crime-scene

Faculty of Arts, Cultures and Education

Criminology research degrees

Postgraduate - Research

PhD

Looking for a funded PhD?

Check out our current PhD scholarship opportunities now

About our programmes

By choosing Criminology as a postgraduate at Hull you will be joining a vibrant and supportive research community covering a wide range of specialisms, from the links between alcohol and violence and the history of crime and punishment to surveillance, green crime, and restorative justice approaches - among others. If you choose to study a PhD, you will find that we combine research expertise and cutting-edge facilities to deliver a unique experience.

We regard our research students as key participants in our scholarly community and they play an active role in fostering academic debate and developments in our fields of study. In addition to working alongside their supervisors, research students are given opportunities at each stage of the process to present and discuss their own and other's work in a supportive and collegial environment through the weekly postgraduate workshop, the research luncheon and various senior research seminars and workshops.

We provide a full range of research training opportunities within the School and through the University’s Postgraduate Training Scheme. The School also offers a limited number of partial bursaries for which research students are able to apply for funding to attend and host workshops and conferences. All of our research students have access to desk space, computers and other facilities in the school and through the Graduate School. We have an excellent track record in seeing our students through to successful completion and our students have gone on to rewarding careers both within and outside of academia.

Apply for research programmes in Criminology

Details

Open for admission in 2024/25

Qualification Full time Part time
PhD 3 years* 5 years*

* The length of programme registration will be longer as it includes the maximum writing-up phase.

Start in January, May or September

Research

Criminology and Criminal Justice

Criminological research, supported by a dedicated Centre for Criminology and Criminal Justice, has built on our strengths in evaluative criminal justice and penological research while developing an increasing focus on the research questions posed by new forms of surveillance, terrorism, information and communication technologies, and the transnational agenda in criminology.

  • Alcohol and crime
  • Violence prevention
  • Knife and gun crime

Staff: Dr Iain Brennan

  • Victims and victimisation
  • Restorative justice
  • Cultural criminology / social theory
  • Community justice / punishment
  • Reducing reoffending

Staff: Dr Simon Green

 

  • Any areas of the history of crime and punishment between 1750 and 1950, particularly those interested in imprisonment, penal policy and other custodial settings
  • Contemporary imprisonment and penal policy

Staff: Dr Helen Johnston

 

  • The social impact of ‘new surveillance’ technologies
  • Media representations of crime and surveillance
  • Contemporary theoretical perspectives on penal transformation

Staff: Dr Mike McCahill

 

  • Modern slavery and trafficking in human beings
  • Inequalities, class and power in the uk
  • The policing of minority communities
  • ‘Race’ and multiculturalism
  • Racism and anti-fascism
  • Globalisation and resistance
  • Social justice

Staff: Dr Mick Wilkinson

 

  • Restorative justice
  • Mediation and conflict management
  • Peacemaking criminology

Staff: Dr Margarita Zernova

 

  • Gender and crime
  • African theatre
  • Restorative justice
  • South Africa - women and political change, and sex and sexuality
  • Violence against women
  • Women's narratives
  • Youth and crime

Staff: Dr Bev Orton

 

  • Media representations of crime
  • Victims and victimisation
  • Victimisation, identities and narrative
  • Ethical methods of researching with victims

Staff: Dr Nicola O'Leary

Other research in the school of social sciences, which can support criminological research, is themed around;

  • Gender and sexuality
  • Globalisation, Power and Post-Colonialism
  • Culture, Religion and Society
  • Health, Well-being and Social Inclusion

Fees and funding

Home


Full time:
£4,712 per year

Part time: £2,356 per year

International


Full time:
£17,300 per year

These fees are for all research degree programmes on this page. For courses lasting more than one year, annual increases apply. For more information, please visit the fees and funding page. 

Postgraduate research programme structures


PhD

  • Full-time: 3 years of research, with up to 12 months writing up if required
  • Part-time: 5 years of research, with up to 20 months of writing up if required

Masters

  • Full-time: one year of research, with up to 12 months writing up if required
  • Part-time: 2 years of research, with up to 24 months of writing up if required

Writing-up and thesis submission


A standard full-time PhD programme comprised three years of research plus up to 12 months of writing-up. Part-time is five years plus up to 20 months writing-up if needed. Full-time standard Masters programmes are comprised one year of research plus up to 12 months of writing-up if needed; and part time Masters programmes have two years of research with up to two years of writing-up.

