LLB

Criminal Law

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You are viewing this course for September start 2024

The rule of law is fundamental to a fair and civil society, and the study of Law can give you the power to make a difference. The LLB Criminal Law degree at Aberystwyth University is delivered by our Department of Law & Criminology which has a long history of offering Law degrees. Some of the most distinguished lawyers, politicians and academics in Wales, the UK and further afield have studied here. On our LLB Criminal Law degree you will have the opportunity to study aspects of criminal law in detail, including the regulation of criminal behaviour and the effectiveness of punishment and rehabilitation mechanisms. Our LLB Criminal Law degree will provide you with a solid foundation for a career in criminal legal work either as a solicitor or a barrister and it will also prepare you for careers in the criminal justice system including the police, the prison service and the probation service. 

Course Overview

This twenty-first century LLB Criminal Law degree is perfect for those who are passionate about criminal justice. During this course, you will examine crime, criminal law and the criminal justice system and you will have plenty of opportunities to undertake valuable work experience. 

LLB Criminal Law is a practical law degree designed to meet employer needs and taught by experienced legal professionals and academics who are active for large organisations such as GRETA, the Youth Justice Board, and the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. 

You will study the principles of criminal law upon which most offences are based, and the key criteria in identifying the most serious of criminal offences. You will also examine the key cases and the legislation that governs criminal law and explore key theoretical perspectives that help to explain crime and social disorder in society. This will give you an opportunity to explore criminological perspectives within their social and political context. 

You will be able to take advantage of excellent social and professional opportunities such as visits to Law Fairs and Inns of Court in London. 

LLB Criminal Law offers a number of options, including the opportunity to do a work placement module in different areas of law, to study abroad in the second year at one of our many partner universities in Europe, USA, Canada and Australia 

You will have the opportunity to enhance your studies by participating in our national and international competing Mooting Society to develop your key advocacy and litigation skills. We also offer a Welsh medium Mooting competition for students who wish to moot through the medium of Welsh. 

Our Staff

Department of Law and Criminology lecturers are mostly either qualified to PHD level or have professional experience and qualifications as practicing lawyers. Many staff also have a PGCE (Higher Education).

Modules September start - 2024

Please note: The modules listed below are those currently intended for delivery during the next academic year and may be subject to change. They are included here to give an indication of how the course is structured.

Core

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Contract Law LC13820 20
Criminal Law * LC10520 20
Legal Skills and Research * LC10420 20
Legal and Criminal Justice Systems * LC10120 20
Tort LC11120 20

Options

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Introduction to Criminology * LC12220 20
Law in Action LC13220 20

Core

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
European Law LC20720 20
Public Law LC20620 20

Options

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Climate Change and Environmental Law LC27720 20
Commercial Law LC26220 20
Community Justice LC20320 20
Company Law LC27220 20
Contemporary Issues in Criminology LC24220 20
Drugs and Crime LC28220 20
Equity and Trusts LC24920 20
Family and Child Law LC26420 20
Human Rights LC25220 20
Humanitarian Law LC27620 20
Intellectual Property Law LC28620 20
International Law LC26920 20
Introduction to Criminology LC22220 20
Labour Law LC26820 20
Land Law LC24820 20
Medicine Ethics and the Law LC26720 20
Police, Policing and Society LC21020 20
Principles of Evidence LC26520 20
Psychological Explanations of Criminal Behaviour LC28120 20
Psychopathology LC29220 20
Sports Law and Society LC27920 20
Technology, Artificial Intelligence and the Law LC22420 20
Treatment and Rehabilitation of Offenders LC29120 20
Youth Crime and Justice LC26120 20

* Also available partially or entirely through the medium of Welsh

Careers

Upon completion of LLB Criminal Law at Aberystwyth, you will emerge with real-world capabilities enabling you to shape your future and develop the career you deserve. As well as providing you with a valuable foundation for a career in criminal legal work as a solicitor or a barrister, this degree will prepare you for a career in the criminal justice system including the police, the prison service and the probation service. Recent graduates of the LLB Criminal Law degree at Aberystwyth have gone on to careers in government advisory departments, investigative work in justice and victim support, policing, the prison service and probation service.  

Your future is important to us and our degrees will equip you with the following: 

  • the confidence to select and deploy the most appropriate range of legal methodologies 
  • the ability to write and communicate with a range of audiences, evaluating and organising information 
  • the ability to gather, assimilate and interpret a wealth of legal information quickly and accurately 
  • the ability to express ideas and communicate information in a clear and structured manner, in both written and oral form 
  • effective problem-solving and creative thinking skills 
  • the ability to work independently 
  • time-management and organisational skills, including the ability to meet deadlines 
  • self-motivation and self-reliance 
  • team-working skills, with the ability to discuss concepts in groups, accommodating different ideas and reaching agreement 
  • research skills. 

