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Criminology, Policing, and Public Services

Study Criminology, Policing, and Public Services at USW and develop a versatile skillset for a wide range of careers. Throughout your studies, you’ll build the analytical, communication and problem-solving skills that employers across the public, private and voluntary sectors are looking for.

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With hands-on training in immersive facilities, you’ll gain the skills and confidence to make a real difference in communities and shape a brighter future.


Learn by doing

Benefit from our long-standing partnerships and take part in work placements or internships to give your future CV a boost.

Lecturers with real world experience

Learn from leading academics and former police staff, with guest speakers from police forces, emergency services and other professional partners.

Get ready for your future career

Prepare for real-world policing, security, and social policy challenges by examining power, decision-making, and their impacts.

Experience industry standard facilities

Gain hands-on experience in the Hydra Simulation Suite and Crime Scene Investigation Hub, using the very same system police use to train their own officers.

Find your course

Crime and Justice - MSc

Students will examine in-depth criminological issues and question and critically evaluate debates around notions of crime and justice both in philosophical and practice related ways, and from a variety of different perspectives.

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Criminology - BSc (Hons)

Dive deep into the causes and consequences of crime, uncover the inner workings of the criminal justice system, and put your skills to the test with real-life cases.

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Criminology including Foundation Year - BSc (Hons)

Prepare for a career in Criminology while building the academic skills needed to succeed at university.

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Criminology with Psychology - BSc (Hons)

Dive into the complex world of criminal behaviour in our course that blends the study of criminology with psychology.

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Criminology with Youth Justice - BSc (Hons)

We believe in learning by doing. In our Criminology with Youth Justice BSc, you’ll not only learn the theory, but also how to apply it to live cases, cold cases and real-world case studies, so you finish your studies ready for work.

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Criminology with Youth Justice including Foundation Year - BSc (Hons)

Prepare for a career in Criminology and Youth Justice while building the academic skills needed to succeed at university. 

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Health and Public Service Management - MSc

The University has a long tradition of providing high quality healthcare management courses and has successfully delivered similar postgraduate programmes for over 20 years.

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International Security and Risk Management - MSc

This programme focuses on key issues in international security – how we can identify and counter them. It explores critical issues, such as terrorism, hybrid warfare and organised crime, and examines how such global risks can be managed by international organisations, governments and companies.

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International Security and Risk Management (Counter Terrorism) - MSc

This programme focuses on key issues in international security – how we can identify and counter them. It explores critical issues, such as terrorism, hybrid warfare and organised crime, and examines how such global risks can be managed by international organisations, governments and companies.

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Leadership in Professional Policing - MSc

Building on the success of our well-established Professional Policing degree and decades of providing police education, this course has been designed to meet the needs of those working within the policing sector.

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Professional Policing - BSc (Hons)

Ready to step into the ranks of the next generation of police officers? Uphold law and order with confidence with our Professional Policing degree.

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Professional Policing including Foundation Year - BSc (Hons)

This foundation year supports your transition into higher education while introducing key policing and public service themes.

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Public Services - BA (Hons)

Build the knowledge, skills, and values needed to make a real difference to people and communities. This flexible and practical course prepares you for leadership roles in public organisations, from emergency response to policy design and everything in between. 

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Public Services including Foundation Year - BA (Hons)

Prepare for a career in public services while building the academic skills needed to succeed at university. 

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Working with Adult and Young People who Offend - MSc

The MSc Working with Adults and Young People who Offend has been designed in collaboration with industry partners and offers a specialist focus on the theory and practice of offender management.

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Did you know?

Two policing lecturers sat discussing in front of the screens in the hydra simulation centre on glyntaff campus
  • 93% of  BA (Hons) Professional Policing students were satisfied with their course (National Student Survey 2025)

Did you know?

99.5%

of USW Operational Policing graduates are in Employment and/or Further Study 15 months after graduation

(Graduate Outcomes Survey 2022/23)
  • 93% of  BA (Hons) Professional Policing students were satisfied with their course (National Student Survey 2025)


Explore Our Facilities

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Forensic student wearing a lab coat, studying evidence on a computer screen
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Forensic student conducting a crime scene training scenario.

Student Stories

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A Long-Standing Partnership

We're proud of our long-standing partnership with South Wales Police.

The University of South Wales works alongside police forces, emergency services and other professional partners to make your learning relevant and applicable to the job.

Over three years on one of our courses you will gain the skills and experience you need to enter the police force as a professional police officer. From gathering evidence and working with vulnerable people to forensic investigation and public protection, you will finish your degree ready to get to work.


Study in the heart of Pontypridd

Our Treforest campus is in the heart of the South Wales Valleys, with beautiful scenery and rolling landscape. There’s always something happening or new places to discover.


Upcoming Open Days

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Come and meet us on campus and see what make us special. Discover our facilities, explore the campus and meet academics from your course.

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Connect with us

@unisouthwales