Human rights breaches. Miscarriages of justice. Environmental harms. Law and crime permeate all spheres and sectors. Learn from leading experts as you develop your legal skills. Join in mooting competitions and network with prestigious Law firms to create invaluable connections.

Gain an in-depth perspective on today’s most pressing issues by studying criminology as part of your Law degree, with topics ranging from criminal justice and youth crime to social harm and environmental crime. You will have the opportunity to connect with local agencies such as the police and the prison service. Open up your career options with this fascinating joint degree.

Why Lancaster?

Unravel technical legal topics: Uncover how Law shapes our society and take a critical look at the social, cultural, political, and economic contexts of crime and criminal justice

Explore today’s challenges: Examine crime through a social justice lens and explore topics such as drug-related crimes, sex offences, organised crime, and human rights violations

Exceptional academic support: Work closely with world-class academics committed to innovative teaching and student support

Build connections: Gain valuable real-world experience by taking part in our community Law Clinic or Street Law project, and meet law enforcement and criminal justice experts

Prepare for success: Our Law Fair is attended by top lawyers and their recruitment teams and we have regular visits from top alumni

Unlock your career potential: Tailored career advice to discover diverse pathways and practical steps you can take to achieve your goals

Law and crime in context and society

Law is one of the most fascinating and intellectually challenging subjects you can choose. You will gain a good understanding of Law in context and wider societal issues. Building on the foundations of legal knowledge, you’ll also learn about issues that are right at the heart of our society such as human rights law, litigation funding, legal history, property law and the right to protest.

Studying criminology at Lancaster complements your legal studies by providing alternative perspectives on issues of crime, punishment and justice. You will look critically at the social, cultural, political, and economic contexts of crime and criminal justice, as well as viewing challenges through a social justice lens.

You will examine how crime is portrayed in the media and popular culture and explore how deviancy is rendered as a criminal act and how activism and protest can be demonised. You will learn to untangle the complex relationship between society, crime, and the criminal justice system and explore what alternative ways of doing justice might look like now and in the future. This is not dramatised or romantic crime. This is real life: brutal, saddening, enraging, uncomfortable, but fascinating.

Establish professional connections

We provide many opportunities for you to make professional connections with legal firms and criminal justice organisations.

You'll benefit from our strong links to Chambers, Law firms and related professions from across the UK, including Magic Circle firms from London. We usually host alumni visits and lectures, and a Law Fair, which is typically attended by lawyers (including trainees, associates and partners) and members of their recruitment teams.

Recent external speakers have included a representative from Victim Support, a Restorative Justice coordinator from Lancashire Constabulary, a Detective Inspector working in domestic abuse and a 'professional burglar' who turned his life around and now advocates for crime prevention and community support.

You'll meet professionals at NGOs and charities, as well as local criminal justice agencies such as Lancashire Constabulary, the Police Federation for England and Wales, Police Scotland, HMP Lancaster Farms, HMP Thorn Cross, prison education providers Novus, and Probation and Youth Justice.

Practical experience is key

To stand out as a graduate, you need practical real-world experience as well as academic prowess. In our Law Clinic you can interview clients and, supervised by a qualified solicitor, offer free legal advice to members of the local community on topics from family law and consumer disputes to wills and probate. Through our Street Law project you could present information sessions to community groups on topics such as cyberbullying.

Our facilities include a purpose-built Mock Court Room complete with state-of-the-art technology. Through a realistic courtroom experience, you’ll develop your courtroom skills and confidence.

We provide a variety of placement and volunteering opportunities, with organisations such as West Mercia Police, HMP Lancaster Farms, Partners of Prisoners (POPS) and Family Support, Red Rose Recovery, Global Telemetrics (Security Liaison) and Enterprise, RAIS (Refugee Advocacy, Information and Support) and an Environmental Charity, the Wyre Rivers Trust.

Great student support

At Lancaster we work hard to make sure you are supported throughout your degree and that your time with us is memorable, enjoyable and successful. The School of Law provides a friendly hub for students to drop in anytime. You will have easy access to our staff team in Law and Criminology, with your own academic advisor to guide you through your studies and a specialist advisor for legal writing skills.

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Law at Lancaster University

Excellent teaching, opportunities for practical legal experience, and a supportive, lively community. Hear from our students on what Law at Lancaster University has to offer you.

Engage with experts

Here at Lancaster, our School of Law staff combine extensive expertise in teaching with cutting edge research in areas such as Human Rights, International Law and Diplomacy, Commercial and Environmental Law.

In Criminology our internationally recognised team of researchers lead in shaping both criminal justice policy and the academic field of criminology. Our staff advise the United Nations and the EU, influence drug policies in the UK and overseas and work with national and local criminal justice agencies.

In both disciplines, our expertise and research inform our teaching and guarantees that your classes will include the very latest knowledge in each field.

Student societies

You will find yourself part of a friendly, active student and staff community where you will feel at home. Many of our students make friends for life.

