Criminology and Social Research Methods

MSc

  • Entry year 2025
  • Duration Full time 1 year, Part time 2 years

Overview

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  • 6th in the UK for Research Impact (REF2021), 88% rated "outstanding"

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What are the key ethical considerations concerning criminological research? How does criminological research differ from other social science research? And how does it inform policy formation? The MSc Criminology and Social Research Methods aims to tackles these key issues in the field of criminology whilst offering exceptional postgraduate training.

This degree, which is eligible for ESRC 1+3 funding, guides you through the theory of criminological research and allows you to advance your skills in the collection, analysis and reporting of qualitative and quantitative data. This degree integrates criminal justice and criminology modules, which allows you to have a much broader overview of current research in criminology and criminal justice, and of more specialised socio-legal research and debates.

The Lancaster University Law School is ranked 6th in the UK for research impact in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (2021, published May 2022), with 88% of its impact rated ‘outstanding’. Many of our lecturers are internationally recognised researchers. Our Law School is home to the Centre for Crime, Law and Justice, the Centre for Law and Society, and the Centre for Child and Family Justice; these centres underpin our postgraduate teaching, which is often research-led and research-informed.

Your core modules are: Qualitative Methods in the Social Sciences; Quantitative Research Methods; Crime and Criminal Justice in the 21st Century; Criminological Theory; and Criminological Research in Practice. A research-based Criminology dissertation completes your degree.

Your postgraduate degree can prepare you for research jobs in organisations such as the Home Office, Probation Service, Social Services, and other government departments or voluntary organisations. You will have the opportunity to develop the skills to undertake and critically evaluate criminological research, which can be highly prized by employers in the public and private sectors. Whilst on the degree you will also have the chance to develop your analytical and communication skills which can help to build on your employability.

Entry requirements

Academic Requirements

2:1 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in any discipline.

We may also consider non-standard applicants, please contact us for information.

If you have studied outside of the UK, we would advise you to check our list of international qualifications before submitting your application.

English Language Requirements

We may ask you to provide a recognised English language qualification, dependent upon your nationality and where you have studied previously.

We normally require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 6.5, and a minimum of 5.5 in each element of the test. We also consider other English language qualifications.

If your score is below our requirements, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language programmes.

Contact: Admissions Team +44 (0) 1524 592032 or email pgadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk

Pre-master’s programmes

Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored pre-master’s pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University master’s degrees. Visit the INTO Lancaster University website for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.

Course structure

You will study a range of modules as part of your course, some examples of which are listed below.

Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, but changes may be necessary, for example as a result of student feedback, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes, and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.

Core

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Optional

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Fees and funding

Location Full Time (per year) Part Time (per year)
Home £11,960 £5,980
International £24,830 £12,415

General fees and funding information

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Scholarships and bursaries

You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status and course. You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.

Unfortunately no scholarships and bursaries match your selection, but there are more listed on scholarships and bursaries page.

If you're considering postgraduate research you should look at our funded PhD opportunities.

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We also have other, more specialised scholarships and bursaries - such as those for students from specific countries.

Browse Lancaster University's scholarships and bursaries.

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Important Information

The information on this site relates primarily to 2025/2026 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

Our Students’ Charter

We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies.