Criminology and Criminal Justice

Criminology and criminal justice is the systematic study of crime, its causes, the systems designed to respond to it, and the social and political contexts that shape all of these. Criminology draws on sociology, psychology, law, and political science to ask why crime occurs, how it varies across social groups and contexts, and how different societies define and sanction harmful behaviour. Criminal justice examines the institutions and agencies through which states respond to crime, from policing and prosecution through to sentencing, imprisonment, and rehabilitation, along with the evidence about what works and what does not.

At the University of Keele, which is recognised as having pioneered undergraduate criminology in the UK, this three-year full-time programme is delivered by research-active criminologists who work closely with criminal justice agencies. This means you learn not just from academic literature but from practitioners who understand the realities of policing, probation, prisons, and youth justice from the inside. The programme includes a sandwich placement year, a year abroad, and work placement opportunities, giving you direct professional engagement with the criminal justice system and the opportunity to apply your knowledge in real-world settings.

You will build engagement with agency representatives and develop an evidence-based understanding of a complex and evolving field.

You will develop skills in analytical thinking, critical evaluation of evidence, research methodology, and the written and verbal communication of complex social analysis. The ability to engage rigorously with questions of crime and justice, and to distinguish evidence from rhetoric, is central to the programme.

Graduates from criminology and criminal justice programmes pursue careers in policing, probation, youth offending services, prisons, social work, victim support, policy research, the charity sector, and academia. The combination of analytical skills and criminal justice knowledge is valued across the public and third sectors. Postgraduate study in criminology, criminal justice, social work, or law is a natural next step.