Criminology

Criminology is the scientific study of crime, criminal behaviour, and the institutions and systems that societies create to prevent and respond to it. It asks why crime happens, who is most likely to commit it and who is most likely to experience it, how the criminal justice system operates in practice and in principle, and whether the policies aimed at reducing crime actually work. It is a discipline that draws on sociology, psychology, law, politics, and philosophy, making it one of the most genuinely interdisciplinary social sciences.

At the University of Gloucestershire, this three-year full-time degree engages with the full breadth of criminological enquiry. You will study criminological theory from classical to contemporary perspectives, explore how crime is measured and recorded, examine the workings of policing, prosecution, courts, and prisons, and investigate the experiences of victims and offenders. You will also engage with the social contexts that shape patterns of crime and punishment, including questions of inequality, race, gender, and class.

Research methods, both qualitative and quantitative, are integrated throughout the programme, equipping you to evaluate evidence and contribute to criminological knowledge. Volunteering with career-relevant organisations is encouraged throughout the course, connecting your academic study with the realities of criminal justice in practice.

You will develop analytical thinking, the ability to evaluate competing theoretical accounts, research skills, and the capacity to communicate complex arguments clearly in writing. These skills are valued across the public sector, research, and beyond.

Graduates from criminology programmes move into careers in the probation service, the prison service, youth offending teams, the police, victim support organisations, social work, and public policy. Research roles in government departments and academic institutions are also common destinations. Many graduates pursue postgraduate study in criminology, criminal justice, social policy, or law, opening routes to specialist practice, research, and academic careers.