The basic aims of both MPhil programmes are:

• to offer up-to-date and high-quality degree courses, introducing students to some of the most important theory, methods and research in criminology;
• to offer a sound academic foundation to those who aspire to undertake a PhD and/or a career in teaching and research in criminology or related fields; and
• to provide a sound foundation of knowledge and methodological skills to those who wish to work in a wide range of criminal justice agencies, the legal profession, or other professional or voluntary organisations.

The MPhil in Criminological Research provides a foundational education in prominent criminological theories, research methods, and areas of criminological knowledge. Compulsory modules on criminological theories and research methods familiarise students with historic and contemporary criminological thinking and research. A variety of optional seminars are on offer each year covering a wide range of criminological topics. What is on offer varies by year, but in recent years has included topics such as criminal justice, policing, crime prevention, organised crime, the sociology of punishment, the sociology of prison life, psychiatry and crime, developmental criminology, neurocriminology, social contexts of crime, and cross-cultural comparative criminology.

The MPhil in Criminological Research requires empirical research as part of the final dissertation and therefore includes practical training in analytical and advanced research methods through the Social Sciences Research Methods Centre (SSRMC).

Learning Outcomes

Core knowledge

Students should acquire:

• an understanding of core criminological and criminal justice theories;
• a critical awareness of current problems and debates within the field;
• skills to critically evaluate theoretical and empirical literature relevant to criminological and criminal justice research;
• the ability to synthesise and apply criminological knowledge in new contexts or to new issues;
• the ability to use theoretical knowledge creatively and independently to guide their work, including their empirical research; and
• skills in communicating criminological knowledge to specialist and nonspecialist audiences.