Criminology with Psychology
Criminology and psychology are natural companions in the study of crime and justice. Criminology examines the social, cultural, and structural dimensions of crime, asking how it is defined, measured, responded to, and experienced within different societies. Psychology brings a complementary focus on the individual, exploring how mental processes, development, personality, and situational factors influence behaviour.
Together they provide a rich and multilayered understanding of why crimes occur, how victims and perpetrators experience events, and how the criminal justice system responds to complex human realities.
At the University of the West of England in Bristol, the BSc in Criminology with Psychology is a part-time programme that gives you the flexibility to study alongside work or other responsibilities. The course combines applied knowledge with practical experience, and it includes a sandwich year and a work placement, which together provide significant professional context for your academic study. You will develop skills in research methods, statistical analysis, case evaluation, and critical writing, drawing on both social scientific and psychological frameworks.
UWE Bristol has strong links with criminal justice organisations in the region, and the programme is designed with graduate employability firmly in mind.
The applied emphasis of this degree means that alongside theoretical understanding you will build the kind of practical skills and professional awareness that employers in criminal justice and social care settings look for. The sandwich placement in particular allows you to test your learning in a real professional environment.
Graduates are well placed for careers in probation, victim support, the prison service, social work, policing, community justice, forensic settings, and mental health services. Many also go on to postgraduate training as forensic or clinical psychologists, or pursue master's programmes in criminology, criminal justice, or applied psychology.