Criminology

Criminology asks fundamental questions about one of the most significant features of social life: why do people commit crimes, what counts as criminal behaviour and who decides, how does the justice system respond to offending and victimisation, and what effects do those responses have on individuals and communities? It is an inherently multidisciplinary field, drawing on sociology, psychology, law, history, and political science to build a rich and critical understanding of crime, criminal justice, and the social contexts in which both are embedded.

At Aberystwyth University, this three-year, full-time programme is taught within the Department of Law and Criminology, the oldest law department in Wales, giving you access to a strong tradition of critical legal and criminological scholarship. You will explore why certain behaviours are defined and treated as criminal, how criminal labels affect individuals and communities, how detection, punishment, and rehabilitation operate in practice, and what the experience of crime means for victims and society more broadly. The programme is explicitly multidisciplinary, drawing on a range of social science perspectives to analyse crime causation and crime reduction.

You will develop the research, analytical, and communication skills that are central to criminological inquiry and widely valued by employers across the justice and social sectors.

A typical entry tariff of 88 points reflects an accessible and welcoming admissions threshold. Graduates from criminology programmes go on to careers in the criminal justice system, including the police, probation service, prison service, and the courts, as well as in social work, victim support, youth justice, voluntary sector organisations, policy research, and academia. The analytical skills and social awareness developed through criminology are also valued in a wide range of roles in the public and voluntary sectors.

Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in criminology, law, social work, or forensic psychology, developing specialist expertise for particular career paths.