We offer more than a degree — every course is designed with employability and real-world experience at its core.
DMU is one of the few universities where you’ll benefit from a unique block teaching approach.
This course is professionally accredited, meaning your learning is informed by current industry practice.
This course combines psychology and criminology to explore human behaviour and prepare you for a meaningful career in mental health, justice, and community support.
Overview
Psychology is a dynamic science, blending biology, sociology, and philosophy to explore and explain how our minds and environments shape our actions. It answers everyday questions (why do we crave certain foods when we are stressed? Why do we remember song lyrics better than shopping lists? Why do we make impulsive purchases and irrational choices?) and plays a critical role in improve lives; understanding and treating mental health, optimising how we learn and make decisions, designing better technologies, and shaping human habits.
This BPS accredited course combines psychology with criminology. It offers an exciting deep dive into everyday life; exploring how the brain and physiological factors (e.g., genetics, hormones) influence behaviour and experience (biological psychology), how we think, learn, reason, and understand the world around us (cognitive psychology), and how humans develop physically, mentally, and socially throughout their life (development psychology). You will learn how social context, interactions, and group processes influence human behaviour (social psychology), why people vary in behaviour, personality, intelligence, and motivation (individual differences), as well as how we can measure these things, and use psychological knowledge to treat mental health conditions. You will also explore how psychological theories apply to criminal behaviour and societal reactions to crime, with a focus on the criminal justice system. You will develop industry-sought-after research skills and use scientific methods to understand why people behave the way they do.
Our state-of-the-art facilities – featuring research and computer labs, research cubicles, and an observation suite – will support your learning, with expert technicians on hand. You will also develop key skills in critical thinking, communication, and scientific research, including data analysis and presentation, preparing you for careers where understanding societal issues is essential.
This BPS-accredited degree is your first step towards becoming a psychologist and comes with the chance to tailor your learning with optional modules in your second and third year to align with your passions and career goals.
Graduates succeed in fields such as criminal justice, education, social work, research, advertising, human resources, and healthcare.
Key features
- 1st in the East Midlands for Learning Resources: Students on the course feel strongly that the IT and learning facilities supported their learning, with their feedback placing us first in the East Midlands for Learning Resources (NSS, 2025).
- BPS accredited for your future: This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), providing eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership, a key step towards becoming a chartered psychologist.
- Focused learning: Modules are delivered through our block teaching approach, so you can concentrate on one subject at a time.
- Personalise your learning: Choose from a wide range of optional modules in Year 3 to align your studies with your interests and career goals.
- Gain industry experience: Take advantage of an optional credit-bearing year-long placement opportunity to develop your professional skills in applied settings. Past students have secured roles with organisations such as PwC, St Andrews Healthcare, Turning Point, HMPPS (Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service), Warwickshire County Council Educational Psychology Services, Leicestershire Life Links, and the NHS.
- Graduate destinations: This course equips graduates for roles at the intersection of mental health, policing, and community support. Graduates have gone on to work in impactful roles with organisations such as Northamptonshire Police, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, and North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust - in positions including police constables, assistant psychologists, and mental health care assistants.
- Authentic facilities: Access dedicated psychology labs, research spaces, interview rooms, and observation suites, all supported by expert technicians.
- Research-informed teaching: Learn from a team of academics with expertise in Health Psychology, Cognition, Neuroscience, and Criminology.
- Global experience: Enrich your studies with DMU Global, offering international opportunities like exploring mental health history in Paris or cross-cultural psychology in Kuala Lumpur. Or gain valuable life experience and the chance to travel, with an optional study year abroad. Psychology students have studied in universities across the world, including Germany, the USA, and Japan.
1st for Overall Average Student Satisfaction
Based on the main themes of arrival, living, learning, and support in the 2024 International Student Barometer rankings.
Find out what makes us special
An ‘Excellent’ Five Star Rated University
Rated by QS Top Universities for our teaching, facilities, employability, global outlook and more.
Find out what makes us special
The Best Careers Support
DMU’s Careers Team won Employability Team of the Year at the TargetJobs National Graduate Recruitment Awards for helping students reach their ambitions.
Find out what makes us special
The First University to Achieve a Silver Race Equality Charter Award
Our work to improve equality and diversity, challenge racism and build an anti-racist community earned us the award.
Find out what makes us special
2nd for Sustainability
DMU was named 2nd in People & Planet’s University League Table for our commitment to environmental sustainability.
Find out what makes us special
The Best University for LGBTQ+ staff
A staff survey by Stonewall saw us ranked the top university, and 2nd across all employers, for our work to create an inclusive environment where everyone has a voice.
Find out what makes us special
The Best Autism Support
The National Association of Disability Practitioners Award identified DMU as the best at supporting autistic students.
Find out what makes us special
25th Best University
Student reviews and independent data from Uni Compare rankings placed us as the 25th best university.
Find out what makes us special
11th Best for Accommodation
Uni Compare describes our accommodation as A+, rated 11th best by students in its rankings.
Find out what makes us special
Best for Work Experience
Students rated DMU as the best university in the UK for work experience in both the 2024 and 2025 RateMyPlacement Awards.
Find out what makes us special
Clearing is open
Clearing
is open
Secure an offer now, explore your options, and get support through every step of Clearing.