Building peaceful, just and inclusive societies depends on people understanding how justice, rights, public institutions and democratic participation work in practice.
At ARU, students explore these questions through law, criminology, policing and investigative studies, alongside interdisciplinary learning focused on rights, inequality and community action. Teaching combines academic evidence with professional practice, giving students opportunities to learn from criminal justice practitioners, work on real-world problems and engage with organisations responsible for policing, justice and public protection.
Preparing students to strengthen the criminal justice system
Our BA Criminology and Policing and BSc Policing and Criminology courses examine the institutions at the heart of Goal 16, including the police, courts, prisons, probation and youth justice. Students explore their legal and ethical frameworks alongside complex questions about victims, offenders, public attitudes and the representation of crime. Learning is closely connected to practice through case studies, guest speakers, workshops, research projects and links with police forces and other criminal justice organisations, helping students understand how fair and effective institutions operate and how they can be improved.
Through links with organisations including Essex, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire police forces, we create opportunities for work experience and professional engagement, while students can attend ARU's annual Criminology conference and hear directly from criminal justice professionals. The courses also encourage participation in justice causes, charities and voluntary activity, connecting classroom learning with civic responsibility and the realities of delivering justice in communities.
Developing practical skills for access to justice
At ARU, our law courses place practical legal experience alongside academic study. Students can develop real-world legal skills through the University's Law Clinic, while our industry network provides access to mentorship, career guidance and professional opportunities. This practical approach helps future legal professionals understand not only legal principles, but how law and justice operate for individuals and communities in practice.
Bringing investigation and public protection into the classroom
Our BSc Crime and Investigative Studies combines learning about forensic science, policing and law with practical investigation skills. Students use simulated crime-scene facilities and undertake Live Briefs developed with local police forces and other organisations, while visiting professionals include representatives from local forces, the Metropolitan Police and National Crime Agency. The course is accredited by the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences, connecting academic learning with the professional standards and evidence-based practices required by institutions responsible for justice and public safety.
Teaching students how communities can create change
Goal 16 learning extends beyond students studying law or criminal justice. Within ARU's award-winning Ruskin Modules, Can I really make a difference in a community? introduces students from different disciplines to community organising and collective action. Students receive taster training from Citizens UK and learn how communities can organise around issues that matter to them. One student subsequently applied this learning in rural India, helping farmers negotiate with landowners to improve their living and working conditions.
Learning to challenge discrimination and defend rights
Other Safe and Inclusive Communities Ruskin Modules address the foundations of inclusive societies directly. Do we know what it takes to be an anti-racist? challenges students to understand racism, structural inequalities and anti-racist practice, while How can children be powerful? examines children's rights, voice and democratic participation, including the question of whether children's voices should sit alongside adults' in democracy. Through interdisciplinary debate and collaborative learning, students develop skills for recognising inequalities, examining power and participating responsibly in society.
Last updated: October 2026
To request additions, corrections or changes to the information in these pages, please contact: Dr Zareen Bharucha: [email protected]. Please use the subject line ‘ARU SDG’.