Careers and connections in Criminal Justice and International Relations

Undergraduate

At University of Staffordshire, we place a strong emphasis on bringing you career-related epxeriences. 

Simulated and immersive experiences mirror real life and high pressued situations in safe, controlled environments. From role-playing frst officer on scene using body cams, and interviewing witnesses in one of the 12 settins in our £2.2m simulation suite, to conducting lab tests on evidence in our £30m Science Centre. 

Through placements, internship, industry visits and volunteering opportunities, you can see what you learn put into practice in the workplace. One of our former Policing and Criminal Investigation students visited Germany's Lower Saxony Police Academy, while Criminology students attended the International Security Expo 2023 in London. Closer to home, our Staffordshire Forensic Partnership offering various student placement opportunities.

There are also regular events for industry practitioners on campus with recent seminars on mass shooting and digital forensics, for example, the investigation of buried human remains, and whether the perfect crime exists. 

Your career

Our graduates go on to work in a wide variety of fields across the criminal justice system, the emergency services and armed forces, civil service and related areas of the public and private sector.

  • Policing
  • Prison Service
  • Health Service
  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Loss Adjustment
  • Technical Management
  • Crime Scene Investigation
  • Toxicology
  • Education
  • Science writing
  • National foreign or defence ministries
  • Armed forces
  • Security services
  • International or regional organisations
  • Intelligence
  • Journalism
  • International organisations such as the European Union and the United Nations
  • NGOs such as Amnesty International or Greenpeace
  • Think tanks such as Saferworld

Laura Maddocks

Graduated 2007

Laura first experienced the prison service during her studies. She is now an Offending Behaviour Programme Facilitator working to reduce prisoner reoffending.

Laura's story

Our latest connections

Work experience

We have a wide range of industry connections, including the Staffordshire Forensic Partnership, West Midlands Police Force and various other organisations. We can support you to find work experience in the areas that interest you most. In addition, many of our courses have the opportunity for a placement year so you can gain valuable experience for your future career. 

What's more, we also have a Cold Case Unit, where some of our students have the opportunity to work with experts to revisit historical unsolved crimes. This enhances work experience and practical skills, giving the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge in a real-life setting.

Our students

You’re actually out in the field gaining experience

What I enjoy most about the course is that you’re not just sitting in a lecture theatre all of the time being spoken to. You’re actually out in the field gaining experience, you’re very practical, visiting prisons and having prison officers and governors come in and speak to us.

Danielle Hackett

Criminal Justice with Offender Management

No other university I had applied to had the strong links that Staffordshire University had.

With my future career goal in mind, the links that the University has with Staffordshire Police really appealed to me and ended up being another reason that I chose the university. No other university I had applied to had the strong links that Staffordshire University had already established.

Sarah Hartley

MSci Forensic Investigation

Our friendly enquiries team are on hand to answer any questions you may have about your course, life at University of Staffordshire and much more.

for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Facilities

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Social Inclusion

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Four Star Rating

QS Star Ratings 2021