How long does the MSc in Criminology take to complete?

The MSc in Criminology runs for one year full-time or two years part-time. It includes a 15,000-word dissertation and an optional placement with a London policy or community-safety team.

Can I take the MSc in Criminology fully online?

Yes. The MSc in Criminology is offered on-campus near the Inns of Court, fully online with live seminars, or via structured distance learning — court observation can be substituted with a recorded equivalent online.

Is the MSc in Criminology recognised by UK employers?

Yes. The MSc in Criminology is a UK postgraduate degree aligned with the British Society of Criminology, and graduates have moved into MoJ, Home Office and Police and Crime Commissioner research roles.

What are the entry requirements for the MSc in Criminology?

Applicants to the MSc in Criminology need a UK 2:2 honours degree (or equivalent) in a social science, IELTS 6.5 for international students, and a 500-800 word research proposal.

What does the MSc in Criminology cost and are scholarships available?

Tuition for the MSc in Criminology varies by route and domicile. Means-tested bursaries and research-led scholarships are reviewed each intake — contact LSCT admissions for current details.

MSc in Criminology — UK Postgraduate | LSCT London | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

Designed for graduates moving into evidence-led roles in policing, probation, the Ministry of Justice, the third sector and academic research from 2026, the MSc in Criminology at the London School of Commerce and Technology (LSCT) is a one-year (or two-year part-time) postgraduate degree. The programme is taught on-campus near the Inns of Court, fully online with live seminars and through distance learning, and it puts research methods, victimology and contemporary policy at the centre of the curriculum.

The MSc in Criminology takes you through the field's foundational theory, into the design and defence of empirical research, with observation at the Royal Courts of Justice and a 15,000-word dissertation supervised by a researcher publishing in the area. By graduation you will have a defensible methods toolkit, a publication-ready paper draft and a clear professional plan.

Industry Context

UK criminal justice is in a sustained reform cycle: probation reunification embedding under the Ministry of Justice, His Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation routinely flagging caseload pressure, the College of Policing tightening evidence standards, and the Online Safety Act 2023 reshaping the policing of digital harms. The MSc in Criminology is sequenced against that working environment, so dissertations and modules speak to live policy and operational questions rather than purely theoretical ones.

Key Features of the MSc in Criminology

British Society of Criminology-aligned syllabus covering theory, methods and ethics to the standard expected by UK research-active employers.
Three study modes — on-campus near the Inns of Court, fully online with live seminars, or distance learning with structured deadlines.
Court and tribunal observation at the Royal Courts of Justice and the magistrates' courts in central London.
Policy-shop placement with a UK think tank, charity or local-authority community-safety team.
Advanced quantitative module in R and SPSS — the methods stack the Home Office and Ministry of Justice actually use.
15,000-word supervised dissertation developed into a journal-ready paper or policy brief.

What You Will Learn on the MSc in Criminology

Teaching on the MSc in Criminology is built around three strands — theory, method and policy — assessed through critical essays, a methods portfolio and a substantial dissertation. You will graduate able to read a Home Office statistical bulletin sceptically, design an ethical study with a vulnerable population, and brief a non-academic audience clearly.

Advanced criminological theory, from classical and strain to cultural and zemiological approaches.
Quantitative research methods, including survey design and regression in R or SPSS.
Qualitative methods — interviewing, ethnography and reflexive thematic analysis.
Comparative penology and the politics of punishment in England, Wales and Scotland.
Victimology, restorative practice and survivor-centred research.
Cybercrime, online harms and policing the digital public sphere.
Research ethics, governance and working with vulnerable participants.
Evidence-based policing and the College of Policing What Works framework.
The dissertation — an original 15,000-word empirical or theoretical study.

Assessment Approach

Assessment combines two long-form critical essays, a coded quantitative methods portfolio, a qualitative-methods reflexivity log, a policy brief written in MoJ analytical-paper style, and the dissertation. The dissertation is supervised across the year, with a structured mid-point review and a final viva-style oral defence in front of two academics.

Who the MSc in Criminology Is For

Graduates of criminology, sociology, law, psychology or politics moving into research-led careers.
Serving police, probation and prison staff preparing for promotion or a policy move.
Charity and NGO professionals working with offenders, victims or at-risk communities.
International students seeking a UK-recognised MSc in Criminology before doctoral study.
Journalists and policy researchers wanting formal methods training for justice reporting.

Career Pathways for MSc in Criminology Graduates

LSCT criminology graduates typically progress into research, policy and casework roles across the UK justice system and the wider not-for-profit sector. The qualification supports applications but does not by itself guarantee employment or visa outcomes. Recent typical destinations include the Ministry of Justice analyst pool, regional Police and Crime Commissioner teams, and reform-focused charities operating across London.

Research Analyst (Home Office, MoJ, College of Policing)
Policy Officer (think tank or local authority)
Probation Service Officer (post-training)
Compliance and Safeguarding Lead
Community Safety Coordinator
Caseworker — youth justice or victim support
PhD route into criminology, criminal justice or socio-legal studies

The MSc in Criminology also serves as the standard route into PhD-level research and into specialist Master's-only training in policing leadership.

Entry Requirements

A UK 2:2 honours degree (or international equivalent) in a relevant social-science subject; non-cognate applicants are considered with a strong case for fit.
Applicants from non-cognate fields may apply with five years' senior professional experience in policing, probation or the third sector.
IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for non-native English speakers.
A personal statement, two references and a 500-800 word research proposal indicating dissertation direction.

Why Study at LSCT

The London School of Commerce and Technology (LSCT) is a specialist higher-education provider based in central London and part of Harold International College. We teach in small cohorts so every student is visible to their tutor, run a single intake schedule that students can rely on, and partner with UK professional bodies so qualifications carry weight with employers. London puts Whitehall, the City, Silicon Roundabout, the Royal Courts of Justice, the West End and the NHS estate within a short tube ride of every classroom — and our students use that proximity in their projects, placements and graduate job hunts. Our criminology cohort regularly attends open hearings at the Old Bailey and the Royal Courts of Justice as part of its taught programme — the building becomes a teaching room, not a tourist site.

Apply for the MSc in Criminology

Specialise at postgraduate level with the MSc in Criminology. Click Enrol Now to apply; admissions teams reply within one working day with scholarship and funding guidance.