Criminology Courses

About Criminology University Courses

Undertaking a criminology degree at university is an excellent option for those wanting to learn about criminal justice, reasons why people commit crimes and criminal victimisation, the impacts of crime, and how these crimes can be prevented. A UCAS search shows 905 criminology-related courses from 150 providers. These course options include:

• Criminology
• Criminology and Sociology
• Criminology and Law
• Criminology and Psychology

Prospective criminology students should be aware that criminology is a multidisciplinary subject, and will draw on topics from social sciences such as sociology, psychology and law. The first year of study will provide an overview of the criminal justice system and an introduction to research methods, data handling and analysis. Your second and third years of study will examine more detailed criminological topics and include optional modules. You will also complete a project in your final academic year in a topic of your choice within the criminology and criminal justice discipline.

Entry Requirements

To be eligible for a criminology degree, most universities require prospective students to have three A-levels in relevant subjects. These subjects often include psychology, sociology or law. Top universities ask for A-Level grades of ABB-AAA. On average, universities ask for BBB grades at A-Level. If you have relevant experience in criminology, psychology, sociology or law, the grades asked for by the university may be lowered.

Funding

If this criminology degree is your first university qualification, you will be entitled to student loans provided by the government. These loans will cover your entire course fees, for both full-time and part-time students. You may also be entitled to a maintenance loan. You might be eligible for extra financial support if you have children or other dependents.

Workload & Difficulty

As with many university courses, most criminology students are assessed using both coursework and examinations. For those wishing to study part-time, the workload per year is reduced, but still encompasses the same assessments of those studying full-time. Criminology courses draw ideas from a number of disciplines, so you will need to be able to focus on multiple topics at once.

Career Prospects

Criminology graduates have a vast array of career paths in front of them. Many graduates choose to pursue a career as a criminologist, where you’ll collect data on criminal behaviour and analyse it, working with police forces, government and law-makers. Further to this, graduates may also find themselves in these careers:

• Law enforcement or policing
• Youth justice
• Social policy or government
• Forensic science
• Human rights
• Social work
• ​Social research
• Lecturing

This said the critical thinking, research skills and independent study skills you have gained throughout your degree course increases your employability and options for further study greatly.

Overall, undertaking a degree in criminology is an excellent option for those wishing to understand more about the study of crime and justice. As a multidisciplinary subject, you’ll learn from a broad curriculum and will finish your degree with a vast knowledge of many social science topics.