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

Updated: March 15, 2026

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 1.22M citations received by 66.8K 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

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

2. University of Oxford

England | Oxford

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#2 in Europe

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

3. University College London

England | London

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#3 in Europe

#17 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

#37 in the World

Founded: 1829

6. University of Manchester

England | Manchester

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#7 in Europe

#45 in the World

Founded: 1824

7. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#8 in Europe

#56 in the World

Founded: 1900

8. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#9 in Europe

#58 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

9. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#10 in Europe

#60 in the World

Founded: 1948

10. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#11 in Europe

#66 in the World

Founded: 1905

11. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#13 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

#14 in Europe

#74 in the World

Founded: 1904

13. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#15 in Europe

#75 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

14. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#16 in Europe

#78 in the World

Founded: 1965

15. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#18 in Europe

#81 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

16. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#20 in Europe

#90 in the World

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

17. University of London

England | London

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#21 in Europe

#96 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

18. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#23 in Europe

#102 in the World

Founded: 1997

19. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#25 in Europe

#108 in the World

Founded: 1451

20. Durham University

England | Durham

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#26 in Europe

#114 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

21. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#28 in Europe

#117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

22. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#29 in Europe

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

23. University of York

England | York

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#30 in Europe

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

24. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#31 in Europe

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

25. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#32 in Europe

#122 in the World

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

26. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#33 in Europe

#123 in the World

Founded: 1964

27. Keele University

England | Keele

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#37 in Europe

#140 in the World

Founded: 1962

28. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#38 in Europe

#147 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

29. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#39 in Europe

#162 in the World

Founded: 1992

30. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#40 in Europe

#169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

31. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#41 in Europe

#171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

32. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#45 in Europe

#182 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

33. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#46 in Europe

#185 in the World

Founded: 1964

34. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#49 in Europe

#200 in the World

Founded: 1963

35. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#50 in Europe

#202 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

36. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#52 in Europe

#215 in the World

Founded: 1954

37. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#53 in Europe

#219 in the World

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

38. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#57 in Europe

#227 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

39. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#58 in Europe

#229 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

40. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#59 in Europe

#230 in the World

Founded: 1968

41. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#60 in Europe

#231 in the World

Founded: 1992

42. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#61 in Europe

#232 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

43. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#64 in Europe

#240 in the World

Founded: 1920

44. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#65 in Europe

#243 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

45. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#67 in Europe

#261 in the World

Founded: 1893

46. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#68 in Europe

#262 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

47. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#71 in Europe

#274 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

48. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#72 in Europe

#277 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

49. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#73 in Europe

#278 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

50. University of South Wales

Wales | Pontypridd

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#74 in Europe

#280 in the World

Founded: 1841

51. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#75 in Europe

#286 in the World

Founded: 1992

52. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#79 in Europe

#293 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

53. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#80 in Europe

#294 in the World

Founded: 1823

54. Imperial College London

England | London

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#82 in Europe

#298 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

55. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#83 in Europe

#299 in the World

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1992

56. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#86 in Europe

#309 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

57. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#87 in Europe

#310 in the World

Founded: 1849

58. Middlesex University

England | London

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#88 in Europe

#315 in the World

Founded: 1973

59. University of Westminster

England | London

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#91 in Europe

#333 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

60. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#92 in Europe

#335 in the World

Founded: 1495

61. University of Bath

England | Bath

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#93 in Europe

#336 in the World

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

62. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#96 in Europe

#340 in the World

Founded: 1892

63. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#97 in Europe

#343 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

64. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#99 in Europe

#349 in the World

Founded: 1967

65. City, University of London

England | London

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#100 in Europe

#354 in the World

Founded: 1966

66. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#102 in Europe

#361 in the World

Founded: 1992

67. Goldsmiths, University of London

England | London

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#105 in Europe

#365 in the World

Founded: 1904

68. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#119 in Europe

#398 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

69. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#121 in Europe

#410 in the World

Founded: 1967

70. Birmingham City University

England | Birmingham

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#124 in Europe

#417 in the World

Founded: 1992

71. University of East London

England | London

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#126 in Europe

#421 in the World

Founded: 1992

72. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#131 in Europe

#439 in the World

Founded: 1848

73. St George's, University of London

England | London

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#134 in Europe

#446 in the World

Founded: 1733

74. SOAS, University of London

England | London

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#136 in Europe

#448 in the World

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

75. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#138 in Europe

#458 in the World

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

76. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#140 in Europe

#460 in the World

Founded: 1872

77. University of Roehampton

England | London

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#141 in Europe

#461 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 2004

78. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#145 in Europe

#471 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

79. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#154 in Europe

#491 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

80. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#156 in Europe

#495 in the World

Founded: 1992

81. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#160 in Europe

#510 in the World

Founded: 1992

82. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#161 in Europe

#511 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

83. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#173 in Europe

#538 in the World

Founded: 1890

84. Edge Hill University

England | Ormskirk

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#176 in Europe

#541 in the World

Founded: 2006

85. Canterbury Christ Church University

England | Canterbury

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#177 in Europe

#543 in the World

Founded: 2005

86. London South Bank University

England | London

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#180 in Europe

#547 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

87. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#181 in Europe

#553 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

88. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#188 in Europe

#580 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

89. Bangor University

Wales | Bangor

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#189 in Europe

#582 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

90. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#190 in Europe

#586 in the World

Founded: 1858

91. University of Derby

England | Derby

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#191 in Europe

#588 in the World

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

92. University of Sunderland

England | Sunderland

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#202 in Europe

#631 in the World

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

93. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#203 in Europe

#632 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

94. Liverpool Hope University

England | Liverpool

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#210 in Europe

#655 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Founded: 2005

95. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#224 in Europe

#708 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

96. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#227 in Europe

#717 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

97. University of Gloucestershire

England | Cheltenham

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#228 in Europe

#718 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Founded: 2001

98. Abertay University

Scotland | Dundee

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#230 in Europe

#723 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1994

99. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#231 in Europe

#731 in the World

Founded: 1992

100. University of Northampton

England | Northampton

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#250 in Europe

#780 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
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.