International CriminologyMA
Source: https://sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/courses/2026/international-criminology-ma Parent: https://sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/courses/2026
2026-27 entry
International Criminology MA
School of Law, Faculty of Arts and Humanities\
One of only a few courses that focuses on comparative and international perspectives to explore the key issues in criminology and criminal justice globally today.
- Start date \ September 2026
- Duration \ 1 year 2 years
-
Attendance \ Full-time Part-time
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Course description
The International Criminology MA will allow you to explore key challenges in criminology and criminal justice internationally. It's designed for those who have studied criminology previously, as well as those who come from law or other social science and humanities perspectives, and criminal justice practitioners.
Our research-led teaching draws from the research expertise of the many expert and internationally known criminology and criminal justice staff at the University of Sheffield.
This course is one of the very few that uses comparative and international perspectives to explore the key issues in criminology today.
Do you have a question? Talk to us
Book a 15-minute online meeting with the course lead to find out more information and ask further questions.
Book an appointment with Dr Mark Brown
Modules
A selection of modules is available each year - some examples are below. There may be changes before you start your course. As you progress through your course, we'll confirm additional details for the core and optional modules available to you.
MA International Criminology modules
Core modules:
The Research Process : This module provides an introduction to the principles and practices of social science research. It will provide an overview of key concepts and distinctions, such as between epistemology and ontology, methods and methodology, subjectivity and objectivity, inductive and deductive reasoning, as well setting out some of the main principles of ethical social science research. It will also encourage students to critically reflect on how to put these principles into practice. It will teach students how to conduct literature searches, as well as exploring some of the main data collection and analysis techniques used in social science research, and how research studies are designed.
**15 credits**
The Cultures of Criminology : Criminology is a subject area to which the academic disciplines of sociology, psychology, economics and law are brought to bear. This module explores the cultures of criminology - what criminologists take for granted as common-sense about the theory and methods they use to explore various subjects - to discover the very different theoretical and related methodological assumptions made by criminologists of particular academic persuasions. This aids our understanding of the benefits and shortcomings of choosing one theoretical perspective over another, and of the complexities of cross-cultural, comparative research. All of which has direct relevance to what could be called 'applied criminology' - the world of policy and administration.
**15 credits**
Issues in Comparative Penology : This module studies punishment in its social contexts. It examines how penal systems work and in what ways they vary between different societies. The module will draw on an ongoing survey of penal systems in twelve countries. Students of different nationalities will have every opportunity to discuss and compare their own countries' experiences. Topics covered will include sentencing, imprisonment, non-custodial penalties, young offenders, privatisation of punishment, penal philosophies and the sociology of punishment.
**15 credits**
Dissertation (International Criminology) : Students must complete a 10,000-12,000 word dissertation on a legal topic of their choice within the field of international criminology. The dissertation gives the student the opportunity to explore an area of their interest in some depth. To achieve a masters standard the student is required to demonstrate an up-to-date critical analysis of the topic chosen for discussion.
**60 credits**
Criminological Research in Policy and Practice : Research and evaluation are now really important in the development of policy on criminal justice and crime prevention in many countries. Evaluations can govern whether initiatives are adopted and rolled out and their implications. \ \ The module will explore, using case studies from across the world, what the influence of research results and the results of evaluations have been - and when research and evaluation does not seem to have had an impact and why. It will also consider the extent to which research results and evaluation of initiatives have influenced the work of criminal justice practitioners throughout the criminal justice system - from policing through to sentencing and the penal system. It will look at the interaction of policy initiatives from different countries and how they relate to political ideologies and pressures, as well as practical challenges. Students will learn how initiatives in criminal justice and crime prevention can be evaluated and the choices to be made in doing an evaluation.
**15 credits**
Example optional modules:
Introduction to Quantitative Research : This module has been designed to help you develop your ability to conduct quantitative data analysis in the social sciences. The emphasis is not only on technical competence but also on understanding the principles behind the methods, as well as being able to competently interpret your results. We will be using real data with countless examples from across the social sciences (e.g., politics, economics, psychology, sociology, criminology, etc.) to learn about descriptive, exploratory, and inferential statistics. In doing so, we will cover a broad range of topics such as descriptive statistics and data distributions; scaling and measurement; data visualisation; linear and logistic regression and causal inference; uncertainty in estimation; cluster analysis; and spatial analysis using the R statistical software.
