Psychology and Criminology

Psychology and criminology share a concern with human behaviour, but approach it from complementary angles. Psychology examines the mental processes, developmental histories, and social contexts that shape how individuals think, feel, and act. Criminology asks why crime occurs, how societies respond to it, and whether those responses are effective or just.

Studied together, the two disciplines produce graduates who can think critically about offending, victimisation, and the criminal justice system in ways that neither subject could achieve alone.

At the University of Brighton, this three-year, full-time combined degree develops your understanding of psychological research methods alongside sociological and legal perspectives on crime and justice. You will explore topics such as the psychology of offending behaviour, eyewitness testimony and its limitations, risk assessment, the treatment of offenders, and the social and structural factors that influence crime rates. Throughout the programme you will learn how to design and conduct research, interpret quantitative and qualitative data, and evaluate competing theoretical explanations with appropriate scepticism.

The programme includes a sandwich placement year and a work placement, which allows you to apply your academic learning in a professional context before graduating. Relevant settings include probation, the prison service, victim support organisations, mental health services, and policing, all of which value graduates who understand both individual psychology and broader patterns in crime and justice.

Graduates from this combination typically find routes into the criminal justice system, working in probation, youth offending teams, the prison service, or victim support roles. Others move into mental health, social work, or community rehabilitation. The research skills and analytical thinking you develop are also valued in policy, the charity sector, and human resources.

Postgraduate study in clinical psychology, forensic psychology, criminology, or law is a common pathway for those wishing to specialise further.