Program Overview

Study criminology at the University of Roehampton to explore fascinating questions such as: What is justice? Who defines criminal behaviour? And how can we reduce harm in society? 

Criminology draws from a range of other disciplines including sociology, psychology and law. On this exciting degree, you will study contemporary problems relating to crime prevention, criminalisation and social control. 

VIDEO: Listen to some of our students talking about why they chose Roehampton and what they're enjoying about studying Criminology.

Criminologists study crime, the criminal justice system and society’s response to the impact of criminal behaviour. You will develop a critical understanding of how the criminal justice system operates, and the relationship between punishments and crime prevention. Criminologists also analyse challenging problems relating to harmful behaviours in society and assess a range of solutions. 

We offer stimulating modules that will build your knowledge over the three years you are with us. Recent examples include Becoming a Criminologist, which introduces you to the different ways to think about and analyse crime; Youth Crime and Deviance, which provides an insight into the regulation, control and punishment of young people in society; and Contemporary Issues in Criminology, which examines issues in criminology and social control, including mass incarceration, war crimes, and terrorism and anti-terrorism. 

The skills you develop will equip you for a successful career in many fields. Official figures show that Roehampton criminology students earn more on average than students from any other modern university in London (Longitudinal Education Outcomes, 2017 results; earnings one year after graduation).

How you will learn:

• You will be taught by world-class tutors, with substantial experience of working with offenders and prisoners, including cases involving domestic violence, child abuse and youth crime.  
• Areas of study include punishment and prisons, gang culture, the criminal justice system and legislation, serial killers, and human trafficking. 
• You will become an independent, critical thinker, with the skills to analyse official and popular conceptions of crime.  
• You will learn how to use theory and evidence to solve problems, design your own research projects, and come up with ways to challenge current key ethical, political and moral questions about crime and justice.

Sociology:
Sociology is about exploring the building blocks of society. It’s the study of the connections that bind us together: families, organisations and social groups. 

This degree will help you understand how societies are created and how they change. You will learn how educational attainment, ethnicity, gender and geography all play a part in people’s place in society, including the resources they accumulate and the networks they build. We offer a range of modules to fit with your interests. Several modules include field trips and you will be able to apply what you have learned to your everyday life. Other modules such as Becoming a Sociologist offer opportunities to develop valuable, hands-on skills for your career, as you analyse the world through focus groups, interviews and surveys. 

Roehampton's Professor Mark McCormack teaches on our BSc Sociology degree and is also the author of a high-profile text book Discovering Sociology, used by degree students throughout the UK.  In this short film Professor McCormack is interviewed about the book and the concept of the sociological imagination.

Another lecturer on our BSc Sociology programme, Dr Darren O’Byrne, has also authored an important text book for undergraduate students, Introducing Sociological Theory.

How you will learn:
This course is taught with a strong practical approach, enabling you to apply your everyday experience to key issues and gain critical thinking skills that will help you understand the theories that underpin the topics covered.  

Our expert teaching staff will develop your knowledge of what shapes society, considering issues such as politics, inequality, religion, the environment, human rights, family, identity and the economy.  

You will explore issues through the context of race and ethnicity, power and politics, culture, and communication. 

The Department of Social Sciences hosts the internationally recognised Crucible Centre for Human Rights Research, which focuses on research in international relations, human rights, citizenship and migration. You will be part of a department driven by innovative research and benefit from our excellent national and international links