In modern Europe, issues related to crime, criminal law and criminal justice transcend national borders. Due to offenders’ easy access to international borders and the ability to commit crimes online, criminal activity is becoming more and more transnational.
Additionally, it is becoming more frequent for someone to be charged with a crime or become a victim of one in a nation other than their own. However, efforts to deter crime and protect victims’ rights are still mostly coordinated at the national level. These elements fuel the need for a deeper understanding of crime in Europe as well as the numerous significant discussions that it inspires.
A criminal law degree is employable and one of the more “secure” and lucrative job choices for law students, even in a struggling economy. Don’t undervalue the prospects it will present to you both while earning the degree and afterwards.
What is Criminal Justice?
The study and practice of criminal justice is referred to as criminology. In other words, while criminal justice implements these solutions and participates directly in the crimes itself, criminal justice is responsible for investigating the cognitive processes of offenders and providing solutions to address concerns in crime.
Students of criminal justice learn about the inner workings of the legal and law enforcement systems, from their inception to its present-day structures and roles. As a criminal justice student, you prepare yourself to work in any of the several institutions and authorities charged with fighting crime and upholding the law.
What is Criminal Law?
Criminal law is the body of legislation that establishes criminal offences, governs the detention, accusation, and trial of suspects, and establishes the fines and forms of retribution for those found guilty.
Criminal law is just one of the tools used by organized societies to safeguard individuals’ rights and promote collective existence.
What Exactly is the Distinction between Criminal Law and Criminal Justice?
Due to the fact that both Criminal Law and Criminal Justice have job paths that occasionally cross, they may appear to be similar. A detective, for instance, may practice both Criminal Law and Criminal Justice.
However, there are a few areas in which criminology and criminal justice differ from one another:
Criminal law focuses on the social and psychological behaviors of offenders to ascertain why they commit crimes, whereas criminal justice investigates the law enforcement system and operations.
While criminologists may find employment as investigators and analysts inside the criminal justice system, graduates of criminal justice degrees frequently choose careers in law enforcement.
Overviews
With the help of this curriculum, you’ll be able to gain in-depth understanding of contemporary criminal justice and legal concerns in the UK and around the world. Modern required modules are combined with a wide selection of optional modules, allowing you to customize your degree to fit your individual interests.
- Examine key concepts and issues in criminal law.
- Investigate the dynamic and intricate character of the criminal justice
- Get knowledge on legal research.
Why Study Criminal Law and Criminal Justice?
- You will be introduced to the fundamental ideas, theories, concepts, and techniques in the domains of criminal law and criminal justice through required courses studied during the year.
- The influence of criminal justice systems on individuals and social groups will also be examined, along with the numerous and complicated interactions and dynamics between criminological theory, research, and practice, frequently in the context of broader social and political change.
- These modules will also provide you the chance to polish your analytical and critical thinking skills, as well as your legal research and writing abilities, which you’ll be able to show off in your dissertation, an independent research project on the subject of your choice.
- Many current social debates, such as the legality of assisted suicide, the incarceration and sentencing of people under recent terrorist laws, and the treatment and punishment of sex offenders, are supported by criminal law and criminal justice. These are universally relevant, cross-cutting discussions.
Entry requirements
A bachelor’s degree in law, criminal justice, criminology, or a similar field with a 2:1 (hons) average.
IELTS 6.5 overall, with no component scoring lower than 6.0.
Documents
- Original transcripts or certified copies of them
- Your degree certificate in original or certified copies
- A certified copy of your IELTS/TOEFL scores, or the original (if English is not your first language).
We suggest international students regarding visas, immigration, and other topics. To ensure they have enough time to apply for their visa, we advise international students to submit their applications as early as possible.
Visa Requirements
You might need to apply for a visa if you are not from the UK and do not already have residency here.
The type of visa you need depends on how long your course will be:
- courses lasting longer than six months: student visa
- Courses lasting less than six months: Regular Visitor Visa
In order to be sponsored for a student visa, international students need to enroll in one of our full-time programs. You will not be able to enroll in part-time courses if you are a student living in the UK on a student visa (with the exception of some modules).
LLB in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice
LLB in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice is highly valued. You receive training in critical thought, skepticism, and challenge. A Teesside law degree opens up a wide range of professional roles for you, including the criminal justice field, within probation services, law enforcement, and in the third charitable and voluntary sectors. Many students study law to become a legal professional such as a legal executive, solicitor, or barrister.
Additionally, you might succeed in management, hiring, or human resources. LLB in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice degree offers you a variety of choices, whether you’re looking to launch your career, advance one that you already have, or change course.
LLM in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice
A student’s comprehension of this particular area of law can be improved by earning an LLM in Criminal law and Criminal Justice. In addition to their past legal training, graduates of LLM programs in criminal justice law are highly sought after for their specialized understanding in their profession.
The LLM in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice is intended for people who want to engage in policy, expand their research in the field, or pursue a career in criminal justice.
