Computer Science and Criminology

Computer science and criminology is an unusual and timely combination, bringing together the technical discipline of computing with the social scientific and humanistic study of crime, justice and deviance. Computer science gives you the skills to build and analyse digital systems, to understand how software and networks function, and to engage with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. Criminology asks how and why crime occurs, how societies define and respond to it, and how justice systems function, succeed and fail.

Together they equip you to understand both the technical and social dimensions of an increasingly digital criminal landscape.

At Liverpool Hope University this three-year full-time programme covers a wide range of topics in both disciplines. On the computing side you will study programming, networks, robotics, mobile and embedded computing, artificial intelligence, virtual reality and augmented reality. On the criminology side you will examine theories of crime and deviance, policing and criminal justice, victimology, cybercrime and the ethics of surveillance.

A sandwich year gives you the chance to gain substantial professional experience before your final year, the option to study abroad broadens your perspective, and work placement opportunities connect academic learning with real professional environments.

The combination is particularly relevant in a world where cybercrime, digital fraud, online harm, data privacy and the policing of digital spaces are central concerns for governments, organisations and individuals.

Graduates are well placed for roles in cybercrime investigation, digital forensics, policing and law enforcement, security consultancy, fraud prevention, criminal justice policy and technology governance. Postgraduate study in cybersecurity, criminology, data science or digital forensics is a natural continuation.