PhD Criminology

About the project

• Research

PhD Criminology

• Overview
• Degree details
• Our students
• Research
• Entry and fees
• Careers
• Facilities
• Supervisors
• Recently viewed
• Related courses

Overview

A PhD in Criminology offers one of the leading areas of research at the University of West London, as recognised in the rating of our work in Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 . By studying a PhD with us, you will join a criminological research community which spans a range of topics and areas – from policing to sentencing, security studies, transnational crime and terrorism, socio-legal studies and judicial processes.

Our PhD Criminology supervisors have strong research backgrounds, often with a focus on key groups that fall under the heading of diversity and inclusion. They also have extensive links with criminal justice agencies, voluntary groups and a range of think tanks and research organisations.

Applications are invited for research in the areas indicated below. We are committed to providing access and maintaining a high standard of support for students. Our recent doctoral graduates have gone on to lectureships at universities and successful careers in related fields of work.

See details of specific PhD opportunities listed below .

This PhD is available for you to study:

As part of your application, please state whether you are applying for an online PhD.

See a list of potential PhD supervisors and read about their expertise in the " supervisors " section lower down the page.

Select your desired study option, then pick a start date to see relevant course information:

Start date:

If your desired start date is not available, try selecting a different study option.

• full-time or part-time
• on-campus or online
• starting in September or February.

About your degree

During your PhD Criminology studies, you will have a supervisory team made up of a Director of Studies with expertise in your chosen field, a further supervisor and, where appropriate, an additional adviser. Your research will be judged through the presentation of a thesis or artefact and a viva voce for academic assessment. We provide a stimulating and supportive environment where you will benefit from:

Our online PhD allows you to undertake a postgraduate research degree from a location that fits with your lifestyle and commitments. As part of your application, please state that you are applying for an online PhD. As an online PhD student, you will not be required to visit the campus: all supervision, training, reviews and the viva voce examination are provided online.

An online PhD may not be suitable for all projects, and consideration will be given to the suitability of the research project and whether it can be completed successfully without regular access to campus facilities.

This PhD Criminology course is available for you to study full-time or part-time, online or campus-based.

All PhD students will have access to the University’s student support services , the Library’s e-resources collection and IT support services . You are also welcome to attend the annual doctoral students’ conference on campus.

A PhD is founded on independent research. You will undertake a systematic and in-depth exploration of your chosen topic to produce a substantial body of knowledge and make an original and important contribution to the subject area.

The support provided by your supervisory team will be vital to your student experience and scholarly advancement. You and your supervisors will have regular one-to-one meetings which will provide you with opportunities to develop your research topic and discuss your progress.

Based in the heart of Ealing, west London, you can make use of the excellent transport links to travel to the capital or further afield – ideal for attending research meetings and networking events.

If you would like guidance or more information about studying for a research degree, please contact Professor Karim Murji .

• peer feedback and discussion
• a series of masterclasses and lectures from industry figures
• support by a supervisor and a second supervisor suited to your project.
• PhD opportunities
• Support
• Networking

Research areas

• Developing an Integrated Framework for Effective Investigative Decision-Making in Criminal Investigations Supervisors: Dr Rashid Minhas , Professor Tom Dickens Contact: [email protected] Effective decision-making lies at the heart of criminal investigations. Investigators must interpret complex and often incomplete information, evaluate competing explanations, and make critical judgments under conditions of uncertainty and time pressure. These decisions shape the direction of investigations, the interpretation of evidence, and ultimately the outcomes of criminal justice processes. However, research in criminology and forensic psychology has shown that investigative reasoning can be influenced by cognitive biases, organisational pressures, and contextual constraints that affect how evidence is interpreted and acted upon. Contemporary investigations are becoming increasingly complex. Investigators must often deal with large volumes of digital evidence, complex networks of individuals, and rapidly evolving forms of criminal activity. Digital communications, online platforms, and forensic technologies generate vast amounts of information that must be interpreted and integrated into investigative decisions. These developments place greater demands on investigators’ ability to evaluate evidence systematically and maintain open-minded reasoning throughout the investigative process. This doctoral project aims to develop an integrated framework that supports effective investigative decision-making in criminal investigations. Drawing on insights from criminology and forensic psychology, the project will explore how investigators interpret evidence, how cognitive biases may influence investigative judgments, and how structured approaches can support more effective and balanced decision-making.

