Writtle University College and ARU have merged. Writtle’s full range of college, degree, postgraduate and short courses will still be delivered on the Writtle campus. See our guide to finding Writtle information on this site.

BSc (Hons) Policing and Criminal Justice

  • Placement year available
How to apply Come to an Open Day

Introduction

Which ARU Criminology and Policing course is right for you?

Studying Policing and Criminal Justice at ARU

Prepare for an exciting and rewarding career in the police, or wider criminal justice sector, by studying for our hands-on Policing and Criminal Justice degree in Chelmsford. Find out what makes this course unique with our short video.

Times Higher Education (THE) Awards 2023 logo

Study at an award-winning university

We're the Times Higher Education (THE) University of the Year. We've also been awarded a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework – a reflection of the outstanding education we offer our students.

Whether you want to work for the police, prison service, security industry, local government or elsewhere in the criminal justice sector, our course will give you a deep understanding of the issues and policies involved in modern policing and rehabilitation.

You’ll have the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of the police or another service of interest on our work-based learning module. It gives you an insight into working cultures and practices as well as a head start in your chosen career.

Study in Chelmsford – the home of our Policing Institute for the Eastern Region (PIER) – and take your first step to a rewarding career in the criminal justice sector.

Course options

Course options

Key facts

Looking for different course options?

Entry Requirements

Loading...

Entry requirements are not currently available, please try again later.

Fees and Paying for University

Facilities and showcase

Hands-on learning

All our BSc (Hons) Policing and Criminal Justice students have the opportunity to:

  • go on field trips in the UK and overseas
  • practise your skills in our mock courtrooms
  • take part in workshops, research projects and other events with regional police forces and other professionals
  • choose from a range of optional modules and pursue their own areas of interest.

Outstanding student support

Join our student community in Chelmsford and:

  • benefit from award-winning learning facilities, including extensive library and IT resources
  • learn from expert staff who will guide your research interests and career development
  • access support, should you need it, with study skills, careers advice, health and wellbeing, and more.

Take a closer look

Our Creative Showcase shines a spotlight on what makes ARU creative and cultural – our spaces, places and people. Find out more about our community, the difference we make, the stories we tell, and the things that inspire us.

Meanwhile, Present is an exhibition that you curate for yourself. Explore the work of our graduating students in this eye-catching virtual degree show.

Alternatively, take a guided tour and meet our students.

Careers

Our graduates go on to work in the police force, probation, prisons and youth justice, as well as the Border Force, the military, security, charities and NGOs, local government, and the public sector more generally. Others are using their skills in areas such as policy, PR, communication and the media.

If you’re already working in the criminal justice sector, you could follow in the footsteps of former students who have progressed their careers to graduate level.

You could also develop a specialism or start a career in research by taking part in our academic shadowing scheme or Cambridgeshire County Council’s violence prevention analysis programmes.

Or you could choose to continue your studies on one of our Master’s degrees, such as MA Contemporary Policing or MA Criminology. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.

Employability and personal career development

Informed by employers, our courses support an integrated approach to employability. You’ll have opportunities to develop the skills and abilities they are looking for and gain a deeper understanding of how your academic learning relates to the world of work through Live Briefs and Ruskin Modules.

To amplify your career ambition, you will need to actively dedicate time outside of your studies, whether you choose to explore placements, internships or volunteering. Or you could make a social impact by collaborating with our partner organisations through our volunteer scheme Students at the Heart of Knowledge Exchange (SHoKE). These all give you an edge, providing you with experience that you will be able to evidence on your CV and talk about in interviews.

Our Employability and Careers Service offers a range of expert advice and support to build your unique professional profile, including tailored career appointments, advice on writing your CV, and help to complete job applications. You’ll have 24/7 access to the Careers Centre, our comprehensive online digital resource, which empowers you to start building a Personal Career Development Plan from the very start. Design your future at ARU.

Colleen Moore

"We study the impact of crime through as many lenses as we need to try and help us understand a problem or social issue."

Colleen Moore

Principal Lecturer, Criminology

60 Second Seminar: How Straightforward is the Representation of Knife Crime?

Apply now for BSc (Hons) Policing and Criminal Justice

Life in Chelmsford

Chelmsford has something for everyone, and our green, modern campus is just ten minutes from the city centre.

Get to know Chelmsford

Want to talk to someone?

Do you have a question that we haven't answered so far? Talk to our application experts. You can also ask our Student Ambassadors about life at ARU.

We're here Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm (please note we close at 3.30pm on the first and third Thursday of the month for staff training), and Friday 9am-4.30pm.

Foundation year available

This course offers a foundation year – an extra year of study to help you prepare for university, and build your knowledge and skills.

More about foundation years

Loading...