Psychology and Criminology with Year Abroad

Psychology and criminology is a pairing that explores how individual psychological processes and broader social and structural factors together shape criminal behaviour, victimisation and the systems through which society responds to crime. Psychology illuminates the cognitive, emotional and developmental dimensions of human behaviour, including how people perceive situations, make decisions and respond to environments. Criminology examines the social, cultural and institutional contexts in which crime occurs and is addressed, asking why crime rates vary across societies and communities and whether punishment, rehabilitation and prevention are effective.

At King's College London, this four-year BSc with year abroad is accredited by the British Psychological Society and is taught in the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, one of the world's leading centres for psychological research. The programme is designed for research-led teaching, with a strong emphasis on developing employability skills and providing access to a wide range of discipline-specific opportunities, placements and internships alongside the academic curriculum. You will engage with the psychological sciences and the field of criminology and explore their application to a variety of contemporary challenges, from understanding radicalisation and violence to evaluating criminal justice interventions.

Graduates of psychology and criminology programmes are well placed for careers in criminal justice, mental health, research and the public and voluntary sectors. Forensic psychology, probation, victim support, crime analysis, policing, social work and community development are all common directions for those interested in the applied dimensions of this combination. The BPS accreditation provides the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership, supporting progression towards forensic, clinical or occupational psychology training.

Many graduates pursue postgraduate study in forensic psychology, criminology or applied psychology, where the combined undergraduate formation gives them a particularly strong and distinctive foundation.