Best Global Universities for Criminology in 2022-2023 - Gyanberry (2024)

Best Universities and Programs in the World for Criminology

About Criminology

Criminology is a field of sociology that studies crime, its effects on human societies, and devises strategies to avoid future crimes. The experts in this field, called criminologists, play a major role in understanding, solving, and preventing crimes by deciphering and analyzing the mindsets of criminals.

With the growth in crime around the world, the demand for professionals in this field has increased, making it a viable career choice. The following piece of information talks about the criminology career in depth. It also briefs about the best universities for criminology in the world, including the programs they offer.

Duties of criminologists

Criminologists usually work in offices or prisons. Their duties and responsibilities revolve around crime and criminals. However, depending on the type of employment and level of experience in the industry, these responsibilities vary. Having a general understanding of their duties can help students understand whether this is a suitable career for them. The following is a list of some of the typical responsibilities of criminologists:

• Study and analyze criminal behavior and mindset
• Assemble facts and statistics from previous criminal offenses to estimate the frequency of crimes
• Make efforts to reduce and prevent similar crimes from happening in the future
• Study all type of crimes such as violent crime, white-collar crime, organized crime, property crime, and victimless crime
• Research how environmental factors as well as how human behavior can raise or decrease crimes
• Publish their findings in the form of articles to research journals
• Working with other law enforcement personnel
• Stay abreast with advancements in the field

Popular degrees for pursuing a career in Criminology

For entry into the discipline of criminology, an undergraduate degree is required. A candidate should pursue a bachelor’s degree in criminology, psychology, or perhaps law, which will teach them the fundamentals of reading criminal minds, behavior, and logic. A law degree might also help students comprehend the legal system. A master’s degree in criminology teaches students more about the theories and applications of the profession and is helpful in climbing the professional ladder. A doctorate in criminology entails extensive research on a specific topic and helps in gaining credibility and expertise in the field. Nowadays, even to enter academics, a Ph.D. degree is mandatory.

Popular bachelor’s programs in Criminology

• Bachelor of Criminology
• Bachelor of Sociology
• Bachelor of Psychology
• Bachelor of Legislative Law
• Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice
• B.A. in Criminology and Sociology
• B.A. in Psychology with Criminology

Popular master’s programs in Criminology

• M.A. in Criminology and Criminal Justice
• M.Sc. in Criminology and Criminal Psychology
• M.Sc. in Cybercrime
• M.A. in Global Criminology
• M.S. in Advanced Research in Criminology
• M.A. in Terrorism and Security Law
• M.Sc. in Covert Investigation and Specialist Intelligence
• M.A. in Criminology: Crime and Victimisation
• M.S. in Behavioral Science

Popular doctoral programs in Criminology

• Ph.D. in Criminology
• Ph.D. in Criminology and Criminal Justice
• Ph.D. in Criminal Justice

Specializations in Criminology

Although criminology courses are mostly theoretical, some specializations, notably those that include criminal justice, mix theory with practice. This helps in getting a better understanding of quantitative research methodologies in criminology, which are critical for studying criminal behavior in-depth, particularly when finding serial killers or serious criminals. Plus, a specialization makes it easier to attain professional growth in the criminology field. Some popular specializations to consider are

• Criminal law
• Penology
• Forensic criminology
• Psychology
• Behavioral science
• Global criminology
• Criminal justice
• Cybercrime
• Terrorism and mass violence
• Community crime

Duration of programs in Criminology

In the USA and Canada, a bachelor’s degree in criminology can take four years, although, in the UK, Australia, and other regions, it can take three to four years. A graduate degree in criminology might take anything from one to two years to complete. Terminal degrees, such as a Ph.D., are mostly required for research and academic positions. A full-time Ph.D. in criminology or related fields usually takes three to six years to complete.

Career opportunities in Criminology

Criminology is a specialized discipline that does not attract a huge number of students. It is comparatively easy to succeed because there is less competition. As a criminologist, this makes it easier to advance, succeed, and gain expertise. Career advancement can be quick and financially rewarding. Here is a list of some exciting career opportunities for anyone interested in studying criminology.

