12 Criminology Programs for High School Students in the UK
- Stephen Turban
- Jun 15
- 8 min read
If you’re interested in understanding why crimes occur, how justice systems operate, and how societies respond to criminal behavior, a criminology program can be a valuable way to explore the field. These opportunities introduce you to topics such as criminal psychology, forensic science, law, policing, criminal justice, and public policy while helping you develop critical thinking, research, and analytical skills. They also provide insight into the academic pathways and careers connected to crime, justice, and social policy.
In the UK, criminology programs are offered through schools, colleges, universities, and specialized educational organizations. These opportunities range from formal qualifications and summer experiences to online courses and subject-specific workshops, allowing students to explore criminology through academic study, case analysis, forensic investigations, and legal frameworks.
Why should I do a criminology program in high school?
Criminology programs allow you to examine crime and justice from multiple perspectives, including sociology, psychology, law, and forensic science. Depending on the program, you might analyze criminal cases, study theories of criminal behavior, explore forensic evidence, examine legal processes, investigate public policy issues, or evaluate how different justice systems respond to crime. These experiences can help you build research and reasoning skills, deepen your understanding of contemporary social issues, and explore whether criminology or a related field is something you would like to pursue.
With that in mind, here are 12 criminology programs for high school students in the UK!
If you’re looking for summer programs in the UK, check out our blog here.
Location: Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Boston
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts; rolling admissions.
Program Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Eligibility: Students aged 13-18 currently enrolled in middle or high school
The Academic Insights Program lets high school students experience university life firsthand. You will live on campus, study in small groups of 7-10, and learn from tutors from top universities such as Oxford and Cambridge. You can explore a wide range of subjects spanning 20+ options, including Criminology, AI, Business Management, Computer Science, Economics, Medicine, Philosophy, and more. The courses are experiential and focus on hands-on learning. You may find yourself conducting dissections in medicine, designing a robotic arm in engineering, participating in a moot court for law, or building creative writing portfolios and business case studies. By the end of the program, you’ll complete a personal project, receive written feedback, and receive a certificate of completion. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: London, United Kingdom (UCL and the surrounding University of London campus)
Cost: £2,225 - £7,550 (varies by duration and residential option)
Application Deadline: Rolling (apply early as spots fill quickly)
Program Dates: Starts 27 July (You can choose to attend for either ‘First Week Only’, ‘Two Weeks’, or ‘Two Week Premium’ package.)
Eligibility: Students aged 15–18
The InvestIN Young Forensic Scientist Summer Experience places you in simulated criminal investigations where you work through cases using forensic techniques that are directly tied to criminology. You examine crime scenes, collect and analyze evidence, and apply methods like fingerprint analysis, DNA testing, and blood pattern interpretation to understand how conclusions are drawn in investigations. Alongside the lab work, you explore how this evidence is used in court, including presenting your findings in a mock trial. The structure helps you see how scientific evidence supports criminal cases and how different parts of the justice system rely on careful analysis and interpretation.
Location: Springwood High School, Gaywood, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, England
Cost: Part of school course; no additional cost to students
Dates: Two-year Level 3 programme (typically studied in Years 12 and 13)
Application Deadline: Varies by sixth form admissions cycle
Eligibility: Students meeting entry requirements, usually including GCSEs in English and Mathematics
The Criminology Level 3 Applied Diploma at Springwood High School is a two-year course in which you study crime as a subject in a structured, academic way, moving beyond general discussion into how criminology is actually examined. You work through areas such as how crime is defined and measured, different theories that explain criminal behavior, and how cases move from crime scene investigation to court proceedings. The course includes essay writing, case-based analysis, and discussions that ask you to connect theory with real incidents and policy debates. Over time, you build the habit of evaluating evidence, questioning sources, and forming arguments based on structured reasoning, which is what most university-level criminology courses expect.
Location: London, United Kingdom (Central London with site visits across the city)
Cost: £1,799 (1 week), £2,999 (2 weeks), £3,999 (3 weeks)
Application Deadline: Rolling (apply early as places are limited)
Program Dates: Year-round sessions, including summer; 1–3 week options available
Eligibility: Students aged 15–18; no prior experience required
The Study Mind Criminology Work Experience is built around practical exposure, where you spend time working through investigations, attending workshops, and visiting legal institutions across London. You take part in crime scene simulations, where you learn how evidence is collected and analyzed, while also understanding why certain procedures are followed. Visits to courts and legal chambers show how cases are handled once they move beyond investigation, which helps connect theory with real processes. Throughout the program, sessions on criminal behavior and policing give you a clearer sense of how criminology operates across research, law, and enforcement.
