| Programme details | |
|---|---|
| Degree: | Master of Science (MSc) |
| Discipline: |
Criminology
|
| Duration: | 12 months |
| Study modes: | full-time, part-time |
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Taking a unique approach to studying investigative practices, this MSc equips you with knowledge and skills for the many fields which demand high levels of professional investigation expertise
Innovative and stimulating, this course combines academic rigour and practical experience to nurture high-calibre, confident and forward-thinking investigation professionals.
The MSc Criminal Investigation is designed to appeal to graduates from traditional academic backgrounds as well as serving investigation professionals.
We welcome applicants with substantial and relevant professional experience who may not have an undergraduate degree or equivalent qualification.
Ensuring greater professionalism in investigation procedures is crucial to meet public expectations for effective and efficient policing and justice. This programme helps investigators to extend their skills while enabling the organisations that rely on investigations to enhance their performance.
The course has been introduced at a time when professionalisation in policing is a commonly agreed target of all police forces, the College of Policing and the National Crime Agency. In developing this programme, we have aligned it to initiatives such as the Professionalising Investigation Programme (PIP), which is jointly sponsored by the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the College of Policing.
You will build the skills you need to conduct serious and complex investigations from the start to the end of a case. This includes gathering initial information from wide-ranging sources, managing intelligence and preparing high quality evidence for prosecution. There is also a strong focus on interviewing witnesses, victims and suspects using appropriate techniques.
The focus on professional practice you gain will be underpinned by the ethical and critical contexts of masters-level academic study, meeting UK accreditation standards for higher education.
The MSc Criminal Investigation will help you advance your investigative career in law enforcement, finance, health and safety, social services and many other sectors.
It addresses key challenges facing the investigation professional, including the changing nature of law enforcement and the ‘civilianisation’ of investigation. You will gain a greater appreciation of the social, moral and diversity issues underpinning both practice and research.
We draw upon a teaching team with more than a century of professional experience in investigation. You will be taught by influential academics who engage in a diversity of national and international research projects. This ensures your learning is enriched by the latest thinking and ideas.
Thanks to our strong professional links, we also offer an outstanding visiting speaker programme where leading practitioners share their experiences.
You will have a choice of two optional modules which cover areas such as financial and digital intelligence, and investigating sexual offences means that you can follow a study which reflects your personal interests or professional role. Alternatively, you may wish to substitute the optional modules to follow a specific pathway in investigating domestic abuse or investigating child sexual exploitation offences. For the masters stage of the course, you will undertake an independent study project exploring a significant topic of your choice.
Our facilities include an on-site classroom, interview suite, a crime scene house and forensic crime labs. Such is their quality that they are regularly used for training police officers, detectives and forensic experts.
Our MSc Criminal Investigation is based upon the investigative context and principles of the UK. Most of these principles will be generally applicable to many countries, and as part of your studies, you may undertake comparisons of selected contemporary international approaches, informed by overseas partnerships.
You may find yourself sharing insights and experiences with students and practitioners from various parts of the world.