Criminology MA/PGDip
Study level: Postgraduate
The Criminology PGDip and MA courses have been designed to give both recent graduates and practitioners currently working in the criminal justice system greater insight into the dynamic issues surrounding crime and criminal justice in the modern world.
Year of entry
Location
Coventry University (Coventry)
Study mode
Full-time
Part-time
Duration
1 year full-time
2 years part-time
Course code
HLST267
Start date
September 2023
Course overview
The courses are designed to enhance your understanding and provide you with new perspectives on criminological theory and practice.
- Applied approach designed to develop the skills required for employment in various criminal justice roles.
- Expert speakers from agencies involved in criminal justice complement and contextualise your understanding2.
- International perspective on crime.

Joint Top Modern University for Career Prospects
Guardian University Guide 2021 and 2022
5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities
QS Stars University Ratings
Top 5 UK Student City (Coventry)
QS Best Student Cities Index 2023Why you should study this course
The course has been designed for graduates of criminology, professionals currently working in the field and graduates of other disciplines looking to develop their career in a criminology-related field.
You will explore a broad definition of crime, considering multiple perspectives and scales, from crimes committed by one person against another to crimes perpetrated by corporations and states against whole populations.
You will explore the causes of crime and the implications for everyone affected by crime, including victims, offenders, witnesses and criminal justice staff at all stages of the criminal justice process.
You will also examine the challenges of delivering criminal justice, including global concerns over security. The global perspective is an important element of the course, including discussion of what crime is across the globe and who defines what constitutes criminality.
Throughout the course contrasting theoretical approaches are compared to engender a lively ongoing debate reflective of developments in global criminology. The main purpose of the course is to support your academic, personal and professional development, aiming to prepare you for a variety of criminal justice, rehabilitation and victim support roles; as well as wider possible career destinations such as drug rehabilitation, mental health support, policy, health security and fraud investigation.
In addition to established theories, new areas of criminological concern are discussed, such as criminalisation of migration; harm to the environment; and breaching public health measures. Studying criminology on these courses is also designed to extend your awareness and understanding of the ways that globalisation has accelerated organised crime as it follows money flows, necessitating international collaboration for public protection. There is a focus on how emerging technologies impact on crime and security and links between youth, popular culture and crime. A central focus throughout is the effect of crime and social harm on communities and individuals.
How thinking on criminology has developed over time, and been refined due to new evidence and knowledge in the field is a key component of the course. You will also examine the important issue of how and when the criminal justice system has failed, through miscarriages of justice and systemic failings such as institutional racism.
During this course you will comprehensively explore criminology, examining the subject from a truly global perspective. You will investigate subjects at the cutting edge of criminology, including topics that create discussion in wider society, for example border control and drug policy. You will have the chance to study forensic linguistics, which incorporates the study of the language used in court and police interviews, and the impact this has on justice. The course is taught by staff with published expertise in criminal youth gangs, drugs and forensic mental health (staff subject to change).
You will have the opportunity to go on visits to relevant destinations, such as prisons and courts and hear from guest speakers working in criminal justice roles to provide access to ‘real-world’ applications of your learning (subject to availability). On successful completion of the course, you will have a detailed understanding of the key approaches to preventing, investigating and tackling crime at all levels.
Accreditation and professional recognition
This course is accredited1 by the following professional bodies:

As part of this course, you will undertake a professional development module which is currently accredited by the Chartered Management Institute for the 2023-24 intake. Upon successful completion of this module, you will gain the CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice at no additional cost. Further details can be found under the module section and on the Professional Development module homepage. Please visit the CMI website for full details on the CMI accreditation.
What you'll study
We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.
How you'll learn
You will be taught though a mixture of lectures, seminars and tutorials. A case study approach is taken to enable you to apply your learning to real life scenarios.
This course can be offered on a part-time basis. Whilst we would like to give you all the information about our part-time offering here, it is tailored for each course each year depending on the number of part-time applicants. Therefore, the part-time teaching arrangements vary. Request further information about part-time study.
Teaching contact hours
Full-time students will normally have around 10 hours of lectures, workshops or blended learning each week and approximately 2 hours in group tutorials. Additionally, you will be expected to undertake significant self-directed study of approximately 25 hours each week, depending on the demands of individual modules.
Part-time students will have half of the hours outlined above.
As an innovative and enterprising institution, the university may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2023/2024 academic year to be delivered in a variety of forms. The form of delivery will be determined in accordance with Government and Public Health guidance. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.
Assessment
You will be assessed through a range of innovative assessment methods designed to enable you to demonstrate your knowledge and professional skills – this will vary depending upon the module.
Assessment methods include:
- Scenario-based assignments
- Essays
- Presentations
- Case studies
- Posters
- Group work
The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.
Entry requirements
Typical offer for 2023/24 entry.
Fees and funding
2023/24 tuition fees.
Student | Full-time | Part-time |
---|---|---|
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man | £11,200 per year | Request fee information |
EU | £11,200 per year with EU support bursary** £18,600 per year without EU support bursary** |
Not available |
International | £18,600 per year | Not available |
For advice and guidance on tuition fees3 and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page.
We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.
Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.
The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:
- Any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
- Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).
*Irish student fees
The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.
**EU support bursary
Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in-line with that of UK students. Students studying a Degree with a Foundation Year with us are not eligible for the bursary.
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How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?
We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the government's Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.
If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.
Facilities
As part of the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, those that take this course on-campus will do so at our Coventry University main campus4.

The Library
The Lanchester Library is open 24/7, 364 days a year and has 1,400 study spaces, including group and silent areas. It also currently offers more than 550 computers and an additional 120 free-to-loan laptops within the library.

Jaguar Centre
Our refurbished Jaguar Centre has been specifically designed to provide facilities and services to support our postgraduate students including: social spaces, computer suites and separate areas for small group study.

The Hub
The Hub is the centre of student campus life. It's also home to the Health and Wellbeing Centre, the Spirituality and Faith Centre, the Tank Studio, Student Success Coaches and the Enterprise Hub.
Careers and opportunities
On successful completion of the course, you will:
- Be able to evaluate international best practice in criminal justice and inter-related fields (e.g. public protection, management, care, rehabilitation and resettlement of offenders, and victim and witness support).
- Have developed a range of skills related to careers in the criminal justice field.
- Be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of comparative theoretical approaches to criminology.
- Have the ability to appraise contemporary interdisciplinary and emergent contributions to the study of criminology and to criminological research.
- Have developed decision-making, initiative and personal responsibility through co-production of definitions of criminal justice and injustice.
- Understand criminology from a global perspective.
These courses have been designed in consultation with employers within the criminal justice system and have been developed with the aim of producing graduates able to demonstrate the skills and attributes required for a range of roles in criminal justice, including probation work, police, border control, offender management and victim support.
How to apply
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UK students
To apply to study for a postgraduate course at Coventry University, you can apply online.
For further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.
Chat with our admissions team
Complete our contact form.
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International students
Full-time international students applying to start in September should apply directly to the university. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.
How to applyFor further support for international applicants applying for postgraduate degree view our International hub.
You can also download our International guide which contains lots of useful information about our courses, accommodation and tips for travel.
Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.
Chat with our admissions team.
Complete our contact form.
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Disclaimers
Coventry University together with Coventry University London Campus, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the “University”) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.
1Accreditations
The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.
2UK and international opportunities
Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or International opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel COVID and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the visa requirements, please contact the International Office.
3Tuition fees
The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.
For International Students, we may increase fees each year but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.
4Facilities
Due to COVID-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.
Student Contract
By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the 2023/24 contract can be found here. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.
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