Criminology & Criminal Justice

Background

Recognising the huge challenge for politicians, policy makers and practitioners in the criminal justice, and criminal law fields, the taught MSc programme addresses the complex problems that crime poses for contemporary societies. Whether looking at recent cases involving offenders under supervision who have committed serious crimes, or the ongoing issues around developing better systems to tackle youth justice and anti-social behaviour, or to the problems of tackling corporate crime, state crime and terrorism – the need for fresh thinking, informed by the best available research, is apparent. 

The MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice draws on the combined strengths of staff from the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research at the University of Glasgow, and from the Centre for Sentencing Research at Strathclyde University. The breadth and diversity of expertise represented within the teaching team is a key strength of the programme. All teaching staff are currently actively engaged in research into crime and criminal justice, and among them have an unrivalled range of experience and expertise in diverse areas such as crime prevention, community safety, youth crime and youth justice, white collar crime, violence, gender, crime  and criminal justice, social work with offenders, offender management, criminal justice, punishment, penology and sentencing.

The MSc programme is available both part-time and full-time, and we welcome applicants from across the UK and abroad. The course will be of interest to those who are concerned to understand the contemporary critical social and political challenges posed by crime, and is suitable whether you have studied criminology at undergraduate level or are new to the subject.  It is directly relevant to those considering professional careers in criminal justice, and public, private and third sector agencies concerned with crime prevention and community safety, as well as those who are already working in the criminal or community justice sectors who wish to undertake the degree as part of ongoing professional development. Recent graduates, social workers and social work managers, prison governors or officers, police officers, lawyers and other criminal justice professionals as well as those with a first degree all get the opportunity to learn about how different professionals and different criminal justice organisations think about and address current issues in crime, criminal justice and punishment. Moreover, they bring diverse and valuable real-world experience of criminal justice with which to interrogate the most recent developments in criminological theory and research.

Glasgow is a stimulating place to study crime and responses to it, with a wide range of events and resources to enhance your studies.  The Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research (www.sccjr.ac.uk) at the University of Glasgow is a friendly, informal place in which to study for an MSc degree. Staff are knowledgeable, approachable and enthusiastic and there is a thriving and welcoming research culture. Our regular seminar series draws visiting speakers from the UK, Europe and the United States to give talks on their research and to meet students; we run an inter-disciplinary Ethnography Reading Group; a working lunch meeting which is an informal arena for staff and students to discuss research ideas and theoretical interests, and our postgraduates organise events through the year, including mini conferences, and social events.