University of York

What you'll study

This joint honours degree blends core criminological topics with social psychological theory and methods. You will study how crime is defined, explained and controlled alongside the social and cognitive processes that influence offending, compliance and social harm. Teaching typically includes a mix of lectures, seminars, research methods training and assessed coursework.

• Foundations of Criminology: theories of crime, social responses, crime measurement and the organisation of justice systems.
• Social Psychological Processes: social cognition, attitudes and persuasion, conformity, group behaviour and intergroup relations.
• Research Methods and Data Analysis: quantitative and qualitative research design, statistical analysis, survey methods and practical skills for analysing crime and social behaviour.
• Applied Topics: policing and policing cultures, youth justice, victimology, forensic contexts, offending trajectories and prevention interventions.
• Optional and Advanced Modules: opportunity to choose modules that reflect your interests, such as mental health and offending, substance use, restorative justice, policy evaluation or advanced social psychology topics.
• Final-year project: an independent research project or dissertation supervised by academic staff, allowing you to investigate a specific question at the intersection of criminology and social psychology.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to have completed a secondary qualification equivalent to UK A-levels or the International Baccalaureate, with consistent academic achievement. Relevant subjects such as psychology, sociology, history or the social sciences are helpful but not essential. The department welcomes mature students and those with vocational experience who can demonstrate their preparedness for degree-level study.

Students must meet the University’s English language requirements if English is not their first language, and may be asked to provide evidence of prior study or experience for competitive places. GCSE-level passes in English and mathematics (or recognised equivalents) are typically expected.

Career prospects

Graduates leave with a combination of analytical, research and communication skills valued across the public, private and third sectors. Common career paths include roles in:

• policing, probation, prisons and wider criminal justice agencies
• policy-making, government and local authority roles dealing with crime, community safety and social policy
• research and data analysis in universities, think tanks and consultancy firms
• charities and non-governmental organisations working on victim support, youth services, rehabilitation and prevention
• private sector roles in security, compliance and risk, or in organisations needing behavioural insight

Many graduates also progress to postgraduate study in criminology, social psychology, forensic psychology, applied social research or related professional training.

Why study at University of York

The University of York offers an interdisciplinary environment with active research in criminology and social psychology, giving students exposure to contemporary debates and evidence-based practice. Teaching is research-led and delivered by staff with expertise across sociology, criminology and psychology, and the department maintains links with regional criminal justice agencies and community organisations to support applied learning.

Students benefit from dedicated research and library resources, practical training in research methods, and opportunities for placements, volunteering and student-led projects that build employability. The university’s collegiate environment and active student societies also provide a supportive setting for academic development and extracurricular engagement.