LLM in Criminology and Criminal Justice

This exciting, stimulating and topical postgraduate degree programme in Criminology and Criminal Justice is taught by internationally-recognised scholars and researchers who offer students a wide introduction to the study of crime and criminal justice in contemporary society. Staff members have strong links with local criminal justice agencies and community organisations as well as extensive comparative and international expertise, providing for a unique student experience. Key research strengths of the teaching staff lie in the following areas:

• Community Safety and Crime Prevention
• Policing
• Prisoner Reintegration
• Restorative Justice
• Sex Offending
• Victimology
• Anti-Social Behaviour
• Crime and the Life Course

The LLM in Criminology and Criminal Justice is designed to appeal to prospective students with an academic or professional interest in criminology or criminal justice. It enables students to understand the motivations for offending as well as the practical operation of criminal justice and how the state responds to criminality and victimisation. This degree will be of considerable relevance and interest to those who are already employed in criminal justice-related work in fields such as legal practice, government, and non-governmental organisations, as well as equipping those who have just completed undergraduate degrees to develop the knowledge and skills to pursue criminal justice-related careers or undertake the advanced level study.

Career Development

The Institute can assist students with internship/voluntary placements. 94% of Queen's Postgraduates are in employment or further study 6 months after graduation.

Internationally Renowned Experts

Law at Queen's is taught by world-leading experts in the area of Law. Our staff have close research links with the professions, government and Civil Society. Law at Queen's is in the top 125 Law Schools worldwide, and we are ranked 14th in the world for the global outlook. Research in Law was ranked 15th in the UK in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (2014). Over 95% of the Research Activity in the School was judged to be of international quality and above.

Student Experience

The LLM Criminal Justice programme is international in focus and taught by leading academics and practitioners in the field. Research and teaching are carried out under the auspices of the Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice (ICCJ), which has strong connections to civil society organisations, criminal justice bodies and agencies, and international institutions and networks. The ICCJ organises an active, annual speaker and conference series, with talks by academics and practitioners. At Queen's, you will be part of a thriving postgraduate culture built on teaching excellence, leading-edge research, innovation, collaboration and engagement. These components are woven together in our Graduate School. It is here you will develop new skills and increased personal effectiveness that will enable you to stand out in the crowded and increasingly competitive global job market. Life at Queen's is not just about the degree. We offer our students the opportunity to really enrich their studies. Whether you're into student societies, sports, music, dance, or just a coffee with your friends, Queen's has exceptional facilities to cater for all interests.

Students may enrol on a full-time (1 year) or part-time (2 years) basis. Students must complete six core modules (80 CATS points), two optional modules (40 CATS points) and a research dissertation (60 CATS points).

The Masters is awarded to students who successfully complete all taught modules (120 CATS points) and a research dissertation (60 CATS points).

Compulsory Modules

• Theoretical Criminology
• Controlling Crime
• Criminal Justice Processes
• Dissertation (10,000-15,000 words)

Course Details

The LLM Criminal Justice Programme takes an interdisciplinary approach to the study of crime and justice and draws on original staff research. Modules are rooted in relevant theoretical frameworks with a strong criminological focus and provide students with methodological training in addition to supporting the development of critical analysis and other transferable skills. Through the dissertation, students can explore a wide variety of criminological and criminal justice topics. Students are encouraged to develop a critical understanding of the criminal justice process and the practical operation of criminal law in a domestic and comparative context and are given the opportunity to explore in-depth a particular criminal justice-related issue through the submission of a dissertation.

The programme is delivered through a series of taught modules and culminates in the submission of the dissertation on an original topic. The Institute can assist students with internship/voluntary placements.

Methodology Mini-Modules

• Approaches to Legal Research
• Criminology Methods 1
• Criminology Methods 2

Optional Modules

• Issues in Policing and Crime Prevention
• Counter-Terrorism in Human Rights
• Post Conviction Issues in Comparative Perspective
• Restorative Justice
• Youth Justice: Theory, Law and Practice
• Social Injustice

Please note this is not an exclusive list of the optional modules available. Optional modules are reviewed each year and subject to staff availability.

Some Criminal Justice graduates use this degree as a base for further study towards a research degree such as a PhD, which may, in turn, lead to an academic career. Others pursue criminal justice-related or legal careers in the public, private or voluntary sectors. Furthermore, this master's provides an excellent base for further study towards a research degree such as a PhD, which in turn may lead to an academic career.

Degree plus award for extra-curricular skills

In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's, you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world-leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Degree Plus. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.