Law with Criminology (Placement Year) Lancaster University

Human rights breaches. Miscarriages of justice. Environmental harms. Law and crime permeate all spheres and sectors. Learn from leading experts as you develop your legal skills. Join in mooting competitions and network with prestigious Law firms to create invaluable connections.

Gain an in-depth perspective on today’s most pressing issues by studying criminology as part of your Law degree, with topics ranging from criminal justice and youth crime to social harm and environmental crime. You will have the opportunity to connect with local agencies such as the police and the prison service. Open up your career options with this fascinating joint degree.

Why Lancaster?

• Unravel technical legal topics: Uncover how Law shapes our society and take a critical look at the social, cultural, political, and economic contexts of crime and criminal justice

• Explore today’s challenges: Examine crime through a social justice lens and explore topics such as drug-related crimes, sex offences, organised crime, and human rights violations

• Build connections: Gain valuable real-world experience by taking part in our community Law Clinic or Street Law project, and meet law enforcement and criminal justice experts

• Prepare for success: Our Law Fair is attended by top lawyers and their recruitment teams and we have regular visits from top alumni

• Unlock your career potential: Tailored career advice to discover diverse pathways and practical steps you can take to achieve your goals

Law and crime in context and society

Law is one of the most fascinating and intellectually challenging subjects you can choose. You will gain a good understanding of Law in context and wider societal issues. Building on the foundations of legal knowledge, you’ll also learn about issues that are right at the heart of our society such as human rights law, litigation funding, legal history, property law and the right to protest.

Studying criminology at Lancaster complements your legal studies by providing alternative perspectives on issues of crime, punishment and justice. You will 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.

You will examine how crime is portrayed in the media and popular culture and explore how deviancy is rendered as a criminal act and how activism and protest can be demonised. You will learn to untangle the complex relationship between society, crime, and the criminal justice system and explore what alternative ways of doing justice might look like now and in the future. This is not dramatised or romantic crime. This is real life: brutal, saddening, enraging, uncomfortable, but fascinating.

Establish professional connections

You'll benefit from our strong links to Chambers, Law firms and related professions from across the UK, including Magic Circle firms from London. We usually host alumni visits and lectures, and a Law Fair, which is typically attended by lawyers (including trainees, associates and partners) and members of their recruitment teams.

Recent external speakers have included a representative from Victim Support, a Restorative Justice coordinator from Lancashire Constabulary, a Detective Inspector working in domestic abuse and a 'professional burglar' who turned his life around and now advocates for crime prevention and community support.

You'll meet professionals at NGOs and charities, as well as local criminal justice agencies such as Lancashire Constabulary, the Police Federation for England and Wales, Police Scotland, HMP Lancaster Farms, HMP Thorn Cross, prison education providers Novus, and Probation and Youth Justice.

Your Placement Year

Sometimes known as a year in industry, your placement year will take place between your second and final year of study and this will extend your degree to four years.

Entry requirements

These are the typical grades that you will need to study this course. This section will tell you whether you need qualifications in specific subjects, what our English language requirements are, and if there are any extra requirements such as attending an interview or submitting a portfolio.

A levels

AAB

Access to HE Diploma

36 Level 3 credits at Distinction plus 9 Level 3 credits at Merit

Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales

We accept the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales in place of one A level, or equivalent qualification, as long as any subject requirements are met.

BTEC Extended Diploma

DDD

BTEC in combination with A levels

A level at grade B plus BTEC(s) at DD, or A levels at grade AB plus BTEC at D

International Baccalaureate

35 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 HL subjects

Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers

We are happy to admit applicants on the basis of five Highers, but where we require a specific subject at A level, we will typically require an Advanced Higher in that subject. If you do not meet the grade requirement through Highers alone, we will consider a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers in separate subjects. Please contact the Admissions team for more information.

T levels

Distinction overall

GCSE requirements

English Language grade 4/C.

We will also look at your overall GCSE profile when considering your application as a whole.

We do have flexibility when considering GCSE requirements. Go to our GCSE information for more details.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, we require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each component for this programme. English language qualifications for undergraduate study.