MSc International Criminology and Criminal Justice
Cardiff, United Kingdom
MSc
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
GBP 23,200 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for overseas | for home: £10,450
Key Summary
Globalisation and the digitalisation of society pose new challenges in the fight against crime. To respond to these challenges, our MSc International Criminology and Criminal Justice takes an international approach to the study of crime and crime control.
You will explore:
- International and transnational crimes – for example, organised crime, drug trafficking, fraud and corruption, terrorism, hate crime
- More traditional crimes – for example, domestic violence, child sexual abuse, violence, sex work and property crimes
- Crimes of the powerful – for example, environmental harms, health and safety negligence, war-related crimes, corruption, and money laundering
- Crimes that are committed in the digital world – for example, hacking, the spread of malware, cyberbullying, cyberstalking, cyber frauds, and online hate speech
You will question how we define ‘crime’, at a local, national and global level, as well as the international and national responses to these types of crimes. You will consider the key challenges facing criminal justice and law enforcement agencies in an increasingly globalised context.
In addition, you will receive social science research methods training tailored to criminological research, learning to critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of quantitative and qualitative methodological approaches when undertaking research on international crime-related issues.
This programme also offers a Professional Practice in Criminology and Criminal Justice module and provides access to placement opportunities to support your entry into an increasingly globalised job market.
Why Study this Course
Develop your understanding of crime and criminal practice in an international context and consider how digital technologies are creating ‘new crimes’.
Global Perspectives
Take an international approach to the study of crime and crime control.
Multi-Faceted Perspectives
Focus on the nature and impact of different types and responses to crime.
Theory and Practice
Develop your theoretical understanding and practical use of criminological evidence and research.
Work Placement
Put your study into practice and develop your workplace skills with a placement.
We are committed to investing up to a total of £500,000 in this high-value competitive scholarship scheme to support UK students who are planning to start an eligible Master’s programme in 2024/25.
The Scholarships are each worth £3,000 and will be awarded in the form of a tuition fee discount.
Eligibility
UK students are eligible to apply for the Scholarship. You normally need to have achieved at least a 2.1 or equivalent in your first degree to be eligible. You need to submit an application to study at Cardiff University and be made an offer to study before your fee status can be confirmed.
The MSc in International Criminology and Criminal Justice is organised around a sequence of five core 20-credit specialist modules, one optional 20-credit module, and one 60-credit supervised dissertation on a crime-related topic of your choice.
Taught Modules
The five core modules include core skills and substantive topics in criminology. The optional module allows you to apply your practical skills via a placement and/or to tailor your degree to suit your own interests. Each taught module is worth 20 credits, which means it should take approximately 200 hours to complete including formal teaching, independent study and time spent on assessment tasks.
Dissertation
Finally, you will be asked to produce a 60-credit dissertation on a crime-related topic of your choice. This dissertation involves a small-scale independent piece of research. It enables you to develop your interests in a substantive area related to the programme and to put into practice the knowledge and skills developed through participation in the taught modules. You will be allocated a personal dissertation supervisor to assist in planning, conducting, and writing up the research project.
The core modules in semester one will lay the foundation for understanding and researching crime in an international context while semester two focuses more on honing your ability to draw on the content and ‘crimes’ already covered.
The core modules will introduce you to a variety of international and national institutions that respond to different crimes and will expand your understanding of offences, with a focus on considering how digital technologies are creating ‘new crimes’.
You will take one optional module from a list of existing modules delivered within the social sciences. This includes Professional Practice in Criminology and Criminal Justice, and the opportunity to undertake a work placement. Alternatively, you can select an optional module to tailor the programme to your own interests.
Following successful completion of the taught modules, you will be asked to produce a 60-credit dissertation on a crime-related topic of your choice.
