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Criminology and Policing [with Placement year] at Anglia Ruskin University - UCAS

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Course summary

Jump-start your career in the criminal justice sector with our specialist Criminology and Policing degree in Cambridge. As a BA (Hons) Criminology and Policing student at ARU, we’ll help you work towards your career goals from day one. Through our relationship with regional police forces and practitioners, you’ll have opportunities to engage with professionals from the criminal justice sector through guest lectures (including those organised by our Policing Institute for the Eastern Region), workshop events, study trips and research projects. You may also have opportunities to work closely with local police forces. A recent student project, sponsored by Cambridge Constabulary, carried out research on police officer demographics and recruitment. You’ll learn from staff with real-world experience: a significant part of your teaching in some modules will be delivered by policing and criminal justice practitioners such as former and active Crime Scene Investigators. Our criminology lecturers are active researchers with experience of working on real-life crimes with the police. You can also choose to an optional placement year. We’ll support you to get involved in justice causes and campaigns, charities and voluntary work that contributes to civic duty so you can gain relevant experience in the criminal justice system. You’ll also boost your CV as you become proficient in critical analysis, research and communication. Throughout your BA (Hons) Criminology and Policing degree, you’ll benefit from one-to-one personal tutoring and dedicated criminology social media groups. You could also enhance your CV by studying abroad for a semester – with funding on offer to help cover the cost. Once you’ve graduated, you can continue to develop your skills with one of our Masters degrees, such as MA Criminology and MA Contemporary Policing. Hands-on learning All our BA (Hons) Criminology and Policing students have the opportunity to:

  • go on field trips in the UK and overseas
  • take part in workshops, research projects and other events with regional police forces and other professionals
  • study abroad for a semester, with funding available to help cover the cost
  • choose from a range of optional modules and pursue their own areas of interest.
Careers Our graduates go on to work in the police force, probation, prisons and youth justice, as well as the Border Force, the military, security, charities and NGOs, local government, and the public sector more generally. Others are using their skills in areas such as policy, PR, communication and the media. If you’re already working in the criminal justice sector, you could follow in the footsteps of former students who’ve been able to progress their careers to graduate level. You could also develop a specialism or start a career in research by taking part in our academic shadowing scheme or Cambridgeshire County Council’s violence prevention analysis programmes. Or there’s the option to study for a Masters, such as our MA Contemporary Policing, MA Criminology or MA International Relations. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees. Employability and personal career development Informed by employers, our courses support an integrated approach to employability. You’ll have opportunities to develop the skills and abilities they are looking for and gain a deeper understanding of how your academic learning relates to the world of work through Live Briefs and Ruskin Modules. To amplify your career ambition, you will need to actively dedicate time outside of your studies, whether you choose to explore placements, internships or volunteering. Or you could make a social impact by collaborating with our partner organisations through our volunteer scheme Students at the Heart of Knowledge Exchange (SHoKE). These all give you an edge, providing you with experience that you will be able to evidence on your CV and talk about in interviews.

Modules

Year one core modules: Introduction to Contemporary Issues in Criminology; Criminal Justice in England and Wales; Introduction to Policing; Media, Society and Crime; Policing Practice. Year 2 core modules: Making A Difference; Evidence-Based Policing; Ruskin Module. Year 2 optional modules: Policing Vulnerability; Cybercrime and Policing; Lessons Learned: Inquests, Tribunals and Truth; Violence and Confrontation; Anglia Language Programme; Intoxicants and Intoxication; Revolving Doors: Punishment and Rehabilitation; Violence, Gender and Victimisation; Using Linguistics: An Introduction to Forensic, Clinical and Computational Linguistics; Dark Web Policing and Control; Introduction to Youth Work and Safeguarding. Year 3: Placement. Year 4 core modules: Youth, Crime and Aggression; Criminology and Policing in Policy and Practice. Year 4 optional modules: Undergraduate Major Project - Criminology or Undergraduate Major Project - Policing; Investigative Psychology; Exploitation, Trafficking and Sexual Violence; Neighbourhood Policing and Community Safety; Race, Racism and Ethnic Identity; Anglia Language Programme; Police and Counter-terrorism; Organised Crime; Comparative and Global Criminal Justice; Concepts of Good and Evil; Crime and Data Science. Modules are subject to change and availability.

Assessment method

We’ll assess your progress using a range of methods, including essays, portfolios, problem-solving activities, case studies, blogs, policy documents, presentations, and a major research project.


How to apply

Application codes

Course code:
L313
Institution code:
A60
Campus name:
Cambridge Campus
Campus code:
C

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

2025 entry requirements have been published using the current cycle information however, due to a current review these are subject to change. Please check back here for updates.

Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course

https://aru.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/criminology-and-policing


Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
75%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
87%
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £9250 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9250 Year 1
Scotland £9250 Year 1
Wales £9250 Year 1
Channel Islands £9250 Year 1
Republic of Ireland £9250 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

In the 2025/26 academic year, the placement year fee will be £1,500. https://www.aru.ac.uk/student-life/support-and-facilities/careers-and-employability/placements https://www.aru.ac.uk/study/tuition-fees
Criminology and Policing [with Placement year] at Anglia Ruskin University - UCAS