The student Law Society organises a range of activities including career events and negotiation competitions judged by barristers and members of the judiciary.

Events organised by the Criminology Society augment your academic studies with talks and discussions on hot topics, and career-focused events.

It’s not all work! Recent social events have included a formal dinner and ball, fun movie night, and sports including netball and football.

Criminology at Lancaster University

A wide range of module choices underpinned by diverse expertise from criminology professionals, delivered in a supportive and friendly environment. Hear from Criminology students on the experience you could have at Lancaster University.

Download the course booklet to find out more about Lancaster University, how we teach Law, and what you'll study as a Law student.

Law subject guide

Download the course booklet to find out more about Lancaster University, how we teach Criminology, and what you'll study as a Criminology student.

Criminology subject guide

Your Placement Year

Sometimes known as a year in industry, your placement year will take place between your second and final year of study and this will extend your degree to four years.

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Placements and Internships

Hear from students and employers on how Lancaster University could support you to gain real-world experience and bolster your CV with a placement or internship as part of your degree.

A placement year is an excellent way to...

try out a role that you may be interested in as a career path

start to build your professional network (some placement students are offered permanent roles to return to after they graduate)

develop skills, knowledge and experience to put you ahead of the field when you graduate

You'll spend your third year...

in a graduate-level position, where you’ll work for between nine and twelve months in the type of role that you might be considering for after you graduate. A very wide range of companies and organisations offer placements across all sectors.

As a full-time employee, you’ll have a job description with specific responsibilities and opportunities to access training and development, the same as other employees.

Our Careers and Placements Team...

will help you to search and compete for a suitable placement with expert advice and resources, such as creating an effective CV, and tips for applications and interviews.

You will still be a Lancaster University student during your placement and we’ll keep in touch to check how you are getting on.

The university will...

use all reasonable effort to support you to find a suitable placement for your studies. While a placement role may not be available in a field or organisation that is directly related to your academic studies or career aspirations, all offer valuable experience of working at a graduate level and gaining a range of professional skills.

If you are unsuccessful in securing a suitable placement for your third year, you will be able to transfer to the equivalent non-placement degree scheme and continue with your studies at Lancaster, finishing your degree after your third year.

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Armed with a Law and Criminology degree from Lancaster University, and with the high-level skills you’ll gain, you’ll be ready for a wide array of roles across multiple sectors.

As well as legal and criminology expertise and experience, you’ll be the type of graduate employers want – a strong communicator with the confidence to speak in public, put forward a well-evidenced argument and make sound decisions. Able to think critically, carry out research and analyse data, you will be a valuable asset in any professional role in law, the civil service, criminal justice system and beyond.

Your degree will prepare you for exciting roles in the legal profession and our graduates go on to a wide range of careers including law firms, or careers at the intersections of justice, law, and social change. Those wishing to pursue a criminal justice career will find opportunities with organisations such as the Police, Prison Service, National Probation Service, Youth Offending Service and HM Courts and Tribunal Service.

Some of our graduates secure places on graduate training schemes while others start careers in the Civil Service (The Ministry of Justice, The Home Office, HMRC and Trading Standards, the Department for Health and Social Services), the charity sector, media, taxation, finance, and politics.

Following this degree, you may wish to pursue further training for roles such as solicitor or barrister. Your course offers a significant amount of preparation for the material that is examined in the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE 1).To show our commitment to your success, we also work with two SQE training providers – Barbri and BPP. These organisations provide our students with discounts, free training modules, masterclasses and events, and careers advice.

On your Law with Criminology degree, you will have the support of our specialist career advisors, including access to practising solicitors who know the sector inside out. To help you create important connections and gain valuable insight into potential careers, we’ll invite you to meet alumni and attend a Law Fair with top lawyers and their recruitment teams

Our graduates typically take up roles with:

Criminal justice agencies (the Police Force, HM Prison Service, the National Probation Service, GSL UK)

Youth offending services

Civil Service Departments

Local Government

Solicitor

NHS trusts

Charities

Legal and Consulting firms

Banks and financial institutions

Court personnel

Clerk in chambers

Professional research and consultancy

Careers and employability support

Our degrees open up an extremely wide array of career pathways in businesses and organisations, large and small, in the UK and overseas.

We run a paid internship scheme specifically for our arts, humanities and social sciences students, supported by a specialist Employability Team. The team offer individual consultations and tailored application guidance, as well as careers events, development opportunities, and resources.

Whether you have a clear idea of your potential career path or need some help considering the options, our friendly team is on hand.

Lancaster is unique in that every student is eligible to participate in The Lancaster Award which recognises activities such as work experience, community engagement or volunteering and social development. A valuable addition to your CV!

Find out more about Lancaster’s careers events, extensive resources and personal support for Careers and Employability.

Entry requirements

These are the typical grades that you will need to study this course. This section will tell you whether you need qualifications in specific subjects, what our English language requirements are, and if there are any extra requirements such as attending an interview or submitting a portfolio.

