Critically explore the complexities of criminology, focusing on social harms, the criminal justice process, and its links to power, deviance, and exclusion.
MSc Criminology at Aston University develops a critical understating of criminology, moving beyond narrow legal definitions of ‘crime’ to focus on the causes and expressions of a variety of social harms. We study the operation of the criminal justice process, placing it within its wider social context of power, deviance, and exclusion.
Through optional modules, you can focus on online communities, whilst core modules explore the relationship between technology, harm, and social control. Across the programme, you will develop both your digital skills and your higher level methodological skills through a series of bespoke modules, and have the opportunity to explore the relationship between social and criminal justice through workshops with professionals working in the criminal justice and related sectors.
These aspects of the programme are designed to develop your critical analytical and research skills, whilst enabling understanding of and insight into professional practice in the sector.
"Studying Criminology at Aston University will enable you to understand crime in its real-world social context, studying the relationship between crime – what it is, who does it, how it is punished – and wider social forces, inequalities and power. Along the way, you will learn key data and analytical skills for your next career step."
Dr Graeme Hayes
Reader in Political Sociology
Why Criminology at Aston University?
Digital first
Development of advanced research and digital skills for employability, with a strong focus on online communities
Subject experts
Strong focus on sectoral experience through workshops with professionals
Advanced knowledge
Gain a critical understanding of criminal justice and social harms
Excellent prospects
Aston University was named runner-up in the University of the Year for Graduate Employment Award (Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2024)
We're serious about employability
As a postgraduate student, you will have access to dedicated careers guidance with specialist support from our experienced team of careers consultants
Gain a competitive edge
As well as opening doors, an Aston University postgraduate degree builds on your experience, develops your skills and gives you a competitive edge in a crowded job market.
Course description
MSc Criminology
MSc Criminology develops an applied understanding of criminal justice and its intersection with social justice, placing crime within its technological contexts, and engaging with criminal justice agencies and social and charitable services in the region.
What we will provide First-class teaching in the UK’s second-largest city, delivered by a diverse array of staff who will inspire and excite you. You will benefit from applied learning, research-informed teaching and authentic assessment.
We are also an Adobe Creative Campus meaning you will have access to top-notch software licenses, including Adobe and Solidworks, commonly used in industry.
What you will provide It is important you learn how to adapt a growth mindset to your studies – understanding that intelligence and success come from applying yourself, a willingness to learn and an ambition and drive to excel.
What skills we teach Your critical analytical skills are honed to enable you to assess information, identify key issues, and think logically about complex problems. You will also gain proficiency in both qualitative and quantitative research methods, allowing you to gather, analyse, and interpret data effectively. Additionally, we emphasise the development of transferable skills such as teamwork and digital literacy, ensuring that you can collaborate effectively in diverse environments and navigate the increasingly digital world with ease.
Career prospects You will develop employability skills enabling entry into graduate jobs within the private and public sectors, including the criminal justice system, and will develop the methodological and critical skills enabling continuation to further study.
How you will learn
In our MSc Criminology programme, you will learn through a series of interactive workshops with subject specialists and professionals from the criminal justice and related sectors. Assessments will enable you to apply conceptual knowledge to real-world problems and demonstrate advanced critical and thinking skills.
At the start of your course, you will be allocated a personal tutor who can offer individual study advice and guidance. You will also benefit from access to the University Library's extensive collection of over 25,000 books and electronic journals. Aston University's virtual learning environment supports your journey, providing resources like lecture slides, e-books and online journals.
What you will learn
In the taught stage of the programme, you will develop your understanding through a series of core modules of criminological theory, the criminal justice system, and their relationship to social and technological contexts, identities and spaces. Optional modules will enable you to deepen your understanding of crimes and harms in online spaces, or to further your understanding of the agencies and institutions of criminal justice.
In the dissertation phase, you will complete an independent project on a topic of your choice, showcasing your ability to conduct independent research with a clear consideration of ethics, theory and methods.
Course objectives
Enables critical analysis of key issues related to power, surveillance, and online harm, placing crime within its social and technological contexts.
Allows you to build skills and critical understanding, enabling you to undertake and manage an independent empirical research project relating to crime and society.
Develops and demonstrate core digital, critical, and employability skills.
Embeds engagement with criminal justice agencies and social and charitable services in the region, in order to promote an applied understanding of criminal justice and its intersection with social justice.
In the taught stage you will study the following core modules:
Module Title
Credits
Criminology and Theory This module discusses social and criminological theories and concepts from a critical framework. It contrasts established core theoretical approaches to the study of crime, deviance and social control with emerging perspectives on social harm, such as green criminology and zemiology.
