My experience at The University of Manchester

I studied BA Criminology and graduated with a First Class Honours in 2025. I loved my undergraduate degree so much that I stayed on to do my Master’s degree in MRes Criminology, which I am due to graduate from at the end of 2026. Doing a Master’s degree has allowed me to broaden and deepen my understanding of criminology as a subject, with opportunities to choose modules such as Understanding Violence, Crime and Networks and Comparative Criminology. The wide range of options available caters to everyone’s interests, and I have learnt so much over my 4 years at The University of Manchester!

Postgraduate study

As my undergraduate degree was coming to an end, I knew that I wasn’t ready to leave university yet, and I was passionate about continuing my educational career. I chose to study my Master’s at The University of Manchester as my undergraduate degree was such a positive experience, and I valued the teaching staff, modules available on the course, and the university as a whole. I took the MRes route over alternatives like the MA route as I wanted to keep my options for a future career as open as possible, and the Masters of Research is useful for both a research career or an alternative public/private sector role.

Doing a postgraduate degree gave me the opportunity to continue studying the subject I am passionate about in even greater depth and to a higher level, allowing me to develop skills like advanced essay writing, improved public speaking skills and expert critical thinking!

My current career aspirations

I have recently been offered a job as an intelligence analyst with Greater Manchester Police. As a result of having an extra year during my Master’s to consider what my career aspirations are, I am now confident in where I want to be and what I want to do. I am passionate about joining Greater Manchester Police in an analyst role as I have significant experience with data analysis and research from my degrees. For example, I am currently working as a research assistant at the University on a project revolving around the social network analysis of cybercriminal groups.

I was also able to secure a summer internship through the Q-Step data fellowship initiative in 2024, which is designed to get social sciences students into data analysis. I spent the summer working within the Creating Future Opportunities team at His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service. This experience was so unique and provided me with so many new experiences, like visiting a prison, and new skills, like working in a professional office environment.

These opportunities have led to me developing an aspiration to work as an analyst in the police force, and I am looking forward to my future career!

Advice for offer holders

My main piece of advice for current offer holders is to make the most of every second at university! It will not always be a smooth and easy journey, but the time really does fly by and when it comes to the end, you really won’t want to leave (and you can consider staying for postgraduate study!).

I would also really recommend joining a society. The university has a society for almost everything you can think of, and it is the best way to make friends for life. I joined The University of Manchester Cheerleading and Dance society in my second year, and I fully regret not joining in my first year. I met some of my best friends, had a great weekly distraction from uni work, and was even able to coach the team this year which was so much fun and great for my CV too!

Finally, what you put into your time at university is what you will get out of it, so step out of your comfort zone, take on new challenges and push yourself. You never know what opportunities may arise for you!

Written by Ella Parr, a BA Criminology graduate and current student on MRes Criminology (graduating in 2026)

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