Institute of Criminal Justice Studies

BSc (Hons) Crime & Criminology – part-time distance learning

Are you looking for a course for September 2013 start?

Worried about the costs associated with studying for a degree?

Want a course that fits around your home and work life but that is still highly respected by employers?

The BSc (Hons) Crime and Criminology degree from the Institute of Criminal Justice Studies at University of Portsmouth is a broad, distance learning, honours degree from the UK's largest provider of such higher education courses. It offers flexible, supported, study in your own time and home and is structured to develop your intellectual skills as well as inform you about key, current, issues in criminology and criminal justice.

Is this course for me?

This course will help you if you are contemplating (or already in) a career in a criminal justice. This might be, for example, in the field of policing, probation, community safety, offender re-settlement, victim support, crime analysis etc.  However, the skills you’ll learn will be of use in any career you choose. You’ll enjoy rigorous study of an exciting topic which is regularly in the news and about which we all have views and, because ICJS is widely respected by employers, it is a qualification that will help improve your employment chances.

Watch our video for more information

I had planned to go away to university. What are the benefits of studying from home?

For many students, leaving home for the first time and living independently are an important part of going to university. But for many others, the option to stay at home close to loved ones, family and friends and the support and continuity they provide, is a really attractive alternative. Being able to work whilst studying also gives students invaluable real-world experience that all employers value. Employers also value those students who have engaged with voluntary work, which is also more easily done whilst studying part-time.

An increasing number of students prefer the learning style afforded by distance learning. Some prefer to move away from classroom-based teaching and many students recognise that their chances of successful study are improved by being away from the distractions that come with a more traditional campus-based lifestyle.

With growing concerns about the costs of university education, distance learning offers an affordable alternative.

What will I learn?

The course is updated regularly so it is always relevant to what is happening in the real world and is based on a range of modules, many of which are optional, so you can tailor your course to your interests. More information can be found here.

What do I need to apply?

Whilst we have no formal entry qualifications, we want to be sure that you will be able to complete the course. Please do not assume that university is not for you. Complete your application form and let us know, in detail, about you. We are keen to broaden the range of people who study for, and succeed with, this degree.

How much does it cost?

Course fees for students can be found on the course page. And because you will study at home and in your own time, you will not only save on the living expenses associated with being away from home but can also fit your studies around a job, so you can earn whilst you learn.

What support will I get to help me study?

Support for students is essential to the success of our programmes. Level four begins with a unit in study skills, called 'Studying Criminology'. That unit addresses many of the things you will be anxious about, such as how to structure an essay, where and how to undertake research. And you will not be alone!

The course is run online and through our virtual learning environment you can chat with others in the same position as yourself – anxious at the start of the course but noticeably gaining in confidence as they progress. There are currently over 350 students studying undergraduate degrees in this way and many are eager to study together online.

We also provide mentoring and guidance through our evening online seminars, which are available on Wednesdays and Sundays so the advice and help you need is never far away.

How will I get to meet teachers and other students?

You are invited to two annual events in Portsmouth. The first, a two day induction event takes place in September and the second is a Study Conference. This is an opportunity for you to meet the staff and other students who you have worked with and to sample more traditional forms of learning such as lectures and tutorials. There are also social events for students to get together.

More information

For more information, visit our course pages.

How do I apply?

Applications for this course do not go through UCAS. You must apply online directly to University of Portsmouth.

I still have more questions, who can I talk to?

You can talk to Jo, who is one of our course administrators. She can be contacted at icjs-dlug@port.ac.uk, by phoning + 44 (0)23 9284 3148 or why not come along to one of our distance learning virtual open days.