Criminology (WJEC Diploma)

Applications Open – 3PM Thursday 6 November 2025

Applications Close – August 2026

Entry Requirements – For Level 3 courses, students must have 5 or more Grade 4s at GCSE. No minimum entry for Level1/2 courses

How to Apply – Please apply via KentChoices

The criminology course enables students to examine crime and criminality in a critical way. Students consider the definition of crime, have the opportunity to design a campaign to raise awareness of crime, and consider what actually creates a criminal in the first year. In the second year, the focus is shifted to consider the policies and agencies involved in the criminal justice system. Again, students are encouraged to be critical and make their own judgements about these. Throughout the course students will apply their learning to real world situations and case studies, both historical and contemporary.

Year 12:

Unit 1 Changing Awareness of Crime

This is worth 25% of the overall qualification and is assessed with an internal controlled assessment of 8 hours.

This unit explores what crime is, the impact it has on society, the role of the media within criminality, and campaigns to raise awareness of crime.

Unit 2 Criminological Theories

This is worth 25% of the overall qualification and is assessed with an external examination of 1 hour 30 minutes.

This unit examines the sociological, psychological and criminological theories behind why people commit crime. It also looks at how these theories influence and inform policy, and the effectiveness of this policy.

Year 13:

Unit 3 Crime Scene to Courtroom

This is worth 25% of the overall qualification and is assessed with an internal controlled assessment of 8 hours.

This unit analyses the process of investigating a crime from the very beginning of the journey when a crime is committed, right the way through to the court system and how appeals against an outcome can be made.

Unit 4 Crime and Punishment

This is worth 25% of the overall qualification and is assessed with an external examination of 1 hour 30 minutes.

This unit brings together all the prior learning and considers what the purpose is of punishment and the effectiveness of punishments. IT encourages students to think critically and form their own arguments and judgements around the practice of the criminal justice system.

Controlled Assessment and Exam

5 GCSEs at 4 or above

• Social Work

• Legal Professions

• Policing

• Policy Maker

• Researcher

• Forensic Roles

• Campaigning