**15 credits**
Introduction to Qualitative Research : This unit introduces students to a variety of qualitative research techniques. This unit aims to familiarise students with a range of research methods in common use in social science. This module covers interviewing, observation, document work and the use of visual data, as well as considering the implementation of multiple methods. As well as learning how to use these tools, techniques and processes, students on the module will consider how to apply them in varied research scenarios. Students will also learn to evaluate these research methods and techniques. They will learn to develop an understanding of how qualitative methods are used to create knowledge, as well as the ethical implications involved. This module forms the basis for further subject-specific training in the contributing departments across the social sciences.
**15 credits**
Crime and Globalisation : The module examines crime in global perspective, including crime problems that have typically gone below the criminological radar and crime problems of the Global South. The module will examine crimes that cross national borders, new forms of (often organised) crime, crimes comitted by nation states, 'crimes' in zones without law and new, transnational, definitions of criminal conduct. In this module students will encounter case studies of crimes from a variety of global locations and will engage with up to the minute criminological research and theorising that attempts to understand and explain crime in a global context.
**15 credits**
Policing and Society : The aim of the module is to explore relationships between the police, citizens and their wider socio-political context. After all, the police are the 'litmus paper' for the unfolding dynamics of society. The module starts by familiarising students with key concepts, such as discretion, coercion and accountability. The module then goes to explore in-depth the history of policing, theories of policing, police powers and citizens' rights, community policing and patterns of policing in late-modern global societies, including civilianisation, privatisation and transnationalisation. This module draws partly on empirical evidence from England and Wales and other common law jurisdictions, but is also grounded in sociological theories about policing and society.
**15 credits**
Media, culture, crime and punishment : This module critically explores how meanings around criminality and criminal justice are constructed, perceived and contested through a range of different cultural forms and practices.\ \ The module will support students to examine the role of cultural representations of crime in reproducing and resisting/contesting intersecting structural inequalities of race, gender, and social class across different geographic contexts.\
**15 credits**
Global Terrorism and Counterterrorism : This module critically examines terrorism and counterterrorism, and its impacts on law, criminal justice, and security. It draws on theoretical, legal and empirical terrorism research, and case studies from the UK, USA and other jurisdictions as well as considering efforts to define terrorism, and explores the roles of the media and social media in framing terrorism. The module examines efforts to combat terrorism through new legislation, policing, application of exceptional government powers, and community-based initiatives alongside exploring intended and unintended consequences of counterterrorism, including impacts on targeted communities and legitimacy implications.
**15 credits**
Gender and Violence : Gender and Violence focuses on inter-personal violence - sexual violence; 'domestic' violence; 'domestic' murder; male-on-male violence; and child abuse. The module examines whether and how extreme violence could be theorized as gendered. It explores how sexual and 'domestic' violence have been and are represented in popular discourse; in the law; in criminal justice processes; and in service provision and it traces developments in these areas, using case-studies and international comparisons.
**15 credits**
International Criminal Law : This module examines the material and subjective elements of international crimes namely, the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression; the criminal responsibility of individuals, and the mechanisms for the prosecution and punishment of the offenders. It also considers alternative methods of attributing justice. The module will mainly focus on the International Criminal Court and its jurisprudence and on the jurisprudence of the Yugoslav (ICTY) and the Rwanda (ICTR) Tribunals.
**15 credits**
Criminality, Victimhood and War : The module will examine the contested nature of criminality and victimhood within the context of war. Set against the backdrop of the post-9/11 War on Terror, it will explore how states, soldiers, contractors and civilians can all be characterised as both criminals and victims.
**15 credits**
Comparative Criminology and Criminal Justice : This module critically explores key themes and approaches within comparative criminology and criminal justice. It aims to expose you to important theoretical debates, methodological questions, and concrete case studies of similarity and difference globally. \ \ You will be supported to critically consider questions including:\ \ How has crime and criminalisation been understood and interpreted differently across time, place, and culture?How might a decolonial lens provide different insights into contemporary forms of crime and criminal justice?How do criminal justice systems differ globally in the way they respond to crime and criminals?What methodological challenges do we face when comparing crime and criminal justice internationally, and how can we resolve them?How do transnational crimes and responses to them support or challenge traditional approaches to criminal justice?Through a series of thematic seminars, you will have an opportunity to learn about contemporary developments in comparative criminology and criminal justice and gain exposure to a variety of methodological approaches.
