MSc Criminal Justice Policy

How can we explain a significant drop in crime in Western nations in recent decades? Does reduced spending on the police result in greater crime? What’s the role of prisons in contemporary society? These are all pressing questions tackled on this fascinating postgraduate degree.

You’ll explore how laws, policies and practices shape criminal justice outcomes, drawing on interdisciplinary insights from criminology, sociology, law and psychology.

Guided by internationally renowned criminologists, you’ll gain the theoretical, empirical and analytical tools to engage with current debates within criminology and criminal justice. The programme also examines how historical and international comparative perspectives help us understand the latest trends.

You’ll have opportunities to attend the Mannheim Centre for Criminology’s seminars and events, enabling you to hear about the latest research and thinking from seasoned criminologists, criminal justice experts and many other speakers.

When you graduate, you’ll be well-prepared for a stimulating career in criminal justice institutions, law enforcement, government, NGOs or research.

Our department is rated number one in the UK for social policy (Good University Guide 2024). We were also awarded the highest UK ranking for research in the field of social policy in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (2021). So, you’ll be studying in a vibrant, highly rated research environment.

Extensive background reading is not essential but it's advisable for you to do some reading before commencing the programme. The following is a list of reading that will be useful for the compulsory course and other components of the programme.

• A Liebling, S Maruna and L McAra The Oxford Handbook of Criminology, 6th Edition, (Oxford University Press, 2017)

Introductory texts

• Newburn, T. Crime and Criminal Justice Policy, 2nd edition (Longman, 2003)
• Sanders, A. Young, R. and Burton, M. Criminal Justice, 4th edition, (Oxford University Press, 2010)
• Nelken, D. Comparative Criminal Justice: Making Sense of Difference (Sage, 2010)
• Carrington, K. Hogg, R., Scott, J., Sozzo, M. and Walters, R. Southern Criminology (Routledge, 2018)
• Roberts, A. Gendered States of Punishment and Welfare: Feminist Political Economy, Primitive Accumulation and the Law (Routledge, 2016)
• Alexander, M. The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colourblindness (The New Press, 2010)
• Melossi, D. Crime, Punishment and Migration (Sage, 2015)

Theoretical introduction

• Reiner, R. Crime: The Mystery of the Common-Sense Concept (Polity, 2016)

You'll take the core courses and complete a dissertation. In addition, you'll choose optional courses from an approved list across the Departments of Social Policy, Law and Sociology.

The Department of Social Policy is an internationally recognised centre of research and teaching excellence in social and public policy.

From its formation in 1912, the department has conducted pioneering research on contemporary social problems and helped develop policy solutions.

The department has an interdisciplinary and international outlook. Our academics conduct research on pressing global issues such as poverty, inequality, crime, unemployment, healthcare, education and housing. Collectively, our faculty team draw on their backgrounds in anthropology, demography, economics, political science, sociology, as well as social and public policy.

We advise national and international governments and organisations and our research shapes decision-making and policy direction at the highest levels.

Within the department, we offer a mix of undergraduate and postgraduate study opportunities. Our department is rated number one in the UK for social policy (Good University Guide 2024). We were also awarded the highest UK ranking for research in the field of social policy in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (2021).

The teaching curriculum is research-led, focused on applying global insights and supporting students with their learning at every stage of their journey.

Our alumni work in prominent government positions, national and international NGOs, the public and private sectors, and universities across the world.

Learn more about our programmes and research.

Department of Social Policy

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified prospective students. At LSE, we want to recruit students with the best academic merit, potential and motivation, irrespective of background.

We carefully consider each application and take into account all the information included on your application form, such as your:

• academic achievement (including predicted and achieved grades)
• statement of academic purpose
• two academic references
• CV.

See further information on supporting documents.

You may need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency. See our English language requirements.

Applications for this programme are considered on a rolling basis. This means that applications will close once the programme is full.

There is no fixed deadline. However, if you’d like to be considered for any funding opportunities, you must submit your application (and all supporting documents) by the funding deadline. See the fees and funding section below for more details.

For this programme, the tuition fee is different for home and overseas students depending on their fee status.

For this programme, the tuition fee is different for home and overseas students depending on their fee status.

All taught courses are required to include formative coursework which is unassessed. It's designed to help prepare you for summative assessment which counts towards the course mark and to the degree award. All full-unit courses are assessed by three hour unseen examinations in the Spring Term. Half-units are assessed by two hour unseen examinations. Some of the half-unit optional courses also have group/individual project work as part of the assessment. An indication of the formative coursework and summative assessment for each course can be found in the relevant course guide.

On graduation, most students move into careers in the criminal justice professions, academic or policy research in criminology and criminal justice, and policy work in governments or charities.

Further information on graduate destinations for this programme

From CV workshops through to careers fairs, LSE offers lots of information and support to help you make that all-important step from education into work.

Many of the UK’s top employers give careers presentations at the School during the year and there are numerous workshops covering topics such as job hunting, managing interviews, writing a cover letter and using LinkedIn.

See LSE Careers for further details.