Criminology and Criminal Justice

Criminology and criminal justice is a field that asks searching questions about how societies define, respond to, and seek to prevent crime. Criminology brings scientific and theoretical tools to bear on the study of criminal behaviour, victimisation, and the social conditions that generate crime, while criminal justice examines the institutions, processes, and policies through which societies respond to crime, from policing and prosecution through sentencing to imprisonment and rehabilitation. Together they provide both a critical understanding of why crime occurs and a practical engagement with the systems that address it.

At the University of Bedfordshire, this programme is delivered part time, making it accessible to students who are working or who have other significant commitments. Many students who study criminology and criminal justice part time bring relevant professional experience from the criminal justice system, social services, or community settings, and this experience enriches the learning environment. You will examine criminological theory, criminal justice policy, victimology, penology, and the social and political contexts in which criminal justice decisions are made.

The programme develops critical thinking alongside practical knowledge, preparing graduates to engage thoughtfully with a system that has profound implications for justice, equality, and social welfare.

Graduates work across criminal justice agencies including probation, courts, youth offending teams, and the voluntary sector, as well as in research, policy, social work, and community development. Many graduates already working in these fields use the degree to deepen their professional knowledge and to progress into more senior or specialised roles. Postgraduate study in criminology, criminal justice, social policy, or law is a natural progression, and the critical analytical skills developed in the programme are valued in a wide range of professional and academic contexts.