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BA (Hons) Criminology course preparation

To help you feel prepared for your university studies, we’ve gathered together a range of course related activities including suggested reading, useful websites and some great things to do right now. Open the links below to find out more:

Suggested reading

During your first week, you’ll be provided with a comprehensive reading list of key texts, and guidance from your tutors on how to make the most of them. In the meantime, you might want to get a head start by purchasing the following text. Please note that you can buy second hand, or, if you don’t want to buy a copy, borrow from a library:

  • Newburn, T (2017) Criminology, 3rd Edition, Routledge

As a Criminology student at Edge Hill University, you’ll be provided with an electronic library of essential module textbook(s) for each of the compulsory Year 1 Criminology modules you’re required to take. These are available through the University’s Law Trove resource from Oxford University Press. Students have access to those books throughout all three years of study.

During your first week, you’ll be provided with a comprehensive academic programme handbook, the contents of which will be explained during your first formal introductory sessions.

In your first week, and before you start formal classes, you’ll also be required to attend a range of introductory sessions when tutors and other relevant staff will provide you with guidance on how use the library, access and use our virtual learning platform, Blackboard, and will explain the rationale for how we teach and assess on the programme and each module, and the skills you’ll need to develop to get the most out of lectures and seminars/workshops. We’ll also explain the roles of various colleagues in the department and who you should go and see if you require assistance.

In your first semester, you’ll attend the module CRI1017 Critical Thinking and Analysis. In this module you’ll be provided with detailed guidance on access to our library resources; you’ll learn how to do research for your assessments and what criteria are used to mark your work; you’ll have a chance to develop and practice writing and presentation skills, as well as being able to practice many other skills for university.


Useful materials

  • Law in Action – As BBC Radio 4’s long running legal podcast, this show features reports and discussion on all matters relating to law, from questioning whether new technologies affect human rights, to interviews with guest such as Lord Chief Justice, Sir Ian Burnett. As an easy to follow podcast, this is an interesting listen, whether you are considering a direct career in Law on not.
  • University of Oxford Centre for Criminology host a series of criminology podcasts discussing a wide-range of issues in criminology and criminal justice.
  • We also recommend the LawPod series of podcasts from the School of Law at Queen’s University Belfast
  • Discover the Supreme Court in the UK on their YouTube Channel
  • Search for and watch the Crown Court TV Series on YouTube
  • Search for and watch the Crime Watch TV Series on YouTube
  • If you’d like to organise your tasks and create a to-do list try Trello
  • If you’d like to explore careers within the Legal sector or law enforcement visit the Prospects website here
  • To find out more about the Law, Criminology & Policing Courses at Edge Hill visit our website here.

What is criminology about?

What is criminology about?

Things to do over summer

Here are some suggestions about what it would be good for you to do before you formally begin your studies. These are just suggestions. These are difficult times right now and you won’t be examined on these! But learning is something that doesn’t just take place in formal settings. In fact most of what you learn at university should be from what you read, listen to and watch by yourself.

Watch relevant films or TV shows
Read relevant material

As you watch or read, ask yourselves these three questions:

  1. What are the harms that are being described – how are people or planet adversely effected?
  2. Can I identify anything that might be considered to be causal factors in creating this harm?
  3. Do these harms arise because of deviance? Or conformity and obedience?

Additional ways to prepare

Preparing to start

This session examines how to make a successful transition to university. From planning your results day, accommodation and commuting tips, extra support available to you and general advice on uni life.

Watch the session

Find out more about who you are

The following information provides an insight into what to expect when coming to university along with some good advice on how to navigate some of the potential challenges you may face.

Start preparing yourself