Developing an Integrated Framework for Effective Investigative Decision-Making in Criminal Investigations

• Supervisors: Dr Rashid Minhas , Professor Tom Dickens
• Contact: [email protected]
• Examining the Alignment of Security, Crowd, and Safety Operations in International Sporting Events Principal supervisor: Professor Alison Wakefield Second supervisor: Dr Tak Ming Yu International sporting events, such as the Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup, represent increasingly complex risk environments characterised by evolving global threat landscapes, elevated crowd densities, and multi-layered governance arrangements (Ludvigsen et al., 2022; Vaillancourt, 2026). Risk management for such events is predominantly structured around three core operational domains: security, crowd management, and health and safety. While each function performs a critical and distinct role, they are commonly planned, governed, and delivered through separate professional and organisational structures, resulting in fragmented approaches to risk management. Such separation of functions can generate coordination challenges and operational trade-offs, resulting in varied forms of coordination across events (United Nations, 2025). Security measures aimed at threat mitigation may disrupt crowd flow and increase congestion, while crowd management strategies may create tensions with access control or perimeter security requirements. Compliance-oriented health and safety systems may be difficult to align with the dynamic, time-pressured decision-making contexts associated with live security operations (Al Qurashi et al., 2023). The aim of this research is to undertake a critical examination of how risk is governed in practice at international sporting events, and under what conditions differing forms of operational alignment enhance or constrain overall event safety and resilience. It addresses the following questions: How are security, crowd management, and health and safety functions currently organised and coordinated within international sporting events? What organisational, professional, and governance factors influence the depth and nature of alignment between these domains? Under what conditions do closer coordination enhance, constrain, or complicate risk management and operational resilience? How might the risk management and operational resilience of future events be improved? Literature review The existing academic literature provides extensive insight into each of the three operational domains, yet it rarely examines their interaction as a coordinated system within international sporting events. Security focused scholarship has largely concentrated on threat mitigation, counterterrorism, and the securitisation of public space, frequently prioritising security objectives in isolation from wider organisational considerations (Giulianotti and Klauser, 2010; Ludvigsen, 2021), although there is an extensive wider literature on holistic security risk management at the enterprise level, and the convergence of security disciplines as a key element of this (ASIS International, 2019; Beck et al., 2019; Schneller et al., 2022). Crowd management research has developed a strong evidence base around movement dynamics, density thresholds, and crowd psychology, significantly enhancing understanding of crowd risk, but typically treats crowd operations as a discrete technical function (Still, 2018; Barr et al., 2022). Health and safety literature similarly adopts a predominantly compliance-driven perspective, emphasising formal risk assessment procedures, regulatory adherence, and management systems such as ISO 45001 (ISO, 2018; George, 2024). While these frameworks provide structure and accountability, they may be less responsive to the fluid and emergent conditions of live event environments. Although crisis management and organisational resilience literature highlights the importance of communication, shared situational awareness, and coordination within complex systems (Comfort, 2007; Noran, 2014), there remains limited empirical research examining how these principles operate across security, crowd, and safety functions within international sporting events (Abbas and Miller, 2025). As a result, the literature offers limited insight into whether closer alignment between these domains consistently enhances risk governance, or whether partial, selective, or situational forms of coordination may be more effective given differing event contexts, threat profiles, and governance structures. Methodology The study will adopt a case study methodology to examine interdisciplinary coordination across a range of international sporting events. Qualitative data will be collected through semi-structured interviews with practitioners involved in security, crowd management, and health and safety planning and delivery. This will be complemented by analysis of event-specific documentation, operational plans, and post-event reports. Quantitative data, where available, will be used to identify broader