Criminology and Policing

Jump-start your career in the criminal justice sector with our specialist Criminology and Policing degree.

Explore the English legal and criminal justice systems, including the police, courts, prisons, probation, and youth justice system.

You’ll discover the origins, cultural and political ethos, and legal and ethical frameworks of the system, as well as complex issues including media representation, public attitudes and the position of victims and offenders.

Learn with the latest case studies and research, interactive sessions, and opportunities for field trips.

Specialise with optional modules including Cyber Crime, the Dark Web, and Trafficking and Exploitation

Build a portfolio and CV, hear from key criminal justice professionals, and attend employment fairs.

Use our links to local and national organisations, including police forces, to find work placements and engage with professionals.

Attend events organised by our International Policing and Public Protection Research Institute.

Join a university at the forefront of shaping cultural change in uniformed services, with our record £11million research grant.

Careers

Our graduates go on to work in the police force, probation, prisons and youth justice, as well as the Border Force, the military, security, charities and NGOs, local government, and the public sector more generally. Others are using their skills in areas such as policy, PR, communication and the media.

Work towards your career goals from day one. You’ll have opportunities to engage with professionals from the criminal justice sector through guest lectures, workshop events, study trips and research projects.

We’ll support you to get involved in justice causes and campaigns, charities and voluntary work that contributes to civic duty so you can gain relevant experience in the criminal justice system. You’ll also boost your CV as you become proficient in critical analysis, research and communication.

You could also develop a specialism or start a career in research by taking part in our academic shadowing scheme or Cambridgeshire County Council’s violence prevention analysis programmes.

You’ll be well-equipped for a career in a number of public services, such as:

probation service
prison service
police
Home Office
Crown Prosecution Service
the Court Service
youth offending teams
crime reduction partnerships.

The multidisciplinary nature of this course, and its focus on employability and transferable skills, can also open doors elsewhere, for example in adult guidance work, charity work, counselling, local government, political analysis, and legal careers.

You might decide to stay at ARU to study for a Masters, such as MA Contemporary Policing, MA Criminology or MA International Relations. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.

Work Experience

Recently, our students took part in a live brief with Cambridge Constabulary, carrying out research on police officer demographics and recruitment.

Teaching

In Year 1, you’ll start to explore the key elements of England’s criminal justice system: police, courts, prisons, probation, and youth justice. You’ll also consider how media representations of crime shape public perceptions.

In Year 2, you’ll examine the ‘rise’ in evidence-based policing, major disaster planning, and how you can make a difference in the world, researching, pitching and evaluating an idea that could make a positive contribution to society.

Finally you’ll learn more about the youth justice system and how agencies use criminological theories, before pooling your learning in a Major Project.

At ARU, you’ll be supported from day one with wellbeing services, money advice and careers guidance to help you through university and beyond.

Their courses are built around the skills and experience employers value. ARU are proud to be in the top 20% of UK universities for teaching quality (TEF 2023), and ranked #1 in the East of England, and #8 in the UK, for UG graduates in senior roles 15 months after gradudation (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2025). You'll have access to fantastic facilities thanks to £95m of investment - think SuperLabs, TV studios, law courts, mock hospital wards, gaming studios and more.

Wherever you're heading, ARU will help you get there.