Criminology with Psychology

Criminology is the study of crime, the causes of crime and its impact on individuals and society. This unique new degree is designed to provide students with an advanced conceptual knowledge of Criminology and Psychology, an insight into the contribution of both disciplines to understanding key aspects of human behaviour and an ability to appraise the methodologies used in both areas.

In addition to the potential to pursue a career in areas such as the Prison and Probation Services and An Garda Siochána, the transferrable skills acquired will be relevant to many organisations that value an understanding of human behaviour and society.

UCD is home to the Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice, the first centre of its kind in Ireland.

Since this is not a law degree, your core modules will differ from the BCL and BBL degrees. In first year you will study a selection of core modules including:

• Introduction to Criminology
• Introduction to Psychology;
• Criminal Behaviour
• Brain and Behaviour
• Comparative Perspectives on Crime & Society
• Law and Courts
• Introduction to Criminal Justice
• Academic & Professional Skills
• Introduction to Penology

Optional modules can then be selected in Law and Psychology. In second year, in addition to core modules, there will be the opportunity to select from optional modules such as:

• Psychology and Crime
• Sociology of Crime & Deviance
• Race and Racism: Critical Perspectives

In third and fourth year, you will tailor your degree to choose options in Criminology, Law and Psychology, as well as Sociology & Social Work, Social Policy and Social Justice. In third year, students will have the opportunity to apply to study overseas. In fourth year, you will undertake a research dissertation where you will combine the methods and substantive training across criminology and psychology.

Throughout the programme there are opportunities to select ‘elective’ modules from across the University.

At UCD Sutherland School of Law, we actively encourage our students to travel abroad as part of their education. In today’s globalised world this is an unrivalled opportunity for students to broaden their horizons and gain life experience. We offer our students the best range of opportunities of any Irish Law School to study abroad, including numerous partners across Europe, as well as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, and the USA.

UCD participates in the ERASMUS+ programme which has an extensive portfolio of partner universities around the world. This programme ensures that our students have the widest range of options possible for study abroad. Depending on which particular programme you choose to study, you will have different options to spend a trimester or a year at one of our partner universities. The widest range of destinations is offered to BCL students.

As a UCD law graduate, you will be very well placed to pursue various careers in Ireland and abroad. UCD Sutherland School of Law graduates have a strong reputation in the legal professional marketplace. Given their exposure to multidisciplinary studies, it is no surprise that many have also developed careers outside the law in fields such as banking, taxation, journalism and broadcasting.

UCD Law graduates have been admitted to study for postgraduate degrees at many prestigious universities abroad, including Harvard, Oxford,. Cambridge, the College of Europe and the European University Institute. Graduates can also choose to deepen their knowledge of a specific area of law by studying one of the ten law masters degrees that we offer in UCD

We offer an extensive internship programme which allows students gain valuable employment experience during their degree.

What is an Internship? In an internship, you take up a paid role in an organisation to gain work experience for a fixed period of time. Employers place considerable value in the skills and experience gained by graduates who have completed internships.

How long is an Internship? Internships are offered in Year 3 and involve a one trimester placement of 14 weeks. This will generally run between January and April in Trimester 2.

Why Internships? An internship is an experiential learning opportunity that provides lifelong academic, personal and professional benefits. It will allow you to apply your skills and knowledge in the real working world while enhancing your confidence and helping you gain a better insight into a particular role or industry sector.

• Level 5/6 QQI-FET


• Open Learning Entry Route


• Mature Entry Route


• DARE Entry Route


• HEAR Entry Route


• University Access

The UCD Sutherland School of Law is a connected community of students and faculty who are committed to creating a more sustainable and equitable future for all. We work together in a culture of collaboration to support each other to thrive and achieve our full potential, in service of broader societal goals. Through our undergraduate and graduate education, research and external engagement, we aim to ensure that our students, faculty and staff thrive and contribute to sustainable well-being on our campus, in Ireland and across the wider world. Our faculty are globally recognized experts in the fields of Law and Criminology, advancing knowledge through research, engaging with government, business and civil society to enhance our world, and using their knowledge to design and offer cutting edge education within their disciplines of Law and Criminology .   

Criminology is the systematic study of crime and its control. Criminologists ask what causes crime and how we might best respond to it, and why certain behaviours are criminalised while others are not. This degree brings together the interdisciplinary learning experience of studying criminology (as a major) alongside psychology (minor). Both of these disciplines address many of the challenges associated with progress toward achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as they relate to improving the human condition. 

Students develop the skills to equip them to affect more equitable outcomes across health, wellbeing, education, and peace, justice and building stronger institutions. Envisioning how to improve the lives of everyone everywhere requires an understanding of how human behaviour, policy and environmental factors contribute to progress.

Students will develop the critical thinking and analytical skills to affect change across a broad range of the Global Goals including but not limited to those below. By learning about how policy makers respond to societal challenges, students are equipped to make a difference to the world, affect cultural change, contribute to public service or corporate responsibility to advance the sustainable development goals. 

The curriculum for this degree aligns with many of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in meaningful and impactful ways. The following are the primary areas where there is closest alignment:

• Good health and wellbeing (SDG 3) 
• Quality Education (SDG 4)
• Decent work and economic growth (SDG 8)
• Peace, justice and strong institutions (SDG 16)

Non-EU Undergraduate Fee information can be found here.

UCD offers a number of competitive undergraduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD undergraduate degree programme. For information on Undergraduate Scholarships, please see the UCD International Scholarships webpage.