Criminal Law and Criminal Justice,MA

Birkbeck, University of London

United Kingdom, London

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408

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Home/United Kingdom/London /Birkbeck, University of London/Criminal Law and Criminal Justice,MA

Birkbeck, University of London

United Kingdom , London

Key Facts

Program Level

Master by Course Work

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Campuses

Main Site

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake DeadlinesJanuary-2026

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 1 year(s)

Tuition Fee

GBP 22,410 / year

Next Intake January-2026

Criminal Law and Criminal Justice,MA

About

Course Overview

Our MA/LLM Criminal Law and Criminal Justice is grounded within legal, criminological, policy and humanities perspectives to offer you a unique opportunity for advanced study of criminal law and criminal justice. On successful completion of this course, you can decide whether you would like to receive an MA or an LLM so that your chosen award is based on your own needs, career path and area of specialism.

Why choose this course?

This course is ideal if you have a keen interest in criminal law and criminal justice and want to learn in a stimulating, flexible, learning environment.
It brings together students from a range of backgrounds, including those with pre-existing knowledge or experience, who wish to advance their existing career and specialise in this area, as well as those with a desire to carve out a new career path.
You will be taught by leading academics in criminology, criminal justice and law and active researchers at the Institute for Crime and Justice Policy Research (ICPR), who are at the forefront of generating new knowledge on contemporary criminal justice issues, including in policing and the policed, courts and the judicial process, prisons and the use of imprisonment, and fraud and digital technologies.

What you will learn

Compulsory modules on this course will provide you with:

an introduction to theoretical perspectives on the relationship between criminal law and criminal justice
deep insights into cutting-edge debates and a range of contemporary issues in criminal law and criminal justice
advanced knowledge of modern criminal law.

You will also have the chance to choose option modules from a diverse list spanning law, criminology, social policy and the humanities, so you can tailor your studies to your interests and future career goals.

How you will learn

Learning is through lectures, seminars and tutorials, alongside your independent work. Throughout the course, you will have various opportunities to develop skills relevant to your career, such as through conducting an independent research project with support from a specialist supervisor.

You will be able to choose between full- and part-time study. This course has an evening timetable with classes taking place in the evening, allowing you to pursue other activities and commitments during the day.

This course is part of our Birkbeck Flexible Master’s UK, which gives you the choice of how you want to study - on campus, online or via flexible learning, which combines both.

If you require a Student visa to study in the UK, you will only be able to apply for the on-campus study option for this course. Online and flexible options will not be available to you because they may affect the conditions of your visa.

Discover the career opportunities available by taking Criminal Law and Criminal Justice (MA/LLM).

Requirements

Entry Requirements

A second-class honours degree (2:2) or above in law, the humanities or social sciences; other honours degrees will be considered.

Applications are reviewed on their individual merits and your professional qualifications and/or relevant work experience will be taken into consideration positively. We actively support and encourage applications from mature learners.

On your application form, please list all your relevant qualifications and experience, including those you expect to achieve.

Apply now to secure your place. The earlier you apply, the sooner your application can be considered and you can enrol. You do not need to have completed your current qualification to start your application.

International students: Please note, if you require a Student visa to study in the UK, you will only be able to apply for the on-campus study option for this course. Online and flexible options will not be available to you because they may affect the conditions of your visa.

English Program Requirements

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, the requirement for this programme is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests.

If you don't meet the minimum IELTS requirement, we offer pre-sessional English courses and foundation programmes to help you improve your English language skills and get your place at Birkbeck.

Visit the International section of our website to find out more about our English language entry requirements and relevant requirements by country.

Career

Postgraduate studies in criminal law and criminal justice offer you a range of career opportunities, giving you a pathway to promotion within an existing career, helping you transition into a new career, or giving you the chance to pursue a specialist area of knowledge.

You will find criminal law and criminal justice graduates in the following kinds of roles and fields: 

legal practitioners
positions within the third sector including non-government organisations (NGOs) and voluntary organisations
positions within criminal justice agencies, such as the police, prisons and the youth justice system
local government or civil service roles 
education, research and academia.

As well as honing their research skills, Birkbeck’s MA/LLM Criminal Law and Criminal Justice graduates complete the degree with a set of valuable transferable attributes, for example: 

the ability to critically evaluate and assess a range of sources
the ability to present persuasive arguments 
the ability to work effectively as part of a team
high-level oral and written communication skills in English.

We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.