Faculty of Arts, Cultures and Education

MA in Incarceration Studies

Postgraduate - Taught MA

Open for admission in 2022/23 to UK students

Closed for admission in 2022/23 to International students

Open for admission in 2023/24

	Full time	Part time
MA	1 year	2 years

About the course

Sorry, but due to exceptional demand, this course is now closed for applications from international students to study in 2022. Applications for 2023/4 will open in September 2022. If you are a home (UK) student and want to apply for this postgraduate programme please contact admissions on 01482 466850 or pghome@hull.ac.uk.

This innovative new programme combines teaching, research and practical experiences that are linked by four ideas – Culture, Criminology, Creativity, and Community.

Graduates will display intellectual confidence and flexibility in several different academic disciplines.

Though incarceration is often associated with imprisonment in jail or prison, the word has a host of contexts including historical slavery, pandemic lockdowns, wartime camps, modern-day trafficking and even situations of domestic abuse. On this programme, you'll explore incarceration in a range of forms in the UK, US and other situations globally, far beyond the traditional prison context.

This course combines traditional seminar-style classes with unique environments outside of the classroom, whether working with ex-prisoners locally or organising an academic conference on campus.

Students on the MA in Incarceration Studies will be affiliated with the Cultures of Incarceration Centre at the University of Hull, which provides opportunities to attend talks, present at seminars, and network.

What you'll study

Compulsory modules

All modules are subject to availability and this list may change at any time.

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.
UK & US Prison Cultures; Redemption and Resistance

This module will analyse a range of cultural responses to the prison experience, from film to poetry to music, to understand and explain the US and UK prison systems as well as US/UK history and society more widely. The module will include guest speakers who have first-hand experience of living/working in US or UK prisons, and who can speak to the module’s interest in prison cultural texts.
Writing from Life; Creative Non-Fiction

On this module, students will be introduced to a wide range of non-fiction prose, including travel writing, true crime, narrative history and biography. You will produce a portfolio of non-fiction and reflective writings yourself and will also be expected to partake in guest talks/writing workshops with tutors who have taught for many years in prison and in other contexts of incarceration.
Incarceration Culture in Context: Research Methods and Theory in Interdisciplinary Studies

On this module, you will examine and scrutinise a broad range of texts that address incarceration. This may include poetry by African political prisoners, Orange is the New Black (TV), artwork from Guantanamo Bay, Caribbean memorials to slave rebellions, Native American captivity stories, modern slavery documentaries and photography documenting Northern Ireland.
Dissertation (Culture, Criminology, Creativity, and Community)

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. The topic must relate to the broad theme of incarceration and demonstrate the MA’s four key ideas - Culture, Criminology, Creativity, and Community. The dissertation will be 15,000 words.

pghome@hull.ac.uk

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Where you'll study

The location below may not be the exact location of all modules on your timetable. The buildings you'll be taught in can vary each year and depend on the modules you study.

Hull Campus

Click to view directions on Google Maps

Our teaching staff

Fees and funding

Home: £8,950

Home (part-time): £495 (10 credits), £995 (20 credits), £2985 (60 credits), £4475 (90 credits)

UK students can take out a Master’s Loan to help with tuition fees and living costs. For 2022 entry, they provide up to £11,836 for full-time and part-time taught and research Masters courses in all subject areas. Find out more about Postgraduate Loans.

EU/International: £8,950

International applicants may need to pay a tuition fee deposit before the start of the course. Visit our tuition fee deposit page for more information.

Please see the terms and conditions for International fees 2022/23.

Graduate PGT Scholarship

The University of Hull is pleased to offer graduates progressing from undergraduate to postgraduate taught study a £1,000 scholarship towards the cost of their tuition fees.

Find out if you’re eligible by visiting the University of Hull Graduate PGT Scholarship page.

International Scholarships and Bursaries

For a list of all scholarships and bursaries for international students, please visit the International Scholarships and Bursaries page.

Scholarships and Bursaries

The University offers a range of scholarships to help you with your studies.

For more information, please visit the Scholarships and Bursaries page.

Study under experts across American Studies, Criminology and Creative Writing.

Spend time studying in unique learning environments, such as HMP Hull alongside prisoners.

Superb facilities include the Brynmor Jones Library which is open 24/7 and boasts cutting edge technology and more than a million books.

Entry requirements

Normally a Bachelor Honours degree (typically 2:2 or above, or international equivalent) in American Studies, English, History, Criminology or other Arts & Humanities / Social Science equivalent.

If you hold a degree in another area, or if you have been out of education for a significant period of time, we would still encourage you to apply. Indeed, we are looking for applicants with a genuine interest in Incarceration (broadly defined) and would be happy to consider your application even with a different academic background, or with professional experience.

In order to ensure our students have a rich learning and student experience, most of our programmes have a mix of domestic and international students. We reserve the right to close applications early to either group, if application volumes suggest that this blend cannot be achieved. In addition, existing undergraduate students at the University of Hull have a guaranteed ‘Fast Track’ route to any postgraduate programme, subject to meeting the entry criteria.

International students

Application deadlines

ATAS programmes - 29 April 2022
All other programmes - 15 August 2022

Your deposit should be paid by 25 August, you should accept any offer by 29 August and your CAS must be issued by 5 September.

Language requirements

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

This course requires academic IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 5.5 in each skill. See other accepted English language proficiency qualifications.

If your English currently does not reach the required standard, you may be interested in our pre-sessional English Language programmes.

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

Future prospects

Due to the interdisciplinary nature of this degree, you'll develop a range of knowledge and skills to help you stand out in the job market.

As well as mastering new disciplines, you'll develop your skills in research, team-work, project management, writing and presentation skills. The development of your research and analytical skills will give you a firm grounding if you wish to progress to PhD study.