Criminology
Criminology is the discipline that examines crime, criminal behaviour, and the social institutions that respond to both. It draws on sociology, psychology, law, history, and policy analysis to ask fundamental questions about why crime happens, how it is distributed across different social groups, and whether the systems of justice that societies build actually do what they claim to do. Studying criminology means engaging with some of the most significant questions facing contemporary societies, from the causes and consequences of violence to the fairness of the criminal justice system.
At Edge Hill University, this three-year full-time programme is taught by staff whose research and policy expertise brings critical perspectives directly into the classroom. You will develop knowledge across the full range of criminological concerns, including theories of crime and deviance, policing, courts, prisons, and victimology, alongside an understanding of social harm and social justice that goes beyond the formal boundaries of criminal law. The programme includes a sandwich year, a year abroad, and a work placement, all of which give you professional and international experience before you graduate.
These practical elements are particularly important in a field where employers value evidence of real-world engagement alongside academic knowledge. With a typical entry tariff of 104 UCAS points, the programme is accessible to a wide range of students.
Criminology graduates are in demand across the criminal justice system and many adjacent fields. The police, probation service, prison service, youth justice teams, victim support organisations, social care, local authority community safety teams, and the third sector are all common destinations. The critical social science skills developed during the degree are also valued in policy research, journalism, social work, and public administration.
For those interested in postgraduate study, criminology, criminal justice, social policy, and law are all natural options.