Criminal Justice and Criminal Law LLM
Year of entry 2025
- Start date
- September 2025
- 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 subject.
Full entry requirements - English language requirements
- IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component
- UK fees
- £13,000 (Total)
- International fees
- £28,250 (Total)
- Contact
- pglaw@leeds.ac.uk
Course overview
Develop a sophisticated knowledge of current issues in criminal justice and criminal law in the UK and across the world.
The LLM in Criminal Justice and Criminal Law is an advanced postgraduate course designed to provide a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of both fields at domestic and international levels.
The course provides a dynamic platform to not only expand your theoretical understanding of key concepts in the areas of criminal justice and criminal law, but also to apply this knowledge in practical scenarios, equipping you with the skills to navigate the complexities of these areas.
This course combines cutting-edge compulsory modules with a wide range of optional modules that allow you to tailor your degree to your own personal interests.
Throughout the course we’ll encourage you to:
explore the complex and dynamic nature of the criminal justice process
examine critical issues and principles in criminal law
develop legal research skills.
Research insight
This course is offered within the dynamic Centre for Criminal Justice Studies (CCJS). The internationally recognised research centre 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. These include the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Nuffield Foundation, the Home Office, the Youth Justice Board, the Leverhulme Trust, the European Commission and the National Probation Service.
These projects sustain the established profile of the Centre 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 consisting of members who hold senior positions within local criminal justice and partner organisations. These include 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 LLM Criminal Justice and Criminal Law, you may be interested in our short course, ‘Incarceration: Are Prisons a Suitable Punishment?’. The free two-week course is delivered online, allowing you to explore the ethics of imprisonment and identify prison alternatives.
Studying LLM Criminal Justice and Criminal Law
Watching in China? View this video on YouKu.
Course details
Compulsory modules will introduce you to fundamental principles, theories, concepts and approaches in the fields of criminal justice and criminal law.
You’ll also 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. These modules will enable you to hone your critical and analytical abilities and your legal research and writing skills, which you’ll be able to demonstrate in your dissertation – an independent piece of research on your chosen topic.
You’ll also benefit from our Support in Academic and Personal Development programme. This runs alongside your taught academic course in semester one and is specifically designed to complement the School’s induction activities and ongoing academic skills support for UK and international students.
Our wide range of optional modules provide the opportunity to gain specialist knowledge in topics that interest you. An indicative list of optional modules is provided below.
Our School-based Skills Team will help you develop the key academic skills necessary to thrive on your course. Through one-to-one appointments, we offer individual skills development advice for your module assessments, dissertation and wider studies. Moreover, our workshop series offers training in key skills areas including critical thinking, researching, planning, time management and editing. These skills will help you both during your studies and in the workplace.
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.
Year 1 compulsory modules
| Module Name | Credits |
|---|---|
| Dissertation Criminal Law/Criminal Justice | 60 |
| Central Issues in Criminal Law | 15 |
| International Criminal Law | 15 |
| Criminal Justice Processes | 30 |
| Postgraduate Legal Research Skills | 15 |
Year 1 optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)
You will also choose 45 credits from the below:
| Module Name | Credits |
|---|---|
| Rethinking Policing | 15 |
| Security, Conflict and Justice | 30 |
| Cyberlaw: Regulation of Cyberspace | 15 |
| Comparative Human Rights Law | 15 |
| Globalisation and Crime | 15 |
| Inequalities, Law and Justice | 30 |
| Theories of Social Justice | 15 |
| Financial Crime | 15 |
| International Human Rights | 30 |
| Foundations of Global Governance Through Law | 15 |
Learning and teaching
At Leeds we use a variety of teaching and learning methods to help you make the most of your studies and develop the specialist skills that will become indispensable in your career. These 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 course – not just to prepare for classes but to develop research abilities and other critical skills.
The LLM Degree Director, Kisby Dickinson will support you during the course. You’ll also be assigned a personal tutor to help you make the most of your time at Leeds and assist with any challenges you may face.
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 course.
Applying
Entry requirements
A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) in law, criminal justice, criminology or a related subject.
We accept a range of international equivalent qualifications.
English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. 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
International – Friday 27 June 2025
UK – Friday 15 August 2025
If you intend to apply for funding, you should submit an application for a place on your chosen course at least one month before any specific scholarship deadline.
The ‘Apply’ link at the top of this page takes you to information on applying for taught programmes and to the University's online application system.
If you're unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.
Documents and information you will need include:
- original or certified copies of your transcripts in English and the original language
- original or certified copies of your degree certificate in English and the original language
- original or certified copy of your IELTS/TOEFL results (if English is not your first language) or an equivalent English language test.
Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.
Admissions policy
University of Leeds Admissions Policy 2025
This course is taught by
Contact us
School of Law Postgraduate Admissions Office
Email: pglaw@leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:
Fees
UK: £13,000 (Total)
International: £28,250 (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 Masters study. Find out more on the School's scholarships page.
Career opportunities
From day one, we encourage you to think beyond your time at Leeds and reflect on a meaningful career.
This course is particularly suited to those who wish to pursue a career in public service, the private sector, the voluntary sector, or any other arena where success is built upon higher-level skills and advanced knowledge of criminal justice, criminology and criminal law issues.
Recent graduates have gone on to work in the UK and overseas in law firms, charities, higher education and beyond. Many also have gone on to study a PhD and work in academia.
Other 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. Some graduates have been awarded promotions following successful completion of the course.
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 at Leeds.
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.
We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.
The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more about Careers support.