Criminology and Media & Communication

Criminology and media and communication is a combination that asks a deceptively important question: how do the stories we tell about crime shape our understanding of it, and how does media coverage of criminal justice influence policy, public attitudes, and the experience of people within the system? Crime is one of the most heavily mediated aspects of social life, from true crime podcasts and courtroom dramas to news coverage of major trials and the social media amplification of community safety fears. Understanding crime therefore requires understanding how it is represented, and understanding media requires engaging with one of the most emotionally and politically charged of social phenomena.

At Liverpool Hope University, this three-year full-time programme develops both strands with genuine depth. Your criminology studies will introduce you to theories of crime causation, the structure and operation of the criminal justice system, victimology, and the debates around prevention, punishment, and rehabilitation. You will learn who defines crime, what factors shape criminal behaviour, and how the justice system responds to offending.

Your media and communication studies will develop your understanding of how media industries operate, how content is produced and received, and what role communication plays in shaping public understanding and political life. The programme includes a sandwich year, a year abroad, and work placement opportunities, giving you professional experience and an international perspective before you graduate.

You will develop strong research skills, critical analysis, and communication competencies that are valued by employers in criminal justice, media, journalism, and the public sector.

Graduates go on to careers in journalism, broadcasting, public relations, criminal justice agencies, policy and advocacy organisations, social research, and community work. Postgraduate study in criminology, media studies, or journalism is a natural route for those wishing to specialise.