Combines the study of criminology with advanced training in social research methods
Year of entry: 2023 (September)
Wednesday 7 June 2023
Join us to uncover what postgraduate life at York is all about.
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.
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.
This course is not associated with a specific Study Abroad programme, but York offers a number of options through international partnering programmes.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff.
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 15,000 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.
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.
| Study mode | UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (1 year) | £9,990 | £22,250 |
| Part-time (2 years) This is the year 1 fee. Fees for future years are subject to confirmation. |
£4,995 | £11,125 |
Students on a Student Visa (formerly Tier 4 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) 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.
Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2023/24 throughout the year.
If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.
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.
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.
You'll be taught through lectures and seminars where you can discuss readings in a group. A member of the teaching staff will act as your supervisor throughout the degree, to help guide your studies and monitor progress.
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 and present your work.
You'll also attend seminars from visiting scholars on a wide variety of sociological topics.
You will be based in the Department of Sociology on Campus East. Most of your contact hours will be on Campus East.
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.
Core modules will be assessed by a mixture of ‘open’ essays (where an assignment is prepared in your own time and handed in) and presentations.
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 15,000-word dissertation on an original piece of your own research.
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.
| 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 |
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 |
| C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency | 176, minimum 169 in each component |
| Duolingo | 120, minimum 105 in all other components |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert International ESOL | B2 Communicator: Pass with 33/50 in each component |
| PTE Academic/PTE Academic Online | 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.
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.
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