Criminology

Question crime. Challenge justice. Create a fairer future. Discover what drives criminal behaviour and how power, policy, and people shape justice systems.

How do we define crime? Why do people offend? And what can society do to prevent it? On BA Criminology, you'll tackle big questions about justice, inequality, and social change, while building the practical research and analytical skills to really make a difference.

We'll dive into the causes and effects of crime, the criminal justice system, and the social, political, and cultural forces that shape responses to harm. Moving beyond the headlines, you'll engage with contemporary issues, such as desistance, recovery, terrorism, and community safety, connecting theory to real lives, policy, and practice.

As part of this course, you'll:
• Decode key criminological theories and gain contexts of crime and justice



• Explore engaging topics, selecting from a range of unique optional modules like The Criminology of Tattooing, Bizarre & Rare Crimes, and Green Criminology



• Gain real-world insight through work experience, volunteering, and practitioner-led workshops with the police, courts, charities, psychologists, and more



• Build future-ready skills in critical thinking, ethical reasoning, communication, and confident analysis



• Design and deliver your own research project in an area of criminology you're passionate about



You'll graduate ready to make an impact across criminal justice, social policy, community work, and research, equipped to question, challenge, and contribute to a fairer society.

Find out more
Learn criminology with purpose and direction
Throughout the course, you'll build a clear understanding of the career pathways open to you, from criminal justice and social policy to community work, research, and postgraduate study. You'll explore how your learning connects to real roles and professions, ensuring you graduate with clarity and confidence.

Study that prepares you for your future
Many modules use employability-focused assessments, such as case analyses, research reports, presentations, and policy-style briefings. These help you develop the skills employers value and understand how criminological knowledge is applied in professional settings.

Research that reflects real issues
Research is central to your degree. You'll complete an independent research project on a topic you care about - planning your study, analysing data, and evaluating evidence, before concluding your findings.

Go beyond the classroom
A blend of work experience, volunteering, and practitioner-led teaching give you first-hand insight into how crime and justice are managed in practice. You'll learn from professionals working in policing, courts, probation, charities, and community organisations, helping you connect theory to lived experience.

Study criminology in a connected city
Leeds offers access to a wide network of justice, legal, and third-sector organisations. Studying criminology here means learning in a city where policy, practice, and social change are actively shaped, giving your degree real-world relevance from day one.

Why study the BA Criminology degree at Leeds Beckett University?
- 96% of students on BA (Hons) Criminology were positive about the way teaching staff explain things


• Tailor your studies with distinctive optional modules, ranging from The Criminology of Tattooing to Bizarre and Rare Crimes and Green Criminology



• Gain real insight into how justice works in practice - learn from a research-active team and via work experience, volunteering, and practitioner-led sessions



• Explore criminology on an international scale with global study abroad opportunities, including in the United States



• Develop a clear understanding of career pathways from day one, through employability-focused assessments that equip you with strong applied skills



*National Student Survey 2026

Curiosity needs thinkers, makers, and dreamers. It needs you!

Leeds Beckett believes that when unlike minds come together, incredible things happen. That’s why they don’t just teach; they collaborate, challenge and inspire.

Their courses are meticulously designed, combining practical experience through work placements with a vibrant location at the heart of one of the UK’s largest student communities. Boasting a top 10 UK ranking for both course quality and student life (Unicompare 2026) and a prestigious five-star QS rating, LBU sets the standard for excellence.

The university prioritises student wellbeing and stands among just seven universities nationwide to earn the University Mental Health Charter Award - proof of their unwavering commitment to advancing mental health and wellbeing.

All of this is why 98% of Leeds Beckett students and graduates would recommend studying at the university to a friend (Unicompare, 2024 reviews).