15
Surveillance, Technology and Society This module looks at the growth of surveillant societies from the nation state through to contemporary models of surveillance capitalism. It looks at issues of digital tracking, the quantified self, algorithmic inequalities and the production of digital borders. You will consider how surveillant technologies are being deployed, as well as examining key political issues of privacy and social justice.
15
Deviant Online Communities Learn about the nature and characteristics of deviant online communities, apply established methods of discourse analysis to the online context, and conduct independent research in the online sphere.
15
Critical Perspectives on Criminal Justice This module critically examines the function and operation of the criminal justice system, focusing on both the agencies and institutions of the state (such as the Home Office, policing, prosecution, and the probation and prison services) and on privatised agencies. It explores the broader ramifications of social divisions and inequality experiences within the criminal justice processes and system.
15
Social and Criminal Justice in Practice This module engages you with practitioners from across the public, private and third sectors, developing critical understandings of the relationships between criminal justice and social justice from the ground up.
15
Digital Skills This module gives you a grounding in digital skills that are transferable to the workplace. It introduces key issues around digital media literacy, search skills, and generative AI, alongside digital presentation techniques using the Adobe Creative Cloud suite. You will collect digital certificates from the Adobe Creative Skills series that can be displayed on your professional profiles.
15
Research Methods This module equips you with the skills and knowledge to understand and apply a range of qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis methods. You will gain hands-on experience of collecting and analysing data, gained through in-class exercises and the independent work required in preparation for class discussion.
15
Total
105
You will choose one of the following optional modules:*
Module Title
Credits
Harmful Online Interaction Explore the intricacies of harmful online interactions, particularly in the context of the UK Online Safety Bill. Apply established methods of linguistic analysis in order to tackle online harms, and gain an understanding of the nuances of online harms from the criminal to the lawful.
15
Punishment, Prisons and Society This module critically examines prisons, imprisonment, and prison populations. It explores the discourses that justify them, the practices that operate within them, and the understandings of justice and social control that underpin them. It examines the theoretical and practical implications of carceral abolitionism, and what this might mean for criminal justice policy and practice.
15
*Availability of any optional modules will be subject to staff availability and a minimum number of students who express an interest in studying the optional modules.
Dissertation stage modules
In the dissertation stage you will study the following core modules:
Module Title
Credits
Developing a Research Proposal This module will support the design, development and planning of independent research projects.
15
Criminology Dissertation The module enables you to design, manage and undertake an original, independent and sustained research project on a subject closely related to crime, harm, deviance, and/or criminal justice. The topic and methodology are chosen through consultation with and guidance from an academic supervisor, and may include a range of qualitative and quantitative methods, such as thematic analysis, interviewing, surveys, or advanced statistical skills.
45
Programme outcomes
On successful completion of both the taught and dissertation stage, you will be able to:
Demonstrate a systematic understanding and critical awareness of crime in its social, cultural and digital contexts.
Demonstrate a critical awareness of the intersectionality of power in relation to criminal justice agencies and responses to crime, harm, deviance and victimisation.
Design and carry out independent research, drawing on qualitative and/or quantitative data-gathering and analysis methods relevant to criminological study.
Develop and use advanced digital creative and communication skills in order to present high-level critical work to a range of audiences.
We may update our courses to reflect best practices and academic developments. If we do, we’ll let you know of any changes at the earliest opportunity by updating our course webpages. If you have already received an offer, we’ll write to you directly to let you know of the changes.
Entry requirements
One of the following:
2:2 (lower second-class honours) degree or equivalent
Equivalent overseas degree recognised by Aston University (see international students tab below for more information)
If you are a current student or recent graduate (within the last 2-3 years), we will ask for an academic reference
If you are currently employed and not a recent graduate, we will ask for a professional reference
An official academic transcript of your university grades to date
A completed application form.
Aston University is a diverse, close community and welcomes international students on many of our postgraduate programmes. Students from over 120 countries choose to study with us every year. Based in the centre of Birmingham, Aston is not only a great place to study but also a great place to live.
Qualifications in your country
For details of equivalent qualifications in your country, use our area pages below:
Aston University provides a range of opportunities for international students to join our community and study on our campus. A key part of our strategy is our relationships with teaching partners, providing multiple pathways to Aston.
Aston’s professional work placements can improve your chance of securing a graduate job. Placements give you experience, confidence and opportunities and, as an Aston student, you’ll be better prepared for your future career. One of the great things about Aston is our focus on employability. Our close links with businesses, industries and professions make this possible.
Aston University welcomed the creation of a new Graduate Immigration Route which enables international students to remain in the UK for two years after you complete your studies to find work. This new post-study work visa applies to international students completing full-time undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
If you don’t meet our entry requirements, we have a range of pathway programmes offered by our partner, ONCAMPUS Aston, which you can complete to progress onto one of our degrees.
