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Criminal law is of fundamental social importance. It provides the State with the greatest opportunity to inhibit an individual’s freedom and liberty. This course scrutinises the mechanisms for doing so.
Course option
Year of entry
Location
Coventry University (Coventry)
Study mode
Full-time
Sandwich
Online/Blended
Duration
3 years full-time
4 years sandwich
Condensed first year available
UCAS codes
M223
Start date
September 2025
January 2026 - condensed
This course explores the mechanisms underpinning criminal law, domestically and internationally, whilst encouraging you to challenge the legitimacy of the State’s power and its interference with individual autonomy and freedom.
This course aims to help you:
The January start for this course is condensed in Year 1. Please see the ‘How you’ll learn’ section below for more details.
The course aims to give you opportunities to:
If you choose to start this course in January you will study exactly the same course but over a slightly shorter timescale in Year 1. This is ideal if you missed the September start, want to transfer from a different university or course or just need a bit more time to prepare for life at university.
The degree is accredited1 and recognised by the following bodies for the 2025/26 intake:
Criminal Law and Justice Law LLB is a recognized degree by the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) . Any graduates of this course that pass the optional third year modules ‘Family Law’, or ‘Company Law’ and ‘Employment Law’, will not need to pass the CPQ Foundation stage or CPQ Advanced stage assessments and as such are capable of being recognised as CILEX Advanced Paralegals. Those who do not complete either ‘Family Law’ or ‘Company Law’ and ‘Employment Law’ will still be exempt from the mandatory aspects of CPQ Advanced stage. On completion of your degree, you will have the option to pay £400 for CILEX recognition.
Professional recognition is reviewed on an annual basis and is not guaranteed. Applicants and students will be informed of any changes as soon as possible.1
Coventry Law School is currently a member of the International Association of Law Schools, an association of around 250 law schools from over 60 countries, representing around 12,000 law faculty members. Having this status allows you to access a variety of international experiences, including with our partner institutions across the world.
Coventry Law School is also currently a member of the European Law Faculties Association with over 150 members from Europe and beyond.
Memberships are reviewed on an annual basis and are not guaranteed. Applicants and students will be informed of any changes as soon as possible.
Central England Law Centre
Coventry Law School collaborates with the Central England Law Centre in order to offer a professional element to your learning, through our Law Employment and Advocacy clinics. Students who are selected to participate in the clinics get involved with many aspects of what the solicitors do at the Law Centre, with supervisors who are currently working in practice and experts in specific areas of law. They get hands-on experience doing reserved legal activities, providing supervised advice and assistance to members of the public.
Law QWE
Coventry Law School also collaborates with Law QWE, a careers portal that connects individuals in search of qualifying work experience with top employers to support their route to qualification.
‘The criminal law seeks to safeguard citizens from serious harm . At the same time, criminal justice represents one of the State’s most powerful tools against its citizens. No other area of law is able to so significantly infringe a person’s liberties and freedoms. The criminal justice system therefore, has to strike a balance between controlling criminal behaviour and protecting the rights and freedoms of the accused.’
Dr Gary Betts, Head of the Law School, 2022
We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.
The Criminal Law and Justice LLB (Hons) degree has been designed so that it is capable of satisfying the academic component of Bar training as required by the Bar Standards Board.
For further details of the requirements of the academic component of Bar training, please visit the Bar Standards Board website.
The course is delivered through a combination of lectures, workshops, seminars, online activities and directed readings.
Lectures introduces you to basic concepts and core principles. Workshops provide you with the opportunity to deepen your understanding of the subject matter through active exploration of legal issues, for example through debates, discussions, presentations, and other practical activities. Teaching sessions are designed to be interactive and may involve exploring real-world and hypothetical problems, considering case studies and analysing contemporary or more theoretical legal issues. This interactive approach enables you to develop your legal skills throughout our degree and immerse yourself in authentic legal experiences.
Throughout the course, your learning will be supported through AULA, our current mobile-first virtual learning environment and you will receive specialist training in the use of a variety of legal databases (our online learning platform is subject to change).
If you choose to start this course in January it will be run as a condensed programme. You’ll start your course in January and finish your first year in August. Upon successful completion of Year 1, you will progress onto Year 2 in September and then continue to start subsequent years of your course in September, completing your degree at the same time as the September starters unless you opt to do a placement year.
