MSc Policing and Law Enforcement Investigation

Program Overview

Policing and Law Enforcement Investigation MSc

Overview

The MSc Policing and Law Enforcement Investigation course is designed for individuals who want to take charge of or perform lead roles in the investigation process and play a key role in tackling crime across the UK. The course focuses on building practical and theoretical skills, exploring strategies within investigation plans, including forensics, witnesses, and scene management.

Course Features

• International students can apply

What You'll Study

Course Content

• The processes, legal requirements, policies, and regulatory frameworks that apply to different stages of investigations into serious and complex cases
• Policing and law enforcement topics such as the management of investigations, ethical issues, evidence-based practice, and the use of intelligence in reactive and proactive investigation

Teaching and Assessment

• Compulsory modules:
  • Advanced Research Skills
  • Dissertation
  • Ethics and Integrity in Policing and Law Enforcement
  • Evidence-Based Practice
  • Management of Investigations
  • Use of Intelligence in Reactive and Proactive Investigation
• Optional modules (choose three):
  • Cyber Crime – Detection, Investigation, and Enforcement
  • Disclosure
  • Forensic Opportunities in Investigation
  • Public Protection, Vulnerability, and Risk

How You'll Study

• Traditional face-to-face learning
• Weekly lectures and interactive seminars
• Monthly online consolidation workshop/student support meetings with Module Leads
• Additional face-to-face or online student support sessions
• Access to online learning and research materials

How You'll Be Assessed

• Coursework tasks, including assignments, individual or group presentations, and portfolios
• Problem-solving exercises involving case studies or hypothetical scenarios
• Dissertation (12,000 words)

Who Will Be Teaching You

• Designed and delivered by ex-senior professional police officers, police staff, and academics in policing and law enforcement
• Guest speakers and subject matter experts from other departments and external to the University

Your Future Career

• Career opportunities in the police force, Home Office, and non-Home Office police forces in the UK, as well as other law enforcement agencies
• Career enhancement opportunities for serving police officers, police staff, and members of other law enforcement agencies

Entry Criteria

• Degree equivalent to UK first-class or second-class honors (2:2 or above) in a relevant subject
• Relevant professional qualifications and/or appropriate work experience
• English language requirements: IELTS 6.5, with a score no lower than 6.0 in each individual component, or an equivalent English language qualification

How to Apply

• Online application process
• Please choose the application form for your preferred intake date and mode of study

Facilities

• £6 million Law and Psychology building
• Police Training and Simulation Facility
• Mooting room (mock courtroom)

Finance

• Tuition fees:
  • UK Full-Time: £9,250
  • UK Part-Time: £51 per credit
  • International: £17,000
• Financial support available for eligible UK students
• EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme may be eligible to apply for financial support

Course Changes

• Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, however, our courses are subject to ongoing review and development
• Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of professional bodies, revisions to subject benchmarks statements, to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback
• We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.

Program Outline

Outline:

• The MSc Policing and Law Enforcement Investigation course explores the processes, legal requirements, policies, and regulatory frameworks that apply to different stages of investigations into serious and complex cases.
• Topics covered include:
• Policing and law enforcement topics such as the management of investigations, the ethical issues and evidence-based practice that apply to investigation, and the use of intelligence in both reactive and proactive investigation.
• Specialist knowledge and advanced understanding of research.
• Optional modules in semester 2, including:
• Cybercrime – detection investigation and enforcement
• Public protection, vulnerability and risk
• Forensic opportunities in investigation

Assessment:

• 100% Coursework

Teaching:

• Traditional face-to-face learning
• Weekly lectures and interactive seminars
• Monthly online consolidation workshop
• Tutor-led elaborations and evaluations
• Student-led engagements, including the presentation of problem-solving exercises and discussion of pre-set questions
• Additional face-to-face or online student support sessions
• Access to online learning and research materials

Careers:

• Roles in the Home Office and non-Home Office police forces in the UK
• Other law enforcement agencies, such as the National Crime Agency
• Career enhancement opportunities for serving police officers, police staff, and members of other law enforcement agencies

Other:

• Designed and delivered by ex-senior professional police officers, police staff, and academics in policing and law enforcement
• Taught by staff with significant experience of senior roles within the police service, including chief constable, head of crime, head of professional standards, and principal analyst levels
• Guest speakers and subject matter experts from other departments and external to the University will also contribute to delivery of the course

UK Full-Time: £9,000 for the course UK Part-Time: £50 per credit for 180 credits International: £16,500 for the course