Overview
The MSc Criminology at Brunel University London is designed for graduates and professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of the complex issues surrounding crime, deviance, harm, victimisation, and justice. The course is ideal for those with a background in criminology looking to enhance their knowledge and career prospects, as well as individuals from related fields such as social sciences, humanities, arts, and law who wish to explore criminological themes in more depth.
Our programme is dynamic, innovative, and focused on employability, encouraging students to engage critically with contemporary debates that extend beyond traditional crime and criminal justice issues. Students will gain a nuanced understanding of social harms, inequality, injustice, and power in a global context.
The programme team brings extensive experience in both teaching and professional practice across the criminal justice system and related sectors. Our strong connections with government agencies, criminal justice organisations, and third sector groups ensure that students benefit from valuable industry links and real-world perspectives.
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Course content
The MSc Criminology is made up of 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 criminology 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 criminological scholarship. These are essentially modules that look at criminological theory (Deconstructing Criminological Imaginations), research methods (Critical Research Methods) and issues relating to criminal justice and the control of crime (Criminal Justice, Risk, and Harm).
Students on the programme will then have the option to deepen their knowledge and understanding in a specialist area of criminology by selecting one of three distinctive modules. These modules have been designed to support students to specialise and develop their theoretical and practical understandings and skills in key areas of criminology, namely: 1) relational and restorative practices; 2) global criminology; 3) investigations. This distinctive feature of our programme will support students to develop their theoretical understandings of these distinct areas of criminological inquiry and practice, whilst also providing opportunities to develop relevant practical and employability skills.
Compulsory
- Criminal Justice, Risk and Harm
This module critically examines the work of a range of criminal justice (and other state) institutions to examine contemporary issues and debates relating to crime control, sentencing, and punishment. The module will examine the work of these different institutions/agencies, the staff within them, and the implications of their work for rehabilitation, security, risk management, and punishment. In doing so, students will develop a critical understanding of the harms that can be perpetuated by official policy and practices in the name of ‘crime control’. The module will explore the politics that underpin these institutions and practices and consider the shift in many jurisdictions from discourses of risk and public protection to those that are more precautionary. Importantly, the module also looks at the intersectional issues that surround the criminal justice system and how dynamics of gender, race, class, sexuality (and many other overlapping characteristics) help us to understand the (often harmful) practices that are involved. The module will examine the intersection of ‘criminal justice’ institutions/actors/practices with other institutions including the system of state care, welfare, and health interventions, and support. Finally, the module considers systems of crime control, offender management and justice across European and international jurisdictions to explore where there are synergies and significant areas of deviation.
- Deconstructing Criminological Imaginations
The module will support students to develop an in-depth understanding, awareness, and engagement with major theoretical trends and debates in contemporary criminology, with particular attention to critical criminological debates as well as intersectional and decolonial criminological approaches. The module will engage students in the social, cultural, historical, and political contexts in which criminological theory has emerged and been applied. The sociological and interdisciplinary theories covered in this module will provide a foundation for applying criminological theories to other core and optional modules across their programme. The module will explore the historical foundations of criminology, provide a critical analysis of who key criminologists are/should be, and enable students to both analyse and apply different theories perspectives to issues relating to crime, deviance, social harm, societal reactions, and victimisation.
- 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, harm, deviance and victimisation. 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.
Optional
- Global Harms and Crimes
This module provides students with a foundation for understanding various types of global crimes and harms and their context, using a decolonising and intersectional perspective. The module begins with an overview of globalization, its colonial origins, and its criminogenic effects, using interdisciplinary research and analyses. The aim is to provide students with a more holistic understanding of international and transnational crimes and harms within the context of an interconnected world. The module will provide students with a critical understanding of international criminal law and international criminal justice systems, allowing students to explore how this is applied (or not) to global ethical and social justice issues. Students will explore various types of international and transnational crimes, such as genocide, crimes of aggression, state harm & violence, corruption, smuggling & trafficking, maritime piracy and corporate deviance.
- Relational and Restorative Practices
This module examines the conception, application, and practice of Relational and Restorative Practices (RRP) and Restorative Justice (RJ) in the criminal justice setting and beyond using a combination of theoretical questions, applied case studies, and hands on skills to use RRP. In addition to understanding the roots of restorative practice and processes, RRP and RJ raises issues about the meaning of ‘justice’ and ‘restoration’, the relationship between formal and informal justice, and intersectional concerns—in particular, race, gender, and class. Case studies are utilised to help deepen students’ understanding of the theoretical issues and concepts, and to appreciate the practical challenges that arise in the implementation of RRP and RJ. Case study topics likely to be covered include: youth family conferencing; adult victim-offender mediation and community conferencing; Indigenous RJ; RJ in prison; RRP in Higher Education; and RJ use around the world. In addition, the module aims to help students develop the necessary skills to begin to become a relational and restorative practitioner in a range of settings. Much of the learning is interactive and there are lots of opportunities to practice the learning from the taught sessions. The sessions will be made up of a mixture of teaching and small group exercises designed to imbed the learning.
- 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.
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 Criminology will benefit from 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, 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 Criminology may also gain employment in the social justice sector. This may include organisations with a wide range of specialisms, including addictions, victims, child protection, restorative justice, education, and health. The MSc Criminology will provide students with critical analytical and research skills sought by third-sector organisations and NGOs that challenge issues of human rights violations in the UK and internationally. Reflecting the opportunity in MSc Criminology to specialise in a range of distinctive modules, students may also go on to secure employment in a range of specific roles/organisations with a concern for global/international issues, relational and restorative practices, and/or investigations. This will support graduates secure employment in a wide range of organisations including international and intergovernmental organisations, human rights and social justice organisations, criminal justice inspectorates, and restorative justice service providers.
UK entry requirements
2025/6 entry
2:2 or above in Social Science, Law, Arts, Humanities preferred, all other subjects will be considered on a case by case basis
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.