Law with Criminology

Law at degree level is both a rigorous academic discipline and a practical preparation for a wide range of professional careers. It trains you to read complex texts carefully, to construct arguments precisely, and to apply general principles to specific situations under conditions of uncertainty. Adding criminology to that foundation extends the enquiry into questions about why crime occurs, how societies respond to it, and whether those responses are just and effective.

The combination draws on sociology, psychology, philosophy, and policy analysis to interrogate assumptions that often go unexamined in purely doctrinal legal study.

At the University of Reading, this three-year full-time LLB gives you a solid grounding in the core areas of English law alongside an engagement with criminological theory and the empirical study of crime, punishment, and criminal justice. You will develop legal reasoning and research skills that are central to any legal career, while the criminology dimension adds a critical perspective on the social and political context in which law operates. The entry tariff for this programme is 120 points.

Graduates from law programmes with criminology have a flexible and well-regarded qualification that opens doors across the legal professions and beyond. Those who wish to qualify as solicitors or barristers will typically go on to the relevant professional qualifications, and the LLB provides the qualifying law degree needed for that route. Others move into roles in criminal justice, the probation service, the Crown Prosecution Service, the police, prison and rehabilitation services, policy, and academia.

Journalism, public affairs, and roles in NGOs working on justice and human rights are also well-established destinations. The analytical and writing skills developed through an LLB are valued across virtually every sector that requires rigorous thinking and clear communication.