Criminology with Psychology BA Welcome Pack
Welcome to BA Criminology with Psychology 2026.
Welcome to BA (Hons) Criminology with Psychology at the University of Northampton. We are delighted that you have chosen to join us on what promises to be an exciting, intellectually stimulating, and rewarding journey.
This innovative degree combines criminology and psychology to help you explore the complex relationship between crime, criminal justice, and human behaviour. You will examine important questions about why people commit crime, how the justice system responds, and how psychological insights can help prevent offending and promote safer communities.
Our curriculum blends cutting-edge theory with practical, hands-on learning. Through engaging and intellectually challenging modules, you will develop critical thinking, analytical, research, and problem-solving skills that are highly valued by employers.
Learning extends beyond the classroom. You will have the opportunity to participate in two complimentary field trips, immersive crime scene simulations, practical investigative activities, and interactive workshops that bring key concepts to life and allow you to apply your knowledge in realistic settings.
You will also benefit from guest speaker sessions featuring experienced practitioners, experts, policymakers, and decision-makers from across the criminal justice sector, providing valuable insights into contemporary issues and career opportunities.
As a student on this course, you will receive complimentary membership of the British Society of Criminology (BSC), giving you access to professional networks, events, and resources throughout your studies.
We look forward to welcoming you and supporting you as you begin your journey at the University of Northampton.
Your Course Leader
Dr Sallek Yaks, SFHEA
Lecturer in Criminology
Sallek-Yaks.Musa@northampton.ac.uk
As Course Leader, I am responsible for ensuring that students have a positive, inclusive, and supportive learning experience throughout their studies. My role is to help students with academic guidance, signpost students to appropriate support services, oversee personal tutoring arrangements, and work to ensure that student feedback is heard and acted upon. I also collaborate with colleagues across the University to promote student wellbeing, accessibility, and a sense of belonging for all students.
Additional staff
- Dr David Saunders (Associate Professor in Psychology), Head of School – Psychology and Behavioural Sciences
- Bonnie Hadman, Academic Librarian
Your Welcome Week course timetable
When you arrive at the University of Northampton, there’s plenty to get involved with during Welcome Week. However, there are specific sessions taking place as part of your course induction that’ll help you settle in and prepare for teaching to start the following week:
Monday 21 September
Welcome and Induction
This session offers the opportunity to meet your course mates, get to know your programme and discover the key services and support available to help you settle in and start your studies with confidence.
- Date: 21st September
- Time: 12pm – 2pm (BST)
- Location: LH323 (Learning Hub Building)
Tuesday 22 September
Meet your Personal Academic Tutor (PAT)
From your first day, you’ll be assigned a PAT. This session is your opportunity to meet your PAT, learn how they can support you throughout your studies, ask questions and start building a valuable mentoring relationship.
- Date: 22 September
- Time: 11am – 12pm (BST)
- Location: Drop-In-Area, 2nd floor of the Learning Hub, Waterside campus (look for the criminology banner).
Criminology Plenary Session
This plenary introduces a contemporary criminological issue and explores the debates that shape both the discipline and policies. It also offers a first opportunity to see your lecturers engage in lively discussion and debate on a real-world criminological topic.
- Date: 22 September
- Time: 1pm – 3pm (BST)
- Location: SN114 (Senate Building)
Wednesday 23 September
Library Quest (tour around the library)
In this session, you will meet your librarian and explore our library on a guided tour, discovering its hidden gems, study spaces, and the best places to read, learn, and collaborate on campus.
- Date: 23 September
- Time: 12pm – 1pm
- Location: Library Help Desk, 2nd floor of the Learning Hub, Waterside Campus
Thursday 24 September
The Faculty Welcome Experience! (delivered by your Student Experience Assistant Team)
This is how we love to kick things off in the Faculty of Business Law! This fun and friendly social event brings music, unique games, party food and more to our new student and staff community. Hosted by the faculty Student Experience Assistant Team (SEAT), this is a great opportunity to connect and mix with peers and tutors from Business, Management, Analytics, Marketing, Hospitality, Law, Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Criminology, Criminal Justice & Policing course communities. We promise you’ll have a great time…NOT TO BE MISSED!
- Date: Thursday 24 September
- Time: 2pm – 5pm
- Location: The Leathersellers Hide (Level 4 of the Learning Hub Building)
Friday 25 September
Meet your Course Leader
This session is designed to help you meet and engage with your Course Leader in a relaxed environment.
- Date: 26 September
- Time: 11am – 12pm
- Location: The Leathersellers Hide (Level 4 of the Learning Hub Building)
Friday 25 September
Criminology Social Event
A favourite among new students, the Criminology Social Event offers a relaxed and welcoming space to meet your course mates and lecturers and to take part in your first criminology group activity in a fun and exciting way.
- Date: 26 September
- Time: 2pm – 4pm
- Location: The Leathersellers Hide (Level 4 of the Learning Hub Building)
Preparing for your course
Criminology is a dynamic and ever-evolving discipline, meaning that many of the issues we study are regularly reflected in the media. Therefore, regardless of where you access your news, it is beneficial to stay informed about both local and global developments and to think critically about how criminological perspectives can help us understand and address the challenges being reported.
The Criminology Team maintains a range of social media platforms, and we encourage you to follow and engage with these accounts to keep up to date with relevant developments, discussions, and opportunities.
In addition, we manage and write a regular blog. Throughout your studies we would encourage you all, to contribute to the blog your own thoughts on crime, or your wider academic experience. You can find previous examples of student writing on our blog site.