Location: Paulet High School, Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England
Cost: Part of the school curriculum; no additional cost to enrolled students
Dates: Two-year qualification during Sixth Form (Years 12–13)
Application Deadline: Determined by the school's Sixth Form admissions cycle
Eligibility: Students enrolling in Sixth Form (typically aged 16–18)
At Paulet High School, the criminology course is taught over two years and focuses on understanding crime through both theory and real-world application. You study why crimes happen, how society responds to them, and how the justice system functions across different stages. Lessons involve case studies, structured writing, and discussions that require you to analyze situations rather than just describe them. As you move through the course, you begin to see how criminological theories are applied to real cases and how different factors influence decisions within the justice system.
Location: Raynes Park High School, London, England
Cost: Part of the school's Sixth Form provision; no direct cost to students
Dates: Two-year Level 3 programme (Years 12–13)
Application Deadline: Set by the Sixth Form admissions process
Eligibility: Students entering Sixth Form (typically aged 16–18)
The criminology course at Raynes Park High School introduces you to how crime is studied as an academic subject, with a focus on both theory and current issues. You examine topics such as the causes of crime, the role of policing, and the practice of punishment and rehabilitation. Learning involves analyzing case studies, working through assignments, and discussing how legal systems respond to different types of crime. The course gradually builds your ability to evaluate information and form structured arguments, which are key skills in criminology.
Location: New City College (multiple London campuses)
Cost: Part of the 16–18 study programme; no additional cost to enrolled students
Dates: Two-year Level 3 diploma (Years 12–13)
Application Deadline: Set by the college admissions cycle
Eligibility: Students aged 16–18 meeting entry criteria
This diploma at New City College provides a clear foundation in criminology, covering topics such as criminal behavior, justice systems, and how society responds to crime. You study both theoretical frameworks and real cases, which helps you understand how ideas translate into practice. Coursework includes essays, presentations, and research tasks where you are expected to analyze evidence and explain your reasoning. Over time, you develop a more systematic way of thinking about crime, which prepares you for further study in related subjects.
Location: The Green School Sixth Form, Isleworth, London, England
Cost: Included in Sixth Form tuition; no extra cost
Dates: Two-year Applied Certificate/Diploma program (Years 12–13)
Application Deadline: Determined by Sixth Form admissions cycle
Eligibility: Students enrolling in Sixth Form, typically aged 16–18
The criminology course at The Green School Sixth Form combines theoretical study with practical examples, allowing you to understand how crime and justice are approached in real settings. You explore why crimes occur, how policies are shaped, and how different parts of the justice system interact. The course includes both internal assessments and external exams, which require you to apply what you have learned in structured ways. Additional activities, such as workshops or visits, help you connect classroom learning with real-world contexts.
Location: Online
Cost: Free, with a paid certificate option
Application Deadline: None
Program Dates: Self-paced after enrollment
Eligibility: Open to all
This course from Leiden University focuses on how serious crimes are handled internationally, where cases often involve multiple countries and legal systems. You study how institutions like the International Criminal Court investigate and prosecute crimes such as genocide or crimes against humanity. The course looks closely at how evidence is collected, how jurisdiction works, and how political factors affect legal outcomes. Through case-based learning, you begin to understand how international criminology operates differently from domestic systems.
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Program Dates: Self-paced
Eligibility: High school students
The Hot Topics in Criminal Justice course by Vanderbilt University explores current debates shaping modern justice systems. You examine issues such as police reform, mass incarceration, juvenile justice, and drug policy through case studies and expert commentary. The course encourages you to evaluate how laws and policies influence communities and consider the ethical and political dimensions of reform. Through guided discussions and real-world examples, you build skills in critical analysis and policy evaluation. This course helps you understand how contemporary criminal justice challenges are discussed and addressed at institutional and societal levels.
Location: Online
Cost: Free (with optional paid certificate)
Application Deadline: None
Program Dates: Self-paced after enrollment
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
The Forensic Science: DNA Analysis course from the University of California, Davis on Coursera introduces you to the scientific principles and practical methods used to analyse DNA evidence in criminal investigations. You explore how DNA can be collected, processed, and interpreted to help identify individuals and link biological material to crime scenes. The course covers foundational concepts such as genetic markers, sequencing, and the role of DNA profiling in forensic casework. Through video lectures, readings, and applied examples, you examine real-world applications of DNA analysis within the justice system. This programme strengthens your understanding of how molecular biology tools support criminal investigations and is ideal if you are interested in forensics, biology, or law-related science careers.
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
The Justice course offered by Harvard University on edX explores philosophical and political debates surrounding law, equality, and democracy. Taught by Professor Michael Sandel, the course uses case studies and real-world controversies to examine concepts such as fairness, rights, and moral responsibility. You analyze issues like affirmative action, income inequality, and civic duty while engaging with major ethical frameworks. Lectures and readings guide you through competing theories of justice and their policy implications. If you are interested in criminology, public policy, or political theory, this course helps you strengthen your critical thinking and argumentative skills while examining how moral reasoning shapes laws and institutions.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here, check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.