Program Overview
Share Facebook Linkedin Email Postgraduate Taught 2026 autism-practice-msc robotics-artificial-intelligence-msc artificial-intelligence-pgcert history-pgdip engineering-energy-economics-the-environment-pgcert applied-cyber-security-pgcert data-analytics-pgcert technology-management-msc sound-music-pgcert sound-music-pgdip masters-law-mlaw international-commercial-business-law-llm cancer-medicine-mscres public-health-mph education-computingit-digital-skills-creative-enterprise-pgce public-health-systems-policy-theory-into-practice-pgcert international-political-economy-msc sound-music-ma public-health-sciences-pgcert public-health-data-systems-research-pgcert substance-use-substance-use-disorders-msc substance-use-substance-use-disorders-pgcert substance-use-substance-use-disorders-pgdip english-creative-writing-ma data-analytics-msc english-creative-writing-pgdip advanced-healthcare-practice-msc law-technology-llm intellectual-property-law-llm palliative-care-pgdip irish-studies-ma digital-marketing-analytics-msc conflict-transformation-social-justice-ma global-security-borders-ma molecular-biology-biotechnology-msc ecological-management-conservation-biology-msc one-health-parasitology-infection-biology-msc supply-chain-analytics-msc accounting-finance-analytics-msc actuarial-science-msc advanced-clinical-pharmacy-practice-msc advanced-clinical-pharmacy-practice-pgcert advanced-clinical-pharmacy-practice-pgdip advanced-food-safety-msc advanced-healthcare-clinical-practice-msc advanced-pharmacy-practice-msc advanced-social-work-children-young-people-families-msc advanced-social-work-children-young-people-families-pgcert advanced-social-work-children-young-people-families-pgdip ai-business-msc animal-behaviour-welfare-msc anthropology-ma anthropology-pgdip applied-behaviour-analysis-msc applied-cyber-security-msc applied-cyber-security-professional-internship-msc applied-developmental-psychology-msc applied-digital-construction-management-msc architecture-march artificial-intelligence-msc arts-humanities-mres arts-management-ma bioinformatics-computational-genomics-msc biomedical-clinical-research-msc biopharmaceutical-engineering-msc biopharmaceutical-engineering-pgcert biopharmaceutical-engineering-year-industry-msc building-information-modelling-project-management-higher-level-apprenticeship-msc building-information-modelling-project-management-industrial-internship-msc building-information-modelling-project-management-msc business-agrifood-rural-enterprise-msc business-agrifood-rural-enterprise-pgcert business-agrifood-rural-enterprise-pgdip business-analytics-msc caring-children-young-people-complex-needs-msc childrens-rights-msc childrens-rights-participation-pgcert city-planning-design-higher-level-apprenticeship-msc city-planning-design-msc city-planning-design-pgcert climate-change-msc climate-change-pgdip clinical-anatomy-msc clinical-education-pgcert clinical-health-psychology-msc clinical-health-psychology-pgdip cognitive-behavioural-practice-pgcert cognitive-behavioural-psychotherapy-pgdip construction-project-management-higher-level-apprenticeship-msc construction-project-management-industrial-internship-msc construction-project-management-msc creative-games-technologies-ma criminology-criminal-justice-llm digital-business-msc education-english-pgce education-mathematics-pgce education-modern-languages-pgce education-religious-education-pgce education-science-pgce education-social-science-pgce education-studies-med educational-leadership-msc engineering-management-pgcert english-literary-studies-ma english-literary-studies-pgdip english-poetry-ma english-poetry-pgdip environmental-engineering-msc environmental-engineering-pgdip film-ma finance-msc finance-trading-msc financial-analytics-msc financial-risk-management-msc geopolitics-ma geopolitics-pgdip history-ma human-resource-management-msc hydrogen-energy-systems-pgcert inclusion-special-educational-needs-med independent-prescribing-pgcert industrial-pharmaceutics-msc international-business-msc international-human-rights-law-llm international-public-policy-msc international-public-policy-pgdip international-relations-ma international-relations-pgdip interpreting-ma law-llm leadership-sustainable-development-msc leadership-sustainable-rural-development-msc linguistics-ma linguistics-pgcert linguistics-pgdip management-msc marketing-msc master-business-administration-internship-mba master-business-administration-mba mechanical-engineering-management-higher-level-apprenticeship-msc mechanical-engineering-management-industrial-internship-msc