MSc Criminology & Criminal Psychology

The MSc Criminology & Criminal Psychology at Canterbury Christ Church University offers a multidisciplinary study of crime by blending psychological insight with social, legal, and criminological theory. It suits graduates who want to understand offending behaviour, justice systems, and social responses to crime, while developing strong research skills.

Curriculum Structure:
Over the course, students begin with Understanding Criminality and Offending Behaviour, exploring psychological causes and patterns of crime, and Research Methods, where they learn quantitative and qualitative tools to study crime scientifically. They then move into Conceptualising Justice, which examines criminal, social, political, and environmental ideas of justice, and Criminal Justice and the Investigative Process, where they analyse how legal systems, policing, and investigation operate. Further modules include Contemporary Criminological and Sociological Controversies, engaging with modern debates, and Human Rights, where students assess crime in relation to civil liberties. The programme culminates in a Dissertation, giving students an opportunity to conduct independent, supervised research.

Focus areas: “Offending behaviour; justice theory; investigative systems; human rights; empirical research.”
Learning outcomes: “Analyse crime through psychological and social lenses, critique concepts of justice, design and carry out criminological research, and articulate evidence-based policy or practice recommendations.”
Professional alignment (accreditation): While not a professional psychology qualification, the programme equips graduates for roles in criminal justice, research, policy, and the third sector.
Reputation (employability & rankings): According to the Complete University Guide, Canterbury Christ Church University ranks 99th overall, with 62% of its postgraduate students reporting positive graduate-level