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The WJEC Criminology Diploma

First introduced in 2015, the WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma in Criminology is proving an attractive and rapidly growing choice for post-16 students and their teachers.

The Diploma includes elements of psychology, law and sociology, and it fits well with other humanities and social sciences subjects. Most students take the Diploma alongside A levels or vocational qualifications, for example in law, public services, or health and social care. It has the same UCAS points as an A level subject.

Course content

Students study four units: 1. Changing Awareness of Crime; 2. Criminological Theories; 3. Crime Scene to Courtroom; .4. Crime and Punishment. The focus of the course is on students developing their skills and applying their learning in vocational contexts.

The Diploma offers an attractive assessment pattern, with two of the four units (Units 1 and 3) being internally assessed via controlled assessments. Units 2 and 4 are assessed by external exam.

Students are typically assessed on Units 1 and 2 in the first year, and Units 3 and 4 in the second year, much like the former modular AS/A2 structure of A levels. Also like AS and A2, re-sits are allowed in all Units.

A combination of the Diploma with two A level subjects will be of particular benefit to students who might struggle to cope with three externally examined linear A levels.

WJEC also offer a Level 3 Certificate in Criminology, consisting of Units 1 and 2 of the Diploma. It has the same UCAS tariff as one AS level.

You can find the specification, as well as specimen assessment materials, here

You can find past exam papers here

WJEC endorsed editions of our best-selling student books

Endorsed by WJEC as providing high quality support for students studying for the Level 3 Diploma, these updated new editions of our two best-selling Criminology student books provide everything your students need for success.

We have worked closely with WJEC to ensure that our new editions incorporate all the latest changes to the exam question formats and the controlled assessment requirements.

The contents are carefully mapped to the WJEC specification and cover all the assessment criteria in full, so that you can be sure your students are covering exactly what they need to.

Key features of our new editions

WJEC exam questions with detailed guidance on tackling them plus top band student answers on selected questions and topics

Advice on how to prepare for the controlled assessments and the external exams

Up-to-date content including the latest statistics and relevant policy developments

Case studies, scenarios and questions to stimulate reflection and discussion

Student activities on every topic for individual and group work

Accessible to the whole ability range with clear explanations pitched at just the right level

Attractive, full-colour design and engaging photos that stimulate interest

Written by highly experienced authors, teachers and examiners.

WJEC endorsement guarantees your students have comprehensive, high quality support that you can trust.

Free support with our support package

Our books come with a free web-based resource package for the whole Diploma course, including:

Free schemes of work to help you plan
Free online activities and workbooks to strengthen students’ engagement with their textbooks, consolidate their knowledge and develop their skills. The workbooks and activities provide a sound structure for students’ remote and flipped learning.