Psychology with Criminology
Psychology with criminology combines the scientific study of the mind and behaviour with the analysis of crime, criminal justice, and the social and legal systems built to manage them. Forensic psychology, where these disciplines most clearly intersect, is concerned with understanding the psychological dimensions of criminal behaviour, from the mental processes that lead individuals to offend to the psychological needs of victims and the reliability of evidence in legal proceedings. It is a field that draws on clinical psychology, social psychology, cognitive psychology, and criminological theory to address questions with direct practical consequences.
At Middlesex this part-time programme includes a foundation year, giving you the opportunity to develop the academic and scientific foundations you need before entering the full degree. You will study core psychology, covering the major areas of the discipline including developmental, social, biological, and cognitive psychology, alongside criminological perspectives on crime, deviance, punishment, and the criminal justice system. The combination gives you a distinctive double lens, allowing you to bring psychological insight to criminological problems and criminological context to psychological questions.
Practical and applied dimensions are woven throughout the degree. You will examine different types of offenders and offences, explore the psychological impact on victims, and consider how psychological understanding can contribute to investigation, prosecution, sentencing, and rehabilitation. The programme is oriented towards graduates who wish to work within or alongside the criminal justice system.
Graduates pursue careers in probation services, prisons, the police, youth offending teams, victim support organisations, social care, and counselling. Many go on to further study or professional training, as qualification as a forensic psychologist requires postgraduate education and supervised practice. The degree also provides a strong foundation for postgraduate study in clinical or forensic psychology.