Masters applications for 2025 entry are now closed.
Applications for September 2026 will open on Wednesday 24 September. Applications are now open for programmes with a January 2026 start. View our programmes »
| UCAS code |
|
| Duration |
1 year full time
2 years part time |
| Entry year |
September 2026 |
| Campus |
Streatham Campus
|
| Discipline |
Forensics and Criminology
|
| Contact |
|
Overview
- Explore the frontline of crime, justice and policy.
- Customise your degree to match your career goals. Whether you’re interested in forensic investigation, security analysis, or policy development, you can choose options that align with your career aspirations.
- You will benefit from dedicated research spaces on the Streatham Campus and have access to advanced data analysis software and digital resources.
- Join our diverse cohort of ambitious postgraduates, taught by research-active criminologists whose projects on policing, prisons, victimisation and digital surveillance feed directly into classroom discussion.
- Graduates from our programme are well-placed to enter careers across the criminal justice sector and beyond. With access to our award-winning Career Zone, you’ll benefit from our longstanding industry connections.
Top 15 in the UK for Criminology
Dedicated research spaces for Criminology Postgraduates
Over 10 years of expertise in the criminology sector
Apply the latest techniques and technologies to complex problems sustainably
Top 15 in the UK for Criminology
Dedicated research spaces for Criminology Postgraduates
Over 10 years of expertise in the criminology sector
Apply the latest techniques and technologies to complex problems sustainably
Entry requirements
2:2 Honours Degree or above in Criminology, Sociology, Anthropology, Statistics, Data or English.
Please also see our guidance on essential documentation required for an initial decision on taught programme applications.
Entry requirements for international students
English language requirements
International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B2. Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.
Course content
The MSc Criminology and Criminal Justice offers you the opportunity to explore some of the most urgent and complex questions facing crime and justice today, combining academic depth with practical insight. A distinctive feature of the programme is its emphasis on policy relevance and the translation of criminological research into practice.
We deliberately expose you to a broad range of material, to help you to appreciate and understand interconnected perspectives and provide you with skills to work effectively across disciplines. You will be encouraged to review and critically evaluate approaches to research and their application, as well as identify, evaluate and investigate your own research questions.
In two core modules, you will engage with advanced topics in criminological theory, criminal justice, and research methods in the social sciences.
Optional modules take an interdisciplinary approach and allow you to deepen your expertise in areas such as AI and security, forensic investigation, policing, and policy evaluation. You will have the opportunity to explore how technology is transforming crime and justice, engage with current debates on modern criminal justice systems, investigate emerging security challenges, and gain practical tools for analysing the effectiveness of policies and interventions. You will also benefit from a wide selection of advanced methodological modules, enabling you to tailor your learning to your interests – from computational social science to qualitative approaches.
As you progress through the programme, you will have the opportunity to apply your learning in a dissertation or consultancy project where you will undertake an extended piece of original research related to policy analytics and/or evidence-based criminology.
Whether you're aiming for a career in criminal justice, policy, research, the private sector, or further academic study, this MSc will equip you with the knowledge and skills to make a meaningful impact.
The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module |
Credits |
|---|
| CRIM022 |
Criminological Theory and Practice | 30 |
| SOCM019 |
Research Methods in the Social Sciences | 15 |
| SSIM907 |
Policy Analytics: Dissertation or Research Consultancy Project | 60 |
Optional modules
| Code | Module |
Credits |
|---|
| CRIM021 |
Advanced Topics in Criminal Justice | 30 |
| CRIM020 |
Policy Analysis in Criminology | 30 |
| SOCM031 |
Evidence-Based Policing | 15 |
| SPAM002 |
Security, Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies | 30 |
| ARCM703 |
Crime Scene Investigation | 30 |
| POLM063 |
Qualitative Methods in Social Research | 15 |
| SSIM915 |
Statistical Modelling | 15 |
Fees
2026/27 entry
UK fees per year:
£12,650 full-time; £6,325 part-time
International fees per year:
£25,550 full-time; £12,775 part-time
Scholarships
The University of Exeter offers a wide range of scholarships to support your education, with £7 million available for international students applying to study with us in the 2026/27 academic year, including our prestigious Exeter Excellence Scholarships *. We also provide awards for sport, music and other achievements, as well as regional and partner scholarships with organisations such as Chevening, The Beacon Trust and the British Council. For more information on scholarships and other financial support, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page.
University of Exeter Alumni Scholarship
We are pleased to offer University of Exeter alumni beginning a standalone postgraduate programme in 2026/27 with us a scholarship towards the cost of your tuition fees. Full details can be found here.
*Terms and conditions, including deadlines, apply. See our website for details..
Teaching and research
Teaching and assessment
The programme is delivered through a mix of lectures, seminars, tutorials, case studies, project work and a dissertation.
You will develop transferable skills such as training in contemporary criminological theory and practice, as well as research methods (including quantitative, qualitative and digital analysis). This will allow graduates to conduct data analysis, analyse narratives and integrate multiple sources of evidence with confidence. The course also explores AI tools and its emergence in the sector. This includes understanding predictive analytics and ethical data governance.
Personal Tutor
You will be allocated a Personal Tutor who is available for advice and support throughout your studies, along with support and mentoring from graduates who are now in industry. There is also a Postgraduate Tutor available to help with further guidance and advice.
A research and practice-led culture
We believe every student benefits from being taught by experts active in research and practice. You will discuss the very latest ideas, research discoveries and new technologies in seminars and in the field.
All our academic staff are active in internationally recognised scientific research across a wide range of topics. You will also be taught by leading industry practitioners.
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Dr Cecilia Meneghini
Dr Cecilia Meneghini
Dr Cecilia Meneghini is a Lecturer in Quantitative Criminology in the Department of SPSPA and a member of the University of Exeter Centre for Computational Social Science (C2S2). Her research focuses on organised crime, serious violence, and criminal networks, using advanced quantitative methods such as longitudinal and network analysis. She previously worked as a Research Associate at the University of Cambridge and as a researcher at Transcrime. She holds an MSc from Bocconi University and a PhD in Criminology from the Catholic University of Milan.
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Careers
Careers
Our MSc Criminology and Criminal Justice will prepare you for a successful and rewarding career in the criminal justice sector. Having built new multidisciplinary skills, including both theoretical and practical knowledge disciplines, graduates can go on to work in a wide range of sectors, including:
- Criminal justice and law enforcement - Crime Analyst, Investigation Support Officer, Intelligence Analyst
- Government and public sector - Policy Advisor, Research Officer
- Charities and NGOs - Victim Support Worker, Advocacy roles
- Private sector - Security Analyst, Cyber-security Specialist, Consultancy
- Academic pathways - Further study and research opportunities
Dedicated careers support
You will receive support from our dedicated Career Zone team, who provide excellent career guidance at all stages of career planning. The Career Zone provides one-on-one support and is home to a wealth of business and industry contacts.
Additionally, they host useful training events, workshops and lectures which are designed to further support you in developing your enterprise acumen. Please visit the Career Zone for additional information on their services.
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