Student Blog - Charlie - BA (Hons) Contemporary Criminology

I chose this course due to my extreme interest in policing, crime and theories as to why people tend to commit crimes. Criminology sounds exciting! It can also open up doors to lots of different jobs, for example, a probation worker to a police officer, or working within the court system!

Initially, I didn’t choose this college to study my degree, I had studied here and completed a Level 3 Public Services course, however, I wanted a change of scenery and decided to venture to a nearby University, however, it didn’t last long I realised I didn’t like the large university environment as I wasn’t going to receive the one-to-one support which I expected, nothing felt organised to me and I felt lost. I soon returned to Bishop Burton and automatically felt better, realising this was the correct place for me to study.

Our course leader, Nick Drewery, supports us all, not just with our problems within the course, any general life problems we may be facing and need some advice. He replies to emails quickly in order to help us, and nothing is ever too much of a problem. All of the staff within the course and campus are great and always there for you.

I love studying criminology as it has already opened up doors for me, as part of one of our modules we have to do voluntary work, with me already having an interest in becoming a police constable one day, I joined the special constabulary and attested as a special constable!

A special constable has the same powers as a police officer however they are voluntary, they support communities and neighbourhoods in order to reduce crime and make them safer. The role includes exciting challenges, the development of new skills, and a feeling that your contribution is making a difference. Not only did this count towards my voluntary hours within the criminal justice sector, but it has also given me more life experience and an insight into what the full-time job offers.

As our course leader, Nick is an ex-police officer he’s always there to give any advice and help when needed around the job.

I love the fact the classes are kept to small proximity, this allows group bonding to form and great criminological debates to occur, this helps us with our assignments and engages us, something which would be very minimal in a larger university setting. My class has been to Amsterdam on a Dutch dash where we attended museums and tours to help us with our studies whilst having lots of fun in the shops and bars at the same time!

I hope after my course is completed I will be able to join the police force full time and gain a career out of it and maybe continue my education in a few years by completing a master’s degree.

To learn more about our BA (hons) Contemporary Criminology programme, click here.