4-Term Pathway - International Foundation Year in Social Sciences and Humanities - Continue to Bachelor of Laws - Law with Criminology

This program will prepare students for entry to Year 1 of an undergraduate degree in a wide range of subjects, including many based at the £10m LICA building. Popular subjects include law, film studies, sociology, linguistics and politics.

This Law degree is taught by the world-leading, research-active academics based in our prestigious Law School. They will introduce students to core topics in Criminology and Law and students will explore the connections between the two disciplines as they develop both specialist and transferable skills.

During the degree students will analyse the social, cultural, political and economic contexts of crime and criminal justice, taking an in-depth look at the social circumstances of offending, policies regulating crime, and the social response to criminal activity. The degree draws on the Law School’s expertise in criminal law, international human rights, organised crime, youth justice, cybercrime, policing, prisons and punishment, sex work, hate crime, drugs and substance abuse and gender-based violence.

Students will be taught by lecturers who are actively engaged in research, informing policy and public debate related to criminological and legal issues. Lancaster is rated 6th in the UK for the impact of their research, with 88% of the research impact rated "outstanding" in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF2021).

Programme Overview

Their first year will introduce students to core criminological and legal concepts and perspectives, including criminal law, the English legal system and explanations for crime and offending behaviour. During their second year students will explore a broad range of criminological and legal perspectives, consider how to ‘do’ criminological research and be able to choose a range of optional modules which explore various criminological and legal controversies and issues.

By year three, students will have the choice to study specialist subjects in depth from a range of optional modules. They will also explore key legal issues in depth, such as Equity and Trusts.

Networking Opportunities

Lancaster has strong links to Chambers, Law firms and related professions from across the UK, including magic circle firms from London. They 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. All of this should help students to make professional connections, learn more about their firms, and get a head start on their career in Law.

The student-run Law Society usually organises a wide range of extracurricular activities including mooting and negotiation competitions (typically judged by barristers and members of the judiciary). In recent years they have organised a Law Ball, sporting fixtures, and a careers dinner. Each event is designed to help students build their peer and employer networks.