We recognise the value of extensive professional experience. If you do not have the academic qualifications but have extensive and relevant professional experience and a proven ability to succeed, we would welcome your application.
The information contained on this website details the typical entry requirements for this course for the most commonly offered qualifications.
Applicants with alternative qualifications may wish to enquire with the relevant admissions teams prior to application whether or not their qualifications are deemed acceptable. For less commonly encountered qualifications this will be judged on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the academic admissions tutor.
Speak to our Admissions Team
If you have any questions about the application process please get in touch with our postgraduate admissions team:
The United Kingdom government has confirmed that European Union (EU), other European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals commencing academic courses in England from August 2021 will no longer be charged the same tuition rates as UK students.
Tuition fees for students are reviewed annually and may increase in subsequent years in line with inflation linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI) to take account of the University’s increased costs of delivering the Programme. Any such increase shall always be in accordance with the law. When undertaking a placement year, a placement year fee applies.
At Aston University we are committed to supporting the most talented and hardworking students to achieve their potential by providing a range of scholarships to help lower tuition and living costs.
There are a variety of assessment methods across the programme, designed to test the your transferrable skills and depth of critical engagement.
Career prospects
Students will build employability skills for graduate roles in both the private and public sectors, including the criminal justice system, while also developing methodological and critical abilities that support further academic study. Some potential roles include:
Criminologist
Prison officer
Forensic Psychologist
Intelligence
Crime analyst
Policy advisor
Research officer
Detective
Legal roles
Graduates may secure positions at organisations like the Home Office, local councils, non-profits or private sector firms, contributing to sectors such as criminal justice, social services, policymaking and community development, making a tangible impact in their chosen fields.
Our graduates
Our graduates achieve amazing things all over the world – whether it’s setting up their own businesses, landing jobs with high profile organisations, or making real differences within their communities.
Aston University provides a challenging and practically focused MSc Criminology programme, designed to foster critical thinking, qualitative and quantitative research skills, and key transferable skills vital for careers in criminal justice, policy-making, and community development.
Why should I study my postgraduate degree at Aston University?
There are lots of benefits of studying a postgraduate degree at Aston University.
Watch this video from MBA student, Monique, who talks about just a few of them:
Is Birmingham a good place to study?
Our campus is based in the centre of Birmingham, the youngest major city in Europe and a great place to live, work and study.
Great music and entertainment with a vibrant nightlife. Bars, clubs, pubs, live music, festivals, concerts. Whatever your tastes, there's something here for everyone.
Fantastic food. Birmingham's diverse community means you can try anything from the famous Balti triangle, the Chinese Quarter, high street chains, halal and vegan food, and Michelin-star dining.
World-class shopping. The Bullring and Grand Central is a shopper's paradise. From the world's biggest Primark to luxury brands at the Mailbox.
Arts and culture. Museums, galleries, theatres, concerts and Birmingham's art collection is as wide as it is impressive - not to be missed.
Green, open spaces. One of the greenest cities in Europe, Birmingham has hundreds of publicly accessible parks and green spaces across the city.
Sporting action. Birmingham has some of the most exciting venues for watching or participating in sport in the UK.
We understand how important it is to know your timetable in advance for planning around work, childcare, or other responsibilities. Here's some basic guidance on what to expect regarding your student timetable.
Full-time programmes
As a rough estimate, full-time postgraduate students in the College of Business and Social Sciences should expect to spend about 12-15 hours per week in lectures and on-campus seminars. This is in addition to independent study, and there may be additional guided learning activities during certain weeks. The exact distribution of these hours will vary depending on your course and module choices.
Part-time programmes
Part-time students will have fewer weekly on-campus hours compared to full-time students. This reduction is proportional to the number of modules you're enrolled in.
Timetable availability
Complete timetables are usually released shortly before the start of your programme. This timing is necessary to ensure that we accommodate all course requirements and that rooms are allocated based on the number of students likely to enrol on each programme. We aim to provide these timetables as early as possible, to assist you in your planning.
As your induction week approaches, you will be sent more information about your timetable via email, and you will be able to access your timetable by logging into MyAstonPortal. For any further queries or information regarding your timetable, you can reach out to your programme director or the Student Support team.
Online/distance learning programmes
The above information also applies to students enrolled in online/distance learning programmes. Please note that both full-time and part-time distance learning students are still required to attend scheduled synchronous learning sessions.
Writing Wrongs, from the Aston Institute for Forensic Linguistics, explores historic and contemporary forensic linguistic cases.
In each episode of this new True Crime podcast, hosts Professor Tim Grant and Dr Nicci MacLeod, who've provided expert evidence in hundreds of cases, examine a specific case and its linguistic analysis.
