UCEN Manchester has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.
Course summary
Explore how criminal justice works and the ways in which crime interacts with society, focus on Criminology as a discipline, and develop professional skills for a rewarding career in the criminal justice system and the wider support agencies with this Foundation Degree. Throughout this two-year course - with the option to continue with a BA (Hons) degree third year – you’ll learn from professional practitioners operating in the justice system, studying both historical and contemporary issues across a range of topics. You’ll examine specialist areas like policing and prisons, developing an overarching understanding of criminology in today’s society. You’ll be developing essential skills for a huge number of roles, learning how to evaluate theory and link it with practice, and examining the causes and consequences of crime. A key part of the course will be undertaking work in related areas, visiting important organisations, and hearing from professionals working in the criminal justice system and relevant agencies. You will be taught by a team of experienced lecturers with a wealth of knowledge and industry experience of the criminal justice sector. Many of our staff are professional practitioners with experience of working with the probation, youth services, prison education and in research. Our whole team regularly update their knowledge and skills, with strong links to industry. All staff have, or are working towards a higher-level Master’s qualification. You’ll have a range of opportunities, across many different disciplines in the criminal justice sector, when you complete this foundation degree. With the knowledge, skills and abilities to undertake a range of roles within the public, private and voluntary sectors that have specific focus on the crime and justice. The Foundation Degree could lead you to a career in Policing, Probation, Prison, Youth Work, Education, and third sector agencies.
Modules
Year 1: Introduction to the Criminal Justice System (20 credits) This module introduces students to the process of criminal justice from arrest to sentence. The different stages of the criminal justice system will be outlined and critiqued highlighting differential experience, inequalities, and contemporary issues. Introduction to Criminological Theory (20 credits) This module introduces students to criminological theories and concepts to develop the foundations of their understanding of the discipline. The module will chart the chronological development from the 19th century to the 21st century. Key Crime Events (20 credits) This module will assess how some crimes result in changes to criminal justice policy and practice. The module will consider the role of the media, newsworthiness, and moral panics in response to crime. The changes in policy and practice that are implemented after such cases will be evaluated and critiqued. Multi-Agency Practice (20 credits) The module will provide a historical contextualisation of the development of multi-agency practice. Examples of multi-agency workings between services such as police, education, health, housing, probation, drug and alcohol services, prisons, independent domestic violence advisor (IDVA), local authorities and victim and offender support services. Politics, Crime and Society (20 credits) This module introduces students to the significance of the political backdrop to the criminal justice system, law, society and welfare. The UK constitution and the process of law-making will be evaluated. This will provide the opportunity to understand competing political ideologies and how they shape responses to crime, justice, and welfare. Studying Criminology (20 credits) This module introduces students to the key skills that are required to undertake study in Higher Education. The module will emphasise the importance of academic conventions and standards to avoid misconduct and produce quality work. Year 2: Human Rights and Criminology (20 credits) This module will provide students with the opportunity to develop an understanding of human rights from a criminological perspective drawing on a range of issues relating to state violence from legal, theoretical, conceptual and practical explanations. Politics of Policing in Contemporary Society (20 credits) This module will introduce the historical development of the modern police service. It will explore how models of policing have been influenced by social, economic and key policing events. It will highlight controversial policing policies and practices and how marginalised populations are impacted. The Politics of Offender Management This module will examine the link between criminogenic factors and how offender management strategies use them to influence interventions to promote desistence. It will explore the impact of privatisation on the prison and probation service. It will examine and evaluate the effectiveness of responses to vulnerable and marginalised populations. Research Methods 1 This module will provide students with an understanding of research methods to allow them to produce a research proposal within a self-selected aspect of Criminology. The student will be required to identify a current issue of concern, develop research question, design a research project, and select the appropriate research method. Research Methods 2 Students will be encouraged to undertake research within a situated practice-based context to reflect the realities of contemporary criminological or criminal justice practice. Social Harms and their consequences This module with evaluate the limitations of Criminology’s focus on crime and then assess Zemiology’s attention to harms. The concerns of Zemiology in relation to justice and global inequalities will be examined. State, corporate and the symbiotic nature of state-corporate crimes will be assessed in a globalised context.
Assessment method
The course will be delivered via lectures, seminars, tutorial, practical sessions, guest speakers / visits, independent study, and assessment – both individual and group – includes: • Reports • Essays • Presentations • Portfolio submissions • Examinations • Practical and research based coursework assignments.
How to apply
31Jan
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- C16S
- Institution code:
- M10
- Campus name:
- Openshaw Campus
- Campus code:
- 7
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
International applicants
UCEN Manchester is unable to consider international applications due to UKVI regulations.
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - 64 points
Level 3 qualification or equivalent in a related subject for example Public Services, Health and Social care, A Levels etc (contact the course tutor for further details). We strongly recommend that all applicants have GCSE English Language and Mathematics grades A*-C or level 9-4. Recognition of prior learning/experience will be accepted in line with the University policy and procedures. Applicants who do not meet the standard entry criteria but have previous learning towards a degree-level qualification or relevant industry or life experience will be considered on an individual basis and may be invited to interview.
Additional entry requirements
Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)
Interview
Student Outcomes
Operated by the Office for Students
There is no data available for this course. For further information visit the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| England | £8000 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £8000 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £8000 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £8000 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Provider information
UCEN Manchester
Ashton Old Road
Openshaw
Manchester
M11 2WH