Criminology and Education

Criminology and education might seem like an unusual pairing, but they share deep common ground in questions about social inequality, institutional power, and the formation of young people. Crime and society's response are key issues today. Criminology looks at why crime happens, its effects, and how it can be prevented, asking who makes decisions about what counts as criminal, and what actually occurs within the criminal justice system.

Education, meanwhile, is one of the primary social institutions through which life chances are shaped, and understanding its relationship to social inclusion, exclusion, and behaviour is fundamental to both disciplines.

At Liverpool Hope University, this three-year full-time programme enables you to explore how crime is defined, who makes those decisions, and why people commit crimes, while also studying how educational systems operate, how they relate to social inequality, and what effective teaching and learning looks like. You will develop research and analytical skills across both disciplines, learning to evaluate evidence, engage with theory, and make arguments about social issues. The programme includes a sandwich year with a year abroad and work placement opportunities, giving you international experience and direct professional exposure in criminal justice, educational, or community settings.

Entry typically requires around 88 UCAS tariff points.

Graduates work in teaching, youth offending teams, probation, educational welfare, social work, youth work, community development, the prison service, and policy roles in government and the third sector. The combination of criminological and educational knowledge is particularly relevant to roles working with young people at risk, in alternative education, or in restorative justice programmes. Postgraduate study in education, criminology, social work, or related fields is also a common next step.