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A levels

Access to HE Diploma

36 Level 3 credits at Distinction plus 9 Level 3 credits at Merit

Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales

We accept the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales in place of one A level, or equivalent qualification, as long as any subject requirements are met.

BTEC Extended Diploma

BTEC in combination with A levels

A level at grade B plus BTEC(s) at DD, or A levels at grade AB plus BTEC at D

International Baccalaureate

35 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 HL subjects

Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers

We are happy to admit applicants on the basis of five Highers, but where we require a specific subject at A level, we will typically require an Advanced Higher in that subject. If you do not meet the grade requirement through Highers alone, we will consider a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers in separate subjects. Please contact the Admissions team for more information.

T levels

Distinction overall

GCSE requirements

English Language grade 4/C.

We will also look at your overall GCSE profile when considering your application as a whole.

We do have flexibility when considering GCSE requirements. Go to our GCSE information for more details.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, we require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each component for this programme. English language qualifications for undergraduate study.

Help from our Admissions team

If you are thinking of applying to Lancaster and you would like to ask us a question, complete our enquiry form and one of the team will get back to you.

We also have more details on our website about:

Other qualifications we accept

International qualifications

How to apply and what happens afterwards

International foundation programmes

Delivered in partnership with Lancaster University International Study Centre, our one-year tailored foundation pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University degrees. Visit the Lancaster University International Study Centre for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.

Contextual admissions

Contextual admissions could help you gain a place at university if you have faced additional challenges during your education which might have impacted your results. Visit our contextual admissions page to find out about how this works and whether you could be eligible.

Course structure

We continually review and enhance our curriculum to ensure we are delivering the best possible learning experience, and to make sure that the subject knowledge and transferable skills you develop will prepare you for your future. The University will make every reasonable effort to offer programmes and modules as advertised. In some cases, changes may be necessary and may result in new modules or some modules and combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes and new research. Where the course offers optional modules, they may not all be available every year.

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Legal Systems and Justice

Gain an understanding of the English legal system through a consideration of the trial process in civil and criminal litigation, alternative dispute resolution and access to justice.

You’ll develop a toolkit of practical legal skills and develop confidence in both oral and written competencies. You’ll also be supported to develop important self-management and employability skills to prepare you effectively for your studies and your future graduate career.

Contract Law

Contracts are legally enforceable agreements that are fundamental to the way business is done, property is transferred and services are obtained. They provide security to transactions and the basis for a wide range of legal relationships. Throughout the module you will learn the foundations of legal knowledge governing contracts in England and Wales.

Explaining Criminology

Explore the dynamic field of Criminology where you will encounter a range of theoretical perspectives and debates that inform the discipline. Do you think that criminals are born bad? Or do they learn this behaviour from their families or as a product of where they grow up? We’ll debate it all!

You will study both positivistic and social analyses of crime and criminalisation and learn to evaluate criminological theory in relation to a range of intellectual movements. You’ll evaluate these theories in relation to academic scholarship, empirical evidence, popularity and application in crime policy and practice, and in relation to their geographical, social, cultural and historical locations.

Legal Systems and Sources

Learn about the legal system of England and Wales by using primary legal materials such as cases and statutes and delegated legislation/statutory instruments. You’ll begin to understand precedent, court structure and hierarchy and the different legal services and personnel. You will develop the academic legal skills that you need to succeed in your law degree.

Criminal Law

Criminal law can be examined in many ways. You will examine selected methods and the key concepts of this law and understand how they are used by judges, academics and others to solve the practical problems presented by the administration of criminal law.

You’ll investigate both the positivist approach that considers the legal rules, the substantive crimes and the conditions of criminal responsibility and the contextual approach that examines the law in practice, the law in its social context and the social context in criminal law.

Public Law

The notion of power is a recurrent theme within Public Law. You will explore the allocation, balancing and legitimate exercise of public power and the mechanisms for holding those who wield that power to account. Throughout the module, you will undertake a legal, political and historical exploration of the United Kingdom’s constitutional arrangements to understand public law in its wider context. You will consider four substantive areas of public law:

The development of the United Kingdom’s constitution, including the principles and conventions which underlie it

The interaction of these principles and conventions with the major institutions of the constitution (Parliament, Government, and Judiciary)

How citizens address grievances against the state through administrative justice mechanisms, particularly judicial review

The place of the Human Rights Act 1998 in the UK’s Constitution

Tort Law

Tort law addresses civil wrongs, aiming to provide a legal remedy. The scope of these civil wrongs is broad. For instance, tortious remedies might be sought in cases as varied as negligence causing harm, nuisances between neighbours and intentional wrongs. You will study core concepts in tort law at an introductory level. Topics covered may include:

Key principles in tort

Negligence

Intentional torts

Nuisance

Defamation

Vicarious liability

Related defences and remedies may also be covered. The study of tort law is mandatory for a qualifying law degree

Criminological Thought

This module introduces you to the scholarship in criminological theory and the sociology of deviance from the nineteenth century to the present.

