Criminology Applied Diploma
Qualification: Applied Diploma in Criminology WJEC Level 3
During Year 1 you will study for the Certificate, for Year 2 you will progress to the Diploma
Exam Board: WJEC; Specification
Course Entry Requirements: No specific course entry requirements.
Please make sure that you have understood the overall entry requirements to study at BHASVIC. These are available here and outline the GCSE grades you need to take up one of the Study Programmes at the college.
Length and size of qualification: 2 year single course
Timetable hours: 4.5 hours per week
Assessment method: A combination of internal and external exams
BHASVIC Department: Psychology
What will I study?
There are four areas to study: Unit 1 (year 1) Changing awareness of crime: At the end of this unit, you will have developed skills to differentiate between myth and reality when it comes to crime and to recognise that common representations may be misleading and inaccurate; the importance of changing public perceptions of crime; the skills to plan a campaign for change in relation to crime; for example to raise awareness, change attitudes or change reporting behaviour. Unit 2 (year 1) Criminological theories: At the end of this unit you will have developed the skills to evaluate some criminological theories (why do people commit crimes?) and know there are debates within the different theories. You will understand how changes in criminological theory have influenced policy. You will also have gained the skills to apply the theories to a specific crime or criminal in order to understand both the behaviour and the theory. Unit 3 (year 2) Crime Scene to Court Room: At the end of this unit you will have developed the skills to analyse evidence, review criminal cases and evaluate the evidence in the cases to determine whether the verdict is safe and just. Unit 4 (year 2) Crime and Punishment: At the end of this unit, you will consider such questions such as "Why do most of us tend to obey the law even when to do so is against our own interests?", "What social institutions have we developed to ensure that people do obey laws?", "What happens to those who violate our legal system?", "Why do we punish people?", "How do we punish people?" What organisations do we have in our society to control criminality or those who will not abide by the social rules that most of us follow?", "We spend a great deal of taxpayers' money on social control, so how effective are these organisations in dealing with criminality?"
Is this course right for me?
This level 3 Diploma is offered to students who have a keen interest in crime. You need to be non-judgemental, be very interested in people, society and crime, be able to work under pressure, look to make contacts outside of college, be innovative and really motivated. It is an intense two year course for 4.5 hours per week. There will be regular homework and assignments, you have to be happy to make presentations to the class and work in groups. The course is taught in the same way as A levels are taught, with the same expectations on students to achieve high standards in their work. Students may find some of the content disturbing given the nature of crime, although all topics are handled sensitively.
Where next?
UCAS points: An A* grade would receive 56 UCAS points. The main purpose of the WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma in Criminology is to use the qualification to support access to higher education degree courses, and would be especially useful if applying for; BSc Criminology, BA Criminology, BA Criminology and Criminal Justice, BSc (Hons) Criminology and Psychology, LLB (Hons) Law with Criminology, BA (Hons) Criminology and Sociology, BA (Hons) Criminology, BSc (Hons) Psychology and Sociology, BSc Criminology with Law. Alternatively, the qualification allows learners to gain the required understanding and skills to be able to consider employment within some aspects of the criminal justice system, e.g. the National Probation Service, the Courts and Tribunals Service or the National Offender Management Service.
ApplyLast year, 21 BHASVIC students went onto study Criminology degrees at 12 different universities.
It is sometimes combined with related-subjects such as Psychology, Law, Sociology and Criminal Justice and two students chose a study abroad option last year.
Popular universities included Bath, Bristol, Chichester, Liverpool, Exeter, Manchester and Sussex.
Should I study Criminology at degree level?
Criminology is a mix of psychology and sociology, applied to the examination of crime and the patterns of crime. You'll explore why people offend, crime prevention and how the media shape our understanding of crime when studying a Criminology degree. Criminology students tend to have a mix of lectures, seminars and workshops. You’ll also be encouraged to do independent learning and read outside of class time.
