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MA Criminology and Social Research

Combines the study of criminology with advanced training in social research methods

Year of entry: 2024 (September)

Length

1 year full-time,
2 years part-time

Start date

September 2024 (semester dates)

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Examine the nature and causes of crime from a sociological perspective. 

On this course, you'll examine the motivations of people who commit crime and how societies attempt to control them. You'll learn how to analyse a wide range of data. You'll also gain a critical understanding and practical knowledge of a range of social research methods relevant to conducting criminological research. 

After finishing your studies, you'll have the skills and knowledge required to pursue a successful career in academic research, criminal justice and related fields.

 

10th in the UK

for Criminology, according to The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024

Course content

You'll analyse crime, deviance and social control and conduct research to examine their impact on society.

In criminology modules, you'll gain a deeper understanding of why some people are motivated to offend and how this behaviour can shape our communities and our responses to crime.

In social research methods modules, you will develop practical skills and techniques in qualitative and quantitative research.

Study abroad

This course is not associated with a specific Study Abroad programme, but York offers a number of options through international partnering programmes.

Study Abroad with York

Dissertation

The course culminates in a dissertation in an area of your choice. Using the information and techniques learned on the course, you will plan and carry out an independent research project. You will then analyse the findings and produce a 10,000-word report written in the style of, and to the standard of, an article for journal submission. 

The dissertation will be supervised by a member of staff with experience in your research area.

The York approach

Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.

Students who complete this course will be able to:

  • Systematically approach, conceptualise and analyse theoretical and empirical issues relating to academic criminology and criminal justice systems in contemporary societies.
  • Critically evaluate and apply a wide range of complex and innovative methodological approaches to undertake criminological research.
  • Applying insight from in-depth knowledge of cutting edge developments in the study of crime and deviance to inform and support areas such as policy-making, service delivery, and further academic research.
  • Expose, assess and explain formal and informal forms of social control and how they shape and order local and global contemporary societies.
  • Design, execute and present a major piece of criminological research in the form of a dissertation. This will involve implementing and managing your own research through a rigorous ethics process and independent study.
  • Deploy a range of advanced transferable skills in research, communication, IT, digital technology, self-management and group working, which can be utilised to inform planning, decision-making and problem solving for public, private and third sector employers.

Fees and funding

Annual tuition fees for 2024/25

Study modeUK (home)International and EU
Full-time (1 year) £10,590£23,900
Part-time (2 years)
This is the year 1 fee. Fees for future years are subject to confirmation.
£5,295£11,950

Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.

For courses which are longer than one year, the tuition fees quoted are for the first year of study.

  • UK (home) fees may increase in subsequent years (up to a maximum of 2%).
  • International fees may increase in subsequent years in line with the prevailing Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate (up to a maximum of 10%).

Fees information

UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.

Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.

Funding information

Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.

We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2024/25 throughout the year.

If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.

Funding opportunities

Department scholarship information

Living costs

You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.

Teaching and assessment

You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.

Teaching format

You'll spend time working on your own, reading assigned texts and researching supporting materials, as well as working with others in seminars to discuss readings in a group and present your work. A member of the teaching staff will act as your supervisor throughout the degree, to help guide your studies and monitor progress.

You'll also attend seminars from visiting scholars on a wide variety of sociological topics.

Teaching location

You will be based in the Department of Sociology on Campus East. Most of your contact hours will be on Campus East.

About our campus

Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.

Assessment and feedback

Core modules will be assessed by a mixture of ‘open’ essays (where an assignment is prepared in your own time) reflections and reports. Open assessments are released early in the term so you can select one or more essay titles to read around the topic and plan your chosen essay.

Towards the end of your studies, you'll complete a 10,000-word dissertation on an original piece of your own research.

Careers and skills

In addition to preparing you for doctoral study, a criminology and sociology degree like our MA in Criminology and Social Research can lead to a wide variety of careers in the fields of crime and justice. The mix of practical and analytical skills you'll acquire will position you competitively for jobs in this popular field. 

Career opportunities

  • Training manager
  • Civil Service fast streamer
  • Policy officer
  • Higher education researcher
  • Criminology lecturer
  • Social researcher

Transferable skills

  • Qualitative and quantitative research methods
  • Data analysis
  • Understanding of criminal law and policy
  • Design and completion of original research
  • Communication skills

Entry requirements

Typical offer
Undergraduate degree 2:1 or equivalent in Sociology, Criminology, another cognate discipline or equivalent suitable experience. Alternatively, we may accept a 2:2 undergraduate degree supported by at least one year of relevant work experience.
International pre-masters programme Pre-masters from our International Pathway College
Other international qualifications Equivalent qualifications from your country

English language

If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:

Minimum requirement
IELTS (Academic and Indicator) 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component
Cambridge CEFR B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component
Oxford ELLT 7, minimum of 6 in each component
Duolingo 120, minimum 105 in all other components
LanguageCert SELT B2 with 33/50 in each component
LanguageCert Academic 70 with a minimum of 65 in each component
KITE 459-494, with 426-458 in all other components
Skills for English B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component
PTE Academic 61, minimum 55 in each component
TOEFL 87, minimum of 21 in each component
Trinity ISE III Merit in all requirements

For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.

If you haven't met our English language requirements

You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.

The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.

After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.

Applying

You can apply and send all your documentation online. You don’t need to complete your application all at once: you can start it, save it and finish it later.

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Department of Sociology

Related courses

Social Research (MA)

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