A unifying theme is the relationship between the problem of social order and strategies of social control as this has been conceived since the late nineteenth century. You will learn about the social and political context from which these various theories have emerged as well as their place within the intellectual development of Criminology.

Land Law

Land Law immerses you in real life scenarios to promote an understanding of how land law really works. The module provides opportunities to work through legal problems from the perspective of a legal practitioner and discuss some of the documentation and protocols that are used by property lawyers.

We encourage lively debate and discussion and aim to develop your skills in critical thinking and reasoning logically and creatively, challenging convention and understanding how land law interacts with society.

Optional

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Business Law and Practice

Gain a foundational understanding of business law with a comprehensive overview of the legal framework that underpins contemporary business practice. You will begin by analysing the legal implications associated with diverse corporate structures, including companies, partnerships, limited liability partnerships (LLPs) and sole proprietorships. You will go on to examine and explore:

The concepts of legal personality and limited liability and their practical application

The legal principles governing internal management and decision-making processes within the organisational context

The legal dimensions of business financing and payment methods

The taxation of corporate entities and their stakeholders

European Union Law

The European Union Law module provides an in-depth exploration of the legal framework of the European Union, its foundational principles and its evolving relationship with the UK. You will examine the nature of EU law, the structure of the EU legal system and the key concepts that make it unique.

You’ll explore the competences of the EU and its nature as a supranational legal order, as well as the primary and secondary sources of EU law.

You will also examine the core doctrines of EU law such as direct effect, direct applicability and the supremacy of EU law, as well as the ongoing relationship between EU and UK law following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

Family Law

Family Law aims to examine law as it impacts upon the family as a unit and upon the individuals within a familial group. It takes law as an object of study and examines how family relationships are understood in that context.

You are expected to explain, analyse and evaluate the legal rules, concepts and values governing and regulating intimate or domestic relationships. You will locate the development of the law, including the institutions and procedures, within a broader historical, demographic and social context.

The module will promote awareness of the implications for family law of the incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights into the UK. You will examine:

The relationship between families and the state

The interface between family law and family policy

The roles of individuals within families

Various theoretical perspectives on family law

International Law

Gain a clear understanding of what international law is and how it operates. The key areas you will cover are:

The sources of international law, with particular attention on treaties and custom

The subjects of international law, especially states and international organisations

How international law relates to national law

Responsibility for breaches of international law

Settling disputes in international law, including the role of the International Court of Justice

The immunities enjoyed by states and diplomats

Mediation and Conflict Resolution

Gain a comprehensive overview of mediation and conflict resolution principles and practices. You will explore the nature of conflict, various conflict styles and the theoretical underpinnings of mediation.

You’ll learn practical skills in active listening, communication, negotiation and facilitation that will prepare you to effectively manage and resolve disputes in various contexts. The module emphasises ethical considerations and cultural sensitivity in mediation. You will develop a deep understanding of the mediation process and gain confidence in applying these skills to real-world scenarios, fostering constructive dialogue and building positive relationships.

Civil Litigation and Dispute Resolution

Knowledge of Civil Litigation and Dispute Resolution is an essential part of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam and in this practical module you will examine some of the core principles of litigation and dispute resolution in England and Wales.

You will focus on a simulated case, reminiscent of the type of cases handled by large commercial law firms. You’ll cover several different stages of a case, from the first client meeting to trial. Your learning will focus on practical skills such as legal drafting and advocacy.

Youth Justice

In this module you will focus on the criminal justice response to children in conflict with the law.

The prevalence and nature of youth crime has been a persistent concern for society and is regularly subject to media and political debate. You will examine trends in youth justice policy as well as various possible responses to offending behaviour. You’ll focus particularly on the tension between conceptualising individuals as 'children in trouble' or 'children in need' and an explore how this shapes youth justice policy and practice.

Whilst the current focus on ‘child-first’ youth justice highlights the need to remove the label of ‘offender’, you will examine how far a ‘child-first’ approach is applied equally to all children. You will undertake a critical exploration of why some children continue to be stubbornly over-represented in the youth justice system and what efforts at diversion and decriminalisation might look like.

Cybercrime and Cybercriminality

This module aims to provide you with knowledge and understanding of:

The range, extent and nature of cybercrime in the 21st Century.

The role of the Internet and other ICT in criminal networking, planning and communication for both cyber (online) and 'traditional' (offline) crime.

The challenges inherent in responding to cybercrime and online aspects of traditional crime and criminality.

Criminal justice and other (e.g. personal and private security) responses to cybercrime and criminality.

The application of established criminological theories to cybercrime and online criminality.

Commercial Law

Commercial law is the area of law governing the way goods and services are bought and sold, together with connected questions of ownership of goods, responsibility for what happens to them ("risk"), storing and transporting and paying for them.

