Criminology with Forensic Investigation

Criminology and forensic investigation is a combination that brings together the social scientific study of crime with the practical scientific techniques used to investigate it. Criminology examines why people offend, how societies define and respond to crime, and whether justice systems achieve their stated goals, drawing on sociology, psychology, law, and history to engage with these questions rigorously. Forensic investigation adds the applied science of criminal evidence: how crime scenes are examined, how physical, digital, and biological evidence is collected, analysed, and interpreted, and how scientific findings are communicated within the justice system.

At the University of Surrey, this three-year full-time degree gives you grounding in both the social and scientific dimensions of crime and criminal justice. You will engage with criminological theory and empirical research on offending, victimisation, and justice alongside the forensic methods and techniques that support criminal investigation. Surrey has invested in its digital capabilities and prepares graduates with the skills and creative problem-solving that employers in both the criminal justice and forensic sectors value.

The degree does not include a placement year, allowing you to focus your three years on developing academic and technical depth across both strands.

Graduates from Criminology with Forensic Investigation programmes are well placed for careers in the criminal justice system and in the forensic sciences. Police services, forensic science providers, the National Crime Agency, prison service, probation, and intelligence agencies all employ people with this combination of knowledge. Laboratory-based forensic roles in areas such as toxicology, digital forensics, fingerprinting, and DNA analysis are accessible with this background, as are operational roles in scene examination.

Others move into social work, victim support, policy research, or journalism. Postgraduate study in forensic science, criminology, or criminal justice is a natural next step. The typical entry tariff is 120 points.