mechanical-engineering-management-msc mechanical-engineering-management-pgcert mechanical-engineering-management-pgdip mechanical-engineering-pgcert media-broadcast-production-ma media-broadcast-production-pgdip mental-health-mental-capacity-law-msc mental-health-mental-capacity-law-pgdip mental-health-pgdip midwifery-msc net-zero-engineering-distance-learning-msc net-zero-engineering-msc net-zero-engineering-year-industry-msc pharmaceutical-analysis-higher-level-apprenticeship-msc pharmaceutical-analysis-industrial-placement-msc pharmaceutical-analysis-international-industrial-placement-msc pharmaceutical-analysis-msc philosophy-ma philosophy-pgdip planning-development-higher-level-apprenticeship-msc planning-development-msc planning-development-pgcert politics-ma politics-pgdip prescribing-pharmacists-pgcert professional-nursing-adult-nursing-msc professional-nursing-children-young-people-msc professional-nursing-learning-disabilities-nursing-msc professional-nursing-mental-health-nursing-msc professional-practice-architecture-pgcert psychological-science-msc public-history-ma social-science-research-mres social-science-research-pgdip sociology-global-inequality-msc software-development-msc software-development-part-time-msc specialist-cognitive-behavioural-therapy-msc sustainable-energy-systems-management-msc sustainable-energy-systems-management-pgdip systemic-practice-family-therapy-msc systemic-practice-family-therapy-pgcert systemic-practice-family-therapy-pgdip systemic-psychotherapy-msc teaching-english-speakers-other-languages-applied-linguistics-msc translation-ma violence-terrorism-security-ma violence-terrorism-security-pgdip youth-justice-msc youth-justice-pgdip zero-carbon-engineering-pgcert Share Facebook Linkedin Email Undergraduate 2025 LLM | Postgraduate Taught Criminology and Criminal Justice Apply now Register Interest Entry year Academic Year 2026/27 Entry requirements 2.2 Attendance 1 year (Full-time) 2 years (Part-time) Places available Places Available (Full Time) Places Available (Part Time) Overview Course content Modules Entry requirements Careers Fees and funding Apply This exciting, stimulating and topical postgraduate degree programme in Criminology and Criminal Justice is taught by internationally-recognised scholars and researchers who offer students a wide introduction to the study of crime and criminal justice in contemporary society. The programme is also unique insofar as it draws upon Northern Ireland’s experiment in overhauling its criminal justice system (police, prisons and restorative justice) as part of the political settlement reached in 1998. As such students are introduced to ‘what works’ in criminal justice reform with police reform in particular becoming a burning issue in many jurisdictions currently. Key research strengths of the teaching staff lie in the following areas: -Community Safety and Crime Prevention -Policing -Prisoner Reintegration -Restorative Justice -Sex Offending -Victimology -Anti-Social Behaviour -Youth Justice -Climate Justice -Crime and the Life Course The LLM in Criminology and Criminal Justice is designed to appeal to prospective students with an academic or professional interest in criminology or criminal justice. It enables students to understand the motivations for offending as well as the practical operation of criminal justice and how the state responds to criminality and victimisation.
Key Program Features
Criminology and Criminal Justice highlights
Career Development
We are dedicated to student employability and have strong connections to civil society organisations, criminal justice bodies and agencies, international institutions and networks. We have a strong record placing students in professional employment both inside and outside Northern Ireland. For example, three of the most senior officers in the Police Service of Northern Ireland studied our LLM. Law was ranked 3rd in the UK for graduate prospects (Complete University Guide 2026).
World Class Facilities
Our facilities at Queen’s include a state-of-the-art Law building with superb teaching facilities, a moot court and study spaces. Queen’s has one of the most modern campuses in the UK, including the award winning McClay Library, one of the finest libraries in the world and home to 1.2 million volumes and over 2,000 reader places. Our Physical Education Centre was used as a training camp for the 2012 Olympics. Our Queen’s Elms Student Village and city centre student accommodation (built in 2018) are located within easy walking distance of the University.
