Politics and Criminology

Politics and criminology together examine two of the most pressing dimensions of how societies organise and govern themselves: the systems of power and decision-making that shape collective life, and the causes, patterns, and responses to crime and deviance. The disciplines share a concern with justice, authority, and the relationship between individuals and the state, and studying them together gives you a more rounded understanding of both than either offers alone.

At the University of the Highlands and Islands this part-time programme allows you to engage seriously with both fields while managing other commitments alongside your studies. You will explore foundational questions in political theory, comparative government, and international relations, applying them to the political landscape in Scotland, the UK, and beyond. In criminology you will study the sociology and psychology of crime, the criminal justice system, policing, punishment, and the social and structural factors that shape patterns of offending and victimisation.

Studying part-time gives you the flexibility to connect your learning with professional or personal experience relevant to either discipline.

Graduates of politics and criminology pursue careers across a range of public and third-sector fields. Many move into roles in criminal justice, probation, prison services, social work, community safety, and victim support. Others work in politics, local and national government, policy research, journalism, or campaigning organisations.

The combination of political literacy and criminological understanding is particularly valuable in roles that sit at the intersection of law, policy, and social justice. Further study in criminology, sociology, law, or politics is a natural next step for those who want to develop deeper expertise or move into research, and the degree also provides a pathway into postgraduate professional training in social work or criminal justice practice.