Politics & Criminology
Politics and criminology make a natural pairing because both are fundamentally concerned with how societies are ordered, how authority is exercised, and what happens when that order is challenged or broken. Politics examines the institutions, processes, and ideas through which power is distributed and contested in democratic and non-democratic systems alike. Criminology asks why crime occurs, how it is defined and measured, how criminal justice systems respond to it, and who bears the costs when those systems succeed or fail.
Together they give you a sophisticated understanding of social control, political authority, inequality, and justice.
The University of Manchester's three-year full-time Politics and Criminology programme draws on the strength of both departments in one of the UK's leading research universities. You will engage with core theories in political science and criminology, examining questions of governance, deviance, punishment, policing, security, and social harm through multiple disciplinary lenses. Manchester's urban location provides a rich context for thinking about crime, inequality, and political responses, and the programme takes seriously the connections between structural disadvantage and criminal justice outcomes.
You will develop skills in critical analysis, research methods including both quantitative and qualitative approaches, and evidence-based argument that are valued across a wide range of professions.
A typical entry tariff of 136 points reflects the programme's expectation of strong analytical ability and engagement with complex social and political questions.
Graduates from this combination pursue careers in the civil service, law, policing, probation, social work, policy research, journalism, third-sector organisations, and politics itself. The combination of political awareness and criminological understanding is particularly relevant for roles in criminal justice policy, community safety, and public administration. Postgraduate study in criminology, law, social policy, or politics is a natural continuation for those seeking specialist expertise.