patterns across cases. A cross-case comparative approach will be employed to examine how variations in event scale, governance structures, and threat environments shape coordination practices. This practice-based methodology responds to calls within management research to move beyond abstract or normative assumptions and ground analysis in operational reality (Cronin et al., 2021). Research Contribution This research seeks to contribute to academic understanding of interdisciplinary risk governance, while offering practical insights and recommendations for event organisers, policymakers and practitioners. Rather than advancing integration as a universal solution, the study aims to develop an analytically grounded framework that identifies different models of coordination—integrated, hybrid, or functionally separated—and the conditions under which each is more or less effective. By critically examining the benefits, limitations, and risks associated with differing forms of alignment, including issues of role ambiguity, professional culture, and system dependency (Boin et al., 2017; Kitchin, 2016), the research will support a nuanced and context-sensitive approach to managing risk in the global sporting arena. References Abbas, R. and Miller, T. (2025) ‘Exploring communication inefficiencies in disaster response: perspectives of emergency managers and health professionals’, International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 120. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212420925002171 (Accessed: 29 March 2026) Al Qurashi, M.A.M., Al Qahtani, A.A., Abdulaziz, S.I. and Abu Habra, R.S. (2023). The Quality of Crowd Management and Its Impact on the Experience of Event Visitors in Riyadh Season. Academic Journal of Research and Scientific Publishing, 5(52). Available at: https://www.ajrsp.com/vol/issue52/ (Accessed: 29 March 2026). ASIS International (2019) Guideline: Enterprise Security Risk Management. ASIS International. Barr, D., Drury, J., Butler, T., Choudhury, S., & Neville, F. (2024). Beyond ‘stampedes’: Towards a new psychology of crowd crush disasters. British Journal of Social Psychology, 63, 52–69. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/bjso.12666 (Accessed: 30 March 2026). Beck, D., Gips, M. and McFarland Pierce, B. (2019). The State of Security Convergence in the United States, Europe and India. ASIS Foundation. Boin, A., Hart, P., Stern, E.K. and Sundelius, B. (2016) The Politics of Crisis Management: Public Leadership Under Pressure (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press. Comfort, L.K. (2007). Crisis Management in Hindsight: Cognition, Communication, Coordination, and Control. Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-6210.2007.00827.x (Accessed: 30 March 2026) Cronin, M.A., Stouten, J. and van Knippenberg, D. (2021). The Theory Crisis in Management Research: Solving the Right Problem. Academy of Management Review 46(4). Available at https://journals.aom.org/doi/abs/10.5465/amr.2019.0294?journalCode=amr (Accessed: 30 March 2026). George, T. (2024). Safety Management Systems and Compliance in Global Industrial Operations to Standardize Practices and Ensure Regulatory Adherence. Available at: https://iaeme.com/MasterAdmin/Journaluploads/IJISHM/VOLUME5ISSUE2/IJISHM0502001.pdf (Accessed: 29 March 2026) Giulianotti, R. and Klauser, F. (2010). Security Governance and Sport Mega-Events: Toward an Interdisciplinary Research Agenda. Available at: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0193723509354042 (Accessed: 30 March 2026). ISO (2018) ISO 45001:2018: Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems – Requirements with Guidance for Use. Available at: https://www.iso.org/standard/63787.html (Accessed: 01 April 2026). Kitchin, R. (2016). The Ethics of Smart Cities and Urban Science. Available at: https://kitchin.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Phil-Trans-A-2016.pdf (Accessed: 30 March 2026) Ludvigsen, J.A.L. (2021). Examining Stakeholder Outlooks on Football Policing and Security: The Case of Euro 2020. Available at: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/01937235211043650 (Accessed: 29 March 2026) Ludvigsen, J.A.L., Rookwood, J. and Parnell, D. (2022) The Sports Mega-Events of the 2020s: Governance, Impacts and Controversies. Available at: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17430437.2022.2026086#d1e104 (Accessed: 29 March 2026). Schneller, L., Porter, C.N. and Wakefield, A. (2022) ‘Implementing converged security management: drivers, barriers, and facilitators’, Security Journal, 36: 333–349. Still, G.K. (2018) Crowd Safety and Crowd Risk Analysis. Available at: https://www.gkstill.com/Support/crowd-flow/fruin/Fruin1.html (Accessed: 29 March 2026). Vaillancourt, S. (2026). Risk Management and Major Sporting Events: A Four-Part Analysis by Sacha Vaillancourt. Available at: https://www.bflcanada.ca/article/risk-management-and-major-sporting-events-a-four-part-analysis-by-sacha-vaillancourt/ (Accessed: 29 March 2026)

