A-Level Programme - Diploma in Criminology

The WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma Criminology (offered alongside our A-Level programme) will help you gain an understanding of criminology and the study of crime.

On our A-Level programme, you will study three or four subjects. Please apply for three or four subjects and use our course selector here to check what options you can do!

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Select your A-level subjects and apply

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Course Description
What will I study?
- Different types of crime, influences on perceptions of crime and why some crimes are unreported
- Why people commit crime
- The criminal justice system and what happens from the moment a crime has been identified to the final verdict. This includes the understanding and skills needed to examine information in order to review the justice of verdicts in criminal cases.
- Awareness of criminality, criminological theories and the processes of bringing an accused to court in order to evaluate the effectiveness of social control to deliver criminal justice policy.
Entry Requirements
You will need:
- 5 GCSEs at grade 4 or above including English and maths and, for this specific subject;
- GCSE grade 5 or above in English language
Course Length

How long is this course?

2 years

When does this course start?

01/09/2025

How many hours / days per week is this course?

Full-time courses at CWA are generally 3 - 4 days per week (though you may be in for an extra day if you are resitting English and / or Maths). The college day is typically longer than a day at school and students will need to plan their individual study in their free time (including individual study hours which are recorded at college in the Learning Resource Centre or other study areas). Work experience will be a key component of your course and most students will complete a minimum of 60 hours per academic year (on top of their college hours), depending on the course they are studying. CWA has a dedicated team of work placement co-ordinators to support you with this.
Course Fees

* Some of our courses may have additional costs to cover trips, unform and equipment. These costs will be confirmed to you at enrolment.

Fee information

Though this course is free for those aged 16-18, there may be additional costs related to the programme, such as additional equipment and uniform, educational trips and work placement costs. Full details will be sent to applicants before enrolment.

Find all the information you need about course fees and financial help below.

Information on Fees and Financial Help

Please note the information on this page was correct at the time of publication but is subject to change due to factors beyond our control.
Additional Information
What qualification will I achieve?

WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma Criminology

How is my course assessed?

The course will consist of traditional teaching where students will be encouraged to listen, read and access information, developing a critical awareness of criminology and the ability to analyse and evaluate crime and social policy.

The course will be made up of four modules, with two being assessed by examinations taken in Year 1 and two in Year 2.

Year 1
- Unit 1: Changing Awareness of Crime
- Unit 2: Criminological Theories
Year 2
- Unit 3: Crime Scene to Courtroom
- Unit 4: Crime and Punishment