Criminal Law and Justice LLB (Hons)

Study level: Undergraduate
Female student standing in a mock court room wearing  robes and wig, holding an open book

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


Course overview

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: 

  • acquire knowledge and understanding of legal doctrines, concepts, principles, rules and values in the core areas of law and in the specialist area of criminal law and justice. 
  • develop an appreciation of the context in which law operates, and an understanding of the dynamic nature of law, its uncertainty, the need for reform and proposals for such reform in the furtherance of securing justice for all.
  • develop the ability to apply the legal knowledge and skills acquired to both the theory and practice of law, particularly in a criminal law setting.

The January start for this course is condensed in Year 1. Please see the ‘How you’ll learn’ section below for more details.

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Guardian University Guide 2021 and 2022

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5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

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Top 5 UK Student City (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2023

Why you should study this course

The course aims to give you opportunities to: 

  • immerse yourself in criminal law by following a criminal case from the commission of an offence through preparation for trial and finally sentencing, through an authentic case simulation.
  • hone your criminal advocacy skills in our mock courtroom, known as the ‘moot room’4.
  • apply to volunteer in the Employment Law Clinic, Advocacy Clinic or Business Law and Enterprise Clinic at the Coventry Law Centre. Selected students can gain practical legal experience under the supervision of trained solicitors and lawyers2.
  • engage with students at other international universities and industry experts2,through initiatives like our Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) projects2.
  • grow your networks by getting to know members of the legal industry through our 'Raising the Bar' scheme.

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.

Accreditation and professional recognition

The degree is accredited1 and recognised by the following bodies for the 2025/26 intake:

CILEX -  Chartered Institute of Legal Executives

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


Memberships

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.

Collaborations

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.

Breathing life into the law

Law students joined forces with journalism, paramedic and acting students as a dramatic court case gave them hands-on, industry-relevant experience.

‘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
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What you'll study

This course has a common first year.

The common first year enables you to work alongside students doing similar courses to you to widen your knowledge of the law and develop the fundamental legal skills necessary to undertake the remainder of your course.

You will also be exposed to a range of contemporary issues in the law that relate to each of the LLB courses on offer. If you discover that you have an interest in a particular area of law that you have studied, upon successful completion of your first year, you could swap degree courses to one of the other LLB courses listed (subject to meeting progression requirements).

As you move through your second and final years, you will study further core legal modules whilst also exploring more specialist commercial law subjects and enhancing your practical legal skills.

Common first year courses

  • Commercial Law LLB (Hons)
  • International Law LLB (Hons)
  • Law LLB (Hons)
  • MLaw Law with Professional Practice

Modules

In your second year, you will continue to build your understanding of core legal subjects, whilst exploring criminal law and justice in detail. You will also begin to develop your practical legal skills to provide you with an insight into life in legal practice. 

Modules

There’s no better way to find out what you love doing than trying it out for yourself, which is why a work placement2 can often be beneficial. Work placements usually occur between your second and final year of study. They’re a great way to help you explore your potential career path and gain valuable work experience, whilst developing transferable skills for the future.

If you choose to do a work placement year or study abroad year, you will pay a reduced tuition fee3 of £1,250. For more information, please go to the fees and funding section. During this time, you will receive guidance from your employer or participating nstitution, along with your assigned academic mentor who will ensure you have the support you need to complete your placement2.

Whilst we would like to give you all the information about our placement/study abroad offering here, it is often tailored for each course every year and depends on the length of placement or study abroad opportunities that are secured. Therefore, the placement and study abroad arrangements vary per course and per student.  Request further information about going on a placement or study abroad year. 

Modules

Year three aims to bring you to the level to enter the world of work by immersing you in the criminal trial process to develop your professional legal skills. You can choose from a variety of optional modules to tailor your degree to your interests and/or future ambitions, as well as work on a large final project in a criminal law area of your interest or participate in one of the law school’s pro-bono clinics (subject to securing a place at the Coventry Law Centre).

