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Ulster University · Undergraduate
BSc (Hons) Criminology and Criminal Justice Bachelor's degree at Ulster University
BSc (Hons) Criminology and Criminal Justice at Ulster University leads to a nationally recognised Bachelor's degree. You'll study specialisations such as Criminal Law, Criminology, Human Rights, and Public Law, alongside options in Commercial Law, Corporate, Family, and Intellectual Property.
BSc (Hons)
Award
3
Years
Full-time
Study mode
91%
continuation
About this course
BSc (Hons) Criminology and Criminal Justice is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at Ulster University, based in Belfast. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Law, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
8.9
/ 10
2 of 3 official measures
Student satisfaction
What students say in the National Student Survey
Excellent86
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Continuation
Students who continue past their first year
Exceptional91
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 91% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
A typical UK Law degree builds from foundations to specialist options and a final project. An indicative structure:
| Stage | Module |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | Contract Law Formation, terms, breach and remedies, with the leading cases. |
| Year 1 | Public Law The constitution, judicial review and human rights in the UK. |
| Year 1 | Criminal Law Offences, defences and the principles of criminal liability. |
| Year 2 | Tort Law Negligence and other civil wrongs; duty, causation and damages. |
| Year 2 | Land Law Estates, interests, registration and how land transactions work. |
| Year 2 | EU / International Law How law beyond the UK shapes rights and trade. |
| Year 3 | Equity & Trusts Trusts, fiduciary duties and equitable remedies. |
| Year 3 | Specialist options Typically commercial, family, employment, IP or medical law. |
| Year 3 | Dissertation / clinic Independent legal research, or supervised work in a law clinic. |
Typical structure for this subject (indicative). Modules vary by university. Check the provider's course page for the exact curriculum.
Specialisations & pathways
Tip: click a specialisation → current jobs in that area.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This course combines foundational law study with a focus on criminal justice systems and practices. You'll usually begin with core modules in Contract Law, Criminal Law and Public Law, covering offences, defences, constitutional principles and rights in the UK. In your second year, you'll typically progress to Tort Law, Land Law and wider legal frameworks before moving to specialist options in your final year. A course like this normally allows you to pursue specialisations such as Criminal Justice, Human Rights, Commercial Law, Family Law or Employment Law. You'll usually complete independent research, a dissertation or supervised practice, giving you applied experience alongside theoretical study of how the law operates in criminal and justice contexts.
Who it's for
Most entrants to this course held A-levels or equivalent qualifications (88% of accepted students over recent years). The typical UCAS tariff among accepted students fell between 112 and 127 points.
University & format
This BSc (Hons) degree is studied full-time over 3 years at Ulster University, a university based in Belfast. Teaching is delivered in English. The degree is a nationally recognised UK qualification from a recognised degree-awarding body. Typical entry holders have A-levels or equivalent qualification, with most accepted students having achieved a UCAS tariff of 112–127 points in recent years. The university also offers bursaries and scholarships; further details are available on the university's funding pages.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively. Overall student satisfaction: 88%.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Application timelineWhat happens next
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Entry & how to get in
Most entrants held A-levels or equivalent88% of accepted students came in with A-levels or equivalent (entrants over recent years).
Typical UCAS tariff: 112 - 127 pointsThe most common UCAS tariff band among accepted students. This is what entrants had, not a stated requirement.
Entry requirements are set by the universityGrades, subjects and contextual offers vary. Check Ulster University's official course page for the current offer.
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 88% |
| another higher-education qualification | 7% |
| an Access course | 3% |
| Other | 1% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Offer-based entry
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Your UCAS points0
▾
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Add your grades to see where you land
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
Apply by13 January 2027, 18:00 UK timefor this course
Typical gradesBBBA-level equivalent admitted students held
UCAS codeM931quote this on your application
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code M931). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
💡 Many universities make a contextual (reduced-grade) offer, for example based on your school’s results, time in care, or where you live. Ask Ulster University whether you’re eligible before you apply; it can lower the grades you need.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Internationalset by the university
Set under Northern Ireland's student-finance system; the provider's page is authoritative.
Check fees at Ulster University →If you normally live in Northern Ireland
Studying in Northern Irelandtuition loan up to £4,985
Studying elsewhere in the UKtuition loan up to £9,790
2026/27 maximum Tuition Fee Loan for eligible Northern Ireland students. Maintenance support depends on household income. Students from elsewhere use their home funding body.
Check the current amounts with Student Finance NI →Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: up to £4,985 in Northern Ireland or £9,790 elsewhere in the UK for eligible NI-domiciled students in 2026/27.
- Maintenance support: a mix of grant and loan from Student Finance NI, weighted to household income.
