Enhance your legal career and develop your expertise in criminal justice. Our LLM allows you to explore various aspects of criminal law and deepen your understanding of the processes and policies of the criminal justice system. This programme is ideal for graduates or working professionals who wish to engage with block teaching and build specialist knowledge in a specific area of law. You will delve into the investigation of crime through a socio-legal perspective and its consequences in the context of law, allowing you to develop a critical approach towards research and practice.
Why study Criminal Law and Criminal Justice at Keele University?
Global Top 250 for Law (Times Higher Education World University Subject Rankings, 2024)
Block teaching, allowing flexibility around employment and other responsibilities
Enhance your research training and skills in preparation for PhD study or career development
Keele is an internationally recognised centre for legal research
Global Top 100 for International Outlook, Law (Times Higher Education World University Subject Rankings, 2023)
Course summary
Our LLM in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice aims to deepen your understanding of criminal law and the processes of criminal justice, whilst you explore the impact of crime and how laws are implemented to deter and resolve crime within society. This includes areas such as youth justice, mental health, modern slavery, trafficking, sexual offences, terrorism and drug offences.
On this programme, you will evaluate criminal law and criminal justice with the support of research evidence, methods and theories, as you consider the impact of responses to crime. With this understanding, you will demonstrate your academic knowledge and professional practice, experimenting with your expertise in criminal law and criminal justice.
You will further develop your critical thinking skills and research practice through the critical analysis of case and statutory law, as well as policies and processes. Key areas of study include the critical analysis and understanding of contemporary issues in criminal law and criminal justice; the socio-legal analysis of mental health and sexual conduct in a criminal law and criminal justice context; and how institutions operate in combatting crime through a socio-legal perspective.
The LLM in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice includes four taught modules, and a dissertation. To achieve the LLM award, you must complete all 180 credits successfully.
The LLM can be studied as either a one-year full-time or two-year part-time course, with a September start date. It is also possible to study more flexibly part-time on a modular basis, accumulating degree credits by taking individual modules over a period of maximum of five years. The information below is based on the full 180 credit LLM programme.
Modules
The module details given below are indicative, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are prone to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods, as well as student voice. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.
The following section details our typical entry requirements for this course for a range of UK and international qualifications. If you don't see your qualifications listed, please contact us to find out if we can accept your qualifications.
Typical offer
Please ensure that you read the full entry requirements by selecting your qualifications from the dropdown menu below. This will include any subject specific, GCSE/Level 2 Maths, and English Language requirements you may need.
Typical offer: 2:2 degree in any humanities or social science subjectAdditional criteria apply
Please select your country from the drop-down list below for the full entry requirement information
UK
2:2 degree in any humanities or social science subject or demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Bangladesh
60% in a 4-year degree or 3-year degree with a 2-year Master's in any humanities or social science subject from a public university or CGPA 2.8 in a 4-year degree or 3-year degree with a 2-year Master's in any humanities or social science subject from a private university or demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Canada
70% or C or a GPA of 2.5 in a degree (Ordinary or Honours) in any humanities or social science subject or demonstrated relevant professional qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
China
70% in a degree in any humanities or social science subject or 65% in a degree in any humanities or social science subject from a '211' university or demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Ghana
Second class degree in any humanities or social science subject or demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
India
55% or CGPA 6/10 in a degree of at least 3 years in any Humanities, or Social Science subject or demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Kenya
Second class degree in any humanities or social science subject or demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Nepal
60% / 2.4 in a 4-year Bachelor's degree in any humanities or social science subject or 65% / CGPA 2.8 in a 3-year Bachelor's degree in any humanities or social science subject or demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Nigeria
Second class degree in any humanities or social science subject or demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Pakistan
We accept a range of qualifications from Pakistan. Please visit our Pakistan Country Page for more information or we will consider demonstrated relevant professional qualifications or experience.
You will also need an English language qualification (see below)
South Africa
Second class division 2 / 60% in a Bachelor's degree with Honours in any humanities or social science subject or Second class division 1 / 70% in an Ordinary Bachelor's degree in any humanities or social science subject or demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Sri Lanka
55% in a Special Bachelor's degree in any humanities or social science subject or demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Uganda
Second class degree in any humanities or social science subject or demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Zimbabwe
Second class degree in any humanities or social science subject or demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
English language requirements
All of our courses require an English language qualification or test. For most students, this requirement can be met with a 4 or C in GCSE English. Please see our English Language guidance pages for further details, including English language test information for international students. For those students who require an English language test, this course requires a test from Group B.
