Criminology with Psychology

Criminology with psychology is a degree that approaches crime and criminal justice from a perspective that keeps the individual human being in view. Criminology examines the social, structural, and institutional dimensions of crime and justice, while psychology provides the tools to understand why individuals think, feel, and behave as they do, and how those processes interact with the situations and social contexts in which criminal behaviour occurs. The combination is both intellectually rich and practically relevant to careers in justice, health, and social care.

At the University of Winchester, this three-year full-time programme explores a wide range of criminal justice and penological concepts and issues, grounding you in the discipline of criminology while developing your psychological understanding of behaviour, motivation, cognition, and mental health in forensic and criminal justice contexts. You will study crime statistics and their interpretation, theories of offending, the criminal justice system, victimology, punishment, and rehabilitation, alongside psychological topics such as social influence, development, abnormal psychology, and the psychology of decision-making in legal settings. The programme develops your ability to think critically about evidence, to appreciate the complexity of individual and social behaviour, and to consider ethical questions about how society responds to harm.

Graduates go on to careers in probation, youth justice, the prison service, social work, counselling, healthcare, police, victim support services, and policy roles. Many go on to postgraduate study in forensic psychology, criminology, social work, or law, some pursuing professional qualifications that open routes into specialised forensic or clinical practice. The analytical and interpersonal skills the degree develops are also valued in education, human resources, and the voluntary sector.