Criminology and Criminal Justice (Top-Up)

You can expect high quality teaching from passionate and enthusiastic industry professionals who maintain links in the sector who shape and inform the curriculum. The programme content stays on top of the current research, developments, trends, cases and changes in the sector.

• Foundation Degree or HND, or an equivalent Level 5 qualification in a related subject

• Recognition of prior learning/experience will be accepted in line with University policy and procedures.

Applicants who do not meet the standard entry criteria but have previous learning towards a degree-level qualification or relevant industry or life experience will be considered on an individual basis and may be invited to interview.

Mature applicants (aged 21 or over) who are able to demonstrate relevant skills or knowledge gained in employment or vocational activity will be considered and may be invited to interview.

UCEN Manchester is unable to consider international applications due to UKVI regulations.

Drugs, Crime, Harms and the State (20 credits)
This module will critically examine the development of global prohibition policy and its effectiveness on the war on drugs. It will investigate the complex relationship between drugs and crime and how the two are co-partnered within the CJS. It will also examine and evaluate the how the CJS responds to individuals with substance misuse issues. It will evaluate international and domestic contemporary threats and the responses to them.

Year 1: Contemporary Issues in Youth Crime (20 credits)
This module critically explores youth culture and the relationship between deviance and crime in modern society. It will critically examine different political ideologies and how these have influenced and changed the responses to youth offending. Children will be characterised as requiring protection and criminal justice responses as victims of crime as well as offenders.

Year 1: Dissertation (60 credits)
The module necessitates an independent approach to academic study, enabling each student to demonstrate their ability to apply critical, analytical and evaluative skills in their selected area of research. Initially, the students will be required to design a research project on an area of Criminology or Criminal Justice significance. The design and the ethical considerations will be assessed via Research Proposal. Once ethical clearance has been granted, under the supervision of a tutor, students will be required to undertake the research project. This will result in the production of a dissertation.

Year 1: Violence: Types and Responses (20 credits)
The module begins with a critical examination of the definitions of violence and the ways in which it is measured and represented. Students will continue by critically evaluating the theoretical explanations of violence and apply these to various forms of violence, for example, interpersonal, institutional, state and corporate. The module will explore a range of forms of violence in depth, including topics such as sexual violence, self harm, ‘hate’ crime, and institutional racism. By providing a historical contextualisation of the development of legislation relating to the types of violence within their social and political contexts. The module will critically analyse power relations between the ‘victim’ and offender and how they shape responses. The module will draw on case studies of violent offenders as illustrative examples.

Our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.
It places students (you) at the centre of the experience by fostering an inclusive and supportive environment. You will develop the required skills, knowledge, and experience to flourish in the criminal justice industry, whilst enhancing your learning through problem solving approaches. There will be a strong focus on formative feedback and support which will be delivered via your tutor. These learning approaches help to nurture you through your overall learning journey, developing you into an independent learner and critical thinker, ready for employment in the sector or post graduate study. The quality of teaching is a key strength of the course and the depth of experience and expertise of the course teaching team that deliver on the programme who are industry relevant professionals with an unrivalled level of knowledge and experience to share and exchange with you on the programme. The nature of applied learning is embedded consistently throughout the degree. All module assessments are designed to offer a range of experiences that reflect the realities of working in the criminal justice sector. Variation exists across the assessments to ensure students develop knowledge and skills that provide tangible outputs as much as possible, are directly applicable and valuable for a career within the criminal justice environment. Students will experience the programme through a combination of interactive lectures which will be delivered through individual and group activities, discussions, debates, seminars and presentations. Academic rigour through research informed teaching and all underpinning knowledge is complimented by guest speakers from the industry relevant to the modules within the programme.

There are two main costs you will have whilst studying and if you are a home student studying on a full-time course, you can apply for student finance to cover both of these:

 Your tuition fees for each year of your course.
 Help with your living costs e.g. rent, food, clothing, course materials, entertainment.

You can find more details, including the actual tuition fee charged on our Fees, Funding and Finance Page.

All of the books required for the course are available either from the library or as e-books. However, many students choose to buy some of the core textbooks for the course and/or a laptop.

You may also need to print assignments and other documents. Campus printing costs start from 5p per page.

If your course includes dissertation research, you may also need to factor in travel costs to your place of research.