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Criminal Justice (Online), MSc

Gain the critical, analytical, and evaluative skills to grow your career within and outside of the criminal justice system.

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Time investment: 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time

Location: Online

Cost: Up to £10,800

Language: English

About this degree

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Understand justice in a changing world

From reforming prison systems to addressing policing and community safety, criminal justice is at the heart of society’s most pressing challenges.

Join Teesside’s online MA Criminal Justice to better understand how laws, institutions, and policies work together—and how you can make a real impact within them.

You’ll explore contemporary issues such as victims’ rights, sentencing, rehabilitation, and social factors shaping justice, developing the insight to evaluate and influence practice effectively.

Get a criminal justice degree with impact

This programme equips you to apply your learning directly to real-world challenges in criminal justice.

You’ll develop advanced analytical, research, and critical thinking skills while exploring ethical and reflective approaches to professional practice.

You’ll be able to work through your discussions, written assignments, and independent research whenever it suits you, thanks to Teesside’s cutting-edge virtual learning platform.

A detective’s desk setup with a computer displaying suspect search results, including fingerprint and DNA match data, alongside a bulletin board filled with case documents and photos.

Person in a teal blazer reviews a binder in front of shelves filled with black folders, with a photo of a desk and sticky notes pinned to a nearby wall.

Learn from justice experts in the field

Study with internationally published academics who combine cutting-edge research with practical experience in criminal justice.

You’ll receive personalised support, engage with peers online, and graduate with the skills, knowledge, and professional credibility to make a meaningful contribution.

By the end of the programme, you’ll be ready to take on leadership roles, pursue doctoral research, or advance your career in the public or private sector.

Where you’ll be studying

Students walk and gather in a sunny courtyard on Teesside University’s campus. Modern buildings labeled “University Library” and “University Student Services” are in the background.

Studying at Teesside University

Teesside University delivers 100% online, career-focused education designed to help you thrive anywhere in the world.

With a Gold rating (Teaching Excellence Framework 2023) and recognised for outstanding student experience, Teesside combines expert teaching with research that drives real-world impact.

Flexible and innovative, they offer online courses that fit around your life, empowering you to upskill, reskill, or take the next step in your career.

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Learning outcomes

Crack the justice code 

Explore the workings of the criminal justice system, from policing and courts to prisons and probation, while analysing the social and political forces that shape them.

Turn theory into action 

Blend academic knowledge with practical insight, using reflective practice to prepare for varied roles across the justice sector.

Research with rigour 

Build expertise in research design, sampling, and analysis, while tackling the ethical and political challenges of social research.

Reflect on your practice

Examine your professional experiences within wider research contexts and develop a critical, reflective, and ethical stance toward criminal justice.

Lead your own investigation 

Design and deliver an independent dissertation project on a criminal justice topic of your choice, guided by expert academic support.

Additional information

To be eligible for this degree, you’ll need an honours degree (at least a 2:2) in criminology or a similar discipline, a professional qualification, and/or relevant work experience.

If you’re an international student or English is not your first language, you’ll need to need to demonstrate English language skills equivalent to IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in each component. You can do so with one of the following accepted tests:

UKVI approved IELTS (Academic)
Non-UKVI approved IELTS
Trinity Integrated Skills in English (ISE) – B2 and C1 tests
Pearson’s PTE Academic
PTE Academic UKVI
LanguageCert International ESOL SELT
TOEFL iBT
WAEC grades A1 to C6
NECO grades A1 to C5
SPM grades A to C
Kenya High School Certificate Grade C+ or Higher
Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education grades 1 to 6
Uganda Certificate of Education grades 1 to 6

This course is delivered entirely online, and you’ll learn through a variety of methods, including lectures, seminars, guided discussion and assigned reading.

You’ll receive ongoing feedback from tutors and peers in discussion forums to help you develop your work. Formal assessments include a dissertation project, case studies, presentations, critical commentaries, and essays.

With the insights and skills you gain from this course, you’ll be well-prepared for roles such as forensic scientist, social worker, policy analyst, probation officer, criminologist, researcher, or academic.

If you’re considering going to law school, this degree is an excellent entry point.

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Modules

Discover how the modern criminal justice system works, from policing and courts to prisons and probation. You’ll explore current debates like court reforms, policing challenges, and how factors like austerity, the pandemic, and victims’ rights campaigns shape the system today.

Bring theory to life by reflecting on real-world criminal justice experiences. This module helps you build practical skills and prepares you for a career in a dynamic and diverse field.

Dive into the essentials of planning and designing social research. You’ll examine key debates, explore sampling and errors, and balance theory with practical and ethical considerations to build a solid foundation for your research skills.

Connect your personal experiences with wider research to deepen your understanding of criminal justice work. This module focuses on becoming a reflective practitioner who thinks critically and ethically about their role.

Take charge of your own research journey by designing and conducting a project on a topic you’re passionate about. With support from your supervisor, you’ll develop your skills in independent study and academic inquiry.