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.
London Met invites visiting professors and experts in criminal justice and criminal areas to the University to share their expertise. These guest visits complement the knowledge of our academics who are actively engaged in areas research including street crime, gangs and police body cameras. Their expertise will support you when undertaking your dissertation in criminology and criminal justice.
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.
Assessment
You'll be assessed through essays, projects, examinations and a dissertation between 12,000 and 15,000 words. The dissertation forms a key element of your master's degree. It allows you to pursue a topic of your choosing in depth and is to be completed over the summer study period.
Fees and key information
Apply nowEntry requirements
You will be required to have:
- at least a lower second class honours degree in a relevant discipline such as criminology, or social and behavioural sciences (applications are also welcome from those who have experience in criminal justice or possess relevant professional qualifications)
Accreditation of Prior Learning
Any university-level qualifications or relevant experience you gain prior to starting university could count towards your course at London Met. Find out more about applying for Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL).
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 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
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:
- This module currently runs:
- autumn semester - Friday afternoon
The module seeks to enable students to:
identify and critically assess contemporary developments in criminology
explore the theories used in current research, including neoclassicism; biosocial approaches, developmental and life-course criminology; and critical realismThe teaching will be focused on exploring some of the contemporary issues relevant to criminology and underpinning this by making links tor relevant theories. The module will seek to accommodate the varying previous experiences found in MSc groups by providing a contextual knowledge of the subject matter linked to further research with a view to allowing students to present in depth analysis and evidence of research on their chosen issues.
- This module currently runs:
- autumn semester - Tuesday morning
Students with experience of a particular area of the criminal justice system, and concomitant attempts to enhance crime control and community safety, will be able to formalise and consolidate their knowledge of agencies and policy, and to place their work within a broader framework. The module will enable such students to critically integrate and evaluate their existing knowledge and skills.
All students will develop their skills of critical reflection and analysis and apply such skills to a fuller appreciation of contemporary crime control and community safety. Students will enhance their knowledge of crime control and community safety through relevant scholarly activity, and through reference to the appropriate academic literature and policy documentation. The module aims to provide an advanced knowledge of 'best practice’ as it pertains to crime control and community safety, with an emphasis on practical application: as such, it is hoped that the module will appeal to students already engaged in crime prevention and community safety work, or to those who seek employment in this area. - This module currently runs:
- spring semester - Monday afternoon
The module aims to:
1. Provide a thorough grounding in the understanding and appreciation of criminological research methods.
2. Develop a competence in understanding the strengths and limitation of quantitative and qualitative research
3. Develop a competence in analysing quantitative and qualitative research data and writing research reports.
4. Assist students in designing and conducting research for their thesis, and in developing their skills of critical reflection and analysis.
5. To critically appraise quantitative and qualitative research produced by statutory agencies (such the Home Office, the Metropolitan Police) and voluntary sector organisations related to the Criminal Justice System to enhance their employment prospects. - This module currently runs:
- all year (September start) - Friday morning
- summer studies - Friday morning
The module enables students to investigate in depth a topic within the field of criminology and criminal justice. Students can select their own research area, but this is subject to authorization of the course leader. The dissertation must include independent and original empirical research.
Students will be required to submit a formal dissertation plan by the beginning of the Spring semester.
Once this has been approved, students will be allocated a dissertation tutor, and for the remainder of the module, supervision of the dissertation will be conducted on an individual basis.
It is expected that pertinent knowledge and skills gained in other course modules will be reflected in the dissertation. - This module currently runs:
- spring semester - Tuesday morning
This module explores the relationship between the state and terrorism and considers how the nation state has been the perpetrator and a motivating factor behind terrorist acts, as well as considering other reasons behind such acts of violence. Students will consider the role of the state as a protector of its citizens has been challenged by its own actions and by terrorist organisations including groups such as ISIS.
The module goes on to outline contemporary terrorist tactics and reviews the impact on national and international responses to terrorism - This module currently runs:
- spring semester - Friday afternoon
The module explores the factors among children and young people, which are identified, through research, as being associated with future offending. The module starts by looking at the research and theoretical issues underpinning ‘risk factors’ and then moves on to look at early intervention programmes which have aim to target children who are identified as at risk, and how they might prevent future offending. Students are encouraged to consider critically the theory, ethics, and impact of these interventions
- This module currently runs:
- autumn semester - Monday afternoon
This module will allow students to investigate the complex issue of violence through a multidisciplinary approach. Indicative topics include serious youth violence, murder, football hooliganism and violence in the home. The module will be structured to identify and explain violent behaviour both in the West and the Global South. These will then be tied to the wider criminological field and possible prevention strategies will be considered.
There is a negotiated element to the module, allowing students to focus on topics specific to their own interests.
The module will incorporate a ‘Flipped-Learning approach’. Active student involvement in the module is thus imperative to make it as successful and enjoyable as possible. Students are expected to attend and contribute to all seminar sessions, and attendance will be monitored. Sessions will require student preparation, including the reading of academic journal articles.
The module aims to enable students to:
1. Explore the prevalence of and trends in violence in the UK and globally
2. Identify and assess violent crimes
3. Recognize and contextualize various types of violence
4. Use various theories within the field of Criminology and Sociology to explain violent behaviour
- This module currently runs:
- spring semester - Tuesday afternoon
The main aim of this module is to provide students with core knowledge and understanding of approaches to explaining criminal behaviour and its impact upon individuals and society. More specifically, the aims are:
To provide an overview of the measurement of crime and factors influencing the degree of error in this measurement.
To provide an account of psychological factors that are related to or help to explain crime at both a general level and in terms of specific offences (e.g., arson) and specific offender groups (e.g., juveniles).
To evaluate the contribution of psychology to the explanation of criminal behaviour relative to and in interaction with explanatory frameworks and factors from other disciplines.
To provide a brief introduction to victimology. - This module currently runs:
- autumn semester - Tuesday afternoon
This module explores the relationship between the state and terrorism and considers how the nation state has been the perpetrator and a motivating factor behind terrorist acts, as well as considering other reasons behind such acts of violence. Students will consider the role of the state as a protector of its citizens has been challenged by its own actions and by terrorist organisations including groups such as ISIS.
The module goes on to outline contemporary terrorist tactics and reviews the impact on national and international responses to terrorism
What our students say
"The tutors and lecturers were always supportive and welcoming to new ideas. The most interesting part of my master's was that I was given the chance to speak to practitioners from the UK Border Agency, National Crime Agency and police officers. I was given the chance to understand the reality of working within the criminal justice system, not just the theoretical part of it."
Ellada Lariondou, graduate
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.
Important information about this course
We're committed to continuously improving our degree courses to ensure our students receive the best possible learning experience. Many of the courses in our School of Social Sciences and Professions are currently under review for 2023-24 entry. We encourage you to apply as outlined in the how to apply section of this page and if there are any changes to your course we will contact you. All universities review their courses regularly and this year we are strengthening our social sciences and professions courses to better reflect the needs of employers and ensure you're well-equipped for your future 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.
Important information for international applicants
Due to unprecedented demand for our courses for the autumn 2023 intake, international admissions are now closed for this postgraduate course. Please check back at a later date to view future available intakes.
How to apply
Use the apply button to begin your application.
If you require a Student visa and wish to study a postgraduate course on a part-time basis, please read our how to apply information for international students to ensure you have all the details you need about the application process.
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.
To find out when teaching for this degree will begin, as well as welcome week and any induction activities, view our academic term dates.
