Criminal Justice and Criminology MSc

Year of entry

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Start date
September 2023
Delivery type
On campus
Duration
12 months full time
Entry requirements
A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) in law, criminal justice, criminology or a related discipline.
Full entry requirements
English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in all components
UK fees
£11,500 (total)
International fees
£24,000 (total)

Course overview

Two students in the Liberty Building

Please note: Due to an exceptionally high number of applications and the competition for places, this course is now closed to further applications for 2023 entry. Applications for 2024 entry will open in October 2023.

Delivered by academics from the Centre for Criminal Justice Studies in one of the leading law schools in the UK, the Criminal Justice and Criminology MSc offers you the opportunity to develop advanced knowledge in relation to the study of criminal justice processes and criminological theory as well as develop a critical awareness of social research methods and skills used to undertake real-world research on crime and criminal justice.

You will develop an in-depth understanding of the nature, purposes, dynamic processes and outcomes of the criminal justice process. A wide range of optional modules allows you to tailor your degree to your own particular interests.

Throughout the course, we’ll encourage you to:

  • Explore the complex and dynamic nature of the criminal justice process
  • Investigate contemporary policy debates and theoretical perspectives on crime and its control
  • Develop advanced knowledge of the research process and skills to undertake research on crime and criminal justice.

Research insight

This programme is offered within the dynamic Centre for Criminal Justice Studies (CCJS), an internationally recognised research centre that provides an active and multi-disciplinary environment, whose members are committed to high-quality teaching in criminal justice, criminology and criminal law. The CCJS also excels in the production of research that is empirically rich, conceptually sophisticated and policy-relevant. Research is interdisciplinary and often international in its reach. The University of Leeds recognises CCJS as one of its key 'peaks of research excellence'.

CCJS academics have conducted research for a range of external funding bodies including the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Nuffield Foundation, the Home Office, the Youth Justice Board, the Leverhulme Trust, the European Commission, the National Probation Service and others. Since 2001, CCJS members have been awarded research grants totalling over £10 million. Such projects sustain the established profile of the CCJS as a pre-eminent research unit and ensure that our teaching is at the cutting edge of contemporary academic and policy debates.

The CCJS has an Advisory Board with more than twenty members who hold senior positions within local criminal justice and partner organisations, including the police, the judiciary, the probation service, prisons and the courts.

Our strong links with the local criminal justice community bring valuable benefits to our students.

Try our free short course

If you’re thinking of studying MSc Criminal Justice and Criminology you may be interested in our short course, ‘Incarceration: Are prisons a suitable punishment?’. This is a free two-week course delivered online, allowing you to explore the ethics of imprisonment and identify prison alternatives.

Discover more

Studying MSc Criminal Justice and Criminology: Lydia’s story

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Course details

Compulsory modules studied throughout the year will enable you to:

  • explore the complex and dynamic nature of the criminal justice process and the relationships that can exist between its components;
  • analyse contemporary theories, concepts and approaches to understanding crime, crime control and the criminal justice system;
  • explore and examine the intricate and complex relationships and dynamics between theory, research and practice, and the impact of criminal justice processes on individuals and social groups, often in the wider context of social and political change;
  • explore different approaches to designing and undertaking research on crime and justice and the politics and ethics that impact social research.

You’ll also benefit from our Support in Academic and Personal Development programme. This runs alongside your taught academic programme in semester one and is specifically designed to complement the School’s induction activities and ongoing academic skills support for students, both UK and international.

The optional modules will give you the opportunity to gain specialist knowledge in topics that interest you. An indicative list of optional modules is provided below. You’ll also be able to hone your critical and analytical abilities, your writing skills and your knowledge of research methods, which you can demonstrate in your dissertation.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Criminal Justice and Criminology MSc in the course catalogue

Year 1 compulsory modules

Module Name Credits
Researching Crime, Security and Justice 30
Dissertation Criminal Law/Criminal Justice 60
Contemporary Theories of Crime and Justice 30
Criminal Justice Processes 30

Year 1 optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)

You will also choose 30 credits from the below:

Module Name Credits
Research with Children and Young People 30
New Frontiers of Security, Conflict and Justice 15
Central Issues in Criminal Law 15
Rethinking Policing 1 15
International Criminal Law 15
Intercultural Business and Organisational Communication 15
Security, Conflict and Justice 30
Comparative Human Rights Law 15
Globalisation and Crime 15
Inequalities, Law and Justice 30
Theories of Social Justice 15
International Human Rights 30
Human Rights and Disabled People 1 15
Human Rights and Disabled People 2 15
Quantitative Research Methods 15
Qualitative Research Methods 15
Sociology of Media and Culture 30
Inequalities: Exploring causes, Consequences and Interventions 30
Research Strategy and Design 30

Learning and teaching

We use a variety of teaching and learning methods to help you make the most of your studies. These will include a range of weekly seminars, lectures and online learning.

You’ll need to prepare for your seminars and lectures, undertaking any exercises that might be prescribed in advance. Independent study is integral to this programme – not just to prepare for classes but to develop research and other critical skills.

A personal academic supervisor will support you throughout the programme.

The MSc Degree Director, Dr Sean Butcher, will support you throughout the programme and you will be allocated a personal tutor.

On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

You’ll be assessed using a variety of written and oral methods. You’ll also be expected to write a dissertation in the later stages of your programme.

Applying

Entry requirements

A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) in law, criminal justice, criminology or a related discipline.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in all components. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read  Language for Law (6 weeks) and Language for Social Sciences and Arts: Law (10 weeks).

We also offer online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals. Find out more about our six week online pre-sessional.

You can also study pre-sessionals for longer periods – read about our postgraduate pre-sessional English courses.

How to apply

Due to an exceptionally high number of applications and the competition for places, this course is now closed to further applications for 2023 entry.

Applications for 2024 entry will open in October 2023.

Admissions policy

University of Leeds Taught Admissions Policy 2024

This course is taught by

School of Law

Contact us

School of Law Postgraduate Admissions Office

Email: pglaw@leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Fees

UK: £11,500 (total)

International: £24,000 (total)

Read more about paying fees and charges.

For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.

Additional cost information

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government.  Find out more at Masters funding overview.

The School of Law offers a number of scholarships for its Masters students.

Find out more on the School's scholarships page.

Career opportunities

This programme is well-suited to you if you’re wishing to pursue a career in public service, the private sector, the voluntary sector or any other area where success is built upon the ability to understand, analyse and respond to developments in criminal justice.

Recent graduates have gone on to work in a range of sectors and professions from academia, to security and mental health in the UK and overseas. Alumni hold senior positions in criminal justice organisations including police and probation services, the prison service, and youth justice services, as well as in the private and voluntary sector, both in the UK and abroad. Others have been awarded promotions following successful completion of the programme.

Careers support

The School of Law offers career and personal development support through the School’s dedicated Employability Officers. You can book one-to-one appointments with our Employability Officers throughout the year to discuss your career aspirations and get advice on how to make the most of your time with us.

The School also arranges a number of community engagement (pro bono) and work experience opportunities, career development workshops, guest speaker events and careers fairs throughout the year. These opportunities will allow you to develop new skills, enhance your career prospects and network with prospective employers.

Find out more about how we support your career development.

In addition to the School-specific careers support, you will also have access to the University’s award-winning Careers Centre. The Careers Centre offers one-to-one appointments, advice on starting your own business, careers events, mentoring schemes and support with your CV, applications and interviews.

Find out more about the Careers Centre