Criminal Law

Criminal law is the body of law that defines what counts as a crime, establishes the conditions under which individuals may be held responsible for criminal acts, and sets out the punishments that follow conviction. It is a field of study with deep ethical, philosophical, and social dimensions: questions about culpability, desert, deterrence, rehabilitation, and the appropriate boundaries of state power are as central to criminal law scholarship as the detailed rules and doctrines themselves. The rule of law is fundamental to a fair and civil society, and understanding criminal law in depth is essential to understanding how that society protects individuals and responds to harm.

At Aberystwyth University, this three-year LLB Criminal Law programme is delivered by the Department of Law and Criminology, which has a long and distinguished record of legal education. You will study the regulation of criminal behaviour in detail, examining the elements of different offences, the principles of criminal liability, defences, and the effectiveness of punishment and rehabilitation mechanisms. The programme equips you with the analytical and argumentative skills of legal study alongside specialist knowledge of the criminal justice system, its processes, and its institutions.

The LLB provides the academic foundation for professional qualification as a solicitor via the Solicitors Qualifying Exam or as a barrister via the Bar Professional Training Course. Graduates with specialist criminal law knowledge are well placed for careers in criminal practice, the Crown Prosecution Service, the Legal Aid sector, the prison service, probation, victim support, policy, and academic research. Beyond the legal profession, the degree develops analytical and critical thinking skills valued in journalism, public administration, and a range of advisory roles.

Further study at postgraduate level in law, criminology, or criminal justice is also a natural path.