MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice

at Durham University

Course Structure

You will take a range of taught modules primarily in the first two terms of the academic year. These will include a core ‘Researching Society, Policy and Practice’ module which will enable you to develop research skills and your own research proposal, in preparation for completing your dissertation.

Core modules:

Criminology: Theory and Critical Issues (30 credits)
 

• Apply theories of crime and justice to topical issues

• Theory and practice of criminal justice

• Analysis of contemporary politics

• Governance of criminal justice.

Researching Society, Policy and Practice (15 credits)
 

• Overview of approaches to applied research in social sciences, including different methodological approaches, methods and designs that can be used.

Dissertation (60 credits)
 

• A dissertation of up to 15,000 words on a topic of your choice.

All students also take at least one of the following two modules:
 

• Gender, Violence and Abuse (30 credits)

• Prisons, Crime and Justice (30 credits)

Examples of optional modules:

In addition, students choose modules to make their total credits up to 180 from either the other optional module listed above and/or other optional modules listed below (depending on module availability in each year), from modules such as:
 

• Social Policy and Society (30 credits)

• Participatory Action Research (15 credits)

• Placement (15 credits)

• Qualitative Methods in Social Science (15 credits)

• Quantitative Methods and Analysis (15 credits)

• Computational Methods in Social Science (15 credits)

• Communities, Civil Society and Social Justice (30 credits)

• Education and Social Inequality (30 credits)

• Public Sociology: Theory and Practice (30 credits)

• Global Environmental Law (15 credits)

• International Protection of Human Rights (30 credits)

Normally an upper second class honours degree (2:1) or equivalent.

An undergraduate degree in social sciences is desirable but not compulsory and we welcome students with degrees in arts, humanities and science subjects. You should demonstrate clearly why you are interested in the MSc Criminology and Criminal Justice degree in your personal statement. We are ALSO keen to consider applications with a professional background in criminal justice.

Additional requirements

When submitting your online application, you will also need to provide:
 

1. Academic Transcript and Certificate (if possible)
2. Two academic references (it is the applicant's responsibility to obtain their references from their referees).

Fees and funding
 

• Home students    £10,400 per year
• EU students    £24,100 per year
• Island students    £10,400 per year
• International students    £24,100 per year

The tuition fees shown are for one complete academic year of study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and remain the same throughout the duration of the programme for that cohort (unless otherwise stated).

Our degrees are an excellent foundation for careers in a wide range of sectors, including health and welfare, the Civil Service, local government, the voluntary sector, banking and academia. We support students in gaining excellent employability skills. As well as pursuing further study, recent graduates have proceeded to careers with a range of high-profile employers.