Internationally Renowned Experts
Law at Queen's is taught by world-leading experts in the area of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Our staff have close research links with the professions, government and Civil Society. Law at Queen's is in the top 150 Law Schools worldwide and top 10 in the UK. Research in Law was ranked 8th in the UK in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (2021).
Student Experience
The LLM Criminal Justice programme has an international focus and taught by leading academics and practitioners in the field. Queen's has a long history of criminology and criminal justice teaching & research and was the first University on the island of Ireland to provide graduate studies in Criminology and Criminal Justice in 1994 and at the time was one of only a handful of UK universities to do so also. Queen’s offers one of the only Criminology and Criminal Justice programmes internationally that deals specifically with reform of the criminal justice system in a post-conflict environment (e.g. restorative justice, prisons and policing). Research and teaching is carried out under the auspices of the Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice (ICCJ) based within the School. The ICCJ organises an active, annual speaker and conference series, with talks by academics and practitioners. At Queen's you will be part of a thriving postgraduate culture built on teaching excellence, leading-edge research, innovation, collaboration and engagement. These components are woven together in our Graduate School. It is here you will develop new skills and increased personal effectiveness that will enable you to stand out in the crowded and increasingly competitive global job market. Life at Queen's is not just about the degree. We offer our students the opportunity to really enrich their studies. Whether you're into student societies, sports, music, dance, or just a coffee with your friends, Queen's has exceptional facilities to cater for all interests.
Career Opportunities
Career Development
We are dedicated to student employability and have strong connections to civil society organisations, criminal justice bodies and agencies, international institutions and networks. We have a strong record placing students in professional employment both inside and outside Northern Ireland. For example, three of the most senior officers in the Police Service of Northern Ireland studied our LLM. Law was ranked 3rd in the UK for graduate prospects (Complete University Guide 2026).
World Class Facilities
Our facilities at Queen’s include a state-of-the-art Law building with superb teaching facilities, a moot court and study spaces. Queen’s has one of the most modern campuses in the UK, including the award winning McClay Library, one of the finest libraries in the world and home to 1.2 million volumes and over 2,000 reader places. Our Physical Education Centre was used as a training camp for the 2012 Olympics. Our Queen’s Elms Student Village and city centre student accommodation (built in 2018) are located within easy walking distance of the University.
Internationally Renowned Experts
Law at Queen's is taught by world-leading experts in the area of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Our staff have close research links with the professions, government and Civil Society. Law at Queen's is in the top 150 Law Schools worldwide and top 10 in the UK. Research in Law was ranked 8th in the UK in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (2021).
Student Experience
The LLM Criminal Justice programme has an international focus and taught by leading academics and practitioners in the field. Queen's has a long history of criminology and criminal justice teaching & research and was the first University on the island of Ireland to provide graduate studies in Criminology and Criminal Justice in 1994 and at the time was one of only a handful of UK universities to do so also. Queen’s offers one of the only Criminology and Criminal Justice programmes internationally that deals specifically with reform of the criminal justice system in a post-conflict environment (e.g. restorative justice, prisons and policing). Research and teaching is carried out under the auspices of the Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice (ICCJ) based within the School. The ICCJ organises an active, annual speaker and conference series, with talks by academics and practitioners. At Queen's you will be part of a thriving postgraduate culture built on teaching excellence, leading-edge research, innovation, collaboration and engagement. These components are woven together in our Graduate School. It is here you will develop new skills and increased personal effectiveness that will enable you to stand out in the crowded and increasingly competitive global job market. Life at Queen's is not just about the degree. We offer our students the opportunity to really enrich their studies. Whether you're into student societies, sports, music, dance, or just a coffee with your friends, Queen's has exceptional facilities to cater for all interests.
