BSc (Hons) Criminology and Criminal Justice

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Kent

Program Overview

The BA (Hons) Criminal Justice and Criminology at Kent is designed for students who want to understand how crime really works—why it happens, how society responds to it, and what can be done to create safer communities. You’ll explore the criminal justice system from every angle while developing the analytical, communication, and research skills that employers value.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1

Your first year builds the foundation, helping you understand how crime is defined, measured, and managed. You’ll explore core topics such as Criminal Justice, Criminal Law, and Foundations of Criminology, gaining clarity on how police, courts, and prisons operate. This year sets you up with the critical thinking skills needed to study crime in a deeper, more informed way as you progress.

Year 2

In your second year, the focus shifts toward applying criminological theory to real-world issues. Modules such as Contemporary Criminology, Criminal Litigation, and Policing guide you into areas like crime prevention strategies, legal processes, and the social factors behind offending. You’ll also begin developing more independent research skills, preparing you for advanced study and analysis.

Year 3

Your final year is where everything comes together. You’ll have the chance to specialise through modules like Punishment and Penal Policy and Race, Crime and Justice, while also completing a major project or dissertation that allows you to explore an area you’re passionate about. This year pushes you to think like a criminal justice professional—evaluating evidence, shaping arguments, and considering real policy solutions.

Focus Areas

Criminal justice systems; policing; criminal law; criminological theory; punishment and prisons; race and justice; contemporary crime issues.

Learning Outcomes

Strong analytical thinking; understanding of crime patterns and justice processes; ability to evaluate evidence; legal awareness; research and communication skills suited to public, private, or voluntary sector roles.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The program is grounded in current criminal justice practice and informed by research from Kent’s School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research, a department known for its strong industry connections and policy relevance.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

Kent is highly regarded for criminology and social sciences, and its graduates benefit from strong employability outcomes due to the university’s dedicated career services and well-established employer links.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Kent, students studying Criminal Justice and Criminology build practical skills from day one through real-world case exploration, hands-on investigative learning, and direct engagement with sector professionals. You won’t just learn how the criminal justice system works — you’ll analyse real patterns of crime, access specialist digital tools, and work with academic staff who are active researchers in policing, punishment, terrorism, youth justice, and global crime. The university’s dedicated criminology spaces, research centres, and extensive library collections ensure you’re always learning in an environment that mirrors the demands of the field.

To give you a clearer picture, here’s how your applied learning experience comes to life:

Experiential learning includes:

Access to the School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research (SSPSSR), one of the UK’s leading centres for criminology teaching and research.
Opportunities to engage with the Kent Criminal Justice Centre, known for its work on policing, criminal behaviour, crime prevention, and forensic research.
Use of advanced digital research tools for crime pattern analysis, victimisation studies, and social data interpretation.
Group projects that mirror real criminology tasks, such as analysing case studies, evaluating justice policies, and presenting evidence-based recommendations.
Guest lectures and seminars from professionals working in policing, probation, youth offending services, prisons, and legal practice.
Fieldwork opportunities connected to areas like community safety, offender rehabilitation, and social policy assessment.
Access to one of the UK’s most highly rated Templeman Library research collections, including specialist criminology journals, archives, and digital databases.
Support from Kent’s research clusters focusing on terrorism, migration, youth crime, inequalities, and global criminal justice.
Opportunities to participate in student-led projects, debates, and discussions with active researchers shaping UK criminology policy.
A learning environment designed to strengthen critical thinking, analytical writing, evidence evaluation, and policy interpretation — all essential skills for justice-sector careers.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates from Kent’s BA in Criminal Justice and Criminology leave with both practical skills and theoretical knowledge, ready to make an impact in the justice and social policy sectors. Many go on to work in law enforcement, probation services, research, policy analysis, and broader social care roles. Typical career paths include: Police Officer, Probation Officer, Youth Justice Worker, Criminal Analyst, Victim Support Officer, Social Researcher, Crime Policy Advisor, Community Safety Officer, Security Consultant, and Paralegal.

This strong career foundation is supported by a range of services and opportunities at Kent:

Kent Careers and Employability Service: Offers personalised advice, CV support, interview coaching, and connections with justice-sector employers.
Employment stats: A high proportion of graduates enter full-time work or further study within 15 months of graduation, with competitive starting salaries in law enforcement, research, and social policy roles.
University–industry partnerships: Close links with organisations such as local police forces, probation services, youth offending teams, and community justice agencies provide internships, placements, and guest mentoring.
Long-term accreditation value: The programme is recognised for its academic rigour, equipping students with qualifications respected across public, private, and voluntary sectors.
Graduation outcomes: Graduates are prepared to work effectively in roles requiring critical thinking, ethical decision-making, policy analysis, and research-based practice.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue their studies with postgraduate options including MSc in Criminology, MA in Applied Social Research, or professional legal and forensic training. Some may also pursue law conversion courses to qualify as solicitors or barristers, or specialise further in areas such as youth justice, forensic psychology, or international crime studies.