Congratulations on your offer of a place at Bangor University
Congratulations on your offer to study one of our Criminology and Criminal Justice programmes here at Bangor University. We're thrilled to welcome you into our community. To help you get familiar with us before you begin in September, we've compiled some resources to address common questions and provide valuable information.
Stay connected with us on social media for the latest updates, news, and events. We look forward to meeting you soon and wish you all the best as you get ready for your studies.
What to expect as a Criminology, Criminal Justice student
Our courses are taught by world-leading academics and practitioners who are passionate about their subjects. You will learn from experts who are at the forefront of their fields, and you will have access to a wealth of resources to support your studies. Our dedicated team of academics are not just knowledgeable but also have a diverse range of expertise and passions.
We are committed to providing a supportive and inclusive environment for all of our students. We have a dedicated team of staff who are here to help you with your studies and to make sure that you have a positive experience at Bangor.
Some of our teaching staff are ex-police officers and bring first hand experiences to the classroom. As well as North Wales Police we have close connections with many crime organisations across the UK and regularly organise for our students to have guest speakers or go and visit these agencies.
Watch our video
Congratulations on receiving an offer to come to Bangor University. My name is Dr Tim Holmes.
I am a Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Policing here at Bangor.
And when you come to Bangor, we'll introduce you to Criminology and Criminal Justice.
During the course of your first year, we'll take you through an introduction to Criminology with Criminal Behaviour.
We'll look at the theories to explain criminal behaviour, and we'll move on to look at the criminal justice system in a lot of detail.
We'll talk about the Police. We'll talk about what the Police do. We'll look at the courts.
We'll look at the punishment process and how that works.
We'll also combine into year one a study of victims, how we support them, how we identify them, and what support they need when they're going through the criminal justice system.
Will combine all of this with a more general discussion of the Social Sciences so you get a well-rounded opportunity in year one to look at a range of different topics, feel supported, feel ready to go forwards in your degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice.
I look forward to seeing you, thanks for listening.
Frequently Asked Questions
As well as lecturers and personal learning time you can further develop your skills through study skills sessions and extracurricular activities.
You may want to join various clubs and societies through the students' union, with Wednesday afternoons being reserved specifically for you to take part in sports and club activities. Throughout the year we organise various school events such as quiz nights giving you the chance to meet and mingle with other students and the wider academic community.
Your typical week will generally include 9 to 12 hours of contact time, which may consist of lectures, seminars, or workshops. Additionally, you are encouraged to gain extra experience through opportunities like prison visits, training days with industry professionals, and other discipline-related events where students can volunteer to participate. You’d also be expected to undertake self-study outside of class time.
Yes, you will have opportunities to undertake a work placement either through our work placement module or through our work placement year options.
There are many careers you can pursue with a criminology degree. Studying criminology and criminal justice offers students the chance to understand criminals and their offending behaviour, and this can lead to rewarding careers that can make a positive change in society. For example, you could go on to work in one of the criminal justice agencies such as the police, prison and probation services. Graduates also pursue careers working to address crime and anti-social behaviour in local communities, such as youth offending and victim support services, with roles in local authorities such as the emergency services, health authorities, housing associations organisations.
Meet your lecturers
Lisa Sparkes
I have always had an interest in Crime, and it all started because my father is a retired police officer. I decided when I was 34 that I wanted to learn more about the subject and that is how is all began, well, academically.
There are so many different areas that you can focus on, be it the Criminal Justice System itself, the various agencies, the different types of crimes and criminals, the theories behind why someone becomes a criminal. The list is endless...
I have to say that for me personally, it would be my own research, which is Female Gangs in the United Kingdom. But also, a number of other lecturers within Bangor have focussed on so many areas that interest me, such as Police Culture and Rural Crimes!
This will be a fantastic experience that you will never forget. You will make life long friends and have the opportunity to try so many new things. Make sure you join clubs and societies, and get involved, there are so many to chose from. And remember to reach out to your personal tutor and your lecturers when you need help.
Dr Lorraine Barron
Criminal Law and Criminology are both really interesting subjects. I love exploring the theories about why people commit crime (Criminology) and then examining what happens to them when they are apprehended (Criminal Law and Criminal Justice)!
I love when students get really interested in the subject area! I really enjoy reading my student essays on their chosen 'criminal' and the theory they would apply to explain.
Focus on what genuinely excited or intrigues you, and don't be afraid to embrace unexpected opportunities along the way.
The first successful use of the insanity defence came after an attempt to assassinate the British Prime Minister, Robert Peel, in 1843.The assassin, Daniel M’Naghten, believed he was being persecuted by government agents and attempted to kill Prime Minister Peel, but accidentally shot and killed Peel's secretary, Edward Drummond, instead. During the trial, M’Naghten’s defence argued he was suffering from a delusion due to mental illness, and he was found not guilty by reason of insanity. This case led to the creation of the M’Naghten Rule, a legal standard for insanity that asks whether the defendant could distinguish right from wrong at the time of the crime. The case sparked huge public outrage, with Queen Victoria herself demanding stricter laws. Yet, the M’Naghten Rule became a cornerstone of the insanity defence in criminal law, influencing systems worldwide, and is still referenced in courtrooms today.
