Course content

This combination is ideal for students wishing to study the relationship between human behaviour and the social context and structures in which crime, harm and victimisation occur.

The Psychology element of the programme examines exciting ideas and findings from a wide range of areas in psychology including developmental psychology, psychobiology, social psychology, cognitive neuropsychology and a variety of contemporary applied topics. Our courses are informed by cutting-edge research and will develop your own critical thinking and research skills. Accredited by the British Psychological Society, the course is taught by staff who are actively engaged in research with specialisms in social psychology, developmental psychology, cognition and neuropsychology, biological psychology health and wellbeing and a range of applied areas.

Criminology is broadly concerned with how crime and deviance are understood, the efforts made to control crime, and the consequences of crime for offenders, victims and society. You'll explore the nature and development of the Criminal Justice System, the various agencies that this system is comprised of and their formal roles and responsibilities in the delivery of justice. Agencies examined could include The Ministry of Justice; The Police Service; The Prison Service; The Probation Service; The Courts Service; The National Offender Management Service; The various Inspectorates and Ombudsmen who oversee/monitor these agencies and the Criminal Justice Voluntary Sector and various private sector organisations. You will learn about the nature and causes of crime and offending and also explore the methods used to collect and analyse criminological data. 

Enhancing Your Employability

• Criminology 
• Criminology and History
• Criminology and Sociology
• Forensic Science and Criminology
• Law with Criminology
• Psychology
• Psychology and Education
• Psychology with Counselling
• Psychology with Placement Year
• Biology and Psychology
• Business and Psychology
• English Literature and Psychology
• Forensic Science and Psychology
• History and Psychology
• Human Biology and Psychology
• Mathematics and Psychology
• Music Production and Psychology
• Neuroscience and Psychology
• Philosophy and Psychology
• Psychology and Sociology

Research

Psychology

Our academic staff are actively engaged in pushing forward the boundaries of psychological knowledge, using their cutting-edge research to help develop courses that will challenge and excite you. They have expertise covering the breadth of psychology including:

• Social psychology
• Cognitive neuropsychology
• Developmental psychology
• Psychobiology

Hear from our academics

Dr. Sara Sportono discusses her research on how we process and remember visual information
Professor Nicky Edelstyn discusses her research into incentive driven decision making

Criminology

Research in criminology at Keele is dedicated to the advancement in the fields of crime, punishment and criminal justice, grounded in sociological, theoretical, public policy and systematic empirical approaches. We regard criminology as a multidisciplinary field of study. Research conducted by our academics reflects our strengths and expertise in policing, crime prevention and community justice, the third sector in criminal justice, victimology, professional practice in criminal justice, cultural representations of crime and punishment, risk, governance and regulation, and race, gender and citizenship in criminal justice. We also conduct historical, comparative and psychosocial research on crime and justice, deploying a wide range of methodologies. 

Hear from our academics

Dr. Helen Wells discusses her work on preventing mobile phone use by drivers
Dr. Tony Kieron discusses how Criminologists at Keele are working with the police

Entry requirements

Keele is committed to ensuring equality of opportunity to all our applicants with the potential and motivation to succeed, regardless of background. On that basis we operate a range of 'alternative offer' schemes with clear eligibility criteria.

The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the likely offer or range of offers which would be made to candidates along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate’s application. Read more about our undergraduate entry requirements for United Kingdom and International students.

A Level requirements

• A Level requirement BBB/ABC
  

If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course via a Foundation Year.

GCSE requirements

• Maths at C (or 4)
• English at C (or 4)

BTEC

• BTEC requirements DDM

International Baccalaureate

• 30 points 

Access to HE Diploma requirements

• Obtain Access to Higher Education Diploma with 122 UCAS Tariff points including a minimum of 30 Level 3 credits at Distinction.

Foundation year

You may choose to study this course via foundation year.

If you’re returning to education following a break, wish to study a new subject or don’t have the grades or sufficient equivalent experience for direct entry to this course, a foundation year may be a good option for you.

Following successful completion (including any additional progression requirements) of the foundation year you can progress on to this course.

The foundation year offers September starts across all subjects, and January starts across all science, humanities, social sciences and business routes.

The January intake excludes the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery degree with Foundation Year and other health-related foundation Year degree

For more details visit our foundation year webpages.

Foundation year

Fees and funding

Going to university can be a daunting as well as an exciting experience. It can be difficult to understand the true costs of being a student, as well as the financial support that is available to help you meet those costs.

We can help you to manage your funds, create a budget and ensure that you receive any funding for which you may be eligible. We also offer financial support such as the Keele University Hardship Fund and emergency loans.

For more information visit our money, advice and guidance section.

Career prospects

96% of Keele graduates were in a job or further study within six months of graduating (HESA, 2017)

Our programme makes for well-rounded, highly skilled and marketable graduates with substantive knowledge across two disciplines of particular contemporary significance. Many students find their degree useful for careers in probation, community work, victim support, drug and addiction centres and other occupations across the public and private sectors. Many also go on to further study.

We also build opportunities for developing employability skills into all our modules, for example by encouraging the use and analysis of primary data, and the presentation of material to a range of different audiences. You will also get opportunities to hear from practitioners and researchers active in the field.

Previous employers

• Addiction
• Brighter Futures
• NHS
• Her Majesty's Prison Service
• HMRC
• Metropolitian Police Force
• Police Now
• Probation Office
• Local Government
• Aiming High
• Civil Service
• HMP
• Mercedes Benz
• NSPCC
• Nuffield Health
• RSPCA

Jobs that a graduate of this course could go on to do:

• Community Development Worker
• Police Officer
• Probation Officer
• Social Worker
• Prison Officer
• Solicitor
• Clinical Psychologist
• Counselling Psychologist
• Educational Psychologist
• Forensic Psychologist
• Occupational Psychologist
• Research Psychologist
• Sport and Exercise Psychologist
• Neuropsychologist

Regardless of which career you pursue after Keele, employers will want evidence of the range of skills and personal qualities you possess and which are required for the job. Your degree is clearly important in this respect but don’t forget the extra-curricular activities, positions of responsibility, jobs and voluntary work you may have been engaged in while studying at Keele. These activities allow you to demonstrate the skills and personal qualities required by employers and will be vital in your attempts to secure graduate employment.

Find out more about our careers and employability services, including career planning, alumni mentoring, jobs, internships, starting your own business and much more.