"Crime scene - do not enter" tape in focus, with a table on which bottle and can are placed in the background.
BSc (Hons) Placement year available

Psychology with Criminology

Explore the fascinating realms of psychology and criminology on our joint honours degree, with hands-on experience in our £45m Science Centre.

How do our thoughts and feelings dictate our actions? And is there such a thing as the criminal mind?

These are fascinating questions, and psychology and criminology are equally fascinating fields. You might be interested in both, and wondering which area to specialise in. If that’s the case, our British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited Psychology with Criminology degree is made for you.

We start by looking at the main principles of psychology and criminology. Then, in Years 2 and 3, our optional modules give you the freedom to explore your own interests in more depth.

Logo: THE Awards 2023
 

Study at an award-winning university

We were named Times Higher Education University of the Year 2023. We've also been awarded a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework – a reflection of the outstanding education we offer our students.

Accreditation

Achieve a second-class honours degree or above, and you’ll be eligible for graduate chartered membership of the British Psychological Society. It’s your first step towards becoming a chartered psychologist.

What is an accredited course?
British Psychological Society logo
Why ARU?
  • Our degrees are accredited by the British Psychological Society and delivered in our world-class Science Centre with dedicated Psychology labs
  • Gain unique experiences at live trials at the Crown Court and the Old Bailey
  • Bring the world of work to life through Live Briefs; designed and developed with regional employers to give you exposure to ‘real world’ problem-solving
  • Explore world-leading research with 98% of our Psychology research being recognised as internationally significant (REF 2023)
  • We offer support with the cost of living, and Psychology courses deliver compressed teaching across three days of the week, freeing your time for work experience
  • Study abroad opportunities

Course options

Course options

Key facts

Looking for different course options?

Modules are subject to change and availability, and may vary by location. If you have the choice of optional modules, these are indicated with a *.

Year 1
  • Introduction to Contemporary Issues in Criminology (30 credits)
  • The Psychology of Everyday Life (15 credits)
  • Becoming a Researcher (30 credits)
  • Clinical and Health Psychology (15 credits)
  • Criminal Justice in England and Wales (15 credits)
  • Into ARU
Year 2
  • Research in Action: Statistical Thinking (15 credits)
  • Research in Action: Qualitative Methods and Psychology in Practice (15 credits)
  • Social Psychology: Development and Difference (30 credits)
  • Brain, Body and Mind (30 credits)
  • Ruskin Module (15 credits)
  • Intoxicants and Intoxication (15 credits) *
  • Revolving Doors: Punishment and Rehabilitation (15 credits) *
  • Diagnosis and Formulation in Mental Health (15 credits) *
Year 3
  • Forensic Psychology (15 credits)
  • Criminology in Policy and Practice (15 credits)
  • Psychology Project (30 credits)
  • Psychological Assessment (15 credits) *
  • Professional Skills in Clinical Settings (15 credits) *
  • Cognitive Neuroscience (15 credits) *
  • Stress and Stress Management (15 credits) *
  • Exploitation, Trafficking and Sexual Violence (15 credits) *
  • Youth, Crime and Aggression (15 credits) *
  • Investigative Psychology (15 credits) *
  • Psychology in the Workplace (15 credits) *
  • Lifespan Development (15 credits) *
  • Sex, Sexuality and Gender (15 credits) *
  • Emotion (15 credits) *
  • Culture and Health (15 credits) *
  • Concepts of Good and Evil (15 credits) *
  • Comparative and Global Criminal Justice (15 credits) *
  • Organised Crime (15 credits) *
  • The Neuroscience of Self (15 credits) *
  • Atypical Development (15 credits) *
  • Groups in Conflict: Social Psychological Issues (15 credits) *
  • Psychological Therapies (15 credits) *
  • Consumer Psychology (15 credits) *
  • Cyberpsychology (15 credits) *
Module details

To prepare you for university study, you can take a foundation year at the start of this course. Find out more about foundation years.

Year 1
  • Interactive Learning Skills and Communication
  • Information and Communication Technology
  • Critical Thinking
  • Maths for Scientists
  • Intercultural Studies
  • Ethics
  • Biology: Physiology
  • Psychology
Module details

You can choose to take an optional placement year as part of this course. Placements typically happen in Year 3, and your course will take four years overall. Find out more about placement years.

Placement year
  • Work Placement - Psychology and Sport Sciences (120 credits)
Module details

At ARU, you’ll learn from expert tutors who are actively engaged in research work in their specialist field.

Facilities

At ARU you’ll use psychology labs in our state-of-the-art Science Centre. There are dedicated labs for EEG, perception, biomarker analysis, neuroscience and more.

Our labs house commercial software packages and specialist psychological equipment such as:

  • PowerLab devices for monitoring emotional and physiological response
  • a portable Nexus device, for recording similar activity outside the lab
  • a Tobii Pro 300TX eyetracker
  • driving simulator
  • Oculus Rift VR headset
  • visual and acoustic stimulation systems
  • functional near-infrared spectroscopy
  • 64-channel Brain Vision EEG/ERP system.

Careers

As a Psychology with Criminology graduate, a range of careers is open to you. With further study, you could specialise in disciplines such as forensic, occupational or educational psychology. Or as a criminologist you could work for the Probation Service, the police, the Prison Service, the Home Office or the Courts Service.

As a graduate chartered member of the British Psychological Society, you could undertake further training to become a counselling or clinical psychologist, or specialise in areas like health, educational or forensic psychology.

We have strong links with the local probation service and the police, so you’ll have the opportunity to gain work experience while you’re studying.

Graduation doesn't need to be the end of your time with us. We offer a range of postgraduate degrees including MSc Foundations in Clinical Psychology, and MSc Clinical Child Psychology. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.

Employability and personal career development

Informed by employers, our courses support an integrated approach to employability. You’ll have opportunities to develop the skills and abilities they are looking for and gain a deeper understanding of how your academic learning relates to the world of work through Live Briefs and Ruskin Modules.

To amplify your career ambition, you will need to actively dedicate time outside of your studies, whether you choose to explore placements, internships or volunteering. Or you could make a social impact by collaborating with our partner organisations through our volunteer scheme Students at the Heart of Knowledge Exchange (SHoKE). These all give you an edge, providing you with experience that you will be able to evidence on your CV and talk about in interviews.

Our Employability and Careers Service offers a range of expert advice and support to build your unique professional profile, including tailored career appointments, advice on writing your CV, and help to complete job applications. You’ll have 24/7 access to the Careers Centre, our comprehensive online digital resource, which empowers you to start building a Personal Career Development Plan from the very start. Design your future at ARU.

Psychology with Criminology student Anna Cerchio

Anna

“I appreciated the fact that lecturers who were working in the field or who had researched specific topics for years were actually the ones teaching.”

Anna

Psychology with Criminology graduate

Read more from Anna

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