From social work to research, a criminology degree equips graduates for careers beyond the traditional law enforcement route
This article is part of a series exploring the outcomes of graduates from subjects that are not included in What do graduates do? publications.
Criminology graduates pursue a variety of career paths. Full-time work was the most common destination (58.3%), while 10% found work in part-time roles - according to the latest Graduate Outcomes data, which records the activities of 2021/22 graduates 15 months after graduation.
They found employment in various sectors, such as:
- Police officers (sergeant and below)
- Welfare and housing associate professionals n.e.c.
- Sales and retail assistants
- National government administrative occupations
- Care workers and home carers
- Other administrative occupations n.e.c.
- Human resources and industrial relations officers
- Prison service officers (below principal officer)
- Local government administrative occupations
- Educational support assistants
A small percentage of criminology graduates were unemployed (6.1%). This is actually slightly higher than the average for all graduates (5.6%), but it is important to recognise that this figure remains low.
Destination 15 months after graduation,Percentage of criminology graduates Full-time employment,58.3 Part-time employment,10.1 Further study,6 Employment and further study,11.3 Unemployment,6.1 Other,8.2
(Graduate Outcomes, 2024)
Further study
Some (6.0%) criminology graduates chose to pursue further study, with a further 11.3% reporting that they were working while studying. Two fifths (38.7%) reported that they were doing a Masters course, 21.0% were doing a Postgraduate diploma, and 2.5% said that they were doing a Doctorate course when surveyed.
The courses were often in vocational subjects such as social work, teaching and law conversions, but some continued their studies in criminology to enhance their knowledge and pursue further academic research.
Type of further study,Percentage of criminology graduates in further study Masters (such as MA or MSc),38.7 Professional qualification,19.1 Postgraduate diploma or certificate (including PGCE/PGDE),21.0 Doctorate,2.5 Undergraduate,8.7
(Graduate Outcomes, 2024)
Several of these graduates studied for professional qualifications, such as the Legal Practice Course (LPC), which expands their opportunity for employment in the legal sector.
Occupations
Criminology graduates enter a variety of sectors, drawing on the diverse range of skills they develop during their studies. Clerical, secretarial, and administrative positions were popular with 12.9% of this cohort working in these roles. Although not directly related to their degree, these graduates often acquire valuable skills including customer service and communication, which are highly sought after in this field.
They also gravitate towards legal, social and welfare positions (10.7%), and other professional roles (10.4%) such as police officers (8%), prison service officers (1.4%) and protective service associate professionals (0.9%).
| Occupations | Percentage of criminology graduates in work |
|---|---|
| Clerical, secretarial and administrative | 12.9% |
| Retail, catering and customer service | 11.0% |
| Legal, social and welfare | 10.7% |
| Other professionals | 10.4% |
| Childcare, health and education | 5.6% |
| Business, HR and finance | 5.2% |
| Other Occupations | 2.9% |
| Marketing, PR and sales | 2.9% |
| Managers | 2.5% |
| Education | 2.4% |
| Skilled trades, crafts and vocational work | 1.0% |
| IT | 0.9% |
| Engineering | 0.7% |
| Arts, design and media | 0.5% |
| Health | 0.4% |
| Science | 0.4% |
Half of criminology graduates (53%) found themselves in professional-level employment, a figure below the overall graduate average of 75%, However, it’s crucial to acknowledge that success is subjective and graduates in non-professional roles may still be fulfilling their aspirations, be content with their salaries, and feel like they are making meaningful contributions. In fact, 79% of criminology graduates who answered the Graduate voice questions indicated that their work is meaningful, and of those who were not in a professional-level role, 69% said the same.
Location of employment
Criminology graduates were working in various locations across the UK, with London accounting for the largest proportion at 17.2%. The North West was the second most common location, with areas like Greater Manchester, Liverpool and Manchester being particularly popular. A few individuals found work in Hampshire, Kent, and Surrey, making the South East an appealing location.
| Location | Percentage of employed criminology graduates |
|---|---|
| East Midlands | 7.0% |
| East of England | 7.2% |
| London | 17.2% |
| North East | 3.5% |
| North West | 13.4% |
| Northern Ireland | 2.0% |
| Scotland | 2.2% |
| South East | 11.4% |
| South West | 8.2% |
| Wales | 6.0% |
| West Midlands | 9.0% |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 10.6% |
Salaries
Criminology graduates who didn't pursue further study after graduation earn an average of £25,989, which is below the overall average for all graduates (£28,731).
The difference in salaries could be partially explained by the higher proportion of criminology graduates finding employment in retail and customer service sectors, where salaries tend to be comparatively lower.
Also in this series:
- What do agriculture graduates do?
- What do zoology graduates do?
- What do early childhood studies graduates do?
Written by
Was this page useful?
Thank you for your feedback