Criminology Applied Diploma

Applications Open - 3 November 2025

Applications Close - 17 July 2026

Entry Requirements - Applications are considered on an individual basis.

How to Apply - Please apply via KentChoices

The course is made up of 4 Mandatory Units which incorporate Controlled Assessments and External Examinations.

https://www.wjec.co.uk/umbraco/surface/blobstorage/download?nodeId=32658

The course is made up of 4 Mandatory Units which incorporate Controlled Assessments and External Examinations.

In Year 12 you will study:

Unit 1 Changing Awareness of Crime

Not all types of crime are alike. What different types of crime take place in our society? What kinds of crime exist about which we know very little, or which are simply not reported to the police and the media? How do we explain people's reluctance to come forward about crimes of which they have been the victim? Some crimes which seem inoffensive, such as counterfeiting of designer goods, have actually been linked to the funding of more serious crime such as terrorism and people trafficking; so why do people turn a ‘blind eye’ to these 'mild' crimes? What methods have governments and other agencies used to raise social awareness of these crimes? Many people learn about the fear and fascination of crime from the media, but is the media a reliable source of information? To what extent are we misled by our tastes in programmes and newspapers about crime? Who decides what behaviours should be against the law? Who gathers information about crime? Can this information be trusted? Can we trust our

own instincts?

Unit 2 Criminological Theories

How do we decide what behaviour is criminal? What is the difference between criminal behaviour and deviance? How do we explain why people commit crime? What makes someone a serial killer, or abusive to their own families? Criminologists have produced theoretical explanations of why people commit crime, but which is the most useful? Are these theories relevant to all types of crime? What can we learn from the strengths and

weaknesses of each? How can these theories be applied to real life scenarios and real life crimes?

In Year 13 you will study:

Unit 3 Crime Scene to Courtroom

What are the roles of personnel involved when a crime is detected? What investigative techniques are available to investigators to help to identify the culprit? Do techniques differ depending on the type of crime being investigated? What happens to a suspect once charged by the police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)? What safeguards are in place to ensure a suspect has a fair trial?

Unit 4 Crime and Punishment

Why do most of us tend to obey the law even when to do so is against our own interests? What social institutions have we developed to ensure that people do obey laws? What happens to those who violate our legal system? Why do we punish people? How do we punish people? What organisations do we have in our society to control criminality or those who will not abide by the social rules that most of us follow? We spend a great deal of taxpayers' money on social control, so how effective are these organisations in dealing with criminality?

Units of work will be assessed through external examination and internally taught units with externally set controlled assessments which are internally assessed and externally moderated.

Units 1 and 3 are Controlled Assessments (8 Hours in length)

Units 2 and 4 are External Examinations ( 1hr 30 mins in total)

Preferred entry requirements :

Students will be required to have at least 5 subjects at Level 5 and above including Level 5 English Language.

This qualification allows students to gain valuable skills including group work, independent working, writing to persuade, and debating. It is a good subject for students who are interested in careers in: uniformed services, education, the police, justice system, paralegals and law, as it allows students the opportunity to gain an understanding of these roles within society. It allows progression for higher Education and a variety of Degrees.