Overview
The MSc Crime Science, Investigation and Intelligence is a programme designed for graduates and practitioners looking to develop a deeper understanding and critical awareness of crime science in the context of evidence-based practices, investigations and the use and analysis of criminal intelligence. Students will develop a critical understanding of the legislation, ethics and contemporary debates around crime science, investigations and intelligence.
The course is designed for those who may have already studied criminology, forensic science or investigations and want to advance their knowledge and employability prospects, as well as those who come to criminology from cognate fields in social sciences, humanities, arts and law. The programme is also suitable for candidates who are intending to pursue doctoral research or other research-oriented vocations and require a strong foundation in theory and methods at the postgraduate level.
Our programme is stimulating, innovative, employability-focused, and will encourage students to look beyond traditional issues relating to crime and criminal justice to support students to develop more nuanced and critical understandings of criminal investigations.
The programme team have a wealth of experience of leading and teaching postgraduate degrees in criminology and criminal justice, with many of us having also professional practice roles across the criminal justice system, including former police Senior Investigating Officers. This, alongside our good links with government departments, criminal justice institutions and third sector organisations, makes us well placed to provide our students with links to industry and practice.
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Course content
The MSc Crime Science, Investigation and Intelligence includes a compulsory 60 credit Dissertation module, as would be expected on a PGT course in the social sciences. Students will be supported to undertake a substantial piece of independent research, which is informed by current understandings in crime science, investigations and intelligence and may be empirical, policy-based or theoretical.
The dissertation module sits alongside three other compulsory 30 credit modules, each designed to provide advanced knowledge and understanding of core areas of scholarship in the field. These are Managing Investigations, Crime Science for Investigators, and Criminal Intelligence Analysis.
Compulsory
- Managing Investigations
The Managing Investigations module critically examines the key principles of a criminal investigation, with an emphasis on serious and complex investigations. Although this Level 7, 30 -credit course takes a more analytical, critical and in-depth approach to the management of investigations. The learning outcomes are also aligned with those of the College of Policing PIP (Professionalising Investigations Programme) Level 3 training, which is completed by senior investigating officers (SIOs). This will give students a real-world insight into the management of investigations.
The module will give students the opportunity to examine the theory and practice underpinning the processes of a major crime investigation, discussing the initial stages, the factors considered in prioritising lines of enquiry, and the preservation of evidence.
Students will gain an understanding of issues associated with the management of ongoing investigations from the perspective of the SIO, along with in depth evaluation of strategies to deal with the management of victims and witnesses, ethics, risk, public protection, working with the criminal justice system and specialists, and digital media issues.
Students will also address the thematic areas of leadership and strategic overview of investigation, strategy development and policy writing for senior investigators, strategic partnerships, and the strategic phases of investigations.
- Criminal Intelligence Analysis
This module will introduce students to key theories and concepts relating to criminal intelligence analysis, and help them develop their conceptual understanding through scenario-based learning. Students will simultaneously gain a core academic underpinning, and experience some of the realities of the practitioner environment. The module will make use of industry relevant practitioner software which will allow students to explore a synthetic but realistic dataset, and provide real world learning as well as a basis for team work and authentic assessment. Training will provided for the requisite software and data elements forming the scenario. The module will also build student confidence in valuable employability skills such as negotiation and communication, including in the presentation of professional witness testimony in a courtroom setting.
- Crime Science for Investigators
The Crime Science for Investigators modules covers the principles that underpin crime scene management and the basics of forensic science from the perspective of the investigator. No prior scientific or forensic training is required. Students will explore the initial considerations and priorities at the early stages of an investigation and critically evaluate the principles underpinning ethical crime scene management. Students will develop an understanding of how to assess the forensic opportunities available as part of the investigation process, and learn how to develop an appropriate forensic strategy as part of an overarching investigation plan. Students will be able to make use of crime scene rooms and other facilities on campus, as well a virtual reality suite, as part of their learning and assessment.
- Critical Research Methods
This module will support students to develop a critical understanding of the wide range of research methodologies that can be utilised to explore crime, crime science, investigations and intelligence. The module will require students to develop a practical and conceptual understanding of quantitative and qualitative methodologies, and to understand the importance of ethical and decolonial approaches in criminology. Emphasis will be given to the development and use of knowledge ethically and ensuring it is not extractive. Students will learn to read and understand, interpret, and critique social science research as well as develop practical experience in designing their own empirical project. By completion of this module students will be able to understand the benefits of the different qualitative and quantitative research techniques and will be equipped in applying different quantitative and qualitative analytical approaches. Students will be able to identify and critically evaluate research projects and policy projects which will support them in the completion of a dissertation and in their future employment.
- Dissertation
The dissertation module will support students to undertake an independent and substantial piece of research, which may be empirical, policy-based, or theoretical. The module will support students to design, develop, and present this work. Students will be expected to demonstrate a critical understanding of relevant theoretical and methodological issues relating to their independent research. Moreover, and in line with subject benchmarks, students will be expected to demonstrate intelligent critical reflection with regard to the potential risks and moral and ethical issues associated with the project.
This course can be studied undefined undefined, starting in undefined.
