Masters in Criminal Science in UK

A stimulating and demanding programme, involving intensive learning in small groups, the MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice will equip you with an advanced understanding of crime and criminal justice, comprising courses in criminological theory, the study of criminal justice, and training in research design and methodology.

This course critically addresses a range of key issues and debates relating to crime and the criminal justice system. You will have the opportunity to develop an in-depth understanding of crime, deviance and criminal justice from critical, theoretical, policy, legal, political and practical perspectives and will address issues of historical and contemporary concern such as terrorism, sex work, legal and illegal drugs, crime in the night-time economy, forced migration, gender and crime, domestic violence, crime prevention, prison and punishment, policing, youth crime and justice, law enforcement and the use of new technologies. You will also study issues of theoretical and social importance with lecturers who are international experts in their fields.

The programme welcomes recent graduates (whether UK based or international students), mature students, and professionals in one of the relevant fields (e.g. police officers, prison officers, probation officers, social workers, lawyers, magistrates).

The distinctiveness of the programme resides in its multidisciplinary curriculum which is simultaneously rooted in the University’s combined honours approach to undergraduate teaching and interdisciplinary approach to research.

This course has been designed, and will be delivered by, a dynamic team of international scholars with globally-recognised expertise in Criminology, Criminal Justice and Social Policy in an inclusive learning environment to provide you with a critical understanding of contemporary theories, issues and debates in criminology, criminal justice and social and penal policy.

This course will provide you with a cutting-edge understanding of the individual, relational, cultural and structural factors that intersect with, and underpin, offending and related social issues, locally and globally, drawing on critical arguments, theories and debates at the forefront of criminology and criminal justice, social and penal policy and practice.

It will equip you with an understanding of social science research methods and skills which will enhance your research skills and enable you to undertake an independent research project on a topic of your choice.

As a key partner in the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research, you'll benefit from the opportunities afforded to our thriving cross-institutional post-graduate community, including but not limited to additional training, participation in and access to knowledge exchange and public engagement opportunities, alongside the development of national and international academic, policy and professional networks.

The School is also home to Strathclyde’s Criminal and Social Justice Research cluster – a vibrant, enthusiastic and collaborative team who produce world-leading, international and multi-disciplinary scholarship, applied research and consultancy on issues of criminal and social justice, social and penal policy and social work theory and practice.

Our MRes Social Research and Criminology is an interdisciplinary social science training programme designed to prepare you for further research in the workplace or for MPhil/PhD study.

The course covers ontology, epistemology, quantitative and qualitative techniques, and advanced methods masterclasses alongside substantive courses in the area of criminology. You will also carry out an independent dissertation, putting into practice the methods and theoretical concepts you have been taught.

The course provides a particularly strong environment for theoretically informed, interdisciplinary and socially engaged research.

Our MA Applied Criminology has been developed to offer real world knowledge and experience, offering you the opportunity to consider criminology in practice, both in criminal justice and applied research.

Our team includes former justice practitioners and researchers at the cutting edge of research and evaluation in areas such as youth justice, drugs and criminal justice policy. The experience and contacts this brings has given us the opportunity to develop a vibrant, applied curriculum including options of study in criminal justice policy, practice and theory, as well as the opportunity to undertake a placement in a relevant organisation. You will also cover research methods and carry out your own research.

We have devised this course to suit people working in, or planning to work in, criminal justice and related areas, as well as those looking for an academic career; there is no requirement that students should have previously studied criminology.

The MRes in Criminal Justice is a pre-doctoral training programme designed to provide a critical, research-led approach to the study of aspects of criminal justice, together with training in the key research skills appropriate for doctoral-level study.

Addressing the roots of crime at all levels of society to meaningfully achieve justice and support those harmed by crime are significant policy and practice challenges. These challenges increasingly take place in a globalised offending landscape which demands transnational thinking.

The MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice will immerse you in cutting-edge knowledge, techniques and approaches. It is designed to generate critical thinkers and skilled practitioners who are equipped to improve criminal justice outcomes, effectively challenge harmful crime trends at a regional, national and international level and tackle complex social issues like marginalisation, inequality, and impunity.

Tackle a wide range of issues that are the subject of public and policy concern, domestically and globally, on our MA in Criminology. You’ll also have the option to gain a stand-alone qualification in the highly sought-after skill of mediation, and to complete a work placement.

Choose from a range of specialised modules, allowing you to tailor your learning to your interests and career aspirations.

The modules we offer are informed by cutting-edge research conducted by members of staff who possess expert knowledge in Criminology and Criminal Justice.

The optional year-long work placement develops both your academic ability and the skills and knowledge acquired in your first year of the course. It enhances your employability through first-hand experience in the field. 

The PGDip and MA Criminology courses have been designed to give both recent graduates and practitioners currently working in the criminal justice system greater insight in to the dynamic issues surrounding crime and criminal justice in the modern world. You will explore a broad definition of crime, considering multiple perspectives and scales, from crimes committed by one person against another to crimes perpetrated by corporations and states against whole populations. You will explore the causes of crime and the implications for everyone affected by crime, including victims, offenders, witnesses and criminal justice staff at all stages of the criminal justice process.

This Criminology with Forensic Psychology MA programme enables you to combine two complementary subject areas.

The criminology elements will introduce you to the complex nature of crime, harm and victimisation, together with an appreciation of the role of criminal justice systems in relation to crime control, protection and the delivery of justice.

In the forensic psychology component of the programme you will study a range of investigative and legal processes, policing and geographical profiling. You will engage critically with offender profiling and explore the practice of Behavioural Investigative Advice (BIA) in the UK.

This course is designed for those who have a social science, socio-legal or policy studies background and who want to develop their knowledge further. The course is open to those who have a good undergraduate degree in a relevant area, and, or, to those whose background is characterised by practitioner experience at an appropriate level in a relevant field.

Note: If you are interested in becoming a practising psychologist you should undertake the MSc in Forensic Psychology as this programme is BPS-accredited

This course includes elements of international criminology and research training. It is one of the very few courses that use comparative and international perspectives to explore the key issues in criminology today.

The course is flexible, you can choose the taught path or the research route. 

The Criminology & Criminal Justice MA covers a range of criminal justice and criminological debates. It also enables you to engage in more specialised socio-legal studies and offers the opportunity to explore discourse on international human rights, criminal law and transitional justice.

Our Law School is home to the Centre for Crime, Law and Justice, the Centre for Law and Society, and the Centre for Child and Family Justice; these centres underpin our postgraduate teaching, which is often research-led and research-informed. 80% of the School’s research was rated as internationally excellent or world leading in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (2014). Therefore, many of our lecturers are internationally recognised researchers.

The course of study is similar for the MA and the LLM apart from the final dissertation and the Criminological Research in Practice module. Core modules are Crime & Criminal Justice in the 21st Century, Criminological Theory, and Criminological Research in Practice. You’ll also choose three from: International Criminal Law; Criminologies of Violence; Feminist Criminology; International Human Rights Law; International Terrorism and the Law; and Transitional Justice, Human Rights and Peace Building. You’ll complete your degree with either a Criminology or Criminal Justice Dissertation (MA).

The MA Criminology and Criminal Justice challenges students to engage with contemporary issues faced by the criminal justice system from both a criminological and legal perspective.

As corporations grow in power and influence, it’s becoming increasingly important to understand how they can engage in criminal behavior, how best to regulate this, and what responsibilities corporations themselves have towards society.

On our Criminology (Corporate Crime and Corporate Responsibility) MSc, we place strong emphasis on helping you develop the methodological skills to efficiently study corporate crime. This will sharpen your ability to think in a logical and informed manner about an array of problems, as well as train you to conduct effective research in this and other areas of criminology.