In this module you will study key areas of commercial law, typically including agency, sale of goods, bailments, carriage of goods and commercial dispute resolution.

Employment Law

How does the law regulate the world of work? Who is protected, what rights do workers have and what responsibilities do employers bear? This module provides a comprehensive introduction to UK employment law. You will focus on key topics such as:

Employment contracts

Working time

Work-life balance

Equality at work

Dismissal redundancy

Collective labour rights

You will gain a solid understanding of key statutes and case law, develop a critical and analytical perspective on related legal rules and evaluate the underlying social and policy principles. Whether you’re pursuing a legal career, working in HR, a trade union, government agencies, or simply want to understand workplace rights, this module equips you with essential knowledge for navigating the world of work.

Financial Crime

The landscape of financial crime has dramatically shifted in recent decades, becoming a pervasive threat to economies worldwide and legal systems are constantly challenged to adapt. In this module you will delve into the core aspects of this complex field, specifically: fraud, money laundering, terrorism financing and the increasingly intertwined relationship between financial crime and cybercrime, where technological advancements often outstrip regulatory capabilities.

You will analyse how these crimes operate, including where appropriate, the implications of technology - cryptocurrencies, ransomware, dark web on these crimes - emphasising the inherent difficulties in effective legal enforcement.

In this module, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the limitations of global and domestic regulatory frameworks, engage in critical analysis of leading cases and statute. You’ll acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the challenges of financial crime prevention and detection, while acknowledging the ongoing struggle of law to effectively regulate these activities.

Human Rights and Civil Liberties

Explore the nature, scope and impact of human rights legal provisions and the wider culture of civil liberties legal reasoning on domestic law. You will acquire the reasoning tools to understand, analyse and independently evaluate human rights issues, for example, through wider ideals (such as human dignity), specifically human rights concepts, (such as proportionality) and particular mechanisms of the Human Rights Act 1998.

It is an important principle of human rights law that rights should be enjoyed not just in theory but also in practice and you will consider particular areas of human rights law, not just as a set of rules, but as a dynamic body of principles that have concrete and social impacts and implications. Drawing on contemporary examples and controversies you will have the freedom to explore issues that are of most importance to you.

International Law on Force, Territory and Human Rights

This module examines how international law is applied in practice in three key areas:

The use of force in international relations, including the law of armed conflict and its enforcement in international criminal law

The different regimes for territory, covering land, sea, air and outer space

International law and the protection of the environment

Law and Young People

Explore contemporary issues surrounding the law’s impact upon the lives of children and young people. In this module you will take both a theoretical and practical approach to understanding and applying the law. You will have the opportunity to work through legal case studies from the perspective of a practitioner.

You’ll look at a range of topics that involve children and young people, such as children’s and parental rights, rights to education and special educational needs and children’s rights in relation to protest and punishment. In addition, you will focus on practical legal skills such as drafting, legal letter writing and legal research.

Legal Tech and Innovation

Legal Technology is a topic of growing importance. You will explore areas of interest in legal tech and will examine the legal and social implications of key innovations.

You’ll study how design thinking can be applied to create innovative solutions to legal problems and will consider the deployment of technology in ways that enhance the experiences of practising law and delivery of legal services. There will also be analysis of the social implications of these technological developments.

Many of these issues will be examined from a practical perspective.

Organised Crime

Many commentators claim that organised crime is one of the greatest problems facing contemporary societies. Law enforcement officials around the world have reported a significant increase in the range and scope of international criminal activity since the early 1990s.

Worldwide shifts in social, political and economic arrangements- often described as ‘globalisation’ - have opened up opportunities for organised crime groups. The extent of groups involved in transnational organised crime (TOC) and the profits made means TOC has become a priority area for governments around the world.

Contemporary Issues in Policing

Explore a range of topics and perspectives related to Contemporary Issues in Policing. This module will cover three key core areas:

The role of the police in a contemporary and historical context

Key policing concepts

Contemporary issues related to policing in the UK

You will develop an understanding of contemporary issues in policing in the UK and critically consider the role of police officers within the criminal justice system. You’ll gain a critical understanding of key policing concepts such as police power, accountability and ‘cop culture’ and interpret theories in the context of policing.

Understanding Criminological Fieldwork

Research provides an important means of producing knowledge and evidence within Criminology. It also contributes to the planning and evaluation of policies and provisions operating within the criminal justice system (CJS); an area of interest for criminologists. Focusing on real-world research in the ‘field,’ you will study the theoretical foundations of how knowledge and evidence is understood and produced and how this underpins the methods adopted by researchers.

You will explore the methods commonly used in criminological research such as:

Quantitative questionnaires

Evaluation and randomized control trials (RCTs)

Qualitative interviews

Ethnography

New innovative creative methods

Participatory action research

You will be able to engage critically with methodological debates within the field of Criminology and develop your own practical research skills.

