LLM Criminology and Criminal Justice

This exciting, stimulating, and topical postgraduate degree program in Criminology and Criminal Justice is taught by internationally-recognized scholars and researchers who offer students a wide introduction to the study of crime and criminal justice in contemporary society. Staff members have strong links with local criminal justice agencies and community organizations as well as extensive comparative and international expertise, providing for a unique student experience. Key research strengths of the teaching staff lie in the following areas:

• Community Safety and Crime Prevention
• Policing
• Prisoner Reintegration
• Restorative Justice
• Sex Offending
• Victimology
• Anti-Social Behaviour
• Crime and the Life Course

The LLM in Criminology and Criminal Justice is designed to appeal to prospective students with an academic or professional interest in criminology or criminal justice. It enables students to understand the motivations for offending as well as the practical operation of criminal justice and how the state responds to criminality and victimization. This degree will be of considerable relevance and interest to those who are already employed in criminal justice-related work in fields such as legal practice, government, and non-governmental organizations, as well as equipping those who have just completed undergraduate degrees to develop the knowledge and skills to pursue criminal justice-related careers or undertake advanced level study.

Criminology And Criminal Justice Highlights

Career Development

We are dedicated to student employability and have strong industry links. Law was ranked Top 10 in the UK for graduate prospects (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022)

World Class Facilities

Our facilities at Queen’s include a state-of-art Law building with superb teaching facilities, a moot court, and study spaces. Queen’s has one of the most modern campuses in the UK, including the award-winning McClay Library, one of the finest libraries in the world and home to 1.2 million volumes and over 2,000 reader places. Our Physical Education Centre was used as a training camp for the 2012 Olympics. Our Queen’s Elms Student Village and city center student accommodation (built in 2018) are located within easy walking distance of the University.

Internationally Renowned Experts

Law at Queen's is taught by world-leading experts in the area of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Our staff has close research links with the professions, government, and Civil Society. Law at Queen's is in the top 150 Law Schools worldwide and we are ranked 19th in the world for global outlook. Research in Law was ranked 8th in the UK in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (2021).

Student Experience

The LLM Criminal Justice program is international in focus and taught by leading academics and practitioners in the field. Research and teaching is carried out under the auspices of the Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice (ICCJ). The ICCJ organizes an active, annual speaker and conference series, with talks by academics and practitioners. At Queen's, you will be part of a thriving postgraduate culture built on teaching excellence, leading-edge research, innovation, collaboration, and engagement. These components are woven together in our Graduate School. It is here you will develop new skills and increased personal effectiveness that will enable you to stand out in the crowded and increasingly competitive global job market. Life at Queen's is not just about the degree. We offer our students the opportunity to really enrich their studies. Whether you're into student societies, sports, music, dance, or just a coffee with your friends, Queen's has exceptional facilities to cater to all interests. Queen’s was ranked 9th in the UK for university facilities.

Course Structure

Students may enroll on a full-time (1 year) or part-time (2 years) basis. Students must complete six core modules (80 CATS points), two optional modules (40 CATS points), and a research dissertation (60 CATS points).

The Master's is awarded to students who successfully complete all taught modules (120 CATS points) and a research dissertation (60 CATS points).

Compulsory Modules

• Theoretical Criminology
• Controlling Crime
• Criminal Justice Processes
• Dissertation (Maximum 15,000 words)

(Students who secure a summer work placement of at least 8 weeks can complete a Dissertation in Practice Module including a 12,000-word dissertation and a 3,000-word reflective journal of the learning experience)

Course Details

The LLM Criminal Justice Programme takes an interdisciplinary approach to the study of crime and justice and draws on original staff research. Modules are rooted in relevant theoretical frameworks with a strong criminological focus and provide students with methodological training in addition to supporting the development of critical analysis and other transferable skills. Through the dissertation, students can explore a wide variety of criminological and criminal justice topics. Students are encouraged to develop a critical understanding of the criminal justice process and the practical operation of criminal law in a domestic and comparative context and are given the opportunity to explore in-depth a particular criminal justice-related issue through the submission of a dissertation.

The program is delivered through a series of taught modules and culminates in the submission of the dissertation on an original topic

• Methodology Mini-Modules
• Approaches to Legal Research
• Criminology Methods 1
• Criminology Methods 2
• Optional Modules
• Policing and Crime Prevention
• Restorative Justice
• Crimes of the Powerful
• Youth Justice: Theory, Law and Practice
• Social Injustice

Learning and Teaching

Learning opportunities associated with this course are outlined below:

Learning Opportunities

The Law School at Queen's is ranked as one of the top 10 Law Schools in the UK (Complete University Guide 2023). There are 850 undergraduate students enrolled in the School, 200 postgraduates, 50 PhD students, and over 60 members of academic staff. You will be taught by scholars from all over the world, many of whom have international reputations in their fields and all are committed teachers and researchers. Students will also have access to an excellent law section in the library and extensive IT facilities.

The School operates a proactive system of student support. Advisers of Studies are allocated to each degree program and tasked to guide and support you throughout your time with us, together with the School's experienced and helpful administrative staff. We place considerable emphasis on facilitating good communication between staff and students. To this end, a Staff-Student Consultative Committee, comprised of elected student representatives, the Director of Graduate Studies, and other members of academic staff, meets at regular intervals throughout the academic year. This Committee provides students with a forum in which to raise matters of concern to them and also enables the School to keep students informed about matters affecting the School and wider university.

At Queen’s, we aim to deliver a high-quality learning environment that embeds intellectual curiosity, innovation, and best practices in learning, teaching, and student support to enable students to achieve their full academic potential.

We do this by providing a range of learning experiences that enables our students to engage with subject experts, develop attributes and perspectives that will equip them for life and work in a global society and make use of innovative technologies and a world-class library that enhances their development as independent, life-long learners. Examples of the opportunities provided for learning in this course are:

E-Learning technologies: Information associated with lectures and assignments is communicated via a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) called Canvas. A range of e-learning experiences is also embedded in the program through, for example, interactive group workshops in a flexible learning space; podcasts and interactive web-based learning activities; opportunities to use IT programs associated with design in project-based work, etc.

Lectures: Lectures provide information about topics as a starting point for further self-directed private study/reading. Lectures also provide opportunities to ask questions and gain some feedback and advice on assessments (normally delivered in large groups to all year-group peers).

Self-directed study: This is an essential part of life as a Queen’s Law student when important private reading and research, engagement with e-learning resources, reflection on feedback to date, and assignment research and preparation work are carried out.

Seminars/tutorials: These provide an opportunity for students to engage with academic staff who have specialist knowledge of the topic, to ask questions of them, and to assess their own progress and understanding with the support of peers. Students should also expect to make presentations and other contributions to these groups.

Assessment

Assessments associated with the course are outlined below:

Assessed coursework

Dissertation

Some criminology and criminal justice graduates use this degree as a basis for further study towards a research degree such as a PhD, which may in turn lead to an academic career.

Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills

In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports, and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognized by a world-leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.