Law with Criminology LLB (Hons)

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Nottingham Trent University

Program Overview

The Law with Criminology degree at Nottingham Trent blends a solid legal education with a deeper understanding of crime, criminal behaviour and social justice — giving you tools to understand how law, society and crime intersect. It’s a great fit if you’re drawn to law, curious about criminology, or interested in careers related to criminal justice, social policy or law enforcement.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1
In your first year, you’ll build the foundations in law — learning how laws are created, interpreted and applied. You’ll study core legal subjects that give you a grounding in legal systems, legal reasoning, and the basics of civil and criminal law. This year ensures you understand the basic structure of law before diving into the complexities of criminology.

Year 2
In the second year, your studies start blending law with criminology: you’ll explore criminal law and how legal principles apply in real‑world criminal justice contexts, while also studying criminological theory — looking at crime causes, social context, criminal behaviour and how societies respond to crime. This combination helps you understand not only the law itself, but also the societal and human aspects behind criminal cases.

Year 3
In your final year, you’ll have opportunities to specialise — choosing optional modules that deepen your knowledge in criminal justice, criminological research, or specialised aspects of law such as human rights, penal systems or social justice. You may also work on major projects or dissertations exploring a particular crime‑oriented legal or social issue — giving you a rounded and mature understanding of law + criminology by the time you graduate.

Focus Areas

Law (civil & criminal law, legal reasoning, statute and case law), Criminology (crime theory, criminal behaviour, social context of crime, criminal justice responses), Criminal justice, Legal application in crime & society.

Learning Outcomes

You’ll graduate able to interpret and apply legal principles to criminal and civil cases, understand criminological theories behind crime and societal responses, conduct research on criminal justice issues, and think critically about law’s role in society. You’ll also develop strong skills in legal analysis, critical thinking, research, writing and the ability to see how legal and social frameworks interact — preparing you for law, criminal justice, policy or social‑justice roles.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

This LLB (Hons) degree qualifies you with a proper UK law degree, giving the academic foundation needed for further professional legal training if you choose to practice law, while the criminology component adds wider career flexibility in criminal justice, social policy, criminological research or law‑enforcement‑linked roles.

Reputation (Employability / Outcomes)

Graduates from a combined law + criminology programme like this are well suited for entry‑level roles in legal practice, criminal justice, social services, policy analysis, or law‑enforcement support. The dual focus makes you attractive both to traditional legal employers and to organisations working in criminal justice, rehabilitation, human rights, and public policy — offering broad career possibilities after graduation.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Nottingham Trent University, Law with Criminology is more than just textbooks — you’ll get real‑world, hands‑on experience that bridges legal theory and criminological insight. The programme helps you build practical skills for analysing crime and justice issues, working on real‑life style case studies, and thinking like a professional in law or social justice from early in your studies.

Here are some concrete ways you’ll get practical exposure:

Engaging in case‑study work and criminal‑law scenarios: you’ll analyse real or realistic situations, assess legal and social causes, and apply both your legal knowledge and criminological understanding to suggest outcomes or policy responses.
Group assignments and projects: collaborating with fellow students to explore issues like crime prevention, rehabilitation, social justice or criminal law — helping you develop teamwork, communication, and applied research skills.
Access to the university’s law and criminology‑focused learning resources: books, legal statutes, case reports, criminology and sociology texts, and other academic materials in libraries — providing a strong foundation for essays, research or group work.
Guidance from experienced lecturers and criminology/law experts: as you study, you’ll benefit from academic support, feedback and mentorship — helping you understand how theory connects to practice in real legal or criminal‑justice contexts.
Opportunities to choose specialised modules and independent research/dissertation work in Year 3: this lets you explore a criminology or criminal‑justice topic in depth — developing research skills, critical thinking, and subject‑matter expertise you can carry into professional life or further study.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduating from this Law with Criminology degree gives you a strong foundation to step into roles that combine legal knowledge with understanding of crime, justice and social context. Many alumni go on to work in areas like criminal law, policing support, social justice advocacy or policy making — giving you flexibility whether you’re drawn to law, public service or community work. This dual focus means you’re not limited to one career path: you can choose between traditional legal roles or more specialised roles in criminology, justice, and social policy.

Here’s how NTU supports your transition — and what opportunities you might expect:

Career Guidance & Support Services: The university’s Careers and Employability teams help students get ready for the job market — offering mentoring, CV and interview preparation, and support reaching out to law firms, criminal justice organisations, NGOs or public‑service employers.
Versatile Skillset for Diverse Roles: With both legal training and criminology insight, graduates are suitable for criminal justice roles, legal support, social services, policy advising, victim support or advocacy — giving you strong employability whether in courts, public sector, NGOs or community organisations.
Accredited Degree with Long-Term Value: As a full LLB (Hons) degree, the qualification meets academic standards for legal practice, while the criminology element adds long-term flexibility — valuable for roles in legal practice, criminal justice, rehabilitation, social policy or research.
Wide Graduation Outcomes: Alumni may become solicitors or barristers, become legal consultants focused on criminal law, work as probation officers or case workers, join law‑enforcement support roles, or work in policy, social justice or advocacy organisations — depending on their interests and strengths.

Further Academic Progression:
After this degree, you have multiple paths: you can pursue professional legal training to become a solicitor or barrister; or you might opt for further academic study — for instance a master’s in criminology, criminal justice, human rights, social policy or forensic studies. This can deepen your expertise, open up specialist roles, or prepare you for research and leadership positions in law, criminal justice or public service.