Our Criminology (Corporate Crime and Corporate Responsibility) MSc will offer you a unique opportunity to develop a specialised understanding of corporate crime and corporate responsibility.

This is the first, and currently the only, MSc of its kind in the UK, providing a combined approach to corporate crime and corporate responsibility. This innovative course will provide you with a solid grounding in the core theoretical approaches to corporate crime and corporate responsibility, and the significant challenges posed to business, policy makers and regulators in managing these issues.

Crime, its causes, and how we should deal with it, are never far from the headlines, and expertise in this area is increasingly valued by employers in government and other sectors.

Study our MA in Applied Criminal Justice and Criminology and you will gain in-depth knowledge about the causes of crime, the criminal justice system and current themes in criminological debates.

Learning from experts with a wealth of academic and practical experience, you will gain a level of knowledge which will open up a range of exciting career opportunities.

Explore an exciting blend of criminology and criminal justice subjects and address key contemporary questions and debates. By studying criminological theory and policy you’ll see how conceptual frameworks can be applied to thinking about crime and society.

Our MA is underpinned by our research expertise on topics such as: 

• sexual violence
• terrorism
• prisons and punishment
• cultural criminology
• existential criminology.

You’ll be taught by experts who shape the field of criminology and criminal justice studies. Their latest insights and research underpin the course content. The course also draws on expertise from Sussex Law School. This will help you develop an interdisciplinary perspective and understand issues in different contexts. 

Studying in a lively intellectual environment, you’ll have the opportunity to network with other students from around the world. The global perspective you’ll gain these networks will also be valuable after you graduate. 

The MSc in Criminology will provide you with an in-depth theoretical and applied understanding of crime, deviance, offenders, and victims and will enable you to focus on your particular area of interest.

You will gain the knowledge and skills sought by the broad spectrum of agencies associated with the criminal justice process. The course will provide you with a thorough insight into the criminal justice system and develop your critical awareness of historical debates, theories and research in criminology and victimology. You will also examine the current political, economic and social context of relevant debates on crime in the UK and abroad.

The course has been prepared by lecturers who are at the forefront of research in this field. Our selection of option modules allows you to specialise in areas of interest that relate to your professional needs.

This degree will develop your capacity for imaginative, rigorous and critical thinking. As well as gaining specific knowledge of the social processes of crime, criminalisation and the criminal justice system, you will strengthen your ability to understand and use different types of evidence. You will develop transferable skills that are highly sought after by employers, including the ability to present and develop a cohesive argument, communicate information to academic and non-academic audiences, conduct research and identify solutions to theoretical and research problems.

Our MSc Criminology degree course is the perfect way to take your interest in the field further – whether you're already working and want to advance your career, or a graduate who wants to take their studies to Master's level.

On this course, you'll develop your understanding of the origins, principles and concepts of key theoretical approaches, explore the political and sociological influences on crime, and get to grips with the changing nature of criminology.

You'll tailor your studies and choose between additional specialisms including counter fraud, security and cybercrime, so that your final award matches your interests and career ambitions.

You can choose to study this course full or part-time, either on campus or through distance learning. 

When you graduate, you'll have the skills and knowledge for a career in organisations including criminal justice agencies, local and central government, think tanks, the voluntary sector and non-governmental organisations.

The MA Criminology and Criminal Justice at Northumbria University is a dynamic course that offers a flexible mode of study. You will be encouraged to develop a critical understanding of the key themes, issues and political debates concerning crime, crime control and criminal and social justice in the UK and globally.

Learn from an exciting, vibrant and dynamic team of scholars who are high quality teachers and internationally renowned experts within their subject. All of the Criminology staff team have doctorates or extensive professional experience in the Criminology/criminal justice sector.

Equipped with excellent practical, communication, and transferable skills you will be well placed for a range of roles including drug action teams, law enforcement, research, community safety, local authority, voluntary and charitable sectors.