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
Read more about the structure of postgraduate degrees at Brunel
Careers and your future
Graduates of the MSc Crime Science, Investigation and Intelligence will benefit from subject specific understanding and a theoretical and methodological grounding that will provide them with the knowledge and relational skills required for further research and/or a professional career. For graduates that intend to pursue an academic or research career, this degree provides students with the tools needed to pursue doctoral study, or employment as a researcher in a range of organisations (i.e. universities, criminal justice employers, civil service and local authorities, think-tanks, and other third sector organisations such as non-governmental and not-for-profit organisations). Students may also go on to work in a range of criminal justice settings. This could include the police (or a range of other policing/private security organisations), the criminal or civil courts, prisons, probation (and other rehabilitative) services, victims support services, and/or youth justice services. Within these organisations/settings, graduates may undertake a range of advanced roles including those relating to frontline services/support, research, policy, and management. Students with an MSc Crime Science, Investigation and Intelligence will also be equipped with the analytical and investigatory skills to take on roles in other fields such as banking, insurance and social security fraud, as well as health and sports fraud.
UK entry requirements
2025/6 entry
2:2 or above in Social Sciences, Law, Humanities, Forensics or STEM subjects
EU and International entry requirements
If you require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK, you must prove knowledge of the English language so that we can issue you a Certificate of Acceptance for Study (CAS). To do this, you will need an IELTS for UKVI or Trinity SELT test pass gained from a test centre approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and on the Secure English Language Testing (SELT) list. This must have been taken and passed within two years from the date the CAS is made.
English language requirements
- IELTS: 6.5 (min 6 in all areas)
- Pearson: 59 (59 in all subscores)
- BrunELT: 63% (min 58% in all areas)
- TOEFL: 90 (min 20 in all)
You can find out more about the qualifications we accept on our English Language Requirements page.
Should you wish to take a pre-sessional English course to improve your English prior to starting your degree course, you must sit the test at an approved SELT provider for the same reason. We offer our own BrunELT English test and have pre-sessional English language courses for students who do not meet requirements or who wish to improve their English. You can find out more information on English courses and test options through our Brunel Language Centre.
Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants. This information is for guidance only and each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Entry requirements are subject to review, and may change.
Fees and funding
2025/6 entry
UK
£12,125 full-time
£6,060 part-time
International
£22,320 full-time
£11,160 part-time
More information on any additional course-related costs.
Fees quoted are per year and are subject to an annual increase.
See our fees and funding page for full details of postgraduate scholarships available to Brunel applicants.
Scholarships and bursaries
Teaching and learning
The curriculum and teaching and learning strategy of this programme adopts a variety of methods which reflects the contributions of individual lecturers. Collectively, these rest upon a number of shared assumptions about the learning process:
- Learning is a social activity, where we use restorative practice to create meaningful and just relationships to humanise the classroom and help create an effective learning environment.
- Learning is interactive and co-constructive which encourages independent thought, criticality and self-reflection as well as dialogic engagements.
- Students are encouraged to share knowledge, discuss ideas, and aid each other in their intellectual development.
- Teaching is a guided conversation rather than simple instruction to students.
- Learning involves exploring existing knowledge and evaluating concepts, theories, and empirical data.
- Teaching encourages intellectual independence on the part of students that encourage students to interrogate at an advanced level the inter-relationship between theory and practice at both an international and domestic level.
- Learning involves the application of conceptual and practice-based skills in group work.
Activities
Teaching and learning will normally take place in a variety of contexts:
- Direct-instruction strategies including lectures, guided readings and seminars, discussions/debates, and learning circles.
- Activity-based strategies that engage students in individual or group experiential learning opportunities including field visits; whole group interactive sessions; group work; comparative analyses; tutor-led, participant-led, self-directed research and study
- Independent learning strategies will be facilitated with active tutoring and scaffolded formative and summative assessments, journaling, resource-based learning, including library and digital work. These prepare students to undertake their advanced independent research projects.
- Subject-specific and generic technologies where students are taught to source and assess databases and use software to analyse content.
Assessment and feedback
The range of assessments on the programme ensures coherence between teaching, learning, and assessment strategies. The programme assessments also serve to ensure that key knowledge, understanding, and skills in different areas of the discipline are cultivated and developed. All assessments require students to demonstrate their advanced level of comprehension and critical reflection. Students’ knowledge and understanding of learning outcomes will be determined via a range of assessment types that build on different learning styles. As such, the programme uses a variety of assessment types to enforce a broad and comprehensive coverage of the programme themes and the more selective, creative, and skills-oriented forms of understanding. The assessments also seek to:
- Enhance student’s written communication skills by emphasising the importance of well-researched arguments underpinned by evidence, independent critical evaluation, clarity and clear articulation of the narrative, and ability to communicate through various forms of written work (through essays, literature reviews, reports, case studies, and critical reviews),
- Develop innovative and targeted delivery of ideas, including student oral communications skills that are targeted at a clearly defined audiences (through in person, video and audio presentations, creation of podcasts, infographics, opinion editorials, etc),
- Strengthen individual and collaborative work strategies intended to build team-work experience, as well as interpersonal and project management skills (through individual and group projects, and portfolios).
Students will have the opportunity to receive written feedback on their draft work through the use of formative assessments across all modules. Formative assessments help show you and us that you are learning and understanding the material covered in this course and allow us to monitor your progress towards achieving the learning outcomes for module. Following the submission of summative (final) assessments, students will be provided with written feedback and invited to discuss their feedback 1:1 with module teaching staff.
Read our guide on how to avoid plagiarism in your assessments at Brunel.