



Explore global crime concerns and develop skills in designing, analysing and evaluating criminal justice and crime control strategies with our MA in Criminal Justice and Crime Control.
You’ll be taught by a team of expert criminologists from a variety of specialist backgrounds, including law, sociology, psychology, history and politics.
They’ll give you experience of designing, analysing and evaluating criminal justice and crime control strategies so you’re able to navigate the realities of modern criminal justice and crime control as a first-class criminologist.
About this course
Our MA gives you experience of designing, analysing and evaluating criminal justice and crime control strategies.
Taught by world-leading experts, it’s designed to create sophisticated criminologists who can navigate the realities of criminal justice and crime control with confidence, skills and knowledge.
At its heart is a strong focus on communication, research, problem-solving, teamwork and policy analysis. These skills will be developed through the classroom and through practical work with criminal justice and community safety organisations.
Our MA also offers the specialist study of contemporary slavery (human trafficking), reflecting the globally important issue of criminal justice and human rights.
Teaching is blended between weekly two-hour workshops and online support. Assessment is task-based and varied, and includes written essays, oral presentations, events organisation, engagement projects, research projects and problem-solving exercises.
You’ll be supported throughout your studies with academic support tutors working with small groups to provide guidance and advice.
Contemporary Slavery pathway
The MA Criminal Justice and Crime Control (Contemporary Slavery) offers the specialist study of contemporary slavery (human trafficking) as a pathway within the degree. It reflects a global important issue of criminal justice and human rights, the study of such topics are at the centre of global concerns regarding social justice and injustice.
Module options
For a full Masters degree, you'll study 180 credits over the duration of your course. Some programmes offer a Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) qualification or a Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) qualification. For a PGDip, you'll study 120 credits, and for a PGCert, you'll study 60 credits.
Your choice of modules will vary, depending on whether you select to study the standard Criminal Justice and Crime Control course or the Contemporary Slavery pathway.
Filters
Global Issues in Criminal Justice and Crime Control
Explore key issues and ‘real world’ problems in criminal justice and crime control in an increasingly globalising world. Using a range of up-to-date research and contemporary concerns about criminal justice and crime control in comparative or global contexts, you will engage with debates, discussion and policy in criminological thought and practice.
core
20 credits
Doing Research in Criminology and Criminal Justice
Learn about the vital skills of doing research in criminology and criminal justice, concentrating on the different types and rationales of a variety of research methodologies. You will be taught by a combination of lectures and tutorials.
core
20 credits
Dissertation
What fascinates you? You will make an original contribution to research by designing, carrying out and writing up a project on a topic of your choice, supported by your dissertation supervisor.
compulsory
60 credits
Contemporary Slavery Studies
Gain a broad and critical overview of systems of slavery and unfree practices historically and across a multitude of contexts. Familiarise yourself with complex theoretical debates on analytical categories such as ‘slavery’, ‘forced labour’, ‘debt bondage’ and how these related to the lived experiences of people across socio-historical contexts. You'll examine a range of cross-disciplinary academic literature and research, including in history, anthropology, sociology, politics, criminology and law. Past and current research at the Wilberforce Institute will contribute to developing a critical and multi-layered understanding of concepts, ideas and public discourses and how these have been moulded and shifted across time.
optional
20 credits
Competing and Comparative Justice: Values and Ethics in the Criminal Justice Process
This module introduces the complexity of ethical problems that arise in the criminal justice arena, challenging preconceptions of what is “right” and “wrong” in a range of situations in the UK and abroad. You will critically analyse some of the key debates about values underpinning law-making and criminal justice.
optional
20 credits
Contemporary Crime: Theories and Practice
You will explore contemporary criminological theories explaining criminality and offending behaviour. In addition, you will examine the various strategies in the areas of crime reduction and crime prevention put forward to tackle such behaviour and whether or not these have been successful in addressing certain types of criminal behaviour.
optional
20 credits
Policing, Security and Intelligence
‘Crime’ is increasingly seen as a global rather than local or national problem. How do we ‘police’ such problems across borders and how do police agencies co-operate to tackle problems like cybercrime or cross border criminal activity? This module will explore models of policing, transnational policing and private security policing as well as debating and exploring the techniques, ethics and accountability of the police in such settings.
optional
20 credits
Communication and Engagement with Diverse Communities
This module focuses on the importance of social justice and inclusion when considering the creation, cohesion and safety of communities. You will learn about real-world issues and concerns in diverse communities. You will conduct research concerning the issues that are uncovered with an aim to assist community safety and alleviate community tensions due to age, religion, disability and so on. The outcome of your research will be reported in a briefing product for community groups.
optional
20 credits
Critical Victimology and Contemporary Slavery
Examine the definitions and representations of victimisation in slavery studies. You will also critically examine the limitations and challenges of existing criminal justice approaches to victimisation, even when these are victim-centred. You'll examine theoretical explanations of victimisation and explore the relationship between victimisation and social divisions of class, ethnicity, age, gender, nationality, immigration status, etc.
optional
20 credits
Our academics
We were one of the first to teach criminology degrees more than 50 years ago.
We remain at the forefront today with research leaders on issues such as violent crime, social justice and desistance, prisons and restorative justice, cybercrime and intelligence.

Professor Helen Johnston
Professor of Criminology
An expert in the history of crime and punishment from the year 1750 onwards, Professor Johnston is the first female Professor of Criminology at the University of Hull. She’s undertaken research on prisons and licensing/early release mechanisms.

Professor Iain Brennan
Professor of Criminology
Iain's research focuses on violence prevention including weapon-carrying and domestic abuse. He’s an adviser to the Home Office, Youth Endowment Fund, College of Policing, National Police Chiefs' Council, and many police forces across the UK.
Entry Requirements
What do I need?
There are no formal entry requirements for this qualification
Typical offer
2:2 in any subject area
Fees & Funding
How much is it?
Scholarships
We offer a number of awards, bursaries and scholarships for eligible students. They’re awarded for a variety of reasons including academic achievement and/or to help those on lower incomes.
Scholarships and bursaries are separate to student loans. And the best bit is, you don’t pay a penny back.
Alumni Postgraduate Scholarship
University of Hull undergraduates progressing to a taught masters course may receive a 20% discount on the cost of their tuition fees.
Find out if you’re eligible by visiting the University of Hull Alumni Postgraduate Scholarship page.
See more Scholarships
We offer a range of scholarships and awards to students at the university to help with their financial load.
To view all of our scholarships and determine whether you're eligible, please visit our Scholarships and Awards page.
Our facilities

Future prospects
The knowledge and skills you’ll gain with a Criminology MA at Hull are genuinely career-enhancing.
Through a variety of subject topics and diverse course of study and research, you’ll gain the key skills that are in demand across a wide range of careers.
Jobs our graduates have gone on to do include helping witnesses cope with the emotional impact of giving evidence in court, supporting vulnerable young people and their families, and helping offenders to lead law-abiding lives after release from prison.
You could go onto roles within the police force, HM Prison Service, the Probation Service, legal professions, social work, the charity sector or the Civil Service.
Take your career to the next level
Like what you’ve seen? Then it’s time to apply.
Make your application online now, and our admissions team will get back to you as soon as possible to make you an offer.
Not ready to apply yet?
We regularly deliver virtual and on-campus events to help you discover your perfect postgraduate course, whether it’s a subject you already love or something completely different. Our events are an opportunity for you to chat to tutors and current students and find out about the career options a postgraduate degree could lead to.
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Criminology at Hull is ranked joint 15th in the country for Research Quality in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024.
All modules on this course page are subject to availability and this list may change at any time.