Examining the Alignment of Security, Crowd, and Safety Operations in International Sporting Events

To enable you to enhance your professional profile, we support you throughout your research degree by:

We provide structured research training, expert supervision and an environment where you can discuss your research with other PhD students and researchers.

We run seminars in research methods from the Graduate Centre, as well as an ongoing series of events and activities organised by Schools and Colleges. Specialist help with academic English for students for whom English is not their first language is available.

We contribute to national and international initiatives and promote collaboration and networking opportunities. We also encourage and support you to publish and disseminate your research in academic journals and via presenting papers at conferences.

We run an annual conference for doctoral students, where you are encouraged to present a paper about your research. As well as being an opportunity to discuss your work with other students, the conference is a chance to gain valuable experience in presenting your research and participating in open discussions with academic peers.

You will also find other opportunities such as postgraduate student seminars and forums within your specific subject area.

Once you start a PhD course at UWL, you become part of our research community. You will have access to a postgraduate common room, located at our Ealing campus on St Mary’s Road, where you will meet fellow researchers from other subject disciplines offering scope for collaborations or simply to discuss ideas, allowing you to be part of a vibrant research environment.

• Principal supervisor: Professor Alison Wakefield
• Second supervisor: Dr Tak Ming Yu
• How are security, crowd management, and health and safety functions currently organised and coordinated within international sporting events?
• What organisational, professional, and governance factors influence the depth and nature of alignment between these domains?
• Under what conditions do closer coordination enhance, constrain, or complicate risk management and operational resilience?
• How might the risk management and operational resilience of future events be improved?
• Abbas, R. and Miller, T. (2025) ‘Exploring communication inefficiencies in disaster response: perspectives of emergency managers and health professionals’, International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 120. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212420925002171 (Accessed: 29 March 2026)
• Al Qurashi, M.A.M., Al Qahtani, A.A., Abdulaziz, S.I. and Abu Habra, R.S. (2023). The Quality of Crowd Management and Its Impact on the Experience of Event Visitors in Riyadh Season. Academic Journal of Research and Scientific Publishing, 5(52). Available at: https://www.ajrsp.com/vol/issue52/ (Accessed: 29 March 2026).
• ASIS International (2019) Guideline: Enterprise Security Risk Management. ASIS International.
• Barr, D., Drury, J., Butler, T., Choudhury, S., & Neville, F. (2024). Beyond ‘stampedes’: Towards a new psychology of crowd crush disasters. British Journal of Social Psychology, 63, 52–69. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/bjso.12666 (Accessed: 30 March 2026).
• Beck, D., Gips, M. and McFarland Pierce, B. (2019). The State of Security Convergence in the United States, Europe and India. ASIS Foundation.
• Boin, A., Hart, P., Stern, E.K. and Sundelius, B. (2016) The Politics of Crisis Management: Public Leadership Under Pressure (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
• Comfort, L.K. (2007). Crisis Management in Hindsight: Cognition, Communication, Coordination, and Control. Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-6210.2007.00827.x (Accessed: 30 March 2026)
• Cronin, M.A., Stouten, J. and van Knippenberg, D. (2021). The Theory Crisis in Management Research: Solving the Right Problem. Academy of Management Review 46(4). Available at https://journals.aom.org/doi/abs/10.5465/amr.2019.0294?journalCode=amr (Accessed: 30 March 2026).
• George, T. (2024). Safety Management Systems and Compliance in Global Industrial Operations to Standardize Practices and Ensure Regulatory Adherence. Available at: https://iaeme.com/MasterAdmin/Journaluploads/IJISHM/VOLUME5ISSUE2/IJISHM0502001.pdf (Accessed: 29 March 2026)
• Giulianotti, R. and Klauser, F. (2010). Security Governance and Sport Mega-Events: Toward an Interdisciplinary Research Agenda. Available at: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0193723509354042 (Accessed: 30 March 2026).
• ISO (2018) ISO 45001:2018: Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems – Requirements with Guidance for Use. Available at: https://www.iso.org/standard/63787.html (Accessed: 01 April 2026).
• Kitchin, R. (2016). The Ethics of Smart Cities and Urban Science. Available at: https://kitchin.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Phil-Trans-A-2016.pdf (Accessed: 30 March 2026)
• Ludvigsen, J.A.L. (2021). Examining Stakeholder Outlooks on Football Policing and Security: The Case of Euro 2020. Available at: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/01937235211043650 (Accessed: 29 March 2026)
• Ludvigsen, J.A.L., Rookwood, J. and Parnell, D. (2022) The Sports Mega-Events of the 2020s: Governance, Impacts and Controversies. Available at: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17430437.2022.2026086#d1e104 (Accessed: 29 March 2026).
• Schneller, L., Porter, C.N. and Wakefield, A. (2022) ‘Implementing converged security management: drivers, barriers, and facilitators’, Security Journal, 36: 333–349.
• Still, G.K. (2018) Crowd Safety and Crowd Risk Analysis. Available at: https://www.gkstill.com/Support/crowd-flow/fruin/Fruin1.html (Accessed: 29 March 2026).
• Vaillancourt, S. (2026). Risk Management and Major Sporting Events: A Four-Part Analysis by Sacha Vaillancourt. Available at: https://www.bflcanada.ca/article/risk-management-and-major-sporting-events-a-four-part-analysis-by-sacha-vaillancourt/ (Accessed: 29 March 2026)
• providing research seminars
• organising doctoral events and activities
• facilitating networking and collaboration opportunities
• encouraging and supporting publication and dissemination of your research
• offering opportunities to gain teaching expertise and experience.

