Overview
- Degree awarded
- Master of Research (MRes)
- Duration
- 1 year
- Entry requirements
-
We require a UK bachelor's degree with a First or Upper Second classification or the overseas equivalent, in any discipline.
When assessing your academic record we consider your degree subject, grades you have achieved and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification.
- How to apply
- Apply online
Course options
| Full-time | Part-time | Full-time distance learning | Part-time distance learning | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRes | Y | N | N | N |
Course overview
- Study a research master’s in Criminology at a university ranked top 10 in the UK and top 40 worldwide (QS World University Rankings 2026).
- Harness your ability to critically evaluate criminological, socio-legal and criminal justice research, with a focus on data analysis and qualitative research methods.
- Join a prestigious department which has set the foundations in several areas of criminological study, such as crime prevention, partner violence, and drug use.
- Specialise in cutting edge topics such as the application of data science to crime; themes that relate to social responsibility such as youth offending, domestic violence, and modern slavery; and subjects that are traditionally ignored by criminologists, such as genocide.
- Tailor your studies to your interests with a broad choice of optional course units.
- Seamlessly transition from master's to PhD study through a fully-funded 1+3 pathway with our prestigious ESRC North West Social Sciences Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP).
- Graduate from one of the UK’s most targeted universities by top employers (High Fliers, The Graduate Market Report 2024).
Open days
The University organises open days every year in June, September, and October.
These are an opportunity to find out about the course, meet students and staff, tour the campus, and learn about accommodation, finance, and facilities.
If you receive an offer, we will invite you to a visit day where you learn about the School, teaching and learning, study opportunities and student life.
Fees
For entry in the academic year beginning September 2026, the tuition fees are as follows:
-
MRes (full-time)
UK students (per annum): £14,700
International, including EU, students (per annum): £28,900
Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.
The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive for the course tuition, administration and computational costs during your studies.
All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of courses lasting more than a year for UK/EU students (fees are typically fixed for International students, for the course duration at the year of entry). For general fees information please visit: postgraduate fees . Always contact the department if you are unsure which fee applies to your qualification award and method of attendance.
Self-funded international applicants for this course will be required to pay a deposit of £1000 towards their tuition fees before a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) is issued. This deposit will only be refunded if immigration permission is refused. We will notify you about how and when to make this payment.
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).
Scholarships/sponsorships
For information on available scholarships please visit: Master’s Fees and Funding
Contact details
- School/Faculty
- School of Social Sciences
- Contact name
- School of Social Sciences Admissions Office
- Telephone
- +44 (0) 161 306 5500
- pg-soss@manchester.ac.uk
- Website
- https://www.socialsciences.manchester.ac.uk/criminology/
- School/Faculty overview
-
See: School Subjects
Courses in related subject areas
Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.
Entry requirements
Academic entry qualification overview
We require a UK bachelor's degree with a First or Upper Second classification or the overseas equivalent, in any discipline.
When assessing your academic record we consider your degree subject, grades you have achieved and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification.
English language
Applicants whose first language is not English should meet the following language requirements:
- IELTS Academic test score of 7 overall, including 7 in writing with no further component score below 6.5
- TOEFL IBT 100 with 25 in writing and no further score below 22 in each section. TOEFL code for Manchester is 0757
- Pearson Test of English (PTE) score of 76 overall, with 76 in writing and no further score below 70
Further information on accepted language requirements can be found here .
Pre-Sessional English Courses
We will consider applicants who do not meet these scores but you may be required to complete a pre-sessional English language course at the University of Manchester prior to the start of the course.
To be considered for a pre-sessional English language course for this programme we require the following minimum IELTS (Academic) scores:
6 Week Pre-Sessional Course : IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.5 in writing and no more than one sub-skill of 6.0.
10 Week Pre-sessional Course : IELTS 6.0 overall with 6.0 or above in each sub-skill
If you have not yet completed your current academic study and are interested in studying a pre-sessional course, you must hold an IELTS for UKVI (Academic) test certificate to ensure that you are eligible for a separate visa for the English language course.
English language test validity
Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.
Applicants from Majority English-speaking countries
If you are a national of a majority English-speaking country (or have studied for a full bachelor's degree or higher from one of these countries) you may be exempt from submitting further evidence of English language proficiency.
Other international entry requirements
We accept a range of qualifications from across the globe. To help international students, the university provides specific information for many individual countries. Please see our country-specific information page for guidance on the academic and English language qualifications which may be accepted from your country.
Application and selection
How to apply
Advice to applicants
Please note, due to the high volume of applications we receive, an early application is advised.
If you meet our entry requirements but we are unable to make you an offer, you may be placed on a waiting list.
Candidates on a waiting list will receive an offer only if places become available.
Re-applications
Course details
Course description
Our MRes Criminology programme provides you with the advanced theoretical, conceptual and methodological expertise and skills necessary to undertake and critically evaluate criminological, socio-legal and criminal justice research.
This programme encourages you to critically examine the theoretical foundations that underpin applied criminological research. You’ll receive specialist criminology and criminal justice teaching from research-active staff, studying core areas of criminological theory and research, including the relationships between criminology, criminal justice, and public policy.
You'll also benefit from comprehensive, multi-disciplinary training in research methodologies. This will develop your advanced research skills and build competencies in technical areas such as data analysis, qualitative research, and research design.
A broad selection of optional course units allow you to explore specialist topics in depth, such as:
- Crime mapping and spatial analysis;
- White collar and corporate crime;
- Crime and networks;
- Prisons in the UK.
See a full list of mandatory and optional course units below.
