See what Nicola has to say about the Criminal Justice course at UCDon.
Why do people offend? How do we manage crime? Does the criminal justice system work—and how can you shape its future?
The BA (Hons) Criminal Justice at University Campus Doncaster—validated by the University of Hull—explores these questions through a rich blend of academic insight and professional preparation. Designed for school leavers, mature learners, and those with prior experience, the programme is inclusive and supportive of all pathways.
You will study the criminal justice system not just as a collection of institutions, but as an evolving set of ideas shaped by politics, psychology, and public perception. Core modules such as The Criminological Imagination, Comparative Criminal Law, and Policing, Prevention and Social Control build your understanding of law, governance, and social order. Integrated psychology modules—Psychological Approaches and Psychological Interventions—offer essential insight into behaviour, motivation, and rehabilitation, giving you valuable tools for both frontline and strategic roles.
This revalidated and enhanced programme places employability at its core. Work-based learning opportunities, digital skills development, and professional reflection are embedded throughout, preparing you to thrive in complex, real-world contexts.
Learning takes place through a blend of online lectures, on-campus seminars, and experiential workshops, ensuring flexibility without losing the value of personal engagement. Assessments are varied and authentic, including written work, presentations, case studies, and a final dissertation.
Graduates move into diverse roles in policing, probation, prisons, youth justice, safeguarding, mental health, and policy, or progress to postgraduate study. This programme will challenge you to question, critique, and reimagine justice—equipping you with the knowledge and skills to make a meaningful impact.
The BA (Hons) Criminal Justice is a 3-year full time or 6-years part time degree programme. students will be encouraged to participate with relevant work experience throughout the programme, however, work-related experience will be central to assessments during level 5.
Key Information
Course Level
Level 6
Delivery
Full-Time
Duration
3 years
UCAS Code
ML13
Awarding Body
Student Testimonials
Check out Lewis and his views about the Criminal Justice course at UCDon.
Level 4 Criminal Justice students (as of February 2025), studied the Level 3 policing course at Doncaster College, came from Spain and also studies in the US. She worked in prisons in the UK (including Wakefield prison) for 5 years. She was encouraged by South Yorkshire police to do the Level 3 policing course as her qualifications from various countries didn’t translate to here in the UK.
She then went on to the Criminal Justice degree and wants to go down the investigations route for her career. She said “I want to become a detective in major crimes. That isn’t my dream, it is my goal, and I am going to get there.” When asked about her time studying at Doncaster College and University Campus Doncaster, she said it is “the best decision I have ever made.”
Talking specifically about her time studying the level 3 course she commented on her tutor, Richard Huber, and his knowledge, stating “I’ve never experiences anything like the Level 3 Policing course. Learning from people with real life experiences. My tutor came with real knowledge and examples that he lived through; they weren’t just out of a book. It really opens your eyes.” She continued “I have studied in many different countries but the Level 3 Policing was my favourite course because of the knowledge and experience Richard has.”
This course includes the following core modules that all students complete:
Year One (Level 4)
- The Criminological Imagination
- Introduction to the Legal System
- Representations of Crime
- Researching Criminal Justice 1
- Academic and Professional Development
- Psychological Approaches
Year Two (Level 5)
- Criminology and Society
- Comparative Criminal Law
- Debates in Criminal Justice
- Researching Criminal Justice 2
- Work-Related Learning
- Psychological Interventions
Year Three (Level 6)
- The Penal Crisis
- Transnational Crime
- Dissertation
- Education into Employment
- Policing, Prevention and Crime Control
Occasional changes to modules and course content may take place. Students will be notified when applicable.
The course embraces a blended learning approach. We use both on-campus and online delivery methods. This blended approach recognises the changing nature of the working environments we inhabit and provides you with knowledge of how to navigate this. The aim is to develop and enhance your skills and general employability.
Live lectures are delivered online to provide a supportive, inclusive environment whilst also being accessible and practical. This allows us to record the live lectures, which means that you can revisit them, pause for reflection, listen more attentively, and access at a later date. This also means that you can take notes at a pace suited to your needs and engage with the material in a way suited to your learning style.
Seminars are on-campus discussions within which you will be encouraged to interact with your peers and further engage with the lecture. This also provides an essential opportunity for you to socialise with your peers and further develop collaborative skills.
The assessment methods have been carefully chosen to reflect the world of employment.
Assessments include:
- Written assignments
- Presentations
- Oral defences’
- Debates
- Report Writing
- Reflective Practice
- Portfolio’s
- Case Studies
Students will receive between 4 hours and 12 hours of teaching time per week throughout this course, depending on the modules being taken. Additional one-to-one meetings with tutors will provide further support.
Entry to the course requires:
32 UCAS Points
We welcome applications from those with relevant work and life experiences ‘mature students’ which may be regarded as equivalent. A pre-assessment task will be set to ensure that there is a capacity for the applicant to pursue the course successfully.
We are committed to creating educational opportunities for people from a variety of backgrounds and situations. We welcome applications from people of any age who might not meet the standard entry criteria, but we would expect to see evidence of continuing academic and/or professional development and a capacity to pursue the course successfully.
This course is particularly relevant to people already working in or looking to develop a career within both the formal and informal justice system.
There are opportunities to find employment within the formal criminal justice system itself in the form of the police, the probation service, the prison service and the legal system (solicitor, court services and contract management agencies to name a few). However, the programme does not just prepare you for work within the formal criminal justice system, you will begin to recognise that most offending behaviour is a combination of factors such as personal, health and social incidents that results in someone entering the formal system. This means our students can also work within the NHS (drug and alcohol related services), with children at risk, homelessness charities, safeguarding trusts, community justice, citizens advice and within central and local government.
It is important to stress that the programme also embraces the development and cultivation of critical thinking skills and the articulation and management of a transferable skill set which prepares you for multiple opportunities in employment beyond the Criminal Justice programme. This is seen in students who progress into teaching (some of our students each year undertake the Post Graduate Certificate in Education at University Campus Doncaster upon graduation) and management roles.
You may also have the opportunity to progress into post graduate education. Currently there is an array of Masters programmes available within the UK related to the field of Criminal Justice.
Financial Support
UK students can take out a tuition fee loan to cover the cost of their course and a maintenance loan to cover living costs.
We also have a range of other financial support available.
Course Fees
UK
£7940.00 per year.
Additional Costs
Your Tuition fees cover most costs associated with your course (including registration, tuition and assessment.)
There may be some extra costs that you might need to make, or choose to pay, for example:
- Resources (you’ll be able to access resources via the physical and virtual HE library and other external platforms)
- Printing and photocopying
- Trips and enhancement opportunities
As part of your work experience, you may be required to pay for a Basic or Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Apply or Enquire
Applying to multiple providers, including us?
Apply or enquire about this course
To find out more and apply for this course, please contact us via the telephone number below.
- Course code: ML13
- Institution code: N64
- University name: DN Colleges Group
- Campus name: University Campus Doncaster
- Campus code: D
Applying only to University Campus Doncaster? You can directly apply.
If you are applying only to University Campus Doncaster and not to any other universities or providers, you can do so directly by using the following link.
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