Criminology

Criminology examines crime as a social phenomenon, asking not just what crime is and how it is measured, but why it occurs, who it affects, how societies respond to it, and whether those responses are just or effective. It draws on sociology, psychology, law, philosophy, and history to build a multi-layered understanding of criminal behaviour, victimisation, policing, the courts, and the penal system. It is a discipline that is as concerned with the structures of power and inequality that shape crime as with individual cases and choices.

This four-year full-time programme at the University of the Highlands and Islands takes you through the theoretical and empirical foundations of criminology. You will explore major criminological theories alongside the practical workings of the criminal justice system, engaging with topics such as policing and law enforcement, sentencing and punishment, restorative justice, youth offending, organised crime, and the relationship between crime and social exclusion. Studying in the Highlands and Islands brings a distinctive regional context, with opportunities to consider rural criminology and policing in communities that differ significantly from urban settings.

With a typical entry tariff of 120 points, the programme is accessible to motivated students from a range of backgrounds.

Criminology graduates move into a wide range of careers connected to criminal justice and social welfare. Probation work, social work, youth offending services, and roles within the prison and court services are well-established paths. Police services value criminology graduates for analytical and research roles, and many graduates work in policy development for government agencies and charities focused on crime prevention, rehabilitation, and victim support.

Research roles in think tanks, universities, and government also draw on criminological expertise. The degree also provides a strong foundation for postgraduate study in criminology, criminal justice, law, or social policy, and for those who wish to convert to law through a Graduate Diploma. The breadth of the discipline equips you with analytical, research, and communication skills that are valuable well beyond the criminal justice sector.