Course summary

Take a step towards a career that really makes a difference to people in a society where crime is a part of everyday life. Criminologists study criminalisation, criminal justice and the causes of crime. Forensic investigators are key players in investigating and solving crime. They often provide the evidence that ensures that offenders are brought to justice. Studying these two subjects together gives you the opportunity to access a wide range of exciting, challenging and remarkable careers in the criminal justice sector. This degree allows you to explore the nature, extent and causes of a range of crime types and the methods used to manage crime and criminal behaviour. You will do this by exploring key criminological and forensic theories and applying them to specific types of crime (e.g. violence, hate crime, terrorism, drug crime and sexual crime). The varied expertise of the teaching staff and our guest lecturers will allow you to explore these themes from a range of perspectives. Professional accreditation The Applied Criminology course adheres to and is guided by the Criminology Benchmark Statements, which define expectations as part of the UK Quality Code for Higher Education. Specialist facilities The Criminology team have access to the Canterbury Prison site as this is part of the University estate and our students are able to get involved in research and work in this area. In addition, the staff arrange visits and trips to allow students to experience a range of criminal justice settings where operationally possible. The forensic facilities include a range of crime scenes, including cars, crime scene rooms, fire scenes and outside scenes and a forensic workshop and range of science laboratories. A wide range of forensic equipment is housed within these areas and the facilities and equipment used depends on whether you study Forensic Investigation as a single or combined honours degree. We have a dedicated crime scene facility containing eight internal rooms and two outdoor scenes, a forensic workshop, five science laboratories, an incident room, a Hydra simulation centre and facilities to simulate courtroom scenarios, all with relevant equipment attached. One of our teaching rooms is an old courtroom, attached to the former Canterbury Prison. Location This course is run at our Canterbury Campus in Kent. Canterbury is just 50 miles south-east of London and less than an hour by high-speed train from St Pancras. Located on a UNESCO World Heritage Site the campus offers state-of-the-art buildings, right in the centre of a vibrant and world-famous cathedral city. You’ll benefit from a campus with excellent learning and teaching resources, music venues, a superb sports centre, a well-stocked bookshop and plenty of coffee bars and places to eat. A short walk away is Augustine House our award-winning library and home to a vast range of learning resources and student support teams.