Measuring Crime

This module will explore questions such as:

How can we know about the true extent of crime?

Are official data sources valid and reliable in informing crime-related policy?

Can we predict future offending behaviour?

How should we evaluate crime reduction programmes?

By the end of the module, you will have some of these answers.

You will be learning and working with different data sources related to crime and criminal justice, exploring data from police-recorded crime, the Crime Survey for England and Wales and criminal justice statistics from the courts.

You will develop highly valuable skills in data-handling and analysis during the computer workshops. You do not require any previous knowledge of maths or statistics. All you need is the willingness to learn and continuous practice.

Work Based Learning Year

This module will allow you to spend the year working in a graduate-level placement role in the industry or sector that interests you most. Throughout the year, you will build an awareness of what is required in the professional workplace whilst developing a range of transferable skills.

During the module you will reflect on and critically analyse: your own career readiness, the ongoing development of your self-awareness in terms of skills and professional knowledge, and your understanding of current workplace practices and professional etiquette.

Our Careers and Placements Team will support you during your placement with online contact and learning resources.

Equity and Trusts Law

Explore the world of equity and trusts law by examining and locating the subject within its broad historical context to identify its development and functioning over time.

You will discover and explore the key themes, concepts and issues prevalent in equity and trusts law today, including the key elements required for the validity and operation of various types of trusts, as well as relevant aspects of equitable remedies. You will also consider modern uses and policies.

Law Dissertation

A Law dissertation is an opportunity to become an expert in a focused area of the law, under the supervision of world-leading researchers in your chosen field. You will study independently to produce a dissertation to answer a research question chosen by you. This is particularly suitable if have a strong interest in deepening your understanding of a specific legal area and are able to work independently.

You will develop high-level research skills as you synthesize a wide range of primary and secondary legal sources, placing them within their wider societal and disciplinary contexts. The transferable skills gained in this module will be useful both in future legal careers and in research and policy-focused roles.

Company Law

This module introduces Company Law, covering its core principles, key stakeholders and the significance of separate legal personality in corporate structure and liability. You will examine and explore:

The concept of separate legal personality and its significance in corporate structure and liability

The role of the company constitution in defining governance frameworks, as well as the duties, powers and liabilities of directors in managing corporate affairs

The share capital maintenance rules that ensure financial stability and creditor protection

The key aspects of company contracts and how companies enter into legal agreements

Shareholders’ rights and remedies, including unfair prejudice claims and derivative actions in the context of corporate accountability

Creditor protection that considers debentures and charges, providing insight into corporate finance and security interests

Insolvency law including mechanisms for corporate rescue and creditor recovery

Environmental Law

Study the current law of the environment in England and Wales. You will consider key aspects of environmental law such as overarching principles, policies and methods of regulation. You’ll explore some of the international environmental obligations that bind the UK. Specific areas covered might include:

Principles of environmental law and regulation

Civil and criminal liability for environmental harm

Climate change

Development control

Protecting habitats and landscapes and the prevention

Prosecution of water pollution offences

Immigration and Asylum Law

Examine the principles of UK immigration and asylum law. Asylum is a subject seldom out of the media and it has received unprecedented political attention in the last few decades. Immigration is a considerable subject and in this module, you will focus mainly on the asylum process.

You’ll consider the general issues through the study of topics such as:

The nature of an asylum claim

The link between human rights and asylum

Immigration detention the foreign prisoner crisis

Deportation

Inheritance Law

Study the principal features of Inheritance Law in England and Wales, including wills and intestacy. Taking a practical focus, you will examine the law from a practitioner perspective developing skills such as drafting letters and memos.

You’ll understand and be able to apply the principal features of inheritance law in England and Wales, understand property ownership/trusts and their interaction with laws on death and have a critical awareness of the history and socio-legal context within which inheritance laws operate.

Healthcare Law and Ethics

Gain an introduction to the framework and key principles underpinning health care law and ethics. You’ll build on your understanding of these foundational issues through exploring specific and complex areas of health care law and practice, from a medico-legal and ethical perspectives. The chosen areas will reflect the continual developing nature of medical and ethical practice and will be relevant today.

You will develop your legal and ethical knowledge and skills of critical analysis in areas which continue to grow in significance, including life and death.

Green Criminology

Green Criminology is the application of Criminological thought (concepts, methods, theories etc.) to environmental harm. In this module, you will engage with the increasing awareness of the damage contemporary industrial society inflicts on the natural world - and the urgent need for effective responses and solutions to environmental problems. You’ll focus on a range of environmental harms, whether or not subject to criminal control and you will examine society’s attempts to control them.

A relatively recent addition to criminology, Green Criminology draws on established traditions of examining ‘crimes of the powerful’ and focuses on a zemiological (harm-centred) perspective rather than legalistic definitions of crime. You will learn about the theoretical roots of this approach based on Ulrich Beck’s ‘Risk Society’, 'ecological Marxism' and theories of criminalisation and crime control.

