Criminology
Criminology asks some of the most pressing questions about contemporary society: why do people commit crimes, how are certain acts defined as criminal in the first place, what does punishment achieve, and whose interests do systems of criminal justice actually serve? It is a discipline that refuses to take common-sense assumptions about crime at face value, drawing on sociology, psychology, law, and political science to examine criminal behaviour, victimisation, policing, the courts, and incarceration with rigorous critical attention.
At the University of Bedfordshire this three-year full-time degree provides a thorough grounding in criminological theory, research methods, and the empirical study of crime and criminal justice. You will examine the major theoretical traditions in criminology, from classical deterrence theory to labelling, strain, feminist, and critical perspectives, and apply them to real patterns of crime and justice. Research skills are central to the programme, giving you the ability to investigate social problems systematically and to evaluate evidence critically.
The typical entry tariff of 88 points reflects the accessible nature of the programme and its commitment to widening participation in criminological education.
You will develop strong analytical thinking, the ability to engage with sensitive and complex social issues, and the written communication skills to present your arguments clearly. The subject naturally encourages empathy, critical reflection, and a determination to understand the social conditions that give rise to crime and the varied responses to it.
Graduates of criminology programmes go on to work in the criminal justice system, including roles in probation, the police service, prison and secure settings, and youth justice. The voluntary sector, social care, policy research, journalism, advocacy, and local government are also strong destinations. Postgraduate study in criminology, criminal justice policy, law, or forensic psychology is a well-trodden next step.