"An amazing experience! The study of criminology at Queen’s offered intense challenges and debate about crime – its nature, scope, causes, consequences from multiple perspectives including ethnicity, gender, age, religion, disability and sexual orientation. I was deeply engaged with the academic staff and students during the entire course." Margaret Fine, United States
Program Curriculum
Course Structure
Students may enrol on a full-time (1 year) or part-time (2 years) basis. Students must complete six core modules (80 CATS points), two optional modules (40 CATS points) and a research dissertation (60 CATS points). The Masters is awarded to students who successfully complete all taught modules (120 CATS points) and a research dissertation (60 CATS points).
Compulsory Modules
Theoretical Criminology Key Debates in Criminology Criminal Justice Processes Dissertation (Maximum 15,000 words) (Students who secure a summer work placement of at least 8 weeks can complete a Dissertation in Practice Module including 12,000 word dissertation and 3,000 word reflective journal of the learning experience)
Course Details
The LLM Criminology and Criminal Justice Programme takes an interdisciplinary approach to the study of crime and justice and draws on original staff research. Modules are rooted in relevant theoretical frameworks with a strong criminological focus and provide students with methodological training in addition to supporting the development of critical analysis and other transferable skills. Through the dissertation, students can explore a wide variety of criminological and criminal justice topics. Students are encouraged to develop a critical understanding of the criminal justice process and the practical operation of criminal law in a domestic and comparative context, and are given the opportunity to explore in-depth a particular criminal justice-related issue through the submission of a dissertation. The programme is delivered through a series of taught modules and culminates in the submission of the dissertation on an original topic.
Methodology Mini-Modules
Approaches to Legal Research Criminal Justice & Criminology Methods 1 Criminal Justice & Criminology Methods 2
Optional Modules
Admission Requirements
How to Apply
Apply using our online Queen's Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply .
Terms and Conditions
The terms and conditions that apply when you accept an offer of a place at the University on a taught programme of study. Queen's University Belfast Terms and Conditions .
Tuition & Financial Information
Tuition Fee
GBP 15,200/year (international)
Tuition Fees
| Northern Ireland (NI) 1 | £7,700 |
| Republic of Ireland (ROI) 2 | £7,700 |
| England, Scotland or Wales (GB) 1 | £10,400 |
| EU Other 3 | £23,000 |
| International | £23,000 |
1 EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme, with settled status, will be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident. Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB will be charged the GB fee.
2 EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI are eligible for NI tuition fees.
3 EU Other students (excludes Republic of Ireland nationals living in GB, NI or ROI) are charged tuition fees in line with international fees.
All tuition fees quoted relate to a single year of study unless stated otherwise. Tuition fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise.
More information on postgraduate tuition fees .
Additional course costs
There are no specific additional course costs associated with this programme.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Financial Aid & Funding Opportunities
A range of funding options may be available to students enrolling at Queen's University Belfast. Explore all options early — many scholarships have deadlines months before programme start.
- University Scholarships: Queen's University Belfast may offer merit-based, need-based, or programme-specific scholarships for postgraduate students. Contact the international or financial aid office for current awards.
- Government Scholarships (): National governments often fund outbound and inbound student mobility. Check your home country's government scholarship schemes (e.g., national student loan bodies, ministry of education awards).
- International Scholarships: Major funders include: Commonwealth Scholarships, Fulbright (USA programmes), Chevening (UK), Erasmus+ (Europe), DAAD (Germany), Campus France, Australia Awards, and many more.
- Employer Sponsorship: Professionals returning to study may negotiate tuition sponsorship with their employer, particularly for MBA or executive programmes.
- Graduate Assistantships / Fellowships: Some universities offer funded research or teaching assistant positions that include a stipend and partial or full tuition waiver.
- External Foundations: Rotary Foundation, Aga Khan Foundation, Ford Foundation, and many discipline-specific bodies fund postgraduate study globally.
- Payment Plans: Flexible instalment plans may allow you to spread tuition payments across the academic year.
About Queen's University Belfast
Queen's University Belfast
Botswana, Botswana
Visit the university profile page to learn more about this institution.
University Profile- Start Date 2017-09-25
- Language English
- Duration 12 months
- Credits 60 ECTS / 180 credits (1-year programme)