Law with Criminology BA (Hons)

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

The University of Northampton

Program Overview

This degree combines a deep understanding of law with a critical insight into crime, justice and social control — ideal if you care about justice, want to understand society, and hope to have a real impact. Over three years you’ll study core legal concepts such as criminal law and human rights alongside criminology-focused topics like crime and society or the science of criminal behaviour — giving you a powerful mix of knowledge about how law works and why crime happens.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1

In your first year you’ll build solid foundations across both law and criminology. You’ll study Learning the Law to get familiar with how statutes, case law and courts operate, and Criminal Law to understand criminal liability, offences and defences. Alongside that, modules like Ethics, Discrimination and Human Rights and Current Legal Issues and Jurisprudence help you grasp law’s role in justice and society — while criminology modules such as Crime and Society and The Science of Crime and Criminals introduce you to theories about why crime happens and how societies respond to it.

Year 2

In your second year you dig deeper into crime, criminal justice and contemporary legal issues. You’ll study compulsory modules like Criminal Litigation, Organised Transnational Crime and Crime and Justice, where you learn about investigating crime, handling legal or criminal justice procedures, and understanding broader crime-control systems. Meanwhile optional modules (such as Child and Family Law, Green Crime, Human Rights, the State and Accountability, or International Policing) give you freedom to shape your studies to your interests — whether that’s human rights, environmental crime, family justice or policing.

Year 3

Your final year brings it all together and lets you focus on what really matters to you. There’s a compulsory Practice Improvement Plan module, where you get to design and propose a reform or intervention addressing a real-world legal or criminal justice issue. Alongside that, you take a core criminology module — Crime and Punishment — and choose from various options like Cyber Crime, Critiquing Criminalistics, Sentencing and Penal Policy, Global Counterterrorism, or Mental Health Law and Crime. This mix helps you graduate with a deep, well-rounded understanding of law, crime, social justice and possible reform — ready for many career paths or further study.

Focus areas: “Criminal law, human rights, social justice, criminology (crime theory, criminal behaviour, crime prevention), criminal justice system, litigation, policing, environmental & social crime, cyber crime, sentencing & penal policy.”

Learning outcomes: “Strong understanding of UK law and criminal law, ability to analyse criminal justice issues; critical grasp of criminological theories on crime and society; skills in legal reasoning, investigation, ethical judgement and social justice awareness; readiness to work in legal, criminal justice or social-justice settings; capacity to propose informed reforms or interventions.”

Professional alignment (accreditation): This programme covers core law and crime-related modules required for a robust legal education, while also offering criminology study — giving you a versatile qualification suited for careers in legal services, criminal justice, rehabilitation, policy, or social justice fields.

Reputation (employability potential): With a blend of legal training and criminological insight, graduates stand out for their understanding not just of laws — but also of society, crime causes and justice systems. This prepares you for diverse roles: from law enforcement or probation services, to legal advisory, criminal justice, social policy, rehabilitation work, human rights advocacy or further study.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Studying Law with Criminology at Northampton isn’t just about reading books and writing essays. From early on, you’ll get hands-on opportunities to try out real legal- and justice-style work that helps you understand not just what the law is, but how it works in real lives. The combination of good facilities, practical exercises, and support from the university helps turn your studies into something you can feel ready to use in the real world.

Here’s how you’ll get real experience while studying:

Practise law in the Moot Room: The Law faculty gives you access to a purpose-built Moot Room where you can do mock trials, client-interview simulations, debates, negotiations — a place where you rehearse courtroom-style arguments, learn to think on your feet, build confidence in speaking and presenting, and get a taste of advocacy and legal procedure.
Optional work placements to experience real workplaces: If you choose, you can take a placement year (or placement modules) that help you get a foot in the door — maybe in a law firm, a criminal-justice organisation, social-justice agency or related setting. This lets you see what it’s like to work in a professional environment and gives you a chance to apply what you’ve learned in an actual workplace.
Digital tools and study support to shape legal-thinking and research skills: As part of the course, eligible law-with-criminology students receive a university-provided laptop, pre-loaded with the software you’ll need — great for legal research, writing assignments, group work or independent study. This gives you the tools that match modern legal practice and helps you stay organised and efficient.
Flexible, socially-aware modules from day one: Even in your first year you study a mix of law and criminology — core law modules along with criminology courses such as studying crime causes, social responses to crime, scientific and social perspectives on criminal behaviour — so your classroom work immediately combines theory about law with real-world questions about justice, society and crime.
Supportive environment and student-focused services: The university’s support teams and student services help you with study-skills, employability guidance, and opportunities to get involved beyond lectures — so whether it’s group discussions, debates, extra-curricular activities or help with placements, you’re not left to navigate things alone.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Earning your degree in Law with Criminology opens doors to a variety of meaningful and exciting career paths. Many graduates go on to become legal professionals, criminal-justice practitioners, policy advisors, or social justice advocates — and some even branch into roles in compliance, probation services, community outreach or human-rights work. It’s a degree that gives you flexibility, purpose, and the chance to make a difference.

With Northampton behind you, you’ll benefit from support and advantages like:

Strong career support and employability services: The university’s career-guidance team helps you build a strong CV, prepares you for interviews, connects you with employers in law, justice, public service, charities or social-work organisations — giving you a real advantage as you step into the job market.
Versatile qualification valued in different sectors: Because you study both law and criminology, you’re equipped not only for traditional legal roles but also for positions in criminal justice, social welfare, probation, human-rights advocacy, policy-making, or community services — giving you a broad horizon.
Graduates are ready for immediate employment or further training: Your combined legal knowledge and understanding of social justice, crime, and human behaviour makes you attractive to employers or organisations that value both technical legal skills and social insight.
Solid foundation for long-term professional growth: With core knowledge in law and criminology, you have the foundation to advance into senior roles — whether in law firms, public sector agencies, social justice organisations, or as legal or policy consultants.

Further Academic Progression:
After finishing this degree, you have the option to deepen your expertise or specialise further — for example by enrolling in postgraduate courses or master’s degrees in areas like criminal justice, human rights law, forensic psychology, social policy, international law or public administration. This can open doors to higher-level roles, research opportunities, or even an academic career if you like teaching or legal scholarship.