Criminology Summer Career Camp in London for Ages 15-18

Course Description: Criminology Summer Career Camp in London for Ages 15-18

Course Description: Criminology Summer Career Camp in London ⚖️

Watch a real trial at the Old Bailey, trace crime, punishment and policing across London, and learn from a working criminologist. This Criminology Summer Career Camp shows students aged 15 to 18 how the criminal justice system works and the careers that follow from it.

Each morning takes a theme, such as the origins of policing or confinement, and pairs it with the practitioner who lives it: probation officers, lawyers, researchers and police. Afternoons go out into London, so every idea gets tested somewhere real before the day ends.

No previous experience is needed. The programme suits curious beginners as well as students already studying related subjects at school.

Location 📍

The camp takes place in central London, with sessions and visits across the city. Residential students stay at Ramsay Hall, part of the University College London (UCL) campus, and experience life as a university student in one of the world's great capitals.

Lesson Plan 📚

Choose a 1, 2 or 3 week programme. Teaching is delivered through practical workshops, industry visits and sessions led by working professionals.

Week 1: Crime, Punishment and Policing

• The Origins of Criminological Thought, with a practitioner session from a probation officer

• Criminology Academic Study

• The Origins of Confinement, with a practitioner session from a lawyer

• Visit to the London Dungeon

• The Origins of Policing, with a practitioner session from a researcher

• Visit to Toynbee Hall

• The Origins of the Criminal Justice System, with a practitioner session from a police officer

• Visit to the Central Criminal Court (the Old Bailey)

• UCAS Application and Personal Statement, Career Pathways

Week 2: Human Rights and Law, or a Second Career Week

• Human Rights

• Visit to Whitestone Chambers

• International Law Applied

• Mock Trial

• Debate: Human Rights

For the second week, students can instead join a related career week, such as the Psychology or Law cohort, or choose the Career and Life Skills week.

Week 3: Career and Life Skills

Three-week students combine the criminology week with another related career week, then finish with a Career and Life Skills week and professional networking.

Small Class Sizes 👩‍🏫

There are no more than 12 students in each programme group, so every student gets small group teaching, one-to-one mentoring and personalised feedback.

Meet Your Mentors

The programme is led by Professor Gary Armstrong, a highly respected criminologist from St George's, University of London, with decades of academic and professional experience in the study of crime, justice and social control. Students also meet professionals from the wider field, including lawyers, law enforcement officers and specialists in human trafficking. Judith C., an accredited UCAS adviser and former Head of English, Head of Creative Arts and Head of Sixth Form in Kent grammar schools, runs the UCAS and personal statement sessions.

Skills You Will Take Away

• Trace how policing and punishment evolved in Britain

• Explain what probation officers, researchers and police actually do

• Follow proceedings in a real Crown Court trial

• Discuss crime as a social and cultural problem

• Approach a criminology personal statement with confidence

• Judge which careers suit you, from academia and law to policing and specialist investigative work

A Day in the Life: Daily Routine ⏰

Teaching runs from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday. A typical first week looks like this:

• Monday: The Origins of Criminological Thought and a probation officer, lunch, Criminology Academic Study. Evening: bowling

• Tuesday: The Origins of Confinement and a lawyer, lunch, London Dungeon. Evening: arcade

• Wednesday: The Origins of Policing and a researcher, lunch, Toynbee Hall. Evening: Covent Garden

• Thursday: The Origins of the Criminal Justice System and a police officer, lunch, the Old Bailey. Evening: group restaurant dinner

• Friday: UCAS Application and Personal Statement, lunch, Career Pathways, graduation, then check-out for residential students

Dinner and evening activities are for residential students only. Timetables may be subject to change, and students receive their finalised timetable by the end of May. For two-week students, the LNAT sessions are scheduled in the first week.

Accommodation at UCL Ramsay Hall 🛏️

Residential students stay at Ramsay Hall, part of University College London (UCL) in central London. Day students attend all sessions and return home each day.

