Psychology with Criminology

Psychology with criminology combines the scientific study of individual behaviour, cognition and motivation with the social scientific analysis of crime, criminal justice and the systems that societies build to respond to offending. Psychology asks why people behave as they do, including those who commit crimes; criminology situates that question in the broader social, cultural and institutional context that shapes both offending behaviour and the responses it provokes. At Northumbria University, this three-year full-time degree develops your ability to analyse human behaviour scientifically while also engaging with the policy, sociology and law dimensions of crime and justice.

A year abroad is built into the programme.

You will study the core domains of psychology, including cognitive, developmental, social, biological and individual differences psychology, alongside research methods and statistics that are foundational to evidence-based understanding. The criminology component engages with theories of crime causation, victimology, policing, the courts and prison systems, restorative justice and the social inequalities that are correlated with offending patterns. The combination is particularly valuable for careers in forensic psychology, criminal justice and the helping professions, where understanding both the psychological and the social dimensions of behaviour is essential.

A typical entry tariff of around 120 points is expected.

Graduates pursue careers in criminal justice agencies, social work, youth justice, probation and prison services, mental health services, research and policy analysis. The psychology degree provides eligibility to apply for postgraduate training in forensic, clinical or counselling psychology through the British Psychological Society's accredited training routes. Many graduates also go on to postgraduate study in criminology, forensic psychology or applied psychology, deepening the interdisciplinary foundation the degree provides.