Criminology and Sociology

Criminology and sociology together examine two interconnected questions about social life: why do people commit crimes, and how do the societies in which they live produce the conditions that make crime more or less likely? Sociology provides the theoretical and empirical tools for understanding social structures, inequalities, culture and the processes of change; criminology applies similar tools to the specific phenomenon of crime, asking how it is defined, who commits it, who is victimised, and how institutions respond. At the University of Kent, this three-year full-time degree develops both disciplinary perspectives in depth, producing graduates who can analyse social phenomena with rigour and communicate their findings clearly.

You will engage with sociological theory from classical foundations to contemporary debates about globalisation, identity and digital society, alongside criminological theories that range from rational choice and strain theory to critical and feminist criminology. Research methods, covering both quantitative and qualitative approaches, run through the curriculum, giving you the practical skills to conduct your own social research. Kent's programme is known for its academic seriousness and its connections to the wider community of social science research.

A typical entry tariff of around 104 points is expected.

Graduates pursue careers in social work, criminal justice, community development, policy research, journalism, education, youth work, the voluntary sector and local government. The combination of sociological analysis and criminological understanding is particularly valued in organisations working at the intersection of social disadvantage and criminal justice, including the probation service, restorative justice programmes and children's services. Many graduates proceed to postgraduate study in criminology, social work, sociology or social policy.