• Move-in: Sunday before the start date, from 3:00 pm. Arriving between 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm is advised, to join dinner with the cohort and the evening activity

• Move-out: Friday, the last day of the programme

• Rooms: private single rooms with shared bathrooms, or upgrade to a private ensuite room

• Bathrooms: shared, typically used by up to three students

• Bedding and towels: sheets and towels are included

• Supervision: 24/7 building security and safeguarding, with on-site guardians living in the accommodation (1:10 ratio)

• Student safety: boys and girls are housed on separate floors

Meals 🍽️

• Residential students: breakfast, lunch and dinner daily

• Day students: lunch is provided

• Students may bring a few snacks for the day, which must be nut free

• Bring a refillable water bottle

Activities and Evening Programme 🎳

Residential students enjoy a social programme every evening. Recent examples include bowling, an arcade night, an evening in Covent Garden and a group restaurant dinner. All residential evening activities are covered by the fee.

Excursions and Industry Visits 🚍

• The Central Criminal Court (the Old Bailey), to watch a live trial

• The London Dungeon and Toynbee Hall

• Whitestone Chambers and a mock trial for two-week students

• Practitioner sessions with a probation officer, lawyer, researcher and police officer

• Weekend activities for residential students staying two or three weeks. Previous excursions have included a day trip to Cambridge, shopping in London and London sightseeing

Transportation ✈️

• Transport to different venues and excursions during the programme is covered

• Travel to and from the programme is not included in the fee

• Optional arrival or departure car service from London Heathrow: £300

Dates and Fees 📅

Programme Start Dates: Summer 2027

Programmes begin on a Monday, with weekly start dates across the summer:

• 28 June

• 5 July

• 12 July

• 19 July

• 26 July

• 2 August

• 9 August

Fees

• £1,799 for 1 week of the programme (day)

• £2,999 for 1 week of the programme plus residential package (all meals, lodging)

• £2,999 for 2 weeks of the programme (day)

• £5,499 for 2 weeks of the programme plus residential package (all meals, lodging)

• £3,999 for 3 weeks of the programme (day)

• £7,499 for 3 weeks of the programme plus residential package (all meals, lodging)

Extras

• Arrival or departure car service from London Heathrow: £300

• Extra night of accommodation: £100, subject to availability

• Ensuite upgrade: £250 per week

What Is Included in the Programme Fee ✅

• Residential accommodation at UCL Ramsay Hall in a private single room (residential package)

• 24/7 security and safeguarding

• Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner daily for residents; lunch for day students

• 60 hours of career-focused learning over 2 weeks

• Interactive workshops and guest speakers

• Industry visits to leading companies

• Expert UCAS admissions coaching

• Personal mentor (Oxford, Cambridge, UCL or Imperial graduate)

• Weekend excursions and London activities

• Evening social programme

• Certificate of completion

• Personalised letter of reference from your programme mentor

Certificates and Awards 📜

• Certificate recognising your participation, ideal for your CV and university applications

• Personalised letter of reference from your programme mentor

• Opportunity to fulfil the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Residential requirement

• Concrete material for your university applications, drawn from your court visits and conversations with practitioners

How Fluent Do I Need to Be in English? 🗣️

All teaching and workshops are delivered in English. Students should have a basic level of spoken and written English so they can follow instructions, join discussions and take part in group activities comfortably. International students are welcome and supported throughout the programme.

What Should I Bring? 🎒

• A notepad and pen, or a device to write on

• A water bottle

• Nut-free snacks if wanted

• Some spending money for residential students, especially on two-week programmes

A packing list and preparation materials are sent by mid June.

Safety and Support 🛡️

All sessions take place in a secure, structured environment. Staff are DBS-checked and follow strict safeguarding policies. Students with additional learning needs or disabilities are welcome; share any requirements in advance so adjustments can be arranged.