Drugs, Crime and Society

An engaging and highly relevant module, Drugs, Crime and Society examines the nature and extent of drug taking in the UK and beyond.

We will:

explore the difficulties of researching hidden populations, like drug users

engage with theories of drug use from a sociological, psychological and cultural perspective

consider global and national drug markets

investigate the links between drugs and crime

evaluate policing responses to drugs

You will be taught by research-active lecturers who will introduce you to the latest research in this field and contemporary debate. For example, you might study current research and publications concerning cannabis cultivation, world markets, and drug distribution among friends (also known as ‘social supply’).

Crimes and Harms of the Powerful

This module focuses on the crimes that power makes possible. Criminological theory and research has traditionally prioritized the crimes of the powerless over and against the crimes of those that make laws, wield influence and capital or authorize State violence.

As such, this module will introduce you to theory, research, and case-studies on corporate and white-collar crimes, as well as state crimes like genocide and torture, in order to provide an analysis of the commission and punishment of such crimes.

Contemporary Issues in Corporate Governance

Gain a comprehensive critical analysis of governance issues that exist in relation to the management of insolvent companies. In this module you will explore both the theoretical and practical issues that face a company that is first in financial distress, but not yet in an insolvency regime and how governance issues change when the company is insolvent and enters an insolvency regime.

Topics that are explored in this module include:

The meaning and features of corporate governance

The functions and principles of insolvency law

How the duties, rights and decision-making of directors alters when a company is exposed to financial difficulties

You will examine the governance issues that arise when a company enters an insolvency regime, the role and duties of insolvency practitioners in insolvent regimes, the regulation of directors and insolvency practitioners and the impact that insolvency has on company creditors.

Evidence

Evidence Law may be seen as a collection of rules and procedures which govern the means through which legal assertions or ‘facts’ may be proved and the manner in which a party may substantiate or refute?assertions or ‘facts’.

In this module you will conduct a broad investigation of these rules to understand the social context in which the rules operate, to examine the principles on which the rules are founded and to apply these to concrete situations.

Intellectual Property Law and Policy

This module provides an overview of intellectual property law focusing on three key areas: copyright, patents and trademarks. You will examine, analyse and explore:

Why we protect “intangible” property looking at the key aim of incentivising creativity

The UK and international legislation and case law in the area of copyright

How the law developed to protect groundbreaking technology in the 1700s and now protects AI-generated works in the 21st century

Patent law and the protection of inventions

The UK and international regime relating to trademarks and global branding

How IP rights build recognition and generate profit

Human Rights, Mass Atrocities and Transitional Justice

Explore the legal, practical, political and moral issues involved in using national and international criminal courts, truth commissions and other techniques of ‘transitional justice’ to pursue accountability for mass atrocities and war crimes committed by repressive regimes.

You will study the legacy of Nazi Germany, the central and southern American dictatorships, apartheid South Africa, communism in Europe up to 1989, and the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s.

You’ll draw together disparate materials in law, politics, history and criminology to provide a critical window on how the very worst violations of human rights have been addressed.

Sex Crimes and Sexual Offending

Examine a range of sex crimes and forms of sexual offending as defined by the law in England and Wales. You’ll consider the wider social context which may explain why some sex crimes are defined by law and how new crimes emerge as the social context changes. Topics explored include:

The extent of sexual offending

How sex crimes are committed

Who the perpetrators and victims are

How sex crimes are dealt with by the criminal justice system, including the experiences of victims who engage with the criminal justice system

Street Law

Deliver public legal education presentations to members of the community, such as to school children, charities or support groups. You will work in a team to research, design and deliver presentations (virtually or in person).

Street Law presentations encourage audience participation and you will design a series of interactive approaches which supports the content of your presentation. The topics of the presentations vary each year and will be dependent on the needs of the community groups we work with.

You’ll receive thorough training before commencing your Street Law project. For instance, you will learn about the ethos behind the Street Law approach, professional responsibilities, safeguarding, and engage in skill development activities such as teamwork, leadership and public speaking.

Gendered Harm and Justice

Engage with the often-neglected, marginalised and overlooked needs of women within the fields of Criminology and Criminal Justice. This module explores how harm and injustice may occur in various ways and at various intersections, as well as the often-blurred boundaries between victimisation and criminalisation. Yet there is also a focus on power, protest and resistance and how this might play out in different contexts.

Indicative topics and perspectives related include:

Women, crime and poverty in an age of austerity

Domestic violence as a pathway to offending and

The experiences of Black and minoritised women

Women in the global south

You will engage with a range of sources that seek to decolonise ‘official’ versions of crime and justice and that encourage learning from lived experience.

Hate Crime

Is there such a thing as a ‘hate crime’? Not according to the stance wholeheartedly adopted by the criminal justice system in the United Kingdom within the last two decades. In this module you will study a range of perspectives.