As a full-time undergraduate student, you will study modules totalling 120 credits each academic year. A typical 20 credit module requires a total of 200 hours study. This is made up of teaching contact hours, guided and independent study.
Teaching hours vary each semester, year of study and due to module selection. During your first year you can expect 15-18 teaching hours each week. You will also have the option to attend optional sessions including time with a progress coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback. As you progress through your studies, teaching hours may reduce.
Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You'll be digging deeper into topics, review what you've learned and complete assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress through your studies, you'll spend more time in independent study.
As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.
This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.
Assessment methods may include:
The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.
Throughout the Criminal Law and Justice LLB degree, we aim to expose you to a wide variety of international opportunities2. From undertaking an international field trip to working with students from international universities in a Collaborative International Online Learning project, we aim to offer an international opportunity for everyone. The Law School has particularly strong links with the Southwest University of Political Science and Law in Chongqing, China and established links with the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa and the University of Nebrija in Madrid.
Throughout the course, you will explore aspects of international law and develop cognisance of diverse cultural and global perspectives. The Law School is a typically diverse community of legal academics and students, which brings depth and vibrancy to your student experience.
Please note that all international experience opportunities may be subject to additional costs, competitive application, availability, and meeting applicable visa and travel requirements, and are therefore not guaranteed2.
Coventry University's lecturers and staff are exceptional. They genuinely want students to succeed, and as a result, they are always willing and open to providing students with academic guidance. Coventry University is more than just an educational institution; it has created a sense of community by providing a safe space for people from diverse backgrounds.
Khairat Abubakar, Law LLB graduate, 2022
Typical entry requirements:
Not got the required grades? We offer this degree with an integrated foundation year.
Student | Full-time | Part-time |
---|---|---|
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man | 2025/26 fees TBC 2024/25 fees - £9,250 per year |
Not available |
EU | 2025/26 fees TBC 2024/25 fees - £9,250 per year with EU Support Bursary** 2025/26 fees TBC 2024/25 fees - £16,800 per year without EU Support Bursary** |
Not available |
International | 2025/26 fees TBC 2024/25 fees - £16,800 per year |
Not available |
If you choose to study this course with a professional placement2 or study abroad year, you will need to pay a tuition fee3 of £1,250 to cover your academic support throughout your placement year.
For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Undergraduate Finance page and see the university’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.
The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permits an increase in tuition fees, the university may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.
For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.
We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.
Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.
The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:
Find out what's included in your tuition costs.
If you choose to start this course in January please make sure you check the Fees and Finance page for more information. Although starting this course in January does not prohibit you from being eligible for student finance, the way it is paid in your first year differs from those who start their course in September.
If you start the course in January, your tuition fees will be paid in accordance with the university’s Tuition Fees, Refund and Withdrawal Terms and Conditions for January starters and for any further years of study, your fees will be paid in accordance with the terms for September starters.
The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.
Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.
The Criminal Law and Justice LLB course is delivered at the main Coventry University campus in Coventry, where you'll benefit from our dedicated law facilities4.
Our Moot Room gives you the opportunity to develop those vital and practical legal skills. You can practise your legal skills in a realistic setting, as well as having the chance to take part in mooting competitions.
Use the Legal Clinic to develop your practical legal skills and help you stand out in your future career. You will have access to 'real' clients and work alongside trained solicitors and lawyers.
Find out more about how Coventry University can kick start your legal career through our preparation courses.
Upon successful completion of this degree you will be able to:
Law graduates can pursue a wide variety of careers both in the UK and overseas. Many graduates enter the legal profession as solicitors, barristers, paralegals or legal executives (additional education/courses and training required). However, the skills learned are also transferrable to career paths outside of law such as recruitment, management, teaching or finance. Many of our law graduates also go on to pursue a career in academia or undertake further academic study.
Previous law graduates from Coventry Law School have gone on to work at a wide variety of organisations and firms including:
I have volunteered with the Coventry Law employment clinic. This allows me to interview actual clients and produce advice for them. This has been extremely valuable in relating my studies to the world of work and given me incredible experience, as well as helping the clients. I have learned so much from this opportunity and I feel like I have a step up when it comes to training contract applications.
Leah Bolt, Law graduate LLB, 2022
Phoenix+ brings you together with other students to learn, experience and develop essential knowledge and skills. Whatever destination you choose, it's about preparing you for life after university.
Learn more about Phoenix+