Core Modules for Year One
- International and Transnational Crimes
- Crime and Social Harms
- Crime Data, Methods and Analysis
- International and Comparative Responses to Crime
- Crime in the Digital World
- Dissertation
Optional Modules for Year One
- Professional Practice in Criminology and Criminal Justice
- Qualitative Research Methods
- Quantitative Research Methods
- Research Applications
- Researching Crime, Safety and Justice
- Citizenship and Social Policy
- International and Comparative Social and Public Policy
- Evaluation: Developing and Evaluating Interventions in Complex Social Systems
How Will I Be Assessed?
Typical assessment formats include individual assignments, coursework, in-class or online presentations and tests. The most common form of assessment is the production of coursework. Deadlines are spread throughout the academic year.
An important part of the assessment is feedback. Feedback exists in any process, activity or information that enhances learning by providing students with the opportunity to reflect on their current or recent level of attainment or their understanding of a topic. It can be provided individually or to groups and can take many forms. It is responsive to the developmental expectations of our programmes and disciplines.
The range of feedback includes written and/or verbal one-to-one feedback on assessed work; generic feedback on assessed work; informal feedback from teaching staff in person or online; peer feedback in person or online; and self-evaluation to submit with the assessment.
What are the Learning Outcomes of this Course/Programme?
The Learning Outcomes for this Programme describe what you will be able to do as a result of your study at Cardiff University. They will help you to understand what is expected of you.
Knowledge & Understanding
On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to:
- Critically evaluate sources of information on crimes, criminal justice policies, and practice responses across the international spectrum
- Critically evaluate the application of relevant theories and concepts to international crime patterns and trends as well as variation in crime and punishment
- Critically assess the application of quantitative and qualitative research methods to the study of international crime and criminal justice responses
- Appraise a range of local and national responses to international crime within a broader global and historical context
Intellectual Skills
On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to:
- Compare existing research and scholarship on issues related to international crimes
- Critically appraise policies and practices in relation to national and international criminal justice
- Effectively collect and evaluate various forms of complex data related to crime-related issues in an international context
Professional Practical Skills
On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to:
- Elaborate on the different evidence-based approaches and research methods employed for a selection of crime-controlled strategies in a national and international context
Transferable/Key Skills
On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to:
- Convey originality in the interpretation of relevant theories, concepts and research findings related to national and international criminal justice through multiple formats to a diverse audience
- Utilize and effectively apply a range of information technology for tasks, including conducting quantitative or qualitative research
- Formulate effective collaborative working relationships with peers and demonstrate skills in problem-solving through the appraisal of issues related to international crimes
- Develop effective strategies for time management and prioritisation of independent research, study and professional development
We encourage our students to think about life beyond University from day one, offering modules to give you a competitive advantage on graduating.
Graduates of this programme may work for several public/private agencies or NGOs addressing crime-related issues. In the public sector, students may find employment in national and international policy and operational agencies in the fields of criminal justice and victim assistance. In the private sector opportunities exist for employment in roles such as Security and Cybersecurity Analyst, Loss Prevention/Fraud Analyst, Business Continuity Officer, Customer Due Diligence Analyst and Money Laundering Reporting Officer. Non-profit organisations at the national, European, and international levels may also offer job opportunities for the graduates of this programme. Finally, the programme also provides strong foundations for doctoral work, either through a traditional PhD or a professional doctorate.
How Will I Be Taught?
Teaching methods include a mixture of different approaches - lectures, seminars, independent study and self-directed learning that use online resources. The lecturer will be responsible for imparting key information, introducing key themes, and guiding the group discussions. Some sessions will prioritise collaborative discussions and give everyone the opportunity to participate, reflect and guide their own learning. This will be done through a mixture of in-class group and individual tasks, as well as lecturer-led group discussions drawing on students' independent learning and preparation.
You will be expected to attend all of the sessions set out in the timetable. You will also be expected to undertake independent study in preparation for lectures, seminars, and assessments. A 20-credit module comprises 200 hours of study, including about 20 hours of contact time, and the MSc as a whole 1800 hours of study.