Psychology/Criminology

Psychology and Criminology at Aberystwyth University is a combination that explores human behaviour from both a psychological and a criminological perspective, asking why people commit crime, how the mind and social context interact to produce offending, and what responses to crime are most likely to be effective. Psychology studies the brain, mind, and behaviour, examining the cognitive, emotional, and neurobiological factors that shape how individuals act. Criminology examines crime as a social phenomenon, asking how it is defined, measured, and responded to, and what the sociocultural consequences of criminal behaviour are for individuals and communities.

This three-year full-time programme develops your understanding of the social and psychological perspectives on crime, taking you through the motivations for offending, the sociocultural repercussions of criminal behaviour, and the factors associated with reoffending. You will study both disciplines with genuine depth, developing research skills in both quantitative and qualitative methods alongside the theoretical knowledge of psychology and criminology. The combination prepares you well for understanding the full complexity of why crime happens and what might be done about it, drawing on brain science and social theory in equal measure.

Graduates go on to careers in the criminal justice system, including probation, youth offending services, the police, and the prison service. Social work, mental health support, victim services, policy research, and the charitable sector are also common destinations. For those wishing to pursue professional careers in forensic or clinical psychology, further postgraduate training will be required following an accredited undergraduate degree.

Postgraduate study in criminology, forensic psychology, social work, or law is a well-established route for those who wish to develop their expertise and access specific professional roles.