**15 credits**
The content of our courses is reviewed annually to make sure it's up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research; funding changes; professional accreditation requirements; student or employer feedback; outcomes of reviews; and variations in staff or student numbers. In the event of any change we will inform students and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption.
Open days
Interested in postgraduate taught study?
- Take part in our online open day on Wednesday 29 April
- Join us on a discovery afternoon on Tuesday 12 May
- Register your interest in studying at Sheffield.
Duration
- 1 year full-time
- 2 years part-time
Teaching
Teaching in each module is through seminars.
Assessment
Most modules will be assessed by 3,000 words of written work in the form of an essay.
Your dissertation will report on research on a topic relevant to the course and agreed in consultation with a supervisor.
School
School of Law
At the School of Law, you will learn to identify and address the complex legal, moral, ethical and social questions that underpin the law. You will be taught by academics, some of whom are practising legal professionals, that are researching at the cutting edge of law and criminology. Our commitment to research-informed teaching means their discoveries become yours, as this research filters into teaching.
Our courses have been developed in consultation with the legal profession and have a strong international focus to develop you into a highly employable graduate. Top law firms regularly visit us to meet our students and take a hands-on approach by contributing to your wider education. They also interview our high-achieving students for jobs.
Our school is acclaimed for its exceptional research performance, aided by our world-leading academics, as well as our pioneering research centres and projects. 91% of our research is rated in the highest two categories in the REF 2021, meaning it is classed as world-leading or internationally excellent.
We endeavour to help you build the employability skills that employers value. At the School of Law we have a dedicated pro bono centre offering you a range of practical experiences. You will have the opportunity to work in our FreeLaw Clinic, fight injustice with our Criminal Justice Initiative and gain work experience with our commercial clinic for start up businesses, CommLaw, delivering legal advice on commercial legal issues.
You can also provide practice support to litigants in person with Support Through Court and have the opportunity to get involved with local projects and charities such as Victim Support and Citizen’s Advice Sheffield.
You’ll be based at Bartolomé House, where you will learn through a variety of lectures, tutorials, seminars, and group work. You can also enhance your degree by taking advantage of our careers and employability sessions and there are also a variety of student societies that you might join. This includes the student-run Edward Bramley Law Society.
Student profiles
[My criminology experience at the School of Law
Zoe Blakemore
Postgraduate student, \ MA International Criminology](https://sheffield.ac.uk/law/postgraduate/student-profiles/zoe-blakemore-student-profile)
Entry requirements
Minimum 2:1 undergraduate honours degree in a relevant subject.
Subject requirements
We accept degrees in the following subject areas:
- Criminology
- Law
- Policing-related subjects
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Social Work
- Sociology
We assess each application on the basis of the applicant’s preparation and achievement as a whole. We may accept applicants whose qualifications don’t meet the published entry criteria but have other experience relevant to the course.
If required degree subjects and modules are listed, these are indicative only. Sometimes we may accept subjects or modules that aren’t listed, and sometimes we may not accept subjects or modules that are listed, depending on the content studied.
We also consider a wide range of international qualifications:
Entry requirements for international students
English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 (with 6 in each component) or University equivalent
Other English language qualifications we accept
Other requirements
We will not ask you to provide references or referee details as part of your application.
We do not require a supporting statement for this programme.
Pathway programme for international students
If you're an international student who does not meet the entry requirements for this course, you have the opportunity to apply for a pre-masters programme in Business, Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of Sheffield International College. This course is designed to develop your English language and academic skills. Upon successful completion, you can progress to degree level study at the University of Sheffield.
If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the school.
Fees and funding
Fees
Funding
Funding for postgraduate taught courses
Save on your course fees
£3,000 scholarships for international students
Overseas fee-paying students joining in September 2026 will automatically receive a £3,000 tuition fee discount (subject to eligibility) - no separate application form required.
Save up to £2,500 on your course fees
Are you a Sheffield graduate? You could save up to £2,500 on your postgraduate taught course fees, subject to eligibility.
Apply
You can apply now using our Postgraduate Online Application Form. It's a quick and easy process.
More information
Contact
Start a conversation with us – you can get in touch by email, telephone or online chat.
Contacts for prospective students
Any supervisors and research areas listed are indicative and may change before the start of the course.
Recognition of professional qualifications: from 1 January 2021, in order to have any UK professional qualifications recognised for work in an EU country across a number of regulated and other professions you need to apply to the host country for recognition. Read information from the UK government and the EU Regulated Professions Database.
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