Law and Criminology

Law and Criminology is a degree that examines the legal system and the social phenomenon of crime as deeply connected subjects. Law provides a rigorous engagement with the rules, institutions, and processes that define rights and obligations and govern the response to wrongdoing. Criminology brings in the sociological, psychological, and theoretical perspectives that ask why crime occurs, how it is defined, who is most affected by it, and whether the criminal justice system is effective or just.

Studying both gives you a complete picture of how society constructs and responds to deviance.

At Aberystwyth University, this three-year, full-time programme is delivered by the Department of Law and Criminology, which has a long tradition of excellence in both disciplines. You will study the foundations of English law, including contract, tort, criminal law, and public law, alongside criminological theories and debates relating to crime, deviance, victimhood, and punishment. The combination keeps both disciplines in productive tension, with legal doctrine informed by criminological critique and criminological theory grounded in an understanding of how the law actually works.

Aberystwyth's research-active department and its practical orientation ensure the degree is both intellectually rigorous and professionally relevant.

Graduates of Law and Criminology are well placed for careers in legal practice, the criminal justice system, probation, social work, policy, research, and advocacy. Many pursue further qualifications to qualify as solicitors or barristers, while others enter policing, the prison service, or related agencies. The combination of legal knowledge and criminological understanding is particularly valuable in public law, criminal law, and roles that sit at the boundary between law, policy, and social practice.

Postgraduate study in law, criminology, or social policy is a natural next step for those seeking specialist expertise.