Modules

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.


How you'll learn

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.


Teaching contact hours

We understand that everyone learns differently, so each of our courses will consist of structured teaching sessions, which can include:

  • On campus lectures, seminars and workshops
  • Group work
  • Self-directed learning
  • Work placement opportunities2.

The number of full-time contact hours may vary from semester to semester; however, on average, it is likely to be around 15 contact hours per week in the first and second years dropping to around 12 contact hours per week in the third and final years as you become a more independent learner.

Additionally, you will be expected to undertake significant self-directed study of approximately 25 hours each week, depending on the demands of individual modules.

As an innovative and enterprising institution, the university may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.

Since COVID-19, we have delivered our courses in a variety of forms, in line with public authority guidance, decisions, or orders and we will continue to adapt our delivery as appropriate. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.


Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

Assessment methods may include:

  • coursework
  • portfolios
  • reports
  • presentations
  • practical assessments
  • exams
  • multi-choice quizzes
  • phase tests


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.


International experience opportunities

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
students in a mock court room

Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements:

Requirement What we're looking for
UCAS points 112
A level BBC
GCSE Minimum 5 GCSEs graded 4 / C or above including Maths and English
BTEC DMM
IB Diploma 24 Points
Access to HE The Access to HE Diploma to include 30 Level 3 credits at Merit. Plus GCSE English and Mathematics at grade 4 / C or above.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications, speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

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Are you eligible for the Fair Access Scheme?

We believe every student should have the opportunity to dream big, reach their potential and succeed, regardless of their background. Find out more about our Fair Access Scheme.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:


You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6.0 overall (with at least 5.5 in each component area)

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course. 

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

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Not got the required grades? We offer this degree with an integrated foundation year.


Fees and funding

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:

  • Any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
  • Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

Find out what's included in your tuition costs.

Other additional costs

  • On completion of your course, you will have the option to pay £400 for CILEX recognition, if you successfully pass either ‘Family Law’ or ‘Company Law’ and ‘Employment Law’. This means you 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.

Condensed course – January start date

If you choose to start this degree 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 degree 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.

*Irish student fees

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.

**EU Support Bursary

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.


Facilities

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.

Moot Room

Moot Room

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.

Legal clinic

Legal Clinic

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.

A lawyer stands in a court room, with people behind we assume make up the jury, and two judges to his left

Routes into a Legal Career

Find out more about how Coventry University can kick start your legal career through our preparation courses.



Careers and opportunities

Upon successful completion of this degree you will be able to:

  • critically analyse theories, principles and laws across diverse substantive legal areas, with a particular focus on the rules and practices relating to the criminal justice system.
  • appreciate and apply principles of justice and professional ethics and their application to the law, whilst being cognisant of diverse cultural and global perspectives.
  • identify and synthesise relevant information from primary and secondary legal sources, using both digital and non-digital resources, whilst adhering to principles of academic integrity.
  • draw reasoned conclusions through the application of legal principles and knowledge to complex problems, whilst tolerating ambiguity and recognising alternative legal outcomes.
  • communicate effectively and professionally, by conveying and explaining legal information, ideas and arguments appropriately in a variety of contexts.
  • demonstrate self-management and work independently or collaboratively as appropriate.
  • demonstrate intellectual independence through the acquisition of specialist knowledge and understanding of current legal thinking and emerging research.
  • apply a range of practical or clinical legal skills, including those applicable to criminal practice.

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.

Where our graduates work

Previous law graduates from Coventry Law School have gone on to work at a wide variety of organisations and firms including:

  • Crown Prosecution Services
  • DAC Beachcroft  
  • NFU Mutual 
  • PwC
  • Deloitte
  • Linklaters 
  • Oracle 
  • Squire Patton Boggs 
  • Stobbs 
  • Co-op Legal Services 

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
Leah Bolt

How to apply

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