• Criminal psychologist
• Criminal lawyer
• Private investigator/detective
• Crime scene investigator
• Police officer
• Parole officer
• Probation officer
• Social worker
• Youth worker
• Paralegal
• Solicitor
• Legislator

Average salaries for criminologists

Although criminology is not one of the highest-paying jobs in the world, it does pay well with experience. The majority of criminology graduates work in the public sector, although private companies and investigative services also employ a large number of criminologists. The table below shows the average criminologist salaries in major countries around the world.

*Note: All prices mentioned in the USD are for reference only. Exchange rates may vary from time to time and from country to country.

Top 50 universities in the world for Criminology based on world rankings

Top universities in the USA for Criminology

According to the World Population Review, the USA has more serial killers than any other country, with California having the most. As per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for sociologists, which includes criminologists, is expected to expand by 4% between 2019 and 2029. According to these figures, criminology is a great career choice to study in the USA. Prospects with Ph.D., master’s, or bachelor’s degrees in criminology can easily find employment in the criminology departments of the different law enforcement agencies in the USA, such as

• The Federal Bureau of Investigation
• United States Department of Justice
• Bureau of Justice Statistics
• The United States Drug Enforcement Administration
• United States Department of Homeland Security
• The United States Secret Service
• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

The globally ranked universities in the USA such as Harvard University, University of Chicago, Yale University, etc., given in the table below offer a variety of bachelor’s and master’s specialization in the criminology field.

Top universities in the UK for Criminology

There are a huge number of universities offering criminology courses in the UK. Therefore, many aspiring criminologists choose to study in the UK. The UK’s top-most universities, such as the University of Oxford, University College London, University of Cambridge, etc., offer a wide range of specializations for master’s in criminology. Some universities in the UK offer all three: doctoral, master’s, and bachelor’s programs in criminology.

Top universities in Canada for Criminology

Since the demand for criminology and law enforcement experts in Canada is increasing, it is preferable to pursue master’s specializations in criminology and doctoral degrees along with a bachelor’s degree. Students interested in studying in Canada can refer to the following list of top Canadian universities that offer master’s and bachelor’s degrees in criminology.

Top universities in Australia for Criminology

There is a constant demand for criminologists in the Australian public and private sectors. Therefore, Australia is also a good place to study criminology. Universities like Australian National University, University of Melbourne, University of Sydney, etc., are popular places to study for doctoral and master’s degrees in criminology. There are also a number of other universities in Australia that offer bachelor’s degrees in criminology.

Academic requirements for studying Criminology

Students interested in criminology should be familiar with the principles of psychology, sociology, and the justice system of the country or region in which they wish to study. It is highly recommended that they include an internship or job experience in their motivational letter to make it more compelling. A prospective criminology student should also possess certain skills such as critical thinking, observational, analytical, and communication skills to attract admission committees. The competition for admission to top criminology universities is high, therefore students can apply through the Gyanberry website to improve their chances of admission. Following are some academic requirements to consider before applying:

Bachelor’s level

• A high school education with a 3.0 GPA or above with concentration on subjects like sociology, psychology, and law
• Academic transcripts
• Valid passport
• Personal statement
• Passport photographs
• Completed visa application
• Letter of recommendation
• English proficiency test scores such as TOEFL (90 and above) or IELTS (6.0 and above)

Master’s level

• Internationally recognized bachelor’s degree in criminology or relevant field with a GPA of at least 3.0
• Academic transcripts
• Valid passport
• Passport photographs
• Completed visa application
• Motivational letter
• Resume
• Recommendation letters
• Internship or work experience (highly recommended)
• English language proficiency (TOEFL 90 or above and IELTS 6.0 and above)

Doctoral level

• Honors or master’s degree in criminology or a relevant field with a GPA of at least 3.0
• Academic transcripts
• Valid passport
• Passport photographs
• Completed visa application
• Statement of purpose
• Recommendation letters
• Resume
• Work experience (highly recommended)
• Personal interview
• English language proficiency (TOEFL 90 or above and IELTS 6.0 and above)