Criminology

The MSc in Criminology at the University of Oxford offers a comprehensive and in-depth exploration of the complex social, psychological, legal, and political factors that influence crime and criminal justice systems worldwide. Designed for students with a strong academic background and an interest in understanding the causes, consequences, and responses to crime, this programme combines rigorous theoretical frameworks with practical insights drawn from contemporary research and policy debates. Over the course of this degree, students engage with a diverse array of topics including criminal behavior, policing, criminal law, human rights, justice policies, forensic science, and the socio-economic influences on crime production.

The programme is structured to foster critical thinking and analytical skills, encouraging students to evaluate existing theories and to develop their own perspectives on criminal phenomena. Core modules provide foundational knowledge in disciplines such as sociology, psychology, law, and politics, while optional modules allow for specialization in areas like cybercrime, juvenile justice, corruption, or immigration-related issues. Students also undertake a research dissertation under the supervision of leading experts, enabling them to investigate a specific area of criminology in depth.

Students benefit from the university’s vibrant academic community, with access to world-class libraries, research centers, and seminars that facilitate engagement with current issues and scholarly debates. The MSc in Criminology prepares graduates for diverse careers in academia, government, law enforcement, policy analysis, non-governmental organizations, or international agencies. It also provides a strong foundation for further research at the doctoral level. Through a combination of intensive coursework, research opportunities, and collaboration with practitioners, students develop the analytical, methodological, and communicative skills essential for understanding and tackling some of the most pressing social issues related to crime and justice today.

As a first-year full-time student, or in your first two years as a part-time student, you will follow courses of instruction in criminological research methods to develop your skills whilst working under the guidance of at least one supervisor who will be an acknowledged authority on their chosen topic.

Skills training sessions are offered by the Centre for Criminology, Faculty of Law and Social Sciences Division as appropriate to different stages of the graduate career. There are also opportunities to access advanced and specialist research training provided elsewhere in the division and University.

The areas in which members of the Centre for Criminology are able to offer supervision include:

• policing and security
• sentencing
• crime, risk and justice
• human rights and criminal justice
• victims
• procedural justice and legitimacy
• prisons
• sociology of punishment
• restorative justice    
• the death penalty
• border control and the criminalisation of migration
• public attitude and responses to crime
• the politics of crime and justice
• crime and the family
• race and gender
• miscarriages of justice
• crime, criminology and social/political theory
• youth justice

Research seminars bring you and other students together with academic and other research staff in the department to hear about ongoing research and provide an opportunity for networking and socialising.

You will be encouraged to attend the Oxford criminology and informal research seminars organised by the centre. You will also have the opportunity to discuss your research plan at the criminology discussion group and at the criminological research workshops, held in Trinity term.

Applicants are normally expected to be predicted or have achieved a first-class or a strong upper second class undergraduate degree with honours (or equivalent international qualifications) as a minimum in law, sociology, politics, economics, social policy, psychology, history, or another subject relevant to criminology. A high upper second class graduate degree is normally defined as one in which an average mark of 65% or above is achieved. 

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.7 out of 4.0.

If you hold non-UK qualifications and wish to check how your qualifications match these requirements, you can contact the National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom (UK NARIC).

Applicants are also normally expected to be predicted or to have achieved a master's degree (or equivalent international qualifications) in law, sociology, politics, economics, social policy, psychology, history, or another subject relevant to criminology with an average mark of 67% or above.

• Official transcript(s)
• CV/résumé
• Research proposal: Up to three pages
• Written work:Two essays of 2,000 words each
• References/letters of recommendation: Three overall, all of which must be academic

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Higher level

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

• Global Education
• Hill Foundation Scholarships
• A number of Research Council awards are available each year from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), and Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).