Why study this course with LJMU?
- 93% of students surveyed said academic support on this course was good or very good (National Student Survey 2024)
- Opportunity to undertake international fieldwork visits to places such as Ljubljana, Slovenia and Gothenburg, Sweden
- Excellent research-led teaching from academics who have published books and articles on topics such as Prisons, Children's Residential Homes, Protests, Child Exploitation, Gendered Justice, State Violence and The War on Terror
- Opens up a diverse range of careers including probation work, youth justice, drug referral schemes, victim support, and police and prison services
- A variety of voluntary work experience opportunities in places such as Criminal Justice agencies, Police and third sector organisations to enhance your graduate employability
About your course
The BA (Hons) Criminology at Liverpool John Moores University is taught by research active experts and offers exciting opportunities for international fieldwork.
This interdisciplinary BA course gives you the chance to look at criminology from the perspective of other disciplines such as sociology, psychology, political science, social policy, geography and history which gives deeper understanding of the broad subject of criminology.
This is a critical criminology degree which means we are interested in challenging the established rhetoric about crime and punishment in the role of the state and the state institutions and the everyday experience of punishment.
Throughout the course, you will be encouraged to develop your critical thinking skills by questioning what we mean by the terms crime, criminals, punishment and justice and you will have opportunities to undertake independent international criminological study under guided supervision.
On the field trips you will be comparing the criminal justice infrastructure of Slovenia or Sweden and the UK - allowing you to reflect on challenging global perspectives.
You will develop strong and applied quantitative research and qualitative research methods and skills which are essential key transferrable employability skills.
Foundation Year
The Foundation Year is ideal if you have the interest and ability to study for a degree, but do not have the qualifications to enter directly onto the Criminology honours degree programme yet.
Once you pass the Foundation Year (level 3) you will progress directly onto the first year of the honours degree. If you are a full-time UK student, you will qualify for student financial support for the full duration of your course (subject to eligibility criteria).
Course modules
What you will study on this degree
Further guidance on modules
Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.
Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.
Core modules
Core modules
Core modules
Optional modules
Optional modules
Your Learning Experience
Excellent facilities and learning resources
We adopt an active blended learning approach, meaning you will experience a combination of face-to-face and online learning during your time at LJMU. This enables you to experience a rich and diverse learning experience and engage fully with your studies. Our approach ensures that you can easily access support from your personal tutor, either by meeting them on-campus or via a video call to suit your needs.
Teaching is delivered via a combination of lectures, workshops, seminars, online activities and one-to-one consultations with your tutors. You will also be expected to study independently and conduct your own self-directed research.
Work-related Learning
The degree provides opportunities for you to undertake supervised independent study on a Criminological issue of your choice, enabling the development of a wide variety of transferable skills and abilities essential for your future employability. For example, the Dissertation and Work Placement modules require students to identify an appropriate topic; develop a programme of study and present a clear, coherent and robust piece of written work. While the International Fieldwork module provides students with a unique opportunity to develop and improve these transferable skills within an international context.
Dedicated personal tutor, plus study skills support
It is often useful to discuss course-related issues on a one-to-one basis and for this reason we will assign you a personal tutor for the duration of your studies at LJMU. Your tutor will also help you put together your personal development plan so that you can monitor progress and set your own targets. Module tutors also provide support in the form of online learning materials, course guides and one-to-one consultations if you need them, and there will be study skills sessions to help you prepare for assessments.
Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose, but will usually include a combination of exams and coursework.
We understand that all students have different strengths and preferences when it comes to assessments, so we use a variety of methods to assess your work. These include:
- essays
- exams
- fieldwork projects
- reports
- case studies
- portfolios
- blogs and wikis
- workplace practice
- posters
- presentations (individual and group)
- debates
- reviews and group work
You will normally receive extensive written feedback on your assessments and regular verbal feedback.
All feedback is designed to help you achieve your full potential and get the most out of your studies, so staff will be available to discuss it with you and direct you to further support if you feel you need it.
Where you will study
What you can expect from your School
Based within the John Foster Building, in the Mount Pleasant Campus, the School of Justice Studies is a leading provider of education in Policing Studies, Criminology and Criminal Justice. We provide specific training for policing students wishing to enter the service as a graduate recruit. The John Foster Building has many outstanding facilities, including well-equipped IT Suites, a light-filled Student Common Room and dedicated study areas. At the back of the John Foster Building is the Aldham Robarts Library, where you have access to an exceptional range of materials to support your studies.
Course tutors

Dr Stephen Wakeman
- Programme leader
This degree provides opportunities for you to look at Criminology from the perspective of other disciplines such as geography, history, psychology, political science and sociology giving you a much broader understanding of the subject.
This degree provides opportunities for you to look at Criminology from the perspective of other disciplines such as geography, history, psychology, political science and sociology giving you a much broader understanding of the subject.
My main research interests include drug use and drug policy, addictions, the criminological significance of various types of popular media, and progressive criminological theory (especially regarding its interface with contemporary continental philosophy). I am currently researching the ways in which popular media sources like television, film, comic books and video games have the capacity to shape and redirect criminological debates, as well as writing two monographs: one based on my PhD, the other on the complexities of doing criminological ethnography.
Career paths
The choice of careers open to criminology graduates is diverse and exciting.
Your degree could be useful in a range of fields including:
- policy and administration
- government advice
- the children, young people's and youth justice workforces
- social work, prison and probation services
- research
- academia
- policing
- investigating miscarriages of justice
- media research
- crime documentary and fiction screenwriting/production
- writing and journalism
- teaching
- working in charities and community organisations
Student Futures - Careers, Employability and Enterprise Service
A wide range of opportunities and support is available to you, within and beyond your course, to ensure our students experience a transformation in their career trajectory. Every undergraduate curriculum includes Future Focus during Level 4, an e-learning resource and workshop designed to help you to develop your talents, passion and purpose.
Every student has access to Careers Zone 24/7, LJMU's suite of online Apps, resources and jobs board via the LJMU Student Futures website.
Tuition fees and funding
- Home full-time per year:
- £9,250
Fees
The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as library membership and student IT support with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources including programme-appropriate software and on campus Wi-Fi.
Financial Support
The University offers a range of scholarships to support students through their studies. You'll find all the information you need on our specialist funding pages, including details of the Student Support Fund and other activities to support with the cost of living.
Additional Costs
In addition to fees, students should also keep in mind the cost of:
- Accommodation
- Travel costs including those for placements, visas and travel for studying abroad and field trips unless paid for by LJMU
- Stationery, IT equipment, professional body membership and graduation gown hire
The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees in accordance with any changes to the maximum allowable fees set by the UK Parliament. In the event of such a change, any fee increase will be subject to a maximum cap of 10% of the total course cost as originally stated at the time of your offer.
Entry requirements
Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements
Grades/points required from qualifications: DDD-CDD (72-80)
Work out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth by visiting the UCAS Tariff Calculator.
Qualification requirements
How to apply
Securing your place at LJMU
UCAS is the official application route for our full-time undergraduate courses. Further information on the UCAS application process can be found here https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/study/undergraduate-students/how-to-apply.
The following criteria are desirable but not essential. Please demonstrate your development of these attributes in the personal statement included in your application:
- A critical interest in how societies are constructed and the issues and challenges presented
- A questioning mind
- Good written and verbal communication skills, as you will be expected to convey knowledge to other people
- Good analytical skills, so that you can evaluate policies and practice
- Good reading and information retrieval skills - obtaining information from a range of sources and using it to support analysis
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The university reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the university. Where this does happen, the university operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.
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