The LLB (Hons) Law with Criminology is made up of the following modules and, upon completion, is equal to a total of 360 credits.

Level 4 modules:

• Legal Skills and Context (30 credits)*
• Criminal Law (30 credits)†
• Public Law (30 credits)†
• Introduction to Criminology (15 credits)*
• One optional module:
  • Crime and Society (15 credits)
  • Dealing with Offending Behaviour (15 credits)
  • Justice and Punishment (15 credits)

Level 5 modules:

• Contract Law (30 credits)†
• Law of Tort (30 credits)†
• Land Law (30 credits)†
• Criminology (15 credits)*
• One optional module:
  • Forensic and Criminal Psychology (15 credits)
  • Criminal Investigation (15 credits)
  • Youth Crime and Justice (15 credits)
  • Prisons and Penology (15 credits)
  • Probation and Community Justice (15 credits)

Level 6 modules:

• European Union Law (15 credits)†
• Equity and Trusts (15 credits)†
• Wills and the Administration of Estates (15 credits)†
• Criminal Behaviour and Deviance (15 credits)*
• Optional modules worth 60 credits:
  • Final Year Research Project (30 credits)
  •  Victimology and Criminal Victimisation (15 credits)
  • Criminal Justice in the Information Age: Cyber Crime and Security (15 credits)
  • The Economics of Crime (15 credits)
  • Policing (15 credits)

* These modules are core and must be passed in order to achieve the award.

† These modules are compulsory and must be passed in order to achieve a Qualifying Law Degree.

Teaching methods

Studying online gives you the freedom to study when and where it suits you – at home, during your lunch hour or anywhere else you have internet access.

Our courses are delivered through a virtual learning environment (VLE) instead of a traditional campus. This means you will have access to your study materials 24/7, including:

• multimedia lecturecasts made up of written content, short videos, animation, audio recordings, infographics, short tests and mini-assignments
• discussion forums for you to chat about the course content with fellow students
• live seminars and Q&A sessions with your tutors
• a comprehensive eLibrary of textbooks and academic journals
• support from academic staff and your dedicated Student Support team

To ensure you receive the support you need from your tutor, we cap our class sizes at 20 students.

Assessment methods

Rather than fretting about exams, you will be assessed exclusively through assignments. This can be by engaging in discussion forums throughout your modules, completing reflective journal entries, delivering live presentations or by submitting longer written pieces.

We are committed to providing frequent and transparent feedback through the following ways:

• Our assessment criteria are designed to be simple and transparent.
• You will always be aware of your current provisional grade, right from the start of the programme.
• You will be able to view your marks clearly in your gradebook whenever you log onto the learning platform.
• There is a 7-day turnaround for marking and feedback of assessed work.
• You will have regular contact with your Student Support team, with whom you can discuss any concerns as soon as they arise.

Study duration

Our LLB (Hons) Law with Criminology has an indicative study duration of 4 years, which is a guide to how long your course will take to complete. The actual duration may be longer or shorter depending on your speed of study, study options chosen and module availability.

It’s possible to complete your studies faster than the indicative course duration by doubling up on modules at certain times; however, minimum study durations do apply.

Our academic year is organised into modules, typically with a one- or two-week break between modules and a structured three-week break for the Christmas period. Students will receive a course timetable during the application process.

All of our courses have regular start dates throughout the year.

On successful completion of your degree, you will be invited to attend a graduation ceremony at the University of Essex, Colchester Campus.

Legal knowledge is a highly useful commodity in a range of roles, including management, finance, human resources, education, local and central government and the voluntary sector. Tying in your new criminology knowledge will benefit you when applying to roles within the police, prisons, probation and other criminal justice positions.

As a qualifying law degree (QLD), this course allows you to complete the academic stage of legal education. If this is your objective, you must complete all your degree studies in no more than six years and achieve a minimum of a Lower Second Class Honours degree. See more about the path to qualifying as a lawyer here.

We know that many people from non-traditional backgrounds would succeed on our courses! That’s why we offer two different entry routes, taking into account your prior work experience and relevant qualifications. You will also need to meet our English language requirements.

Additionally, you will need to pass your first assignment set within the first three weeks of the course in order to continue with your studies.

Academic entry route

In order to satisfy the academic entry route requirements for our LLB (Hons) Law with Criminology, you must have the following qualifications as a minimum:

• three A-levels or equivalent

Work experience entry route

In order to satisfy the work experience entry route requirements for our LLB (Hons) Law with Criminology, you must meet the following criteria:

• GCSE Maths and English at grade C or above, or equivalent
• three years’ relevant work experience

English language requirements

As our courses are delivered in English, a high proficiency with English is required. If English is not your first language, your English ability should be equivalent to an IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0. Don’t worry if you don’t hold an IELTS or equivalent qualification – we offer a free online English test to assess your proficiency.

You don’t need to prove your English ability if you are a national of, or have completed a qualification equivalent to a UK degree in, any of these countries.

Full tuition fee: £18,500 (2020-21 and 2021-22) Δ

Monthly tuition fee: £385 Δ

• Designated for undergraduate student loans in England.
• Simple monthly payment plan available, enabling you to spread the cost over the duration of your studies.
• Full payment discount if you pay upfront.
• Partial scholarship available for international students residing in specific regions outside of the UK.

Please note that a maximum of two discounts or scholarships can be applied. Find out more information about our discounts and scholarships here.

Our course fees are fully inclusive – all teaching materials and required reading are included, and there are no hidden charges for assessments or resits. We also charge the same fee for domestic and international students.

Δ All tuition fees shown are net of any applicable sales tax payable by you in your country of residence. Where we are required to add sales tax at the local statutory rate, this will be added to the tuition fees shown and confirmed during the payment process.

Subject specialists, industry authorities and experienced academics: the tutors who teach modules on our LLB (Hons) Law with Criminology are experts in the fields of law and criminology.