Sport Studies and Criminology BSc (Hons)

BSc (Hons) Sport Studies and Criminology
What are the consequences of crime? How are criminals managed and controlled? How can athletic performance be enhanced through Sport Psychology? Explore human behaviour from the criminal mind to high performance sport.

Why choose this course?

Join a course where you’ll be taught by research active lecturers, so your studies will be underpinned by developing knowledge of criminal behaviour, offending and rehabilitation, sports psychology and sport coaching.

Your Sport Studies modules will be taught by experts who are specialists in their chosen field. This includes accredited Sport Psychologists, Physiologists and Strength and Conditioning experts who bring their professional experience into the classroom. Our Criminology teaching team is made up of lecturers from a wide range of backgrounds including probation, policing, law, mental health and academia. Our lecturers engage with organisations in the local community, nationally and around the world – many of them publish in journals and textbooks.

How you will learn

On your Criminology modules you’ll learn through a combination of:


- lectures


- tutorials


- group work


- independent learning.


On your Sport Studies modules you’ll learn in a variety of different ways including formal lectures, discussion led seminars, practical demonstrations and other technology-based innovations. There will also be opportunities to get involved in applied case studies, role playing scenarios, coaching sessions and community-based work. You’ll be assessed on your theoretical knowledge and your ability to apply this in practice. Our practice-based learning takes place in our specialised Sport and Exercise facilities.

Learning from both industry experts and peers on your course, you’ll work on both individual and group-based assessments with students from across the world. You’ll also have the opportunity to work on real world and live assessment briefs with external organisations for example, you may be asked to present new ideas for the development or enhancement of external projects to employers.

Opportunities and experiences

During the course you’ll undertake practical work in our outstanding sport facilities. Our physiology laboratory contains the latest equipment for testing and measuring fitness for both participation and performance sport. You’ll also use a range of computer software packages for performance and statistical analysis.

You’ll have the opportunity to bring the subject to life through our industry links, thanks to our strong relationships with sport and exercise professionals, the police, probation service, and prisons.

Careers and employability

Criminology graduates are well suited to a range of roles in fields such as policing, Crown Prosecution Service, courts, probation and prison services, youth offending teams, law enforcement agencies, social research, public sector management or victim services.

Graduates in the School of Sport and Exercise Science have secured jobs in performance and participation sport. Some work for commercial sport organisations whilst others work at the community level. Outside of this, some graduates work in the National Health Service to support rehabilitation, recovery and fitness whilst others have become teachers at primary or secondary school level.

Further career destinations include the armed services, the police force, personal trainer or lifestyle coach.

We're a Top 10 UK University* in the heart of England, with great transport links to London and the rest of the UK.

Ranked 2nd in the UK for employability and course quality*, the University of Derby offers expert, industry-relevant teaching, state-of-the-art study spaces, award-winning accommodation, and a welcoming, inclusive community.

(*Uni Compare 2026)