Criminology – MSc

Why study this course?

Our Criminology MSc degree will allow you to develop an advanced knowledge of crime and offenders, as well as assess contemporary trends and concepts in criminal justice policy and community safety. You’ll explore approaches to crime control within the community and penal institutions to gain the skills required to conduct research within the field of crime and criminal justice. This level of knowledge can prepare you for doctoral study or research posts within the criminal justice arena, but it’s also ideal for consolidating your professional experience.

More about this course

The course looks at criminology from both a theoretical and an applied perspective, covering areas including criminal justice, prisons, crime prevention, and crime and offender patterns.

You’ll apply research methods and techniques such as assessing patterns in specific forms of crimes and offending behaviour, and considering the prevalence, characteristics and typologies of specific types of offence. You’ll also critically assess recent and current policies and practices with crime control and community safety. Option modules will allow you to develop a specialism in a field that interests you, such as intelligence analysis, psychology and crime, sexual violence, terrorism and counter-terrorism, and urban patterns.

By the end of the course you’ll be able to deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, making sound judgements in the absence of complete data and communicating your conclusions clearly.

Accreditation of Prior Learning

Any university-level qualifications or relevant experience you gain prior to starting university could count towards your course.

Modular structure

The modules listed below are for the academic year 2022/23 and represent the course modules at this time. Modules and module details (including, but not limited to, location and time) are subject to change over time.

Year 1 modules include:

Contemporary Issues in Criminology (core, 20 credits)

Crime Control and Community Safety (core, 20 credits)

Criminological Research Methods (core, 20 credits)

Criminology Dissertation (core, 60 credits)

Terrorism and Counter Terrorism (core, 20 credits)

Crime, Risk and Early Intervention (option, 20 credits)

Explaining Violence (option, 20 credits)

Psychology and Crime (option, 20 credits)

Transnational Organised Crime (option, 20 credits)

Where this course can take you

The aim of the course is to prepare you for employment or further study in the criminal justice sector. The curriculum will equip you for a range of careers in the criminal justice system and related professions, all with excellent recruitment prospects. Key career paths include the Metropolitan Police Service, Probation Service, Foreign Office, Prison Service, youth offending and community safety departments, as well as academic or government research posts.

Past graduates have gone on to work as senior detective constables, researchers, fraud officers, criminal lawyers and probation officers.