Criminology
Criminology is the systematic study of crime, criminal behaviour, and the social responses to both. It draws on sociology, psychology, law, history, and policy analysis to ask fundamental questions: why does crime happen, how is it distributed across society, what do the systems designed to prevent and punish it actually achieve, and whose interests do those systems serve? These questions matter in any society, and the skills needed to engage with them rigorously, including research, analysis, and the ability to evaluate competing claims, are valuable across a wide range of careers.
At Edge Hill University, this part-time programme is taught by staff whose research and policy expertise brings critical perspectives directly into the classroom. You will engage with theories of crime and deviance, the operation of policing, courts, prisons, and rehabilitation, and the broader social dimensions of harm and justice. The programme develops your capacity to make a positive contribution to society in the field of your choice, whether that is directly within the criminal justice system or in the wider landscape of social work, policy, and advocacy.
A sandwich year, a year abroad, and a work placement are built into the programme, giving you substantial professional and international experience alongside your academic study. The part-time structure makes the degree manageable alongside other commitments, including those already working in related fields.
Criminology graduates move into a wide range of careers across the criminal justice system and beyond. The police, probation service, prison service, youth justice teams, victim support organisations, social care, and local authority roles are all common destinations. Policy research, journalism, third sector organisations, and academic careers are further paths.
The sandwich year and placement experience significantly strengthen your practical profile. Postgraduate study in criminology, social policy, social work, or related fields is a natural continuation.