MSc Criminal Justice & Security at Cardiff Metropolitan University

Programme overview

A career-focused master's covering criminal justice institutions and reform, transnational and organised crime, international atrocity crimes, miscarriages of justice and violence against women and girls (VAWG), with a dissertation aligned to the student's career ambitions.

Faculty: Cardiff School of Education & Social Policy | Duration: 1 year full time; 2-3 years part time | Intake: 2027 | Location: Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom

What you will study

Six 20-credit modules: Crime, Criminals & Criminal Justice; Investigating Global Atrocities and Exploitation; Conducting Criminological Research; Unravelling Miscarriages of Justice; Faith, Honour & Justice; Justice Beyond Borders; plus a 60-credit Dissertation. Exit awards: PgC and PgD.

Career pathways

Policing, probation, prisons, youth justice, community safety, safeguarding, criminal justice policy, victim-support and prison-reform charities, international criminal justice, human rights advocacy, global security analysis and transnational crime investigation; progression to MPhil or PhD.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

An initial degree, usually a good honours degree (2:1 or above), in a related discipline such as criminal justice, forensics, law, professional policing, criminology, psychology, health and social care or social work; or a 2:2 in a related discipline with an interview (case by case); or a degree outside related disciplines considered case by case subject to interview; or a suitable professional qualification. Exceptional entry routes exist for non-graduates. International applicants: IELTS 6.0 overall with no sub-score lower than 5.5 (or equivalent).

Domestic applicants: GBP 11,000 for the whole programme (2026/27). Full-time home Postgraduate Masters (including MRes) fee as listed; period not stated in the table. Source

International applicants: GBP 17,600 for the whole programme (2026/27). Full-time international Postgraduate Masters (including MRes) fee as listed. Source

Intake: 2027

Duration: 1 year full time; 2-3 years part time

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