What is Criminology?: Course Fees 2025, Subjects, Top Colleges, Admissions

Criminology is the study relating to crimes,  their occurrence, and prevention. This subject deals with the types of crimes, nature of crimes, crime rate, and future control to ensure a safe society for the people. As the number of crimes is rising rapidly, more students are opting for this course. Criminology aims to comprehend the dynamics, patterns, and patterns of criminal behaviour as well as how it affects people and communities. 

Understanding the origins and effects of criminal behaviour is a multidisciplinary field that incorporates ideas from sociology, psychology, law,  anthropology,  and other academic fields. Criminologists investigate criminal behavior's reasons, look at patterns of criminal activity, and assess how crime affects both people and society as a whole.

Yes, students can appear for UPSC civil services examination after completing their Criminology subject course. For eligibility in UPSC examination, students must at least complete their graduation such as BA or BSc Criminology from a recognised university of India.

UPSC is one of the toughest examinations in India and requires qualification in all three stages that is Prelims, Mains and Interview. Students need at least 6 months to 1 year to properly prepare for UPSC exam. 

To know more information about UPSC exam:

UPSC IAS Exam 2025

It depends on the course level; for instance, a UG-level course duration is 3 to 4 years, while a PG-level course duration is 2 years. Diplomas can be completed in 6 months to 1.6 years, and certification can be pursued from 1 month to 1 year.  

Usually, there is no age limit for Criminology course of any academic level. If you are planning to take admission in Criminology course then make sure that you that have the required academic qualifications and you fulfil the marks criteria.

Students can read the below steps to know the complete admission process for admission to Criminology courses:

Choose University/College: The first step is to search for colleges or universities which are offering courses in Criminology/Forensic Science/Sociology. Check the fees, the seats offered, and the eligibility criteria which are set for the course.

Apply for Course: Proceed to apply for admission after getting to know the university offering the programme. Fill up the details as required and pay the application fee. The application forms are available for a limited period of time so the candidate is advised to know the details way in advance.

Mode of Admission: Universities and Colleges will either conduct entrance exams for admission or offer admission through merit. For postgraduate courses, the candidate will have to appear for an entrance exam.

Results: Selected and qualified candidates make the merit list. The student has to get the desired rank and percentage, to be eligible for admission.

Counselling: The candidate will have to appear for the counselling session conducted at the university to book their seat, submit their documents and pay the fees to seal admission.

In order to perform well on the PUBDET, candidates must read the required material in its entirety. Review the topics you have already covered, even if they are generic ones. Plan your strategies at the hourly, daily, and weekly levels. Hard work is the foundation of success, and you can better prepare for admission by understanding which topics to examine in-depth and which areas will require general studies or other surface-level knowledge. You can achieve this by paying attention to the advice listed below: Go over the material in detail and be aware of the key points that need to be covered. Divide the issues and topics into categories based on ease of use and difficulty. Discuss subjects that you find difficult. Make a note of the subjects that are most important.

 The entrance tests that allow admission to students in Criminology courses are:

• Delhi University Entrance Test
• Jawaharlal Nehru University Entrance Exam
• Andhra Pradesh Research Common Entrance Test
• Jamia Millia Islamia Entrance Exam
• Central Universities Common Entrance Test
• Common Post Graduate Entrance Tests
• Banaras Hindu University Undergraduate Entrance Test
• Aligarh Muslim University Entrance Exam

 The main topics included in the curriculum of Criminology include Introduction to Criminology, Types of Crime, Causes of Crime, Firearms and ammunition, Fingerprints, Preparation of Summons and Warrants. Graduates can find employment in non-profit or social organisations that combat crime after gaining knowledge of these topics. They may also work for the government in divisions such as law enforcement, social reform, or the court.

Criminologists are trained to examine the problems in order to understand the thoughts of criminals. Criminologists do not have to work alone to solve crimes.  They contribute significantly to systems of prevention and law- and policy-making that can prevent similar events from occurring in the future and reduce crime at the same time.

Criminology, includes topics like psychology, sociology, law, and anthropology as they are essential for analysing crimes and criminals. Psychology aids in understanding a person's mind, while sociology studies human conduct and interaction. 

Pune University, Lucknow University, Madras University, and National Forensic Sciences University are some of the renowned universities offering Criminology courses in India. The students can take admission as per their choice and course suitability. Here are the links for some criminology courses as per the state:

• Criminology Courses in Karnataka
• Criminology Courses in Madhya Pradesh
• Criminology Courses in Uttare Pradesh

A few areas where Criminology graduates can work are Forensic departments, non-governmental organizations,  Human Rights Agencies, the National Institute of Social Defence, the Intelligence Bureau, the Central Bureau of Investigation, Police departments, and Educational Institutes. Even some mulit-national companies hire fraud analysts, fraud prevention analysts, and cyber crime analysts, and researchers in digital forensics. Click to read the Cyber Crime Course.

According to Naukri.com, the salary for criminology professionals in India is INR 3.5 Lacs per year,  with the potential to climb to INR 25 Lacs per year as job experience increases. In the early stages of their careers, criminologists can also choose to work as freelancers for firms like Microsoft, HDFC, PwC, etc., and can anticipate receiving a stipend of about INR 5 Lacs year. 

Aspirants can see the below table for more job related information. 

Here are some top MA in Criminology college options abroad:

Note: The information is sourced from the official/counselling body of the institute/exam.

Of course, around 20 universities in different countries offer Diploma in Criminology programs:

Note: The information is sourced from the official/counselling body of the institute/exam.

There are different theories of crime in criminology course, here are some theories related to crime:

• Social disorganization theory 
• Labeling theory
• Biological and psychological theories of crime
• Rational choice theory
• Classical criminology
• Social learning theory
• Developmental criminology
• Social control theory

Criminology research uses a variety of methods, including:

Quantitative methods: These are the primary methods used to study the causes and distribution of crime. Quantitative methods include survey research, field research, and evaluation research of the criminals and there nature.

Case studies: These are the methods that allow for a detailed analysis of specific cases, such as a juvenile delinquent or an institution.

Mixed methods research: This method combines elements of qualitative and quantitative research. 

Experimental methods: These are the methods which are sometimes used in criminology research. 

Criminological research is conducted using a variety of methods, including experiments, nonexperimental designs, and qualitative research. they are Nonexperimental designs, Experiments, Qualitative research,  Comparative analysis. 

There are several reasons why candidates prefer to study Criminology course as a main part of their course. Some of these reasons are listed below:

• The demand for Criminologists has risen with the increasing crime rate in the country as well as across the globe.
• The candidates who wish to join the Armed Forces, the Police Department and Investigation Agencies can pursue the course in order to mentally prepare themselves.
• It can also be pursued by candidates who have a genuine interest in the subject and wish to work in academia.
• Criminology courses are available in several specialisations like Law enforcement, Criminal Ethology, Criminal Justice and Cyber Law. Therefore, Lawyers can pursue this course to gain better insights into the field.
• Journalists and Crime Reporters can also study Criminology. Gaining a holistic understanding of crime and criminals from a different perspective can improve their work performance.
• The salary of an entry-level Criminologist ranges from INR 2.8 LPA to INR 6.5 LPA.