Criminology

Criminology is the study of crime as a social phenomenon, asking not just what crime is but how it is defined, who commits it, who is affected by it, and how society responds through policing, courts, and punishment. It draws on sociology, psychology, law, and history to interrogate the systems that create and respond to crime, examining whether they are effective, fair, and humane. The discipline is grounded in evidence but shaped by deep ethical questions about justice, rights, and the treatment of both those who offend and those who are harmed.

At the University of Brighton, you will study Criminology over three years, full time. The programme includes a sandwich year and work placement opportunities, giving you structured professional experience in criminal justice, community, or research settings alongside your academic studies. This practical grounding is a valuable complement to the theoretical and empirical content of the degree, and helps you understand how the concepts you study operate in real institutional contexts.

You will explore major criminological theories, examine specific forms of crime including violent offending, corporate crime, and cybercrime, and analyse the institutions of criminal justice from policing and prosecution through to sentencing and rehabilitation. Research methods are developed throughout, building both quantitative and qualitative skills that are essential for professional work and further study in the field.

Graduates of criminology programmes enter careers in probation, prison and offender management services, youth justice, victim support, social work, policy, research, and journalism. The sandwich placement can be a significant advantage in securing graduate employment in these fields. Many graduates also continue into postgraduate study in criminology, law, social work, or criminal justice policy, with some pursuing academic research careers.