Criminology with Foundation Year

Why study Criminology with Foundation Year at Liverpool John Moores University?

• Winner! LJMU's School of Law and Justice Studies voted Law School of the Year (Educate North 2026)

• 94% of students on this course said teaching staff were good at explaining things and supported their learning well (National Student Survey 2025)

• Opportunity to undertake international fieldwork visits to places such as Ljubljana, Slovenia and Gothenburg, Sweden

• Excellent research-led teaching from academics who have published books and articles on topics such as Prisons, Children's Residential Homes, Protests, Child Exploitation, Gendered Justice, State Violence and The War on Terror

• Opens up a diverse range of careers including probation work, youth justice, drug referral schemes, victim support, and police and prison services

• A variety of voluntary work experience opportunities in places such as Criminal Justice agencies, Police and third sector organisations to enhance your graduate employability

About your course
The BA (Hons) Criminology at Liverpool John Moores University is taught by research active experts and offers exciting opportunities for international fieldwork.

This interdisciplinary BA course gives you the chance to look at criminology from the perspective of other disciplines such as sociology, psychology, political science, social policy, geography and history which gives deeper understanding of the broad subject of criminology.

This is a critical criminology degree which means we are interested in challenging the established rhetoric about crime and punishment in the role of the state and the state institutions and the everyday experience of punishment.

Throughout the course, you will be encouraged to develop your critical thinking skills by questioning what we mean by the terms crime, criminals, punishment and justice and you will have opportunities to undertake independent international criminological study under guided supervision.

On the field trips you will be comparing the criminal justice infrastructure of Slovenia or Sweden and the UK - allowing you to reflect on challenging global perspectives.

You will develop strong and applied quantitative research and qualitative research methods and skills which are essential key transferrable employability skills.

Foundation Year
The Foundation Year is ideal if you have the interest and ability to study for a degree, but do not have the qualifications to enter directly onto the Criminology honours degree programme yet. Once you pass the Foundation Year (level 3) you will progress directly onto the first year of the honours degree. If you are a full-time UK student, you will qualify for student financial support for the full duration of your course (subject to eligibility criteria).

Please visit the Liverpool John Moores University website for detailed module information.

Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose, usually a combination of exams and coursework.

We understand that all students have different strengths and preferences when it comes to assessments, so we use a variety of methods to assess your work. These include:

•essays
•exams
•fieldwork projects
•reports
•case studies
•portfolios
•blogs and wikis
•workplace practice
•posters
•presentations (individual and group)
•debates
•reviews and group work

You will normally receive extensive written feedback on your assessments and regular verbal feedback.

All feedback is designed to help you achieve your full potential and get the most out of your studies, so staff will be available to discuss it with you and direct you to further support if you feel you need it.