- Repayment: only above the income threshold, and written off at the end of the plan term.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
Northern Ireland runs its own system through Student Finance NI; check studentfinanceni.co.uk for current rates.
Funding matched to this course
All Ulster University funding →Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
Named awards published by the university. Compare the eligibility and application route before budgeting for one.
Amounts, exclusions and deadlines can change. An award is not guaranteed unless the university confirms it.
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Career quizApplication walkthroughSalary & CV check
Careers & earnings
What Law graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
91%
continue past their first year
- 1Paralegal / TraineeTraining contract or pupillage route · 0–2 yrs
- 2Solicitor / BarristerQualified practitioner · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior AssociateLeading matters and clients · 5–9 yrs
- 4Partner / In-house CounselPartnership or heading legal · 9+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Law nationally
Starting (15 months) HESA GO
£23,000 – £30,000
After 3 years LEO
£19,550 – £27,600
After 5 years LEO
£24,225 – £34,200
national rangeaxis £18,500 – £35,500
National figures for Law graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
91 of 100
continued or completed
continued into the next year or completed their qualification
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Published threshold met. Sample size is not included in this snapshot. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Job market & outlook
How Law graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
85%
in work or further study 15 months after graduating, across Law courses nationally.
Graduate Outcomes55%
of working graduates are in highly skilled work or further study.
highly skilled85%
of students continue past their first year (still enrolled or completed).
continuationHow AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- First-pass document review
- Standard contract drafting
- Legal research summaries
- Routine due diligence
More human than ever
- Advocacy and negotiation
- Judgement on ambiguous facts
- Client trust and ethics
- Strategy in disputes and deals
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Law graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Law firms
- Barristers' chambers
- In-house legal teams
- Government Legal Service
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Law graduates.
Law Firm Associates of all Practice Areas: Discuss your Overseas Relocation with Duke and Rawson – Australia/Asia/Middle East/Europe/Offshore/UKDuke and RawsonLaw Enforcement Success SpecialistAurorLaw Firm HR & Operations Lead - 12-Month ContractCharalle GroupLaw Firm Finance & Practice Manager, Leadership & OpsMcKinlay LawLaw Internship: Disputes & IBC – In-OfficeCanon SphereLaw Firm Front Desk & Guest Services (Oxford)Owen ReedLive from the StudySmarter job board · as of 2026-08-01.See all matching jobs
Is this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
💷
Student finance
Fees for this course are set under Northern Ireland's own student-finance system, not the England cap; check the provider's course page for the exact figure. If you normally live in Northern Ireland, Student Finance NI can pay a Tuition Fee Loan directly to the university. For 2026/27 the maximum is £4,985 when studying in Northern Ireland and £9,790 elsewhere in the UK. Students from elsewhere use their ordinary-residence funding body, and maintenance support is a mix of grant and loan weighted to household income. You repay only above the income threshold.
🎯
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
⭐
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.9 out of 10: NSS 86.4% · continued 91%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Ulster University
All students32,915
International32.5%
Aged 25+35%
Law across the UK
Students144,525
Aged 25+24.3%
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Belfast
3,802 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Anti Social Behaviour 1237Violent Crime 1110Shoplifting 359Criminal Damage Arson 314Drugs 280
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Law right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to Ulster University from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by Ulster University; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check Ulster University’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with Ulster University and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Ulster University
UUBSc (Hons) Criminology and Criminal JusticeBSc (Hons) · Ulster UniversityUUBSc (Hons) Criminology and Criminal JusticeBSc (Hons) · Ulster UniversityUUBSc (Hons) Criminology and Criminal JusticeBSc (Hons) · Ulster UniversityUUBSc (Hons) Politics and International Studies with CriminologyBSc (Hons) · Ulster University
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
Entry is offer-based and set by the university. The most common tariff band among recent entrants was 112 - 127 UCAS points. Use the calculator on this page to see where your predicted grades would put you; many universities also make lower contextual offers.
What are the entry requirements?
Set by Ulster University. Most accepted students held A-levels or equivalent. Check the university's course page for the exact offer.
What do graduates earn?
See the career and earnings data for Law below (national Graduate Outcomes / LEO figures).
What will it cost me?
Fees for this course are set under Northern Ireland's own student-finance system, not the England cap; check the provider's course page for the exact figure. If you normally live in Northern Ireland, Student Finance NI can pay a Tuition Fee Loan directly to the university. For 2026/27 the maximum is £4,985 when studying in Northern Ireland and £9,790 elsewhere in the UK. Students from elsewhere use their ordinary-residence funding body, and maintenance support is a mix of grant and loan weighted to household income. You repay only above the income threshold. See Fees & funding on this page to work out your numbers.
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