Study Criminology, Sociology and Professional Policing at Hull

Want to discover the causes of crime? Ready to stand up to injustice? Join a thriving subject area where you’ll learn about crime, justice and deviance. You’ll investigate the nature of crime. Its causes. Its consequences. And join the search for solutions.

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Courses
Your degree
Our guarantee
Facilities
Police training
Our research
60-second guide
Next steps

Choose the right course for you

Learn in the line of duty

Through placements, work experience and a diverse course of theoretical study and research, you’ll gain the key skills that are in demand across a wide range of careers.

Since pioneering this exciting area of study over 50 years ago, we’ve built a powerful reputation and strong links with local, regional and national criminal justice agencies.

These partnerships give us unique insight into the world of criminology. So everything you learn is shaped by the latest industry knowledge and techniques.

Plus, our Criminology students get the chance to apply for a placement with Humberside Police and work with areas like CSI, the Special Branch Ports Unit, community policing, cybercrime and the custody suite. And visit crime scenes, observe interviews and collect evidence.

So by the time you graduate, you’ll be ready to work in this life-changing industry: that’s our Career-ready Guarantee to you.

Over 50 years

That's how much experience we have as a leading criminology centre and one of the first in the UK to deliver criminology programmes.

Top 15 in the UK¹

We’re ranked 15th in the country for Research Quality¹ and specialise in a diverse range of critical issues across the criminology and criminal justice spectrum.

Hands-on learning

Get to grips - literally - with topics from modern-day slavery to knife crime in our purpose-built replica crime scene on campus.

Excellent careers

Our courses are rated 91.7% for employability² with multiple career pathways you can take after you graduate.

Gain experience in the field

As part of our Career-ready Guarantee, you’ll put the theory into practice on field trips to courts, police stations and prisons, as well as policing projects and placements. All thanks to our close partnerships with local and national criminal justice agencies.

When you choose one of our Criminology degrees, you’ll also get the chance to apply for a semester-long placement with Humberside Police.³

Jade-Heredia-Humberside-Police-15th-November-2018-129

Jade & Megan

Jade Heredia and Megan Witty completed a semester-long placement with Humberside Police as part of their criminology courses.

Watch Jade and Megan’s story

Jasmine Morley

Jasmine Morley chose to study Criminology at Hull for the chance to complete a placement with Humberside Police.

Watch Jasmine's story

Studying Criminology at Hull in 60 seconds

Abbie gives us a quick 60 seconds on what makes Criminology at Hull so special.

Watch the video

Step out of the classroom and into the crime scene

We’re one of the few universities in the UK to have a purpose-built replica crime scene facility right here on campus.

Put what you learn into practise and get hands-on collecting evidence, exploring criminal activity and seeing the world of forensic science brought to life.

And it means that when you graduate, you’ll be leaving us with practical experience that gives you an edge over the competition.

First stop: University of Hull

Next stop:

Probation Officer

Police Officer

Police Service Volunteer

Civil Servant

Charity Worker

Scenes of Crime Officer

Prison Officer

Career ready

Get a real taste of life as a police officer by training as a Special Constable or Police Service Volunteer alongside your Professional Policing degree.

We work closely with Humberside Police to ensure that all our Professional Policing students can apply to become a Special Constable or Police Service Volunteer.

Gain first-hand experience of policing and be trained in areas including powers of arrest, public order, burglary and theft – and graduate ready to start your policing career.

Criminology student Megan Witty with Humberside Police

The impact of our research stretches across the globe

A pioneer in the field, we were one of the first universities in the UK to teach criminology over 50 years ago.

We're still at the forefront of the field today and our world-class research informs and responds to local, national and international needs.

We work with research partners throughout the UK, Europe and Africa including governments, the voluntary sector, public services and the community, with our research powering our teaching. Our expert staff will even design modules with you in mind.

Find out more

Thomas Hammond PhD Criminology FACE WISE UNI-1885@2x

A quick guide to studying criminology at Hull

Do the opportunities you have at university make a difference when you apply for a job?

The answer is yes. And here at Hull, you develop skills that are topical, practical and fit for purpose in the modern world as part of a career-focused degree.

But we don’t expect you to just take our word for it. That’s why we gave Abbie, one of our Criminology students, 60 seconds to describe what it’s really like to study at Hull.

Watch our video

Your next steps

We’re here to help at every stage of your journey to university, whether you’re looking for a course, or you’re ready to apply. If you have any questions, just get in touch. You can also receive important updates from us using the form.

Download your prospectus

study@hull.ac.uk

01482 466100

1. (Criminology, Joint 15th) The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024.

2. (Criminology) UK domicile full-time first degree leavers; Higher Education Graduate Outcomes statistics, for the academic year 2020/21, published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency June 2023.

3. Only available on Criminology courses, not Professional Policing.