Criminology and Criminal Psychology University of Essex Online
| Award | Attendance | Study | Duration | Start | Domestic fees | International fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSc | Online | Part-time, Distance, Online | 24 months | July, October | £12858 in total | £13427 in total |
Full tuition fee:
£12,858 UK / £13,427 International (2025-26)
£13,206 UK / £13,884 International (2026-27)
- Designated for postgraduate student loans in England.
- Simple monthly payment plan available, enabling you to spread the cost over the duration of your studies.
- Full payment discount of 5% if you pay upfront.
- Regional scholarship available for international students based overseas in eligible countries.
- Students residing in Africa can also enjoy a 20% scholarship for the July 2026 intake of all eligible postgraduate courses.
- 10% corporate discount available when three or more of your employees study with us.
You don’t need to complete a separate application form for a scholarship; it’ll be applied once you’ve received your official offer letter. Please note, scholarships can’t be combined but can be used alongside our full payment discount.
Please note, a maximum of two discounts or scholarships can be applied. The corporate discount can only be used in combination with our upfront payment discount, but not in conjunction with any other discount or scholarship. Make an enquiry now to find out more information about our discounts and scholarships.
Course overview
Develop your skills in leading complex criminal investigations, improve your skills in making reasoned arguments and rational decisions, and deepen your understanding of a range of key criminological theories, practices and perspectives in order to improve your potential impact within a policing, prison, probation or other criminal justice setting.
Our criminology Masters helps you take advantage of the new opportunities available within psychology, as well as making you aware of how new and growing challenges can be addressed. You'll delve into a range of specialist topics such as:
- the sociological approach to crime, criminology and criminological theory
- the role of forensic psychology in managing mentally disordered offenders
- the status of the victim throughout the criminal process
- the historic relationship between psychology and policing, and what this means for modern policing
- critical assessment of complex criminal investigations in accordance with national standards.
Towards the end of your degree, you will produce an original piece of research on the topic of your choice within criminology and criminal psychology, conducting research retrieval and thorough analysis of the issue and presenting it effectively. Throughout the course you will debate course content with fellow professionals, improving your skills in critical reasoning, communication and leadership, all of which will enhance your potential in future roles related to criminology.
We're proud to be rated Gold in the Times Higher Education (THE) Online Rankings 2024. Our achievement, which is based on four pillars - resources, engagement, outcomes and environment - recognises our commitment to excellent online education.
Entry requirements
We know that many people from non-traditional backgrounds would succeed on our courses! That's why we offer two different entry routes, taking into account your prior work experience and relevant qualifications. You will also need to meet our English Language Requirements.
Additionally, you will need to pass your first assignment set within your two-week induction period of the course in order to continue with your studies.
Academic entry route
In order to satisfy the academic entry route requirements for our MSc Criminology and Criminal Psychology, you must have the following qualifications as a minimum:
- an undergraduate degree from an approved institution, equivalent to a UK Honours degree, or a relevant professional qualification
Work experience entry route
In order to satisfy the work experience entry route requirements for our MSc Criminology and Criminal Psychology, you must meet the following criteria:
- Have at least three years’ relevant work experience.
English language requirements
As our courses are delivered in English, a high proficiency with English is required. If English is not your first language, your English ability should be equivalent to an IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0. Don't worry if you don't hold an IELTS or equivalent qualification - we offer a free online English test to assess your proficiency.
You don't need to prove your English ability if you are a national of, or have completed a qualification equivalent to a UK degree in, any of these countries.