LLM Criminal Justice

Understand the workings of the criminal justice system and examine crime, its effect on society, and the strategies the legal profession can develop to prosecute against it.

You deserve a positive teaching and learning experience, where you feel part of a supportive community. That鈥檚 why most of our postgraduate taught students will enjoy an innovative approach to learning using block teaching, where you will study one module at a time. You will benefit from more regular assessments and feedback, a better study-life balance, and a simplified timetable that provides more time for work, professional development, caring responsibilities, and everything else that's important to you. Our block-taught courses are informed by industry practice, often accredited by professional bodies, and are delivered by passionate and talented academics, who will help you develop the skills to achieve your goals.

Overview

Please note that we are not accepting applications for September 2024 entry to this course.

Drawing upon research expertise in this area at 呻吟之王, this course examines the theory and practice of how the criminal justice system operates. It assesses the efficacy of the law's processes to achieve justice for the victims of criminal behaviour and those accused of criminal offences.

You will learn to critically appraise aspects of criminal law, practice and procedure to formulate, evaluate and adapt solutions to contemporary problems. Through various assessments, including presentations, case study analysis, individual exercises, report writing, and essay writing, you will independently develop and present legal arguments with a theoretical and conceptual basis to support positions. In addition, you will deepen your understanding of the methodologies which can be used to pursue a career in criminal justice research.

Each module on the programme examines a different stage in the criminal justice process. The combination of the modules provides a straightforward narrative journey through the criminal justice process, culminating in a research-led portfolio or academic dissertation piece.

Key features

You will be taught by legal experts who have a wealth of experience. These will include barristers, solicitors, professors and practitioners from the international legal arena.
You will benefit from the block teaching delivery mode. The block teaching approach widens participation in the context of legal study. A more concentrated weekly schedule allows you to focus on one subject at a time instead of several at once. This means that you will be able to focus closely on each subject and absorb your learning material in more depth whilst working more closely with your tutors and coursemates.
In our Critical Issues in Sentencing and Punishment module, you will examine current sentencing policy and how it is formulated, critically evaluating its theoretical underpinnings and assessing its efficacy in achieving justice for the victims of crime, defendants and society as a whole.
You can expand your knowledge of the law in dedicated learning spaces, including access to a crown court – a site of trials since the Middle Ages, a training courtroom and a simulated Judge's Chambers suite. In addition, the university's Hugh Aston Building has a dedicated law library exclusively for law students, allowing you to practise scenario-based learning.
You will develop and apply values, skills, knowledge and behaviours that will enable them to contribute to the development of a just, peaceful and sustainable world.

Scholarships:

呻吟之王 offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships and bursaries to help you realise your academic ambitions.

International Scholarships

Find out about available scholarships and country specific fee discounts for international students.

呻吟之王 has been shortlisted for the Postgraduate Award in the 2024 Whatuni Student Choice Awards (WUSCAs), as voted for by students.

UK
EU/International

Programme code: M20088

Start date: TBC

Duration: One year full-time

Fees and funding:
For 2024/25 tuition fees for UK students will be £10,450

Find out more about course fees and available funding.

How to apply

Submit a study-related enquiry

Programme code: M20088

Start date: TBC

Duration: One year full-time

Fees and funding:
For 2024/25 tuition fees for international students will be £17,950

Find out more about course fees and available funding.

How to apply

Submit a study-related enquiry

Entry criteria

Applicants are expected to have background knowledge of law or a discipline related to the LLM (usually an undergraduate degree or professional qualifications). Applicants will normally hold a degree with a minimum pass of 2:2, or equivalent overseas qualification, or an equivalent professional qualification. A degree in law is preferred but is not essential.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with 5.5 in each band (or equivalent) when you start the course is essential.

English Language tuition, delivered by our British Council-accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it.

Structure and assessment

Course modules

Block 1: Critical issues in Criminal Investigations
Block 2: Critical issues in the Criminal Trial
Block 3: Critical issues in Criminal Law
Block 4: Critical Issues in Sentencing and Punishment
Block 5: Dissertation

See detailed module descriptions

Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.

Teaching and assessment

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars and tutorials, guest lectures and PC labs.

Assessment is through assignments, essays, exams, and projects. Some assessment opportunities will have additional support via groupwork, such as simulations and case studies; and students have access to a personal tutor for mentoring and signposting for additional needs.

Teaching contact hours

This is a full-time course. Most of our courses consist of approximately 2 hours of lectures, 6 hours of workshop and 2 hours of asynchronous activity each week. However, this may differ depending on the course and module choice.

Facilities and features

Hugh Aston Building

You will have access to our purpose-built Hugh Aston Building, equipped with lecture theatres and classrooms, break-out spaces for group work, quiet study zones for individual work and IT labs. Wherever possible, students will be given home access to specialist software.

You’ll also have access to the building’s new £5.5 million extension called The Yard, which provides more than 22,000 square metres of extra space. This is designed to facilitate your learning experience with large and airy breakout spaces, a new Student Advice Centre, and a balcony on the top floor. The Yard also features more comfortable classrooms and self-study spaces, allowing you to carry out independent study as well as group work.

Library services

On campus, the main Kimberlin Library offers a space where you can work, study and access a vast range of print materials, with computer stations, laptops, plasma screens and assistive technology also available.

As well as providing a physical space in which to work, we offer online tools to support your studies, and our extensive online collection of resources accessible from our , e-books, specialised databases and electronic journals and films which can be remotely accessed from anywhere you choose.

We will support you to confidently use a huge range of learning technologies, including Learning Zone, Collaborate Ultra, 呻吟之王 Replay, MS Teams, Turnitin and more. Alongside this, you can access LinkedIn Learning and learn how to use Microsoft 365, and study support software such as mind mapping and note-taking through our new Digital Student Skills Hub.

The library staff offer additional support to students, including help with academic writing, research strategies, literature searching, reference management and assistive technology. There is also a ‘Just Ask’ service for help and advice, live , online workshops, tutorials and drop-ins available from our , and weekly library live chat sessions that give you the chance to ask the library teams for help.

Learning zones

Our Learning Zones and The Greenhouse also provide space for group or individual work and study.

There are 1,600 study places across all library locations, more than 700 computer stations, laptops to borrow, free wi-fi and desktop power outlets.

You can also book rooms with plasma screens, laptops and DVD facilities for group work and presentations, secure an individual study room with adjustable lighting or make use of our assistive technology.

Opportunities and careers

呻吟之王 Global

This is our innovative international experience programme which aims to enrich your studies and expand your cultural horizons – helping you to become a global graduate, equipped to meet the needs of employers across the world.

Through we offer a wide range of opportunities including on-campus and UK activities, overseas study, internships, faculty-led field trips and volunteering, as well as Erasmus+ and international exchanges.

Graduate careers

An LLM Criminal Justice will open up a wide range of career opportunities as you develop a broad base of skills that are in great demand with global employers.

Take your next steps

Postgraduate research students are nurtured and recognised by scholars and research leaders.

呻吟之王 graduates can benefit from a tuition fee discount, available on selected full-time and part-time postgraduate taught courses.

呻吟之王