COURSE CURRICULUM

The MA in Criminology and Law is structured in two parts, beginning with a taught phase that runs across two semesters from September to May. During this phase, students complete modules that are evenly split between law and criminology, with 60 credits delivered by the Law School and 60 credits by the School of Social Sciences. The law-based modules focus on legal principles, frameworks, and research methods, while the criminology modules examine theories, practices, and contemporary issues in crime and justice. Together, these modules provide a comprehensive, interdisciplinary foundation, combining theoretical knowledge with practical analytical skills applicable in legal and social contexts. In the second part of the program, students undertake a dissertation, producing a 20,000-word independent research project on a topic of their choice within the broad remit of criminology. This allows students to explore a specific area of interest in depth while receiving guidance from dissertation tutors. The program emphasizes flexibility, and modules or course offerings may change from year to year based on staff availability or student demand. This ensures that the curriculum remains current and relevant, maintaining high academic standards while providing students with the opportunity to develop specialist expertise in criminology, law, and related research, equipping them for careers in research, policy, or the justice sector.