Criminology, Postgraduate Taught - MA - 2022/23 entry

Our postgraduate course offers a contemporary and critical exploration of criminological issues. By studying for an MA in Criminology at Birmingham City University, you will be introduced to a number of contemporary criminological theories and you will be able to relate theory to practice in specialised areas of crime, offending and victimisation.

Throughout your time studying, you will explore criminology from both a theoretical and applied perspective. You will therefore develop key practical skills that have utility in a range of careers within criminal justice. We adopt an international focus within our teaching and learning, touching upon often marginalised issues within Criminology, which often adopts a Western perspective. On completion of the course, you will be able to address complex issues systematically and creatively.

In order to provide an engaging and flexible educational experience to a diverse range of students, the course utilises a wide range of learning and teaching methods and technologies. Given the small size of each group of students recruited, the postgraduate status of the course and the experience which many of its recruits have had of the criminal justice system, the course is highly participative. While sessions will provide periods of structured teaching, they will also provide a forum, within which you will take responsibility for your own learning, and share your knowledge and views with other students and staff.

The precise nature of sessions and delivery will vary with the year, the cohort of students, and the general and specific experience possessed by individual students. The course team also makes increasing use of the Universitys virtual learning environment, Moodle, where teaching staff will upload lecture notes, web links, video courses and extracts from academic sources. Moodle is also used for general announcements and communication with a group of students, many of whom are unlikely to be on campus every day.

The academic staff who teach on this course are highly research active, and will help you develop and understand the principles and practice of research, as well as enabling you to form judgements on the relative merits of, and relationships between, different research tools and methods. You will also develop the capability to design, manage and disseminate a research project to a professional standard.

Previous students have gone on to further postgraduate study, with a number of them now employed as academics at a range of universities, teaching and researching in the field of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Other graduates from the course occupy both senior and management positions in statutory and non-statutory criminal justice organisations.

Bachelor Degree from a recognised university with a minimum grade of 60% / Good / 2.5 / C+

Even though you may have met the stated requirements, if your first language is not English, we may ask you to take an additional English Language Test when you arrive.

Based on the results of the test, you may be required to attend regular English classes to improve your level of competence. English classes are provided free of charge and are available to all non-UK students who wish to attain greater fluency in English.

Enhancing employability

The teaching team draws on the combined with the expertise of members of the Centre for Applied Criminology, who will give you cutting-edge criminological knowledge from their impactful and high-profile research, as well as giving you excellent access to experienced practitioners and Criminal Justice System organisations.

The Reflective Practice module centres on work or volunteering experience to further develop your professional skillset.

The access provided to professionals, the presence of practitioners among fellow students and the capacity to reflect upon relevant volunteering or work experience within the structure of the course means that the course provides excellent opportunities for building contacts and networking, as well as developing opportunities for employment.

Previous students have included academic criminologists teaching in a range of UK institutions, prison governors and senior prison officers, police personnel, including officers and civilian analysts, probation personnel, magistrates,; media commentators and a television producer,  and employees of charities and bodies including NACRO, the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) and the New Bridge.

The programme does not offer a formal placement.

The course team can assist you in finding volunteering experience and has substantial experience of doing so at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The Research Proposal and Extended Project module permits you to undertake research and writing relating to your current work or voluntary experience.

The School of Social Sciences has relationships with a number of criminal justice agencies and non-government organisations, including the local Community Safety Partnership, HMP Grendon and the Howard League.