Law with Criminology

Law with criminology is a combination that takes both the formal rules of legal systems and the social realities of crime and criminal justice seriously. Law provides the technical and analytical training in the rules, principles, and institutions through which legal systems operate, developing the precise reasoning and close reading skills that legal practice demands. Criminology adds a critical social science perspective, asking why crime occurs, how it is distributed across society, what drives the responses of police, courts, and prisons, and whether those responses achieve what is claimed for them.

At Keele University, this three-year full-time programme has been designed to equip you with both a firm foundation in law and a practical and theoretical understanding of crime and its contemporary dimensions. You will develop skills in legal analysis alongside the investigative and critical analytical capabilities that criminology provides. The programme includes a sandwich placement year, a year abroad, and work placement opportunities, giving you professional and international experience before you graduate.

Keele's connections with criminal justice agencies, established through its long tradition of criminology teaching, mean the practical dimensions of the programme are grounded in real professional contexts. The typical entry tariff of 88 points reflects the accessible character of the programme.

You will develop analytical precision, the ability to read and apply legal rules, critical thinking about social institutions, and the research and communication skills that both disciplines demand.

Graduates pursue careers in law, the criminal justice system, the civil service, probation, youth justice, social work, policy, NGOs, and compliance. Those wishing to qualify as solicitors or barristers will need to complete postgraduate legal training after graduation. Postgraduate study in criminology, law, public policy, or social work is also a natural continuation.