Program Overview
The Master of Science in Criminology and Social Research at University of York is a rigorous postgraduate programme delivered on-campus at University of York. Designed for graduates and professionals seeking advanced expertise in social sciences, the programme develops both theoretical foundations and applied skills essential for today's competitive environment.
Spanning 12 months, students engage with cutting-edge research, industry-relevant case studies, and practical projects. Instruction is delivered in English by research-active faculty with professional expertise.
The programme culminates in a dissertation or capstone project. Graduates are well-prepared for leadership roles, research careers, and doctoral study in social sciences.
Key Program Features
Why choose Criminology at York?
Develop an advanced comprehension of criminology. You'll gain an in-depth understanding of key issues, debates and theories in criminology. You'll learn how crimes are studied and then apply this to your own research,
Explore how criminology relates to real-world problems. You'll examine how injustice and inequality inform crime and the criminal justice system. Engage with innovative research that tackles contemporary local and global crime-related issues.
Our vibrant research community is the perfect place to study. Our teaching draws on current research, offering a distinct approach to criminological study. This environment will give you the confidence and skills necessary for your own research.
Refine your expertise with option modules. You'll have the choice to study from a range of option modules. You'll explore topics such as human rights, violence and authoritarianism. This means you can tailor your degree to the areas of criminology that you're most interested in.
Career Opportunities
Careers and skills
Your programme will help you to develop excellent employability skills that you can utilise in a range of different future careers. Students who have completed this programme have gone on to careers in the criminal justice sector, in public service, in the voluntary sector and within academia.
The mix of practical and analytical skills you'll acquire will position you competitively for jobs in these popular fields and elsewhere. This programme is also an excellent base from which to pursue further study in criminology, including a PhD.
Career opportunities
- Probation officer
- Police officer
- Youth justice worker
- Policy officer
- Researcher
- Campaigner
- Civil Service fast streamer
- Training manager
- Criminology lecturer
Transferable skills
- Qualitative and quantitative research methods
- Data analysis
- Understanding of criminal law and policy
- Problem solving
- Argument and Persuasion
- Critical thinking
- Teamwork
- Communication skills
- Design and completion of original research
Program Curriculum
Course content
You'll study 180 credits in total. The course consists of:
- Five 20-credit core modules
- One 20-credit option module
- A 60-credit independent research dissertation
Modules Dissertation Modules Core Modules: Introduction to Qualitative Methods and Data Analysis Introduction to Quantitative Methods and Data Analysis Law and Social Control Crime and Inequalities Crime debates and controversies You will study one option module. Examples can be found below. Advanced Methods in Social Research Working in the Criminal Justice System Crime, Gender and Sexuality Transitional Justice and Human Rights Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course. Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning. Dissertation Dissertation As part of your programme, you will write a dissertation on an area of criminology of your choice. It is an independent research project applying the information and techniques you've learned on the course. You'll devise research questions and plan strategies to collect and analyse relevant data. Your dissertation will be a 10,000-word journal-style report. The dissertation will be supervised by a member of staff with experience in your research area.
Admission Requirements
Entry requirements
| Qualification | Typical offer |
| Undergraduate degree | 2:2 or equivalent in Sociology, Criminology, another cognate discipline or equivalent suitable experience. |
| International pre-masters programme | Pre-masters from our International Pathway College |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
English language
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Qualification | Minimum requirement |
| IELTS (Academic and Indicator) | 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component |
| Cambridge CEFR | B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component |
| Oxford ELLT | 7, minimum of 6 in each component |
| Oxford Test of English Advanced | 136, minimum 126 in each component |
| Duolingo | 120, minimum 105 in all other components |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert Academic | 70 with a minimum of 65 in each component |
| Kaplan Test of English Language | 478-509, with 444-477 in all other components |
| Skills for English | B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, minimum 55 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87, minimum of 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all requirements |
For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements .
If you haven't met our English language requirements You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses . These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer. The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements. After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York .
Tuition & Financial Information
Tuition Fee
GBP 16,290/year (international)
Fees and funding
Annual tuition fees for 2026/27
| Study mode | UK (home) | International and EU |
| Full-time (1 year) | £12,000 | £26,900 |
| Part-time (2 years) This is the year 1 fee. Fees for future years are subject to confirmation. | £6,000 | £13,450 |
Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.
For courses which are longer than one year , the tuition fees quoted are for the first year of study. UK (home) fees may increase in subsequent years (up to a maximum of 2%). International fees may increase in subsequent years in line with the prevailing Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate (up to a maximum of 10%).
Fees information
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status .
Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.
- Postgraduate taught fees and expenses
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Fees and funding
Annual tuition fees for 2026/27
| Study mode | UK (home) | International and EU |
| Full-time (1 year) | £12,000 | £26,900 |
| Part-time (2 years) This is the year 1 fee. Fees for future years are subject to confirmation. | £6,000 | £13,450 |
Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.
For courses which are longer than one year , the tuition fees quoted are for the first year of study. UK (home) fees may increase in subsequent years (up to a maximum of 2%). International fees may increase in subsequent years in line with the prevailing Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate (up to a maximum of 10%).
Fees information
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status .
Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.
- Postgraduate taught fees and expenses
About University of York
University of York
Heslington, United Kingdom
University of York is a distinguished institution of higher education committed to academic excellence, innovative research, and preparing students for leadership in their chosen fields. The...
University Profile- Application Deadline 2018-06-15
- Start Date 2018-09-24
- Language English
- Duration 12 months
- Credits 60 ECTS / 180 credits (1-year programme)