Master of Science [M.Sc] [Criminology] From Birkbeck, University of London

The MSc in at Birkbeck, University of London is open to graduates of various social science disciplines, and provides a multidisciplinary platform from which to engage with the complexity of contemporary debates and challenges around crime and its control. It will appeal to those with a keen interest in security, crime and criminal justice, as well as those seeking to develop a deeper appreciation and understanding of the core issues facing criminal justice in the twenty-first century. It will also appeal to those who desire advanced knowledge and understanding of contemporary criminological theory and cutting-edge research methods, as well as those who wish to pursue a substantial, original research project of their own design (through the research project component).

As part of the core provision on the programme, students will learn about and critically engage with the most widely used contemporary criminological theories and approaches. This includes those which seek to explain crime and criminality in ways that are straightforward and useful for policy makers and practitioners, and those which seek to explicate the dramatic changes to criminal justice and the crime control apparatus over the past few decades. Students will also be instructed in a wide range of research methods, and will be able to choose from an extensive list of nearly 30 option modules to complete their degree.

Highlights

• The School of Law is an internationally recognised centre for critical and interdisciplinary legal research with a strong theoretical and policy focus. It is the home of Birkbeck Law Press and publishes Law and Critique: The International Journal of Critical Legal Thought.
• College is among the top 10 law schools in the UK and in the top three in London in the Times Higher Education 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) rankings, while our research environment was judged conducive to producing research of the highest quality.