Criminology

Thomas Paine Sixth Form

Croxton Road, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 1LH

Vocationally-related Qualification (VRQ)

Level 3

Available start dates

Tuesday, 01 September 2026

Thomas Paine Sixth Form

2 Year(s)

Full time

Daytime/working hours

Course Summary

Criminology is the study of crime, explanations for crime and social reactions to crime. As an interdisciplinary social science subject, criminology draws on a range of perspectives, such as sociology psychology and law.

Course Details

Having an understanding of criminology is relevant to many job roles within the criminal justice sector, social and probation work and sociology and psychology. This WJEC qualification contains elements of both psychology and sociology and it complements learning that may be taking place in other humanities based subjects.

Students will study 4 units of work over the two year period:

1. Changing Awareness of Crime: :

2. Criminalogical Theories

3. Crime Scene to Courtroom

4. Crime and Punishment

Units 2 and 4 will be assessed externally; each unit having a 90 minute examination.

Units 1 and 3 will be assessed internally with a 'controlled assessment'.

Across the topics, students will develop an understanding of different types of crime, influences on perceptions of crime, why people commit crime, the criminal justice system and criminology theories.

Entry requirements

5 GCSEs Level 9-4, Level 5 in relevant subject area.

Your next steps...

Criminology at Level 3 can help you to further your education with relevant degree courses to enable you gain employment in such areas as: Civil service administrator, Community development worker, Crime scene investigator, Detective, Police officer, Prison officer, Probation officer, Social worker and Forensics.

This qualification can be used to support access to higher education degree courses such as:

BA Criminology
BSC Criminology and Criminal Justice
BSC Criminology
BSC Criminology with Law

For more courses like this, check our courses page.