You will examine the notion that hate crime is socially constructed by a range of social actors, such as perpetrators, victims and police officers. In an interactive process, you will define whether an interaction is a hate crime or not.

You will consider the role of legal and academic definitions used to decide if something is a hate crime. You’ll explore these by placing them in an international context

Crime and Media

Informed by the latest research, this module critically examines the complex interactions between the media and crime.

Included in this fascinating area of study are:

theories of deviancy, moral panics and newsworthiness

representations of youth and female offenders

sex and hate crimes

revenge pornography and cybercrime

critical explorations of the use of media in the context of crime and criminal justice

We take a multi-disciplinary approach to the module so you will study key media concepts and then discuss how these relate to crime, deviancy and criminal justice issues.

The module assessment is both novel and creative. You will produce a media portfolio - completing a literature review on a topic of your choice - before engaging in a critical analysis using sources such as newspapers, documentaries or social media content. This approach helps to ensure that you develop a practical understanding of media analysis and of the representation of crime in the media.

Our academic staff research extensively in the areas of crime and media. They will use their research to guide lecture content and, where appropriate, will provide you with data from their projects to analyse and discuss.

Prisons, Punishment and Society

Learn about forms and methods of punishment today and historically and consider the place of prisons within this wider context. You’ll explore key theories and perspectives around the justification and limitations of past and present practices as you examine the shift to a prison industrial complex.

You will learn to ask key questions such as:

What constitutes ‘punishment’?

How have prisons evolved, and what perspectives have influenced carceral projects nationally and internationally?

Who is most likely to be punished or imprisoned?

You will also question who is most likely to be subject to punishment or imprisonment and how this relates to wider social inequalities and demographic experiences of social control.

Throughout the module you will critically consider the role of reformative approaches to punishment as well as abolitionist perspectives on prisons and restorative and community alternatives to punitive punishment.

Fees and funding

Our annual tuition fee is set for a 12-month session, starting at the beginning of each academic year.

Our Undergraduate Tuition Fees for 2027/28 are:

International

Fees and funding information

Additional fees and funding information accordion

Additional costs

There may be extra costs related to your course for items such as books, stationery, printing, photocopying, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits. Following graduation, you may need to pay a subscription to a professional body for some chosen careers.

Specific additional costs for studying at Lancaster are listed below.

College fees

Lancaster is proud to be one of only a handful of UK universities to have a collegiate system. Every student belongs to a college, and all students pay a small college membership fee which supports the running of college events and activities. Students on some distance-learning courses are not liable to pay a college fee.

For students starting in 2026 or 2027, the fee is £40 for undergraduates and research students and £15 for students on one-year courses. Students on some distance-learning courses are not liable to pay a college fee.

Computer equipment and internet access

To support your studies, you will also require access to a computer, along with reliable internet access. You will be able to access a range of software and services from a Windows, Mac, Chromebook or Linux device. For certain degree programmes, you may need a specific device, or we may provide you with a laptop and appropriate software - details of which will be available on relevant programme pages. A dedicated IT support helpdesk is available in the event of any problems.

The University provides limited financial support to assist students who do not have the required IT equipment or broadband support in place.

Study abroad courses

In addition to travel and accommodation costs, while you are studying abroad, you will need to have a passport and, depending on the country, there may be other costs such as travel documents (e.g. visa or work permit) and any tests and vaccines that are required at the time of travel. Some countries may require proof of funds.

Placement and industry year courses

In addition to possible commuting costs during your placement, you may need to buy clothing that is suitable for your workplace and you may have accommodation costs. Depending on the employer and your job, you may have other costs such as copies of personal documents required by your employer for example.

What is my fee status?

The fee that you pay will depend on whether you are considered to be a home or international student. Read more about how we assign your fee status.

Fees in subsequent years

Home fees are subject to annual review, and are liable to rise each year in line with UK government policy. International fees (including EU) are reviewed annually and are not fixed for the duration of your studies. Read more about fees in subsequent years.

Fees for study abroad and work placements

We will charge tuition fees to Home undergraduate students on full-year study abroad/work placements in line with the maximum amounts permitted by the Department for Education. The current maximum levels are:

Students studying abroad for a year: 15% of the standard tuition fee

Students taking a work placement for a year: 20% of the standard tuition fee

International students on full-year study abroad/work placements will also be charged in line with the maximum amounts permitted by the Department for Education. The current maximum levels are:

Students studying abroad for a year: 15% of the standard international tuition fee during the Study Abroad year

Students taking a work placement for a year: 20% of the standard international tuition fee during the Placement year

Please note that the maximum levels chargeable in future years may be subject to changes in Government policy.

Scholarships and bursaries

You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.

You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status:

Fee status:

Any fee status

Home students

International students

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We also have other, more specialised scholarships and bursaries - such as those for students from specific countries.

Browse Lancaster University's scholarships and bursaries.

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Important information

The information on this site relates primarily to the stated entry year and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

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We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. Find out more about our Charter and student policies.

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