Criminology 2026 personal statement guide

Be clear about both your intentions and your attributes, by writing about why you want to study criminology, how your knowledge and experience supports this degree choice, and where you hope it will take you. 

General advice about writing your personal statement

What do admissions staff at universities and colleges want to see?

Guidance and examples you can use

Question 1: Why do you want to study this course or subject?

This is your opportunity to showcase your passion and knowledge of your chosen subject area and to demonstrate to universities and colleges why it’s a good fit for you and your future ambitions.

Examples:

• State clearly why you want to study criminology, and explain what you know already about the subject. Perhaps you’re a fan of Tim Newburn and his book Criminology. Elaborate on why that’s made you want to study this topic at degree level. Try and make it unique to you.
• Give examples of articles you’ve read, or podcasts you’ve listened to, that have given you further insights. You may have read about how social media can be used to spread criminal behaviour during riots, or how social media shapes our perceptions about crime. Reflect on what you think about that theory.
• Mention where you hope this degree will take you, whether you want to work in the police, the broader criminal justice system, or focus on rehabilitation. If you don’t know yet, that’s ok too.

Question 2: How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?

This is your chance to shout about the relevant or transferable skills you’ve gained from your formal education and highlight your understanding of how they will help you succeed in this subject area.

Examples:

• Can you give examples of projects you’ve done at school, such as researching an aspect of human behaviour in sociology or psychology, analysing data in maths or geography, or understanding the British legal system in law?
• What other schoolwork or clubs have you done where you’ve shown good critical thinking skills, and been able to evaluate and interpret evidence? That could be through history or a history club, or through playing chess, for example.
• Have you done any online courses to boost your knowledge in the subject? For example, why not try Subject Spotlights or Virtual Work Experiences from Springpod to grow your skills and interest? 

Question 3: What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?

This is your chance to talk about any other activities you have undertaken outside of your formal education, or personal experiences which further demonstrate your suitability for the course. This section is likely to be highly personal to you and anything you do include should reflect on why you’re including it.

Examples:

• Write about any part-time jobs or volunteering you do, and what you’ve got out of them. For example, if you work in retail or customer service, you’ll have picked up good interpersonal skills and some knowledge of different human behaviours. You may also have learned how to collaborate with people from different backgrounds.
• If you do have any work experience with the police, probation service, social services, a magistrate’s, or at a law firm, tell admissions tutors what you learned from it.
• Can you give any examples of your empathy and cultural awareness? That could be from work you’ve done at a charity, care home or hospital, or from the neighbourhood you live in, like helping an elderly neighbour. Explain why these attributes might help you during a career in criminology.

How to set yourself apart

The key to setting yourself apart in your application is to remember how important the ‘personal’ bit is to your personal statement. What makes you, you?

Perhaps you’ve always been fascinated by what makes people commit crime, and you’ve listened to true crime podcasts or watched programmes like In The Footsteps of Killers on Channel 4. Or maybe you watch Newsround, listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 or Dispatches on Channel 4, and you’ve developed an interest in how or why crimes are committed. 

Also think about your personal life and experiences. If you’ve lived in an area with a high crime rate, been a victim of crime, or a relative of someone who committed a crime, you’ll have your own unique insight into aspects of criminology.

It's even better if you can link what you’ve written back to something you've learned in your law, sociology, or psychology studies, or read in The Times, The Guardian, or on the BBC website. 

Some more tips to consider

1. Relevant skills: Can you describe situations where you’ve demonstrated relevant skills like collaborating and working well with others, showing initiative, carrying out research or interpreting data?
2. Research the course: Why do you want to study criminology, what specific aspects of the course interest you, how does it relate to your academic studies, and what additional reading or other activities have led you to apply? Make sure you tailor your statement to the course you’re applying for, and be aware that some courses are offered as joint honours.
3. Transferable skills: Whether through extracurricular or supercurricular activities, work experience, or a part-time job, you’ll have lots of skills that will be relevant to your course. If you’ve competed in a sport or been involved in a community project, how has it developed your interpersonal skills, persistence, and ability to work well on your own and as part of a wider team?