This criminology masters course gives you the opportunity to gain a critical and informed understanding of criminology, by exploring the debates at the forefront of the field. There is a particular emphasis upon the practical realities, uncertainties, complexities and solutions available for criminal justice and crime reduction.

This Masters degree draws upon the expertise of staff with established reputations in the field. Tutors have a wide range of research interests and they are actively involved with the Nottingham Crime Research Unit and the Centre for the Study and Reduction of Hate Crimes, Bias and Prejudice. These specialist units are located within the Department and conduct high quality applied criminological and criminal justice research.

What you'll study

The course offers a distinctive theoretical and policy aspect of the subject. On completion of the course you'll graduate with an extensive vocationally relevant and and policy-orientated knowledge of crime and responses to crime, drawing on examples from across the world. You'll also develop a critical awareness of the current philosophical, theoretical and methodological problems, debates, and insights that shape the discipline.

The emphasis on policy is specifically designed to offer a more vocationally relevant course of Masters-level study that will be more pertinent if you are seeking a policy-orientated career in the Home Office, government office of the regions, local government and crime and disorder reduction partnerships.

The Criminology team regularly invites renowned experts and professionals to the University to provide an insight into their specialist knowledge and experiences. Past speakers have included Superintendent Paul Giannasi, Programme Manager of the Cross-Governmental Hate Crime Strategy and Len Jackson OBE, Interim Chair of the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

The modules are specifically designed to reflect current development and thinking in the field of Criminology.

Assessment methods

Assessment will be carried out through a combination of assessed essays (including reports, reflective reports), policy papers, presentations, case studies and a dissertation.

Careers and employability

This course will prepare you to go on to pursue a range of professional careers in criminal justice related work in either the statutory, commercial or community voluntary sectors.

Throughout the course you'll enhance your life long learning skills and personal development in a manner that enables you to adopt an independent and reflective approach to your learning and to contribute to crime reduction and community safety. The acquisition of specific criminological knowledge, along with a wide range of transferable skills such as the ability to conduct and evaluate research, will also be invaluable for those seeking employment in the fast-expanding field of policy evaluation.