What our students say

The staff members that I encountered were warm, welcoming and supportive of my studies. The relatively small size of the University’s postgraduate school created a close family/communal environment for both staff and students. This provided a good support system as I could quickly grow acquainted with the postgraduate team and other doctoral research candidates.

Abdulazeez Rotimi - PhD

The staff members that I encountered were warm, welcoming and supportive of my studies. The relatively small size of the University’s postgraduate school created a close family/communal environment for both staff and students. This provided a good support system as I could quickly grow acquainted with the postgraduate team and other doctoral research candidates.

Abdulazeez Rotimi - PhD

Research Repository - Criminology

The Repository is a digital archive of research output by our academics and research students.

Research at the School of Human and Social Sciences

Learn more about our research specialisms and available PhDs within the School of Human and Social Sciences.

Research impact

Learn how our research has helped communities locally, nationally and internationally.

Entry requirements

The minimum entry requirements for a research degree are:

We look for individuals with:

Applicants should also submit a well-considered and persuasive research proposal, clearly outlining their aims, context and potential contribution to the field.

The minimum entry requirements for a research degree are:

We look for individuals with:

Applicants should also submit a well-considered and persuasive research proposal, clearly outlining their aims, context and potential contribution to the field.

• Requirements: UK
• Requirements: International
• a good first degree (First Class or Upper Second Class), or equivalent qualification in a relevant field
• a Masters degree (MA, MSc, MBA or MRes) with Merit, or equivalent postgraduate or research experience.
• dedication to undertaking rigorous and meaningful research
• enthusiasm for contributing to academic and creative practice
• a genuine passion for their chosen subject area.
• a good first degree (First Class or Upper Second Class), or equivalent qualification in a relevant field
• a Masters Degree (MA, MSc, MBA or MRes) with Merit, or equivalent postgraduate or research experience.
• Competence in written and spoken English is a pre-requisite for entrance to this programme.
• An IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of 6.5 (with no element under 6.0).
• dedication to undertaking rigorous and meaningful research
• enthusiasm for contributing to academic and creative practice
• a genuine passion for their chosen subject area.

Fees & funding

Please note that the following writing-up fees apply for the final year of full-time PhD study , a reduced amount from the standard fee per year:

Writing-up fees do not apply for the final year of part-time PhD study. The standard fee applies.

• Funding: UK
• Funding: International
• On campus PhD (Year 4): UK £1,900. International: £6,000
• Online PhD (Year 4): UK £1,000. International: £3,000.
• Fees for the 2027/28 academic year and onwards may be subject to change.
• Tuition fees are charged for each year of your course and you will need to pay the fee for each academic year at the start of that year, except if otherwise stated.
• If no fee is shown above then the fees for this course are not available yet. Please check again later for updates.

Funding your studies

Funding for postgraduate students usually comes from one or more of a range of key sources:

Find out more about funding opportunities .

Examples of most of these types of funding are included on the postgraduate studentships website (except for funding you may be able to obtain from your employer and self-funding).

The PhD Bursary is available to home and international students enrolling on a full-time PhD course in 2026/27. The Bursary consists of a £500 fee reduction in your first year of study and for each subsequent year of study, subject to successful progression, up to a maximum of 4 years.

We offer other generous bursaries and scholarships to make sure your aspirations are your only limit. See our PhD scholarships and bursaries .

Please note that the following writing-up fees apply for the final year of full-time PhD study , a reduced amount from the standard fee per year:

Writing-up fees do not apply for the final year of part-time PhD study. The standard fee applies.