References
Normally, you will need to provide at least one academic reference to support your application unless you have been out of study longer than two years. If it has been more than two years since you last studied on a degree-level programme, you will normally need to provide an employment reference instead. For more information about Academic References, please see our Postgraduate how to apply web pages.
The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process which enables applicants to receive recognition and formal credit for learning acquired in the past through formal study or work and life experiences.
RPL can also be requested for admission onto the start of a programme in lieu of the admission requirements. For more information, see our Recognition of Prior Learning web pages.
Professional qualifications and work experience
The majority of our courses will consider relevant work experience and/or professional qualifications at the appropriate level, as an alternative to an undergraduate degree for entry. The work experience should be for a sustained period and at a suitable level, based within a relevant sector to your chosen course.
Admissions staff will review your work experience and/or professional qualifications during the assessment of your application to ensure suitability in terms of relevancy, level and appropriate learning outcomes.
General information
The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the typical offer which would be made to candidates, along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate's application.
insert-c startinsert-c end
Funding
Please note, if your course offers a January start date, the January 2024 start date falls in the 2023/24 academic year. Please see the 2023/24 academic year fees for the relevant fees for starting this course in January 2024.
Planning your funding
It's important to plan carefully for your funding before you start your course. Please be aware that not all postgraduate courses and not all students are eligible for the UK government postgraduate loans and, in some cases, you would be expected to source alternative funding yourself. If you need support researching your funding options, please contact our Financial Support Team.
Scholarships
We are committed to rewarding excellence and potential. Please visit our scholarships and bursaries webpage for more information.
A postgraduate qualification in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice will equip you with a wide set of skills that will help to prepare you for further study at doctoral level (PhD) or for various legal and non-legal careers.
You will attain core graduate attributes that will allow you to develop personally and professionally with key skills in research, problem solving, effective communication, critical thinking and project management that will enhance your career prospects.
You may be interested in one of the following careers or sectors. Please note, further training may be applicable for some potential careers:
Teaching on this programme allows you to engage with various activities whilst working independently and with peers. You will have the opportunity to participate in lectures, seminars, case studies and small group exercises, providing the opportunity to develop your problem-solving skills, writing and teamwork.
Your learning will involve readings and research as well as the chance to share your knowledge and opinions with others to build on your expertise and professional networking.
The LLM involves independent study including research and discussion as well 3-day block teaching, per taught module to accommodate your employment and/or responsibilities outside of study.
How you'll be assessed
On this programme, you will be assessed on your ability to critically analyse and provide solutions for legal problems through the application of your knowledge and expertise through essays, assignments and group discussions. You will delve into criminal law and criminal justice with consideration of your experiences and theoretical understanding of this core area of law, with a high level of written and verbal communication skills.
You will also be required to complete a 15,000 - 20,000 word dissertation based on a topic of your choice, including a proposal and presentation.
Keele University is one of a handful of universities in the UK to have a dedicated students' union for postgraduate students. A fully registered charity, Keele Postgraduate Association serves as a focal point for the social life and welfare needs of all postgraduate students during their time at Keele.
Hugely popular, the KPA Clubhouse (near Horwood Hall) provides a dedicated postgraduate social space and bar on campus, where you can grab a bite to eat and drink, sit quietly and read a book, or switch off from academic life at one of the many regular events organised throughout the year. The KPA also helps to host a variety of conferences, as well as other academic and career sessions, to give you and your fellow postgraduates the opportunities to come together to discuss your research, and develop your skills and networks.
insert-f end
Our expertise
Teaching staff
The School of Law is an internationally recognised centre for legal research with a longstanding tradition of excellence in moral philosophy, applied ethics, doctrinal, and socio-legal scholarship. We are proud to host a diverse body of expertise and qualifications in both legal practice and research.
As a postgraduate student in the School of Law you will have access to a dedicated PGT study room in the school. You will also be able to work in central spaces such as the library and independent study spaces to suit your requirements. You may also wish to use our dedicated law library for silent study, located in the campus library.
Throughout the programme, you will have access to the KLE (Keele Learning Environment) and Microsoft Teams, both of which will contain useful information and materials for students such as lecture presentations and handouts.
