations (police, prison or probation Services, Ministry of Justice, Home Office, campaigning and reform, charities working woth offenders and their families, youth offending teams)
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Media/Journalism
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Financial and Management Services (banking, tax, insurance, investment, accountancy, HR)