Program Overview

Introduction to the Criminology MPhil/PhD Program

The Criminology MPhil/PhD program at Birkbeck is an advanced postgraduate research degree that requires original research and the submission of a substantial dissertation of 60,000 to 100,000 words. Initially, students are registered on an MPhil and upgrade to a PhD after satisfactory progress in the first or second year.

Course Overview

Birkbeck has a rich tradition of rigorous, socially engaged research into critical criminology and criminal justice scholarship and is a hub for this research. The Institute for Crime and Justice Policy Research, a world-leading, influential research centre, undertakes a wide range of work on justice, including the production of the World Prison Brief. MPhil/PhD Criminology students benefit from the supervision of internationally renowned experts and secondary supervisors, and programs in criminology theory and research.

Research Areas

The academic staff understand crime through research on power and inequality, and are led by principles of social and racial justice. The program focuses on contemporary social and policy problems, from prison abolition, migration and deportation, and social welfare, to gendered violence, terrorism, and drugs. The work covers a range of themes, from punishment, policing, security, and surveillance to organized, corporate, and state crime.

Key Information

• Duration: 7 years part-time or 4 years full-time
• Style of Study: On campus
• Status: Fully Approved
• Awarding Body: University of London
• Attendance: Regular meetings with supervisor(s)

Entry Requirements

• Good honors degree in law or a related discipline from the humanities or social sciences
• English language requirements: IELTS Academic Test score of 7.0, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests

Fees

• Part-time Home Students: Ł2,656 per year (academic year 2025-26)
• Full-time Home Students: Ł5,006 per year (academic year 2025-26)
• Part-time International Students: Ł7,870 per year (academic year 2025-26)
• Full-time International Students: Ł15,570 per year (academic year 2025-26)

Research Culture

The program provides an exciting and innovative environment for a wide range of research with a strong theoretical and policy focus. Study resources include an induction program for all postgraduate students, which offers classes on methodology, and regular research seminars, workshops, and conferences.

How to Apply

1. Check that you meet the entry requirements, including English language requirements.
2. Find a potential supervisor for your MPhil/PhD research.
3. Contact the academic member of staff for an informal discussion about your research interests.
4. Draft a research proposal.
5. Apply directly to Birkbeck using the online application link.

Application Deadlines and Interviews

• Applications must be submitted by 15 August for October entry and by 15 November for January entry.
• If you wish to apply for funding, you will need to apply by certain deadlines, so consult the websites of relevant funding bodies for deadlines.

Finding a Supervisor

Before applying, you will need to find a supervisor who shares your intellectual and research interests and who can support you through the researching and writing of your thesis. Read more about the research expertise and areas of supervision of our academic staff.