Criminology | Subject area | University of Essex

Discover criminology undergraduate degrees

You’re prepared to challenge the accepted concepts of justice, punishment and social control and have a meaningful impact on society. At Essex we encourage you to question the prescribed and critique the accepted norms. Harnessing a criminological imagination will give you fresh eyes to view some of the today’s most pressing issues. If you're impatient to understand the nature of crime, welcome home! But be warned, you will see the world in a completely different way.

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BA (Hons) Criminology

On our course you explore the nature of crime, criminal justice and punishment within wider social contexts.

Full-Time · Colchester Campus · Year abroad option · Placement year option

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BA (Hons) Criminology (Including Foundation Year)

BA Criminology (including Foundation Year) prepares you for university study while introducing you to the fields of criminology and sociology

Full-Time · Colchester Campus

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BA (Hons) Sociology and Criminology

Combine specialist study of criminology with a broad approach to sociological thought. Study crime, criminals, & criminal justice within wider social context.

Full-Time · Colchester Campus · Year abroad option · Placement year option

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BA (Hons) Criminology with Criminal Law

Why should crime be punished? What shapes criminal law in principle and practice? Explore these questions and more through BA Criminology with Criminal Law

Full-Time · Colchester Campus · Year abroad option · Placement year option

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BA (Hons) Criminology with Social Psychology

Examine the foundations of criminology, exploring the nature of crime, criminals & criminal justice within wider social & psychological contexts

Full-Time · Colchester Campus · Year abroad option · Placement year option

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BA (Hons) Criminology with Counselling Skills

This course explores crime and society, alongside counselling which examines the nature of emotional difficulties and human relationships.

Full-Time · Colchester Campus · Year abroad option · Placement year option

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Why choose Essex?

15th in UK for Sociology in Shanghai Ranking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2024
21st in UK for sociology (Daily Mail University Guide 2026)
30th in UK for sociology (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025)

Explore postgraduate criminology degrees at Essex

Although there are many different approaches to the subject, at Essex we take a sociological view. You critique ideas and concepts of justice, punishment and social control. Our courses are contemporary and informed by global theory. You study with other committed, engaged and motivated students, and have the opportunity to attend guest-speaker seminars, events and conferences. Want to understand crime? Welcome home!

Why choose Essex?

15th in UK for Sociology in Shanghai Ranking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2024
21st in UK for sociology (Daily Mail University Guide 2026)
30th in UK for sociology (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025)

Course

On our course you explore the nature of crime, criminal justice and punishment within wider social contexts.

Full-Time / Part-Time · Colchester Campus

Course

MA Sociology and Criminology

MA Sociology and Criminology emboldens you to study crime, criminals, and criminal justice within wider social contexts.

Full-Time / Part-Time · Colchester Campus

Course

MA Organised Crime, Terrorism and Security

MA Organised Crime, Terrorism & Security addresses critical, conceptual & theoretical analyses of terrorism & counter-terrorism from a qualitative perspective.

Full-Time / Part-Time · Colchester Campus

Course

MSc Organised Crime, Terrorism and Security

In MSc Organised Crime, Terrorism and Security course you address cutting-edge critical, conceptual and theoretical analyses of terrorism and counter-terrorism.

Full-Time / Part-Time · Colchester Campus

Visit the home of Criminology

Visit the Department of Sociology and Criminology Learn more about postgraduate degrees in the Department of Sociology and Criminology Explore research from the Department of Sociology and Criminology

Resources for criminologists at Essex

Visit the UK Data Archive (UKDA), the UK's largest collection of social, economic and population data Visit the Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER), a leading centre for longitudinal studies and data on how people's lives are changing over time

Find criminology research degrees

We attract research funding, produce world class research outputs and engage with local schools, colleges and businesses. With our integrated, four-year PhD, you follow our Sociological Research pathway in your first year. This provides Masters-level research training, before undertaking your PhD research. This course is also available for study on a full or part time basis.

Why research here?

15th in UK for Sociology in Shanghai Ranking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2024
21st in UK for sociology (Daily Mail University Guide 2026)
30th in UK for sociology (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025)

Find your academic supervisor

Search our staff profiles and discover the researchers open to academic supervision at the University of Essex.

Research degree

PhD Criminology

Gain a PhD Criminology in a founding Sociology department, founded in 1964 with pioneering sociological approaches at its core.

Full-Time / Part-Time · Colchester Campus

Research degree

MPhil Criminology

You will work with a supervisor whose role is to guide you through the different stages of your research degree. In some cases, you may have joint supervision.

Full-Time · Colchester Campus

Research degree

Integrated PhD Criminology

Combine your Masters and PhD study with our four-year integrated PhD Criminology.

Full-Time · Colchester Campus

Visit the home of Criminology

Visit the Department of Sociology and Criminology Learn more about postgraduate degrees in the Department of Sociology and Criminology Explore research from the Department of Sociology and Criminology

Resources for criminologists at Essex

Visit the UK Data Archive (UKDA), the UK's largest collection of social, economic and population data Visit the Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER), a leading centre for longitudinal studies and data on how people's lives are changing over time

Research clusters

Crime Justice and Public Policy Culture Identity and Subjectivity Social Divisions and Economic Life Sociological Foundations Theory and Method Transnationalism, Nation and Rights

Research centres

Centre for Criminology Centre for Global South Studies Centre for Intimate and Sexual Citizenship Centre for Migration Studies Centre for Research in Economic Sociology and Innovation

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