Career development opportunities while you study 

Discover more about the various opportunities that our Aberystwyth University Careers Service offers. 

Enhance your employability prospects with GO Wales and our Year in Employment Scheme (YES) which are both managed by our Careers Service.  

Teaching & Learning

What will I learn?

The breakdown below will provide you with an illustration of what you may study during the three year degree scheme.

In your first year: 

  • you will receive core training in a number of subjects eg Contract law, Criminal Law and Tort Law, which must be studied and passed for exemption from the first stage of professional law examinations
  • you will explore the structure and development of the English and Welsh Legal system
  • you will study the relationship of the judicial precedent and the court system
  • you will analyse the process of creating legislation and how it’s interpreted by judges.

In your second and third year you may be introduced to:

  • EU Law
  • Public Law
  • Equity and the Law of Trusts Land Law.

You will also be able to tailor your study through careful selection from a range of elective modules.

How will I be taught? 

  • You will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials and seminars which are innovating and high quality allowing you to realise your potential.
  • In your lectures, you will be introduced to key concepts and relevant up to date information. You will also have access to recorded versions of lectures.
  • Our tutorials and seminars are an opportunity for you to discuss particular legal themes or topics, to evaluate and obtain feedback on your individual learning whilst at the same time improving your construction of legal arguments.
  • You will be assessed through essays, exams, study logs or portfolios and oral presentations including mooting exercises.
  • You will have a personal tutor assigned to you throughout your course. Your personal tutor will be the key contact if you need help with anything during your three-year degree, whether academic or pastoral.
  • You will also have the opportunity to complete a Personal Development Plan (PDP) at Aberystwyth. This is a structured process of self-appraisal, reflection, and planning, which will enable you to chart your personal, academic and professional development throughout your time at university. By recording your academic performance, and highlighting the skills you already have and those you will need for future employability, the PDP portfolio will equip you with the necessary tools to plan effectively, develop successful approaches to your studies, and consider your career options and wishes for the future.

Student Testimonials

I love the fact that there is such a wide choice of modules available, which make it possible for me to discover which areas of law interest me. I like the fact that lecturers and seminar tutors are knowledgeable outside of their specialism, which allows you to appreciate the overlap between modules. Christopher Dunn

I chose to study the LLB Law degree as I wanted to go on to train as a solicitor. One of the great things about the degree is the wide range of optional modules you can choose, and if they don't run every year, as some don't, they run every other year so you are guaranteed to have the chance to do the ones you want. Also, the staff are extremely friendly and approachable, meaning that any problems, issues or questions you have will be answered quickly and easily. Whilst it involves a lot of hard work, as does any degree, it is well worth it in the end, and you will have fun and gain experience along the way! Katie Jayne Mansell

The combination of a brilliant course with a beautiful town is perfect. I have loved studying Law at Aberystwyth over the past 3 years. Although it has been hard work and exhausting, it has been thrilling and challenging as well. All the lecturers, tutors and staff are fantastically friendly and helpful and care about the department and the way modules are taught. The Law library houses everything you need for your degree, so you don’t need to go far. Law attracts so many different personalities and students from different backgrounds and spending 3 years with them is great. The modules offer great choice. William Pryce

Law is a challenging subject which stretches me each and every day and that is exactly why I enjoy it! Thanks to both the brilliant staff and the extensive resources available to students, the challenge remains one which I’ve never felt was out of my grasp. Aberystwyth itself is a great town, ideal for a variety of students. It has something to offer for everyone, and I know of no better place to make close friends. The town is very relaxed and welcoming, and when it is sunny there is no place in the UK I’d rather be. Andrew James Hall

Typical Entry Requirements

UCAS Tariff 128 - 104

A Levels ABB-BCC

GCSE requirements (minimum grade C/4):
English or Welsh

BTEC National Diploma:
DDM-MMM

International Baccalaureate:
30-28

European Baccalaureate:
75%-65% overall

English Language Requirements:
See our Undergraduate English Language Requirements for this course. Pre-sessional English Programmes are also available for students who do not meet our English Language Requirements.

Country Specific Entry Requirements:
International students whose qualification is not listed on this page, can check our Country Specific Entry Requirements for further information.

The University welcomes undergraduate applications from students studying the Access to Higher Education Diploma or T-level qualifications, provided that relevant subject content and learning outcomes are met. We are not able to accept Access to Higher Education Diplomas or T-levels as a general qualification for every undergraduate degree course.
Our inclusive admissions policy values breadth as well as depth of study. Applicants are selected on their own individual merits and offers can vary. If you would like to check the eligibility of your qualifications before submitting an application, please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for advice and guidance.

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