For full-time students, the writing-up phase typically takes about three months but may be extended to one year without further paperwork. For part-time students, writing-up typically takes one year, but may be extended to two years without further paperwork. The maximum writing-up period is included in your overall programme length, which means that international PGRs will not need to apply for an additional visa to cover the writing-up phase.

If you need to move into the writing-up period of your research degree, you must enrol for this phase and you will be liable to pay a continuation fee.

The fees for the writing-up period for 2023/24 are:

Full time

  • Writing-up fee £345
  • Rebate for submission within first 3 months of the research period end date 100%
  • Rebate for submission between 4- 6 months of the research period end date 50%
  • Rebate for submission between 7-9 months of the research period end date 25%

Part time

  • Continuation Fee £170
  • Rebate for submission within first 3 months of the research period end date 100%
  • Rebate for submission between 4- 6 months of the research period end date 50%
  • Rebate for submission between 7-9 months of the research period end date 25%

Thesis submission timelines


It is expected that you will submit your thesis within the timeframes outlined below:

Masters degrees

  • Submission by one year and 3 months full-time.
  • Submission by 2 years and 6 months part-time.

Doctoral degrees

  • Submission by 3 years and 3 months full-time.
  • Submission by 5 years and 6 months for part-time.

Doctoral Loan

UK students who haven’t secured a scholarship can take out a Doctoral Loan to help with tuition fees and living costs. They provide up to £29,390 for full-time and part-time PhDs in all subject areas.

EU students starting a course on or after 1 August 2021 must have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to get student finance. Irish citizens do not need to apply for a visa or to the EU Settlement Scheme.

Additional costs

There are some extra costs that you may have to pay, or choose to pay, depending on your programme of study and the decisions you make. The list below has some examples, and any extra costs will vary:

  • Student visas (international students).
  • Books (you’ll have access to many books through the University library, but you may want to buy your own copies).
  • Optional conference/field/archive/library trips (Faculties support some travel and conference attendance financially. Details vary. Please check with the Department/School to which you are applying).
  • Laptop (you’ll have access to laptops and PCs on campus, but you may want to buy your own).
  • Printing and photocopying (There is a printing allowance in place for all students, currently £20 a year. Some Faculties grant PGR students access to printing and photocopying as staff. Please check with the Department/School to which you are applying).
  • Professional-body membership.
  • Graduation (gown hire and photography).

Remember, you’ll still need to take into account your living costs. This could include accommodation, travel and food – to name just a few.

For information about bursaries and how to fund your studies see our money page, or take a look at our PhD scholarships page for specific funded PhD opportunities.

Watch: find out more about postgraduate study at the University of Hull.

The University’s Postgraduate Training Scheme (PGTS) provides a range of generic and discipline-specific modules to support research students through their programme.

The library has an exclusive lounge for postgraduate research students and a dedicated Skills Team to provide a wide range of study and research skills help.

The Doctoral College provides support to postgraduate research students. Offering skills development opportunities and dedicated facilities, the school is here to help you achieve your potential.

Research at Hull tackles big challenges and makes an impact on lives globally, every day. Our current research portfolio spans everything from health to habitats, food to flooding and supply chains to slavery.

Entry requirements

For entry onto one of our Master by research programmes, you should normally have, or expect to obtain at least 2:1 Honours degree (or international equivalent).

For entry onto one of our PhDs, you should normally have, or expect to obtain, at least Master's degree (or international equivalent) at merit or 60% and above in a closely related subject to your proposed disciplinary field of study. For applicants whose backgrounds do not qualify them for direct entry, we may recommend a ‘conversion course' in the form of one of our Masters courses.

Intending research students are expected to have relevant prior research training at postgraduate level (for PhD) or undergraduate level (for MRes or MPhil) or international equivalent.

Your research proposal should clearly set out your research questions, the kind of empirical research you visualise, the reasons why you wish to undertake the research and a general indication of the theoretical background and approach.

Selection is based on the strength and viability of your research proposal and the school's ability to provide supervision in your proposed research area, amongst other factors.

International students

If you require a student visa to study or if your first language is not English you will be required to provide acceptable evidence of your English language proficiency level.

  • For 2024 entry, this course requires IELTS 6.0 overall, with no less than 5.5 in each competency.
  • For 2025 entry, this course requires IELTS 6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 in each competency.

See other English language proficiency qualifications accepted by this University.

If your English currently does not reach the University's required standard for this programme, you may be interested in one of our English language courses.

Visit your country page to find out more about our entry requirements.

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