Bachelor of Science (Honours) - Criminology

The BSc (Hons) Criminology offers an in-depth exploration of the causes and consequences of crime, the ways in which crime is measured and defined, and how criminals are managed and controlled. The programme provides a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and dilemmas faced by criminal justice professionals across policing, courts, prisons, probation services, youth offending teams, and victim support organisations. Strong links with practice, including the HM Prison Service, Youth Justice Board, and local police constabularies, enhance the practical relevance of the course, while final-year modules can be tailored to align with specific career aims and interests.

Criminology as an academic discipline opens pathways into a wide range of careers that can have a meaningful societal impact. The programme examines major philosophical debates surrounding retribution, rehabilitation, and punishment, exploring why people commit crimes, how laws are created and enforced, the effectiveness of sentencing, and the broader impact of crime on victims, communities, and society. Integrating perspectives from sociology, law, psychology, and philosophy, the degree encourages creative thinking, critical analysis, and the development of independent research interests. A strong emphasis on problem-based learning equips graduates to address real-world challenges in the justice system, while investigative, management, and communication skills are developed through group work, negotiation, decision-making, research, and argumentation.

Hands-on learning is a key feature of the programme, linking complex criminological theories with practical application. Professional partnerships with police, probation services, prisons, and other criminal justice agencies provide opportunities to apply skills and knowledge to real-world situations. Practical projects have included mock murder investigations, contributions to hate crime scrutiny panels, analyses of wrongful convictions, participation in riot training with the constabulary, and observation of case progression from crime scene to courtroom.