Criminology undergraduate courses

Why do people commit crime? How effective is sentencing and punishment? Can we prevent offending behaviour? Our courses are designed to take you into a career where you can tackle the big questions facing society and make positive changes in the criminal justice system.

Our courses are for you if you have an interest in crime and the criminal justice system. Criminology aims to analyse crime, and those that commit crimes. We look at crime as a social construct, and discuss and debate the differences in punishment and sentences across the globe and how effective these methods are. We look at what we can do to change re-occurring crimes and how high-risk offenders should be managed. You will also gain:

Top10for teaching quality - Criminology subject area**Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2024
Top15for student experience - Criminology subject area**Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2024

"I absolutely loved the course - it was really fascinating. We had experts from the police force, probation and prison service give guest talks which were thought provoking and engaging and allowed us to explore the criminal justice system in many different ways. I was fascinated by every lecture I had". Ellen Hicken, Criminology Graduate.

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Undergraduate Open Days

The best way to find out if studying at Derby is right for you is to experience an Open Day. Get a feel for the city and campus, tour our first-class facilities and see where you could be living.

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Opportunities 

With opportunities for internships, volunteering and placements, our hands-on approach to study will ensure you are ready for the world of work. Our courses have a strong practical focus on solving real-world problems. Our thriving partnerships with the police, probation service, prisons, courts and other criminal justice agencies ensure you benefit from work-related learning experiences. 

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Criminology graduate lands dream job in financial crime

Criminology graduate Ellen details how studying at Derby has helped her land a job working for Santander in their financial investigation team.

Read Ellen's storyRead Ellen's story

Graduates

Our graduates have gone onto a variety of different roles. Studying Criminology could lead to roles such as:

Expert teaching

Supporting you all the way is our team of enthusiastic and experienced lecturers who are experts in their fields. They include criminologists, sociologists, experienced police officers and lawyers. Several are still actively engaged with practice, which helps you keep up to date with the latest developments. Find out more about research within the School of Law and Social Sciences here

You’ll hear from guest speakers such as professionals who have pursued a career in the criminal justice sector and will share their own experiences.

Specialist facilities

Study at One Friar Gate Square, our dedicated centre for the study of law, criminology and policing. You will be able to build your practical experience in our specialist facilities which include a mock court room, student legal advice centre and replica custody suite including interview rooms and cell.

One Friar Gate Square

Discover One Friar Gate Square

One Friar Gate Square is the home of the Department of Law, Criminology and Social Sciences.

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Student stories

Our students and graduates are people just like you. And they are making an impact in our region and around the world by using their knowledge and skills to drive innovation and change. You can be part of that story. Let our students and graduates tell you theirs.

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