Criminal Law and Criminal Justice MA

Our MA/LLM Criminal Law and Criminal Justice is grounded within legal, criminological, policy and humanities perspectives to offer you a unique opportunity for advanced study of criminal law and criminal justice. On successful completion of this course, you can decide whether you would like to receive an MA or an LLM so that your chosen award is based on your own needs, career path and area of specialism.

Why choose this course?

* This course is ideal if you have a keen interest in criminal law and criminal justice and want to learn in a stimulating, flexible, learning environment.

* It brings together students from a range of backgrounds, including those with pre-existing knowledge or experience, who wish to advance their existing career and specialise in this area, as well as those with a desire to carve out a new career path.

* You will be taught by leading academics in criminology, criminal justice and law and active researchers at the Institute for Crime and Justice Policy Research (ICPR), who are at the forefront of generating new knowledge on contemporary criminal justice issues, including in policing and the policed, courts and the judicial process, prisons and the use of imprisonment, and fraud and digital technologies.

What will I learn?

Compulsory modules on this course will provide you with:

* an introduction to theoretical perspectives on the relationship between criminal law and criminal justice

* deep insights into cutting-edge debates and a range of contemporary issues in criminal law and criminal justice

* advanced knowledge of modern criminal law.

You will also have the chance to choose option modules from a diverse list spanning law, criminology, social policy and the humanities, so you can tailor your studies to your interests and future career goals.

How will I learn?

Learning is through lectures, seminars and tutorials, alongside your independent work. Throughout the course, you will have various opportunities to develop skills relevant to your career, such as through conducting an independent research project with support from a specialist supervisor.

You will be able to choose between full- and part-time study with classes taking place in the evening. This course gives you the choice of studying on campus, online or via flexible learning.

If you require a Student visa to study in the UK, you will only be able to apply for the on-campus study option for this course. Online and flexible options will not be available to you because they may affect the conditions of your visa.

Highlights

* We are home to the Institute for Crime and Justice Policy Research. The outstanding team of academics and researchers at ICPR bring a wealth of knowledge to this Master's course, leading compulsory and specialist modules and providing research project supervision.

* Students can attend specialist research seminars, such as the Criminology Seminar Series, which feature national and international scholars speaking on current issues and groundbreaking interdisciplinary research.

Careers and employability

You will find criminal law and criminal justice graduates in the following kinds of roles and fields: 

* legal practitioners

* positions within the third sector including non-government organisations and voluntary organisations

* positions within criminal justice agencies

* local government or civil service roles 

* education, research and academia.  

As well as honing their research skills, our graduates gain transferable attributes, for example: 

* the ability to critically evaluate and assess a range of sources

* the ability to present persuasive arguments 

* the ability to work effectively as part of a team

* high-level oral and written communication skills in English.