Criminology - what our students say

When it comes to choosing a career, our students will often have the best of both worlds: the degree can be 'vocational' if you so wish; but it is also a 'non-vocational' degree, if you want to compete for the range of vacancies that still require a graduate with no specification as to subject.

Career paths

A Criminology BSc provides an academic foundation for a career in a range of jobs, such as civil servant, community development worker, police officer, prison officer, probation officer, social worker, local government worker, and a social researcher.

Employability

Student testimonials

Sabreena, BSc Social Policy with Criminology graduate
"My course was taught well and really allowed me to develop intellectually due to the variety of course material and how interesting the topics were. One thing I took away from the course is that in every area of society you need to be dynamic in the way you approach the task at hand, because more often than not the answer you are looking for will require multiple points of view. Since graduating I’ve had a job as an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor - working with and minimising the risk to high risk victims of Domestic abuse. Helping them through civll and criminal court and working within a multi-agency response to ensure the safety of the individual."
Samir, BSc (Hons) Criminology, Work and Work Placement unit
"My six months on placement also enabled me to launch my own research project on the plight of refugees in the UK and specifically, Bristol. This assignment allowed me to really challenge myself and even helped me gain the title of TargetJobs Undergraduate of the Year for Social Impact for the year 2019."
Abi, BSc (Hons) Criminology
"Being a fairly new and small course at Bristol, criminology consists of a close-knit department and has a very personal feel to it. I have really got to know the lecturers and feel confident and comfortable approaching them with any areas of discussion or difficulty which can be reassuring to have at university."
Kirsty, BSc (Hons) Criminology
"The criminology lecturers at Bristol are all really inspiring, all in such interesting fields of expertise. I especially think the study of zemiology (social harm) as part of the course is a fascinating area that expands the degree further than just what is considered ‘crime’."
Hannah, BSc (Hons) Criminology with Study Abroad
"The study abroad year is simultaneously one of the most exciting and daunting experiences of your university career… I decided to take two open units and two units compatible with my course, this has been really rewarding as it has allowed me to explore new subjects/interests outside of my degree subject."
Ester, BSc (Hons) Criminology
"What I find the most fascinating about Criminology at Bristol is that the focus is on Critical Criminology and that it is taught by the leading experts of this approach. This means that we are constantly encouraged to challenge the assumptions we have about crime and think critically about all the ways we, as a society, are dealing with these issues."
Max, BSc (Hons) Criminology
"I feel like the staff do a great job at preparing you for what is expected of you in your studies. I didn’t feel at all as if I was thrown in the deep end, which I was initially worried about before I started at Bristol. All of the lecturers and seminar leaders are extremely knowledgeable as well as approachable."
Ed, BSc (Hons) Criminology
"Each week you feel like you have a greater understanding of the criminal mind and efforts made to control crime. I feel as though my understanding was crafted gradually and over the year, rather than being bombarded with revision in the summer term."
Oona, BSc (Hons) Criminology
"What I enjoyed most about the criminology units were the experiences we had outside the University, such as a visit to HMP Bristol and Bristol Magistrates Court. These visits gave us an insight into the wider context of our lectures."