Criminal Justice & Penal Change,MSc

University of Strathclyde

United Kingdom, Glasgow

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Home/United Kingdom/Glasgow /University of Strathclyde/Criminal Justice & Penal Change,MSc

University of Strathclyde

United Kingdom , Glasgow

Key Facts

Program Level

Master by Research

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Campuses

MainSite

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake DeadlinesSeptember-2026

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 12 month(s)

Tuition Fee

GBP 25,000 / year

Next Intake September-2026

Criminal Justice & Penal Change,MSc

About

Study with us

draw on a range of disciplinary and the latest international approaches, to develop a rational and just response to crime
full-time, part-time and evening study options
learn from world-leading experts in the fields of policy and practice
examine a range of legal, political and social responses across the world to what is widely known as the 'penal crisis'
you can choose to do a 60-credit enhanced research proposal, professional internship or a professional project instead of a traditional dissertation.

I enjoyed the class mix as we had lawyers, practitioners, recent graduates and also international students which brought different ideas and experiences which made debates exciting and interesting.

Karen Fullerton, MSc Criminal Justice and Penal Change

Why this course?

Blending a rigorous understanding of fundamental theory with evidence about real world problems you’ll analyse recent innovations in theory, policy and practice.

Drawing on a range of disciplinary approaches, the course will enable you to develop a rational and just response to crime.

The LLM/MSc in Criminal Justice & Penal Change is unique in both its approach and its flexibility.

Key features:

our focus is on pressing contemporary national and international issues of policy and practice
choose to graduate with either an LLM or MSc
study full-time or part-time
learn from a world-class teaching team
students are from a range of nationalities and disciplinary backgrounds
benefit from the work of the Centre for Law, Crime and Justice

Course video

Hear from Professor Cyrus Tata and students on the course.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Academic requirements	First- or upper second-class Honours degree, or overseas equivalent, in law, one of the social sciences, business or humanities. Entry may be possible with other qualifications and/or experience. Please note: a Law degree is not a prerequisite for entry to this course.
English language requirements	Please check our English requirements before making your application.

Academic requirements

First- or upper second-class Honours degree, or overseas equivalent, in law, one of the social sciences, business or humanities. Entry may be possible with other qualifications and/or experience.

Please note: a Law degree is not a prerequisite for entry to this course.

English language requirements

Please check our English requirements before making your application.

Undergraduate

Students who have studied the Tawjihiyya/Thanawiya General School Certificate are eligible for entry via a foundation programme from the ISC. Students that have studied an International Qualification such as A Levels, IB Diploma, French Bac or the American High School system should check the relevant country.

Postgraduate

A good degree from a recognised Higher Education Institution is acceptable for postgraduate study at Strathclyde. Our applications are judged on a case-by-case basis and can vary depending on the course. As a guide, we normally consider a GPA of 2.8 out of 4 and 3.8 out of 5.

English Program Requirements

We accept a number of English language tests as proof of proficiency in English. IELTS is the most widely available. Information on this can be found on the British Council Website.

Our current standard requirements are:

IELTS (Academic): 6.5 overall (no individual band less than 5.5)
Faculty of Science: IELTS (Academic): 6.0 overall (no individual band less than 5.5)
Faculty of Engineering (Undergraduate only): IELTS (Academic): 6.0 overall (no individual band less than 5.5)

Some degree programmes have different English language requirements to the above so please check each individual course page for details.

Other English language tests may be acceptable and you can find these here:

Recognised English language qualifications for pre-sessional and degree entry

If you have a qualification not listed, you should contact our Recruitment & International Office for advice.

Career

Careers

Students on the Strathclyde Masters (LLM or MSc) in Criminal Justice and Penal Change come from a range of backgrounds.

Some are recent graduates in law, humanities and the social sciences from around the world. Many are current practitioners, policy-makers in different fields of criminal justice. They find the course of invaluable assistance in gaining a step up the career ladder.

Where are they now?

Occupations which criminal justice students may (and do) take up include:

Advocacy
Central Government Criminal Justice Research Manager
Council of Europe Analyst
Criminal Barrister
Defence law
European Union Policy Analyst
Forensic Services
Judiciary
Local Government Criminal Justice Policy Manager
Lecturer in Criminal Justice
Parliamentary Advisors on Criminal Justice
Prosecution Service
Prison Management
Prison Psychologist
Prison-based Social Work
Victim Support

What do employers say?

I’m pleased to endorse this exciting and well thought through new course. It’s encouraging to see for the first time the direct, upfront link between Criminal Justice and Penal Change. One area in particular I welcome is the practical focus on risk assessment, defensible decision making, multi-agency partnership working and effectiveness of interventions to address offending behaviour."

D E Gunn O.B.E. M.A. M.Soc.Sc. MSc, has been Governor of HM Prisons Greenock, Polmont YOI, Edinburgh and Glenochil and is Director of Operations for the Scottish Prison Service

I welcome this course at a time when investment in community supervision is being cut, prisoner numbers are rising, and the Service is threatened with privatisation. Its focus on desistance and restorative justice is central to the maintenance of an ethically sound approach to interventions. In turn its emphasis on prison reform by encouraging more therapeutic approaches for those in custody is an essential way to ensure community and prison-based interventions are both complementary and successful.”

Jonathan Ledger, General Secretary of the National Association of Probation Officers, UK

Glasgow is Scotland's biggest & most cosmopolitan city

Our campus is based right in the very heart of Glasgow. We're in the city centre, next to the Merchant City, both of which are great locations for sightseeing, shopping and socialising alongside your studies.

Life in Glasgow

Fee Information

Fees & funding

All fees quoted are for full-time courses and per academic year unless stated otherwise.

Fees may be subject to updates to maintain accuracy. Tuition fees will be notified in your offer letter.

All fees are in £ sterling, unless otherwise stated, and may be subject to revision.

Annual revision of fees

Students on programmes of study of more than one year (or studying standalone modules) should be aware that tuition fees are revised annually and may increase in subsequent years of study. Annual increases will generally reflect UK inflation rates and increases to programme delivery costs.

Tuition Fee

GBP 25,000

Application Fee

GBP