This master’s program aims to give you in-depth knowledge and comprehension of the fundamental ideas and concepts underlying criminal law and criminal justice as well as how they function in actual practice. The following fundamental aspects of criminal law and criminal justice will be covered:
- Criminal law and criminal justice’s current issues and controversies.
- Essential rules of criminal procedure and substantive law; criminalization.
- Sexual offences are covered by international, transnational, and European criminal law.
- Criminality and unrest around the world.
- The legal system.
- Doctrinal, comparative, theoretical, and socio-legal methodologies are among those used to analyses and interpret criminal legislation and criminal justice.
Top Universities for Criminal Law and Criminal Justice
Here are some top universities for Criminal Law and Criminal Justice-
-
University of Oxford
The largest legal school in the UK is located in Oxford, University of Oxford also a significant hub for research. Additionally, it provides a variety of Postgraduate programs in all facets of law and legal scholarship, including their oldest program –
- Bachelor of Civil Law
- Magister Juris
A companion program to the BCL for those with a background in civil law; and three additional specialized programs,
- MSc in Law and Finance
- MSc in Criminology
- MSc in Taxation (the latter a part-time program).
-
University of Edinburgh – Edinburgh Law School
Join a top 20 university in the world (according to the QS 2022 World University Rankings) to further your legal or criminological education and profession. Edinburgh Law School was founded in 1707 and has been at the forefront of legal education and research for more than 300 years. It is recognized for its global and multidisciplinary viewpoint.
Full-Time:
- M. in Law
- M. in Commercial Law
- M. in Comparative and European Private Law
- M. in Corporate Law
- M. in Criminal Law
Distance Learning:
- M. in Law
- M. International Commercial Law and Practice
- M. in Information Technology Law
- M. in Innovation
-
University of Sussex – School of Law, Politics and Sociology
The Sussex Law School and the Departments of Politics and Sociology are combined under the umbrella of the School of Law, Politics, and Sociology. These three thriving academic institutions are dedicated to providing excellent instruction and are all involved in cutting-edge research.
Full-Time:
- M in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice
- M in Information Technology and Intellectual Property Law
- M in International Commercial Law
Part-Time:
- Corruption
- Law and Governance
-
University of Strathclyde – The Law School
The Strathclyde Law School is a lively, socially conscious university with a long-standing commitment to practical education. They are a community that is committed to access to justice, equality and diversity, as well as sustainable development. They are forward-thinking and outward-looking.
Full-Time:
- M. in Law
- M. in Construction Law
- M. in Criminal Justice & Penal Change
- M. in Global Environmental Law & Governance
Distance Learning:
- M. in Climate and Energy Law
- M. in Professional Legal Practice
-
University of Lancaster Law School
You will learn about complex legal concepts as part of the degree and get insight into how society is shaped by the law. You have the option to specialize in one of their three tracks beginning in your second year if you so want, and you will then be given a specific degree:
- Criminal Law and Justice
- Commercial Law
- Human Rights Law
Full-Time:
- M in International Business and Corporate Law
- International Human Rights Law LL.M
- International Human Rights and Terrorism Law
Distance Learning:
Diplomacy and International Law LL.M.
-
University of Dundee – School of Law
World-leading research – The University of Dundee enjoys a strong reputation abroad and continues to draw world-class researchers in a variety of fields, including dentistry, microelectronics, fine art and design, digital media, and space exploration.
According to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2013/14 and the QS World University Rankings 2013, the University of Dundee was ranked among the top 200 universities in the world.
Full-Time:
- General LLM.
- Corporate & Commercial Law LLM.
- Environmental Law LLM.
- International Commercial Law LLM.
- Business & Human Rights LLM.
Distance Learning:
Healthcare Law and Ethics LLM
Dual Degree:
- Comparative & European Private International Law LLM.
- International Commercial Law LLM
Tuition fees:
University name | Course name | Tuition fees |
Teesside University | MSc Criminology | 15,200 |
University of Greenwich | MA International Criminology | 20,700 |
University of Manchester | MA in Criminology | 19,500 |
University of Leeds | Criminal Justice and Criminology MSc | 20,200 |
Middlesex University London | Criminology with Forensic Psychology MSc | 14,900 |
University of Glasgow | Criminology PhD/MRes | 18,900 |
University of Strathclyde | LLM/MSc Criminal Justice & Penal Change | 27,900 |
Career opportunities
This curriculum is best suited for people who want to work in the public sector, the business sector, the nonprofit sector, or any other field where success depends on having extensive understanding of criminal justice, criminology, and law-related topics.
Recent alumni have gone on to work in legal companies, nonprofits, higher education, and more in the UK and abroad. Other alumni have senior positions in criminal justice organizations, such as the police, probation, and youth justice agencies, as well as in the corporate and nonprofit sectors, both domestically and overseas. After successfully completing the program, several graduates received promotions.
Conclusion
Addressing both fundamental ideas and particular categories of criminal offence. It looks at how criminal law is applied by the criminal justice system and the organizations that actually enforce it. It also looks at how criminal law is examined in its social context.
Apply for this course
A member of the team will be in touch to arrange your initial consultation & assessment with one of our education counsellor.