Why you should study criminology in Birmingham

Our modern City Centre Campus is the perfect place to undertake a criminology degree, but what makes Birmingham so special? Read on to find out why you should come to Birmingham to study criminology.

The city itself

Birmingham is a hub for criminal justice and is home to several courts of law, including Birmingham Crown Court, Magistrates’ Court, and County Court, which are all are in the city centre. UK law allows you to sit in on court cases, so you can go and get first-hand experience of the type of environment you could be working in one day. There will also be pre-arranged trips and visits to local establishments as part of your course.

We are also one of the most multicultural cities in the UK, more culturally diverse than London. This means that you will be able to study and gain experience in a diverse environment, which is particularly crucial when studying a criminology degree. The University has a heavy focus on Birmingham and enjoys working on local projects with the multicultural community.

Our staff are leading experts in the field

Studying a criminology degree with us means that you will get taught by top experts in the field. We have academic staff that have worked in several fields related to criminology, including UK government advisors that specialise in topics such as Islamophobia and the effects of counterterrorism. You’ll often see our academics appearing on the news and quoted in prestigious media outlets, offering their expert views and knowledge on topical issues in society.

Many of our faculty staff have also contributed to and written numerous influential textbooks, journals, and research papers; some of which form part of the curriculum you will be studying.

Not only will you be taught by experienced academics on the course, but many of the staff have industry experience and have previously worked in roles such as firearms officers and Ministry of Defence officers. We also have strong links with the British Society of Criminology, West Midlands Police, and Birmingham Community Safety Partnership.

Facilities

Our Criminology courses are based at our city centre Curzon building, a £63 million building that offers a unique and hands-on learning space for students. Facilities include two mock court rooms (a Magistrates’ court and Crown court), police interviewing environments for both suspects and witnesses with tape recordings and video playback analysis, computer-based crime investigation files and crime data analysis software.

Opportunities

As mentioned, BCU has close links with local partners such as West Midlands Police and Birmingham Community Safety Partnership. This means there are a wealth of opportunities on offer throughout the course, such as placements, visits, workshops, talks, and more. Here are some examples of opportunities our students have experienced:

• BCU has previously hosted the British Society of Criminology Conference at our City Centre Campus.
• Students have visited high-security prison HMP Grendon, where they participated in a debate with prisoners.
• We hold student trips to places such as Bletchley Park – the birthplace of codebreaking in the UK