This course is eligible for the 1+3 studentship offered by the Economic and Social Sciences Research Council (ESRC) North West Social Sciences Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP), offering a unique, fully-funded route into postgraduate research. If your application is successful, you’ll be able to seamlessly transition from master's-level study to a PhD. Find out more on our 1+3 ESRC NWSSDTP webpage .
Upon completing the course, you’ll be well placed to pursue further academic research. You’ll also have developed highly transferrable skills, setting you up well for a professional research career in the voluntary, public or private sectors.
Aims
This course aims to:
- Meet national and regional demands for new research and policy-oriented competencies in criminology and socio-legal studies.
- Provide advanced, systematic and critical knowledge of research methods and theoretical arguments in criminology or socio-legal studies which are at the forefront of the subject area in a vibrant research context.
- Offer a course that integrates a grounding in research methodology and that provides an understanding of the implications for policy.
- Offer you the opportunity to develop your understanding of the key theoretical and epistemological debates within the subject area and to assist you to engage in theoretical debates at an advanced postgraduate level.
- Provide a formal, comprehensive, and multi-disciplinary training for you in research methodology and transferable employment-related skills.
- Prepare you for PhD-level research careers in academic life or as professionals in government and voluntary agencies.
- Contribute to the national need for skilled social science researchers in criminological, socio-legal and related matters.
- Train you to appreciate the relationship between research and the implementation and operation of policy and practice in the implementation of justice.
- Provide you with the tools for further research or study in criminology or socio-legal studies
Special features
ESRC-recognised
This acclaimed course is recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESCR)and the North West Social Science Doctoral Training Centre (NWSSDTP) as a Foundation Course for Research Training and is an essential step if you wish to progress onto doctoral studies or pursue a career in research in the public or voluntary sectors.
A prestigious department
You will study in a department which has set the foundations in several areas of criminological study. Professor Ken Pease received an OBE for his service to crime prevention; Professors Russell and Rebecca Dobash are known as pioneers in the study of intimate partner violence; and Professor Howard Parker changed the way we thought about drug-use.
Real-world impact
We put theory into practice. Our academics and students are dedicated to shaping policymaking and practice nationally and internationally in diverse areas including drug policy, domestic abuse, and policing. We work closely with government, civic organisations like the police, and private companies to advise and effect meaningful change.
Teaching and learning
The MRES Criminology is taught by an interdisciplinary team using a variety of delivery methods:
- lectures;
- workshops;
- student-led presentations and debate;
- group work;
- individual research.
Part-time students
Part-time students complete the full-time course over two years. There are no evening or weekend course units available on the part-time course.
Coursework and assessment
Course unit details
To meet the requirements of the taught element of the course, you must take course units totalling 120 credits. This is normally through eight 15-credit course units, with 60 credits taken each semester. You take five core units.
The availability of individual optional course units is subject to change (due, among other factors, to staff availability to deliver the course units in any given year).Information that is sent to you in August about registration onto the course, will clearly state the course units that are available in the academic year ahead.
In addition, if you pass the taught element of the course and are permitted to progress to the research element of the course, you must also submit a dissertation between 12,000-15,000 words, worth 60 credits.
Part-time students take four out of the five compulsory course units in the first year, and then take the other one in year two.The remaining 60 credits of optional course units are selected and taken accordingly over the two years.
For the Dissertation:
- Supervised summer dissertationof 12,000-15,000 words.
For exit awards:
- If you fail to pass the 180 credits necessary to attain the final degree of MRes, you can leave the course with the award of Postgraduate Diploma by passing 120 credits at a pass mark of 40%. You can also qualify for the Postgraduate Certificate by passing 60 credits at the pass mark of 40%.
- If you do not fulfil the criteria for passing the taught element of the course at masters' level of 50%, will not be permitted to progress to the dissertation element of the course, and will leave the course with the highest award that the credits that have been passed will allow.
Course unit list
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dissertation (MRes Criminology) | CRIM64000 | 60 | Mandatory |
| Advanced Theoretical Criminology | CRIM70501 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Evaluating Policy & Practice | CRIM70542 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Data Analysis with R & RStudio | CRIM70821 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Qualitative Research Methods | CRIM71361 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Criminological Research Methods | CRIM72221 | 15 | Mandatory |
| PG Crime Mapping: an introduction to GIS and Spatial Analysis | CRIM60142 | 15 | Optional |
| Comparative Criminology | CRIM60642 | 15 | Optional |
| White-Collar and Corporate Crime | CRIM61142 | 15 | Optional |
| Understanding Violence | CRIM70552 | 15 | Optional |
| Displaying 10 of 16 course units | |||
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What our students say
Discover why our students chose our MRes in Criminology and what they loved about their time at Manchester – take a look at our student spotlights.
Facilities
In addition to the networked study areas, you have access to one of the best-resourced academic libraries in the country, The University of Manchester Library .
Disability support
Careers
Career opportunities
The University of Manchester is one of the most targeted universities by the UK’s top graduate employers (High Fliers, The Graduate Market Report 2024).
Our MRes Criminology course gives you the specialist skills required for a range of criminal justice careers, such as:
- careers in local and central government;
- roles in criminal justice and social agencies such as the police, probation services, and social work;
- the voluntary sector and NGOs.
You will also acquire vital skills relevant to many different sectors and roles, such as data analysis, research design, academic writing, and communication and teamwork. Our highly-skilled graduates go on to succeed in areas such as:
- think tanks and pressure groups;
- social research;
- business and management;
- data analysis;
- academia and teaching.
Another popular option is to continue specialising for a career in research and universities through a PhD in Criminology or a similar subject.
The University has its own dedicated, award-winning Careers Service where you can benefit from tailored careers support, practice interviews, CV and application support, job listings for Manchester students, and much more. Better yet, you will have access to our Careers Service both during your course and for two years after you graduate, so we know you’re on the right path.