Criminology

Criminology is the social scientific study of crime, deviance, and the systems societies construct to respond to them. It asks fundamental questions about how crime is defined and measured, why people offend, who the victims of crime are, how police, courts, and prisons operate, and whether they achieve their stated purposes. These are not merely academic questions: they connect directly to debates about justice, inequality, human rights, and the kind of society we want to live in.

Criminology draws on sociology, psychology, law, and history to examine these questions rigorously and critically.

At Leeds Beckett University, this three-year full-time degree equips you to tackle the big questions about justice, inequality, and social change while building practical research and analytical skills. You will explore theoretical frameworks for understanding crime and deviance, engage with empirical evidence about offending and victimisation, and examine the institutions of criminal justice from policing and prosecution through to sentencing and rehabilitation. A year abroad is incorporated into the programme, providing an international comparative perspective that enriches your understanding of how different societies approach crime and justice.

Leeds Beckett's location in a major urban centre gives the degree a rich applied context, with access to criminal justice agencies and organisations across West Yorkshire.

Criminology graduates go on to careers across a wide range of public and social sector organisations. Police, probation, prison service, youth offending, victim support, social work, and policy research are among the most direct destinations. Others work in journalism, advocacy, local government, and the voluntary sector.

The analytical and research skills the degree develops, along with the ability to engage critically with complex social evidence, are valued in many roles beyond criminal justice itself. For those drawn to further study, the degree provides strong preparation for postgraduate work in criminology, law, social policy, or security studies. The typical entry tariff is 104 points.