100 Best universities for Criminology and Criminal Justice in the United Kingdom

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United Kingdom ranked based on their research performance in Criminology and Criminal Justice. A graph of 1.15M citations received by 63K academic papers made by 114 universities in the United Kingdom was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of Cambridge

England | Cambridge

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#1 in Europe

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

2. University of Oxford

England | Oxford

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#2 in Europe

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

3. University College London

England | London

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#3 in Europe

#18 in the World

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

4. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#4 in Europe

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 9,218
Founded: 1895

5. King's College London

England | London

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#5 in Europe

#35 in the World

Founded: 1829

6. University of Manchester

England | Manchester

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#7 in Europe

#47 in the World

Founded: 1824

7. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#8 in Europe

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

8. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#9 in Europe

#58 in the World

Founded: 1900

9. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#10 in Europe

#61 in the World

Founded: 1948

10. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#11 in Europe

#70 in the World

Founded: 1905

11. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#12 in Europe

#72 in the World

Enrollment: 24,409
Male:Female: 46:54
Founded: 1957

12. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#13 in Europe

#73 in the World

Founded: 1904

13. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#14 in Europe

#77 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

14. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#15 in Europe

#80 in the World

Founded: 1965

15. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#17 in Europe

#85 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

16. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#19 in Europe

#92 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Enrollment: 27,513
Founded: 1909

17. University of London

England | London

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#20 in Europe

#95 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

18. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#22 in Europe

#101 in the World

Founded: 1997

19. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#24 in Europe

#110 in the World

Founded: 1451

20. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#26 in Europe

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

21. Durham University

England | Durham

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#27 in Europe

#117 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

22. University of York

England | York

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#28 in Europe

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

23. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#29 in Europe

#123 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

24. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#30 in Europe

#128 in the World

Enrollment: 17,319
Male:Female: 44:56
Founded: 1961

25. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#31 in Europe

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

26. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#33 in Europe

#131 in the World

Founded: 1964

27. Keele University

England | Keele

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#35 in Europe

#141 in the World

Founded: 1962

28. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#37 in Europe

#149 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

29. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#38 in Europe

#167 in the World

Founded: 1992

30. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#41 in Europe

#176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

31. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#42 in Europe

#177 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

32. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#44 in Europe

#181 in the World

Founded: 1964

33. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#45 in Europe

#182 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

34. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#48 in Europe

#204 in the World

Founded: 1963

35. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#50 in Europe

#211 in the World

Founded: 1954

36. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#51 in Europe

#214 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 14,000
Founded: 1967

37. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#55 in Europe

#223 in the World

Founded: 1968

38. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#56 in Europe

#225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

39. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#57 in Europe

#227 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

40. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#60 in Europe

#230 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

41. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#61 in Europe

#234 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

42. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#62 in Europe

#237 in the World

Founded: 1920

43. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#64 in Europe

#243 in the World

Founded: 1992

44. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#65 in Europe

#246 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

45. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#66 in Europe

#247 in the World

Founded: 1893

46. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#70 in Europe

#267 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

47. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#71 in Europe

#273 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

48. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#72 in Europe

#278 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

49. University of South Wales

Wales | Pontypridd

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#73 in Europe

#279 in the World

Founded: 1841

50. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#74 in Europe

#280 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

51. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#77 in Europe

#289 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

52. Imperial College London

England | London

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#80 in Europe

#295 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

53. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#81 in Europe

#298 in the World

Founded: 1823

54. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#83 in Europe

#302 in the World

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1992

55. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#84 in Europe

#304 in the World

Founded: 1992

56. Middlesex University

England | London

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#86 in Europe

#311 in the World

Founded: 1973

57. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#87 in Europe

#315 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

58. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#90 in Europe

#328 in the World

Founded: 1495

59. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#91 in Europe

#329 in the World

Founded: 1849

60. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#94 in Europe

#338 in the World

Founded: 1892

61. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#96 in Europe

#346 in the World

Founded: 1967

62. University of Westminster

England | London

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#97 in Europe

#349 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

63. City, University of London

England | London

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#98 in Europe

#351 in the World

Founded: 1966

64. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#101 in Europe

#357 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

65. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#105 in Europe

#367 in the World

Founded: 1992

66. University of Bath

England | Bath

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#108 in Europe

#379 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Enrollment: 18,857
Male:Female: 53:47
Founded: 1966

67. Goldsmiths, University of London

England | London

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#109 in Europe

#381 in the World

Founded: 1904

68. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#117 in Europe

#397 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

69. Birmingham City University

England | Birmingham

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#125 in Europe

#429 in the World

Founded: 1992

70. University of East London

England | London

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#126 in Europe

#430 in the World

Founded: 1992

71. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#127 in Europe

#432 in the World

Founded: 1848

72. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#131 in Europe

#445 in the World

Founded: 1967

73. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#133 in Europe

#450 in the World

Founded: 1872

74. University of Roehampton

England | London

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#136 in Europe

#457 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 2004

75. SOAS, University of London

England | London

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#137 in Europe

#461 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Enrollment: 6,295
Founded: 1916

76. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#139 in Europe

#464 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Enrollment: 19,710
Founded: 1992

77. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#148 in Europe

#484 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

78. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#150 in Europe

#486 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

79. St George's, University of London

England | London

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#154 in Europe

#498 in the World

Founded: 1733

80. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#156 in Europe

#500 in the World

Founded: 1992

81. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#160 in Europe

#511 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

82. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#168 in Europe

#529 in the World

Founded: 1992

83. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#173 in Europe

#540 in the World

Founded: 1890

84. Canterbury Christ Church University

England | Canterbury

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#175 in Europe

#543 in the World

Founded: 2005

85. London South Bank University

England | London

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#176 in Europe

#544 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

86. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#177 in Europe

#556 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

87. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#184 in Europe

#577 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

88. Edge Hill University

England | Ormskirk

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#185 in Europe

#586 in the World

Founded: 2006

89. Bangor University

Wales | Bangor

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#189 in Europe

#595 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

90. University of Derby

England | Derby

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#192 in Europe

#610 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Enrollment: 25,000
Founded: 1992

91. University of Sunderland

England | Sunderland

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#197 in Europe

#623 in the World

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

92. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#201 in Europe

#633 in the World

Founded: 1858

93. Liverpool Hope University

England | Liverpool

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#211 in Europe

#664 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Founded: 2005

94. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#213 in Europe

#668 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

95. Abertay University

Scotland | Dundee

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#220 in Europe

#703 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1994

96. University of Gloucestershire

England | Cheltenham

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#221 in Europe

#709 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Founded: 2001

97. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#234 in Europe

#742 in the World

Founded: 1992

98. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#237 in Europe

#751 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

99. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#242 in Europe

#769 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

100. University of Chester

England | Chester

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#248 in Europe

#787 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Founded: 2005

The best cities to study Criminology and Criminal Justice in the United Kingdom based on the number of universities and their ranks are Cambridge, Oxford, London, and Manchester.