Criminology

Criminology is the scientific study of crime, criminal behaviour, victimisation, and the social institutions and systems through which crime is defined, prevented, and responded to. It draws on sociology, psychology, law, and social policy to ask why crime occurs, who commits it and who is victimised by it, how criminal justice systems work and to what effect, and what broader social forces, including inequality, disadvantage, and social change, shape the patterns of crime and punishment in a given society. It is a discipline with both analytical depth and practical relevance to some of the most pressing questions in contemporary public life.

At the University of Liverpool, this three-year full-time programme takes you through the major criminological theories, from classical and positivist approaches to critical and feminist criminology, alongside substantive engagement with areas such as policing, the courts, prisons, youth justice, white-collar crime, cybercrime, and international and comparative criminology. Research methods training, both quantitative and qualitative, is central to the curriculum, equipping you to evaluate evidence about crime and justice critically and to conduct your own investigations. A year abroad is incorporated into the programme, giving you the opportunity to study criminology at a partner institution in another country and develop a comparative understanding of how different societies define and respond to crime.

Criminology graduates go on to careers in the criminal justice system, including probation, youth justice, the prison service, and victim support services, as well as in social work, policy research, NGOs, community safety, and the voluntary sector. The analytical and research skills developed through the degree are also valued in journalism, local government, and any field where understanding social problems and evaluating evidence about their causes and consequences is important. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in criminology, social policy, law, or social work.