Types of Criminology degrees
You can choose to study straight Criminology or a closely related subject, for example:
- Law
- Sociology
- Criminal Psychology
- Forensic Psychology
- Criminal Justice
Entry Requirements
A-levels (or equivalent) usually required
- No Specific Requirements
Useful to have
- Psychology
- Sociology
Top Universities for Criminology
Swansea Portsmouth Gloucestershire York St John Chester
Loughborough, Newcastle, Kent, York – all very high student satisfaction scores
Lancaster, Leeds, Southampton - all with top graduate prospects
Many of our students choose a combined degree - applications from our students have included:
- Criminology and Criminal Psychology
- Criminal Justice and Criminology
- Criminology with Study Abroad
- Criminology and Sociology
Example entry requirements (please check):
A-Level/BTEC equivalents:
Brighton CCC
Sheffield
Sheffield Hallam BBB
Why not try a foundation degree or higher apprenticeship?
For example: Salford (with Foundation Year) CC
Some examples of Criminology-related degrees that our BHASVIC students have gone onto study in the past few years are:
- Criminology (Black Studies)
- Criminology (Foundation)
- Criminology and Law
- Criminology and Sociology
- Criminology with International Study
- Criminology with Law (with Foundation Year)
- Criminology with Study Abroad
- Criminology, Policing and Forensic Investigation
- Law with Criminology
- Psychology and Criminology
How BHASVIC helps: We have a wide range of information and resources to support students applying for university including subject area guides, personal statement and UCAS resources, super-curricular activity guides, open day and bursary information. We also cover university research, careers, art foundation and all other destinations in depth in tutorial and students can choose an appropriate pathway for them in the second year from UCAS, Employability & Enterprise, Visual Arts, Oxbridge and Medics. Our Spring Futures Fair brings in a huge number of university visitors with workshops and information stands and departments will bring speakers in wherever possible.
With critical thinking, analytical & communication skills, you're attractive to employers both inside and outside the criminal justice sector.
Jobs where studying Criminology would be useful include:
- Civil service administrator
- Community development worker
- Crime scene investigator
- Detective
- Police officer
- Prison officer
- Probation officer
- Social worker
- Youth worker
Career Prospects
Opportunities exist in the private sector, for example in private security and in law practices. It's also possible to work in a range of social welfare posts, such as mental health support and drug rehabilitation, housing (as housing officers or in outreach support roles), as homelessness officers, and in refugee and victim support/counselling.
Other areas of work include criminal intelligence, social work, counselling, teaching and research.
Local Market Information
Major employers include: central and local government, the police, prison and probation services, the court services, security services, non-profit making organisations, including the NHS and charities that work with young offenders or victims of crime.
Examples of apprenticeships and opportunities include:
- Anti-social behaviour Caseworker
- Legal Assistant
- Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship
How BHASVIC helps: We have an excellent Careers Hub and careers advisors who are available for appointments through student services. Local jobs are advertised and they will advise on skills and specialist areas such as degree apprenticeships. Students can choose an appropriate pathway for them in the second year from UCAS, Employability & Enterprise, Visual Arts, Oxbridge and Medics. Our Spring Futures Fair brings in a huge number of careers & apprenticeship visitors with workshops and information stands and departments will bring speakers in around the subject area.
You will gain many transferable skills studying Criminology that will be valued in the workplace including:
Understanding different theories and analysing data, critical thinking, presentation skills, understanding different perspectives, discussion and presenting arguments
Local Skills
The Local Skills agenda considers job prospects and employment in our local area of Sussex. Many of our students will contribute to the National Skills agenda and go onto find a career in a wide range of sectors. For students in Sussex our local skills are identified as the following sectors:
- Construction
- Creative & Cultural
- Digital (includes IT and Technology)
- Engineering & Manufacturing
- Healthcare (includes Bio Life Sciences and Pharmaceutical)
- Visitor & Hospitality
- Land-based (includes Agriculture and Viticulture)
- Green Skills
Students of Criminology have entered into many sectors that match our Local Skills in the past few years.