Exam Board – WJEC

Qualification – Level 3 Certificate (601/6249/1) and Diploma (601/6248/X)

Entry requirements – 5 GCSEs at grades 9-4, including grade 4 in English and grade 4 in maths

Course specification

An understanding of criminology is relevant to many job roles within the criminal justice sector, including police officers, probation and prison officers, and social workers. With their critical thinking, analytical and communication skills, criminology graduates are also attractive to employers outside the criminal justice sector in areas such as social research and politics.

“I can’t wait to learn about how they process crime scenes to use the evidence in a court case.”

– Student

The level 3 diploma in criminology has been designed to provide learners with underpinning knowledge, understanding and skills to progress to further study and training. It offers exciting and interesting experiences through the acquisition of knowledge and understanding in purposeful contexts linked to the criminal justice system.

In year 12, students cover changing awareness of crime in a piece of controlled assessment looking at types of crime, reasons for crime, and the media’s input to crime. They will also learn about criminological theories, sitting a 90 minute exam at the end of the year.

In year 13 students will complete a second piece of controlled assessment focusing on the crime scene to the courtroom. This piece of work will consider who is involved in criminal investigations, what are the techniques used, trials and evidence in court and the rights of the witnesses, suspects and victims. Students will also sit a 90 minute exam on crime and punishment, which investigates the criminal justice system, the types of punishment and allows students the opportunity to consider whether different types of punishment can really have a positive effect on an offender.

What doors will this open up for me?

The level 3 diploma in criminology has elements of psychology, law and sociology that complement studies in humanities. The main purpose is for the subject to support applications to universities in criminology or similar subjects such as law, psychology or sociology. It is well recognised by universities as giving a good base knowledge of criminology to support a number of subjects, with universities praising students who study criminology for their good communication skills, ability to think critically with a good knowledge of people skills.

Learning journey

Our learning journeys can be used to understand each subject in more detail.

Criminology applied diploma