WJEC LEVEL 3 CRIMINOLOGY

Applications Open: 14th November 2025

Applications Close: 13th March 2026

Entry Requirements: - Five GCSEs at Grade 4 or above, including English, and the individual subject entry requirements.

How to Apply: Please apply via the Kent Choices website.

How many subjects can you choose: - You MUST choose 3 subjects (these can be mixture of A-level or BTEC's). Please DO NOT choose anymore than 5 subjects.

Please note that if you are intending to study a course at Invicta Grammar School as part of your course choices, you can only study one Invicta course (maximum) alongside two Valley Park courses.

If you wish to make any changes, you can do so via your application page or send us a message.

Your application will be acknowledged and conditional offer letters will be sent out after the closing date.

Criminology is a 2-year qualification, where you will understand the different types of crime and why people turn to criminal activities. You will learn about theories behind crime plus the processes that follow. You will discover how campaigns for change can influence law making, along with what makes someone criminal, whether it be a biological, a sociological or psychological cause. Additionally, you will have an overview of how the criminal justice system works.

Prepare to read around the subject, research criminal cases and apply the academic theories to real case studies to show how theory explain criminality in essays. Case studies will be used throughout the course. Expect at least 5 hours of additional independent work a week.

Study Criminology, and you can enter into a professional role that is of high value to society. You could be tackling crime, exploring why people break the law and improving systems in education, rehabilitation and crime prevention. Criminals and the crimes they commit are continuously changing – people are always looking for new ways to break the law. This means that your work could be dynamic and challenging, with many new research areas appearing regularly.

Prepare to read around the subject, research criminal cases and apply the academic theories to real case studies to show how theory explain criminality in essays. Case studies will be used throughout the course. Expect at least 5 hours of additional independent work a week

UNITS STUDIED

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

Unit 1 Changing Awareness of Crime

Unit 2 Criminological Theories

Unit 3 Crime Scene to Courtroom

Unit 4 Crime and Punishment

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

Units 2 and 4 are External Examinations

TRANSFERABLE SKILLS

This qualification allows students to gain valuable skills including group work, independent working, writing to persuade, and debating. Critical thinking and argument skills. Analyse and evaluate interpretations and theories. Discussion and debate.

Grade 5 in English Language.

Preferably a social science subject at GCSE (Health and Social Care, Psychology or Sociology) but not essential.

Criminology students have numerous different career options at their fingertips. Exciting roles include: immigration, education, law enforcement, people protection, community planning, advocacy, policing, consulting, public administration and international development.