• research councils
• charities and trust funds, including those funded by the UK government
• higher education institutions
• overseas governments (international students only)
• employers
• professional and career development loans
• self-funding (including family funds).
• On campus PhD (Year 4): UK £1,900. International: £6,000
• Online PhD (Year 4): UK £1,000. International: £3,000.
• Fees for the 2027/28 academic year and onwards may be subject to change.
• Tuition fees are charged for each year of your course and you will need to pay the fee for each academic year at the start of that year, except if otherwise stated.
• If no fee is shown above then the fees for this course are not available yet. Please check again later for updates.

Funding your studies

For any overseas students, your first port of call should be grant-awarding bodies in your own country (e.g. The Ministry/Department of Education) and your local (or nearest) office of the British Council.

The British Council manage a small number of international studentship grants in some countries and should be able to tell you what other awards may be available to you - they also produce the sources of funding for international students guide.

The PhD Bursary is available to home and international students enrolling on a full-time PhD course in 2026/27. The Bursary consists of a £500 fee reduction in your first year of study and for each subsequent year of study, subject to successful progression, up to a maximum of 4 years.

Your future career

Studying for a PhD Criminology enables you to develop an area of specialism that will give you an edge whether you are planning to work in industry or to develop expertise to teach in academia.

By the end of your PhD degree, you'll have gained the skills, experience and knowledge to step into postdoctoral work, be it in research and teaching or another related profession.

Job roles

• policing
• justice service
• probation service
• prison service
• security
• research
• rehabilitation
• civil service
• housing support
• the legal system
• the court system.

Graduate employers

• UK Border Force
• non-governmental organisations
• local authorities
• specialised think tanks
• government departments
• charities
• media production
• market research.

Criminology facilities

We have a range of criminology facilities available to students at the University of West London.

The crime scene room

The crime scene room enables students on criminology, policing and forensics courses to learn from scenarios based on real-life police investigations.

Forensics labs

Our laboratories offer the facilities to develop your analytical skills for assessing blood spatter, DNA evidence and the investigative process.

Research equipment

Biopacs: Our Biopac tools allow us to measure physiological indicators such as heart rate, sweat responses and electromyography (EMG).

Cantab Cognitive Research Software: The software helps us measure cognitive functions in correlation to neural networks. It allows us to understand the role of specific brain functions across a range of disorders and syndromes.

Observation room: Our observation room has the look and feel of a domestic setting but consists of wall-mounted cameras and live video feed. These are managed from the control room which has recording facilities.

Library

UWL Libraries will help you to succeed as you progress through your studies. Find out more information about our libraries.

The Graduate School

If you are interested in studying for a PhD or Professional Doctorate, the Graduate School is here to support your research.

Rami Ranger House (Postgraduate Student Centre)

Rami Ranger House is a focal point for the University’s postgraduate and international students, providing dedicated space for social and learning interaction.

This building, which is three storeys high, offers spaces for collaborative working, socialising, supervision and mentoring on the ground floor. The first floor has work spaces for the postgraduate support teams to use, while the second floor provides guest accommodation for visiting scholars.

Criminology

Our range of criminology and policing courses enable you to examine, discuss and debate these topics, while also learning how criminal justice systems work in the UK and overseas.

Find out more

Discover seven reasons to study with us and how studying at UWL will support your future career.

Find out about student accommodation and the support for students.

Explore our campus and sites and book onto a campus tour or open day .

Important notes for applicants

Disclaimer

Rankings

• † Fees - the published fee is an annual fee, payable each year, for the duration of the course. Fees are subject to change. Home tuition fees may be subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body. Full-time taught international fees are subject to an annual increase.
• Teaching - your course will primarily be delivered in-person, however it may include delivery of some activities online, either in real-time or recorded.
• Testimonials - quotes are provided by current or former UWL students. These are mostly from the course but quotes from a UWL student on another course may be used if, for example, the course is new.
• Optional modules - where optional modules are offered they will run subject to staff availability and viable student numbers opting to take the module.
• Videos - all videos on our course pages were accurate at the time of filming, however staff and course content may have since changed.
• Availability of placements - if you choose a course with placement/internship route and a placement/internship opportunity does not arise when you are expected to undertake the placement then the University will automatically transfer you to the non-internship route, to ensure you are still successful in being awarded a degree.
• The National Student Survey 2026 result is based on the average of all answers by the taught student populations.
• Modern universities - defined as higher education institutions that were granted university status in, and after, 1992.
• PRES - rank out of 53 institutions.

Research areas