Crime, Policy and Security - Prof Doc

More about this course

The Crime, Policy and Security Prof Doc combines your professional experience with an academic desire to develop sector specific expertise, influence public policy and ultimately effect change.

This doctorate programme will equip you to think critically about your own practice and the sector, with a view to developing creative solutions to pressing issues. This could include looking into how to build better relationships between the police and the community they serve, unjust exercises of power, disproportionality within the criminal justice system or even simply how to engage more effectively with those needing support.

You’ll develop your knowledge around current issues in the field, exploring key theories and leadership practices so you can make informed connections to your own area of interest. You’ll also be encouraged to look at issues from a wider perspective, taking into consideration research and practices from the global south and global north.

As research is key to this Crime, Policy and Security professional doctorate, you’ll learn both qualitative and quantitative analytical skills that will enable you to carry out your own research. Your research study gives you the opportunity to explore a particular issue of interest that requires improvement within the sector.

As a university committed to social justice, we’ll encourage you to explore areas that have potential for innovative ways to enhance practice, and improve the experiences of the most marginalised within society. We particularly welcome applications for professionals looking to challenge areas of discrimination, disproportion and oppressive practice.

Designed for professionals already working within public policy or the criminal justice system, our modules support recognised areas of continuing professional development (CPD).

Our teaching team have expertise within these fields and will be able to support you in your areas of interest. They’ve led and contributed to various government reports, local authority evaluations and have good academic publishing track records. You’ll benefit from guest lectures from leading experts within the international relations and criminal justice sectors.

The department has strong links with the Met Police, the Probation Service, the Youth Justice Board, plus various embassies and high commissions.

We’ll also encourage you to join a relevant professional body, such as the British Society of Criminology.

Assessment

You’ll be assessed through a variety of coursework and digital submissions that connect the module’s subject matter with your proposed area of study for your thesis.

The Research Methods module will be assessed through mixed methods data analysis exercises.

You’ll also write a 50,000-word thesis that will be assessed by one internal and one external examiner through the postgraduate research viva process, which is an oral examination where you’re expected to answer questions and support your thesis to a panel of experts. Your thesis will be assessed for its knowledge and understanding of theory and practice, as well as your contribution to the original knowledge.

Entry requirements

You’ll be required to have:

• a master’s degree and at least three years of experience within a managerial role within the specific sector you’re looking to research; or
• a minimum of a 2:1 bachelor’s degree and at least five years’ experience at a senior level within the sector you’ll be researching.

All applicants will be interviewed before being accepted and be expected to present a research plan at the application stage.

English language requirements

To study a degree at London Met, you must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. If you require a Student visa (previously Tier 4) you may need to provide the results of a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. This course requires you to meet our standard requirements.

If you need (or wish) to improve your English before starting your degree, the University offers a Pre-sessional Academic English course to help you build your confidence and reach the level of English you require.

Modular structure

Where this course can take you

This course is designed to help you progress to more senior or specialist roles within the criminal justice sector, government or the civil service.

You could move into an influential role within the Metropolitan Police, the Youth Justice Board, the probation service, prison service, plus local, national and international government and intergovernmental departments.

Due to the research nature of this course, you could also move into an academic career.

Additional costs

Please note, in addition to the tuition fee there may be additional costs for things like equipment, materials, printing, textbooks, trips or professional body fees.

Additionally, there may be other activities that are not formally part of your course and not required to complete your course, but which you may find helpful (for example, optional field trips). The costs of these are additional to your tuition fee and the fees set out above and will be notified when the activity is being arranged.

When to apply

You are advised to apply as early as possible as applications will only be considered if there are places available on the course.