Program Overview

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Criminology PhD

Key Facts

• Level: PostgraduatePG PhD
• Duration: PhD: Full Time 2 years - 4 years or Part Time 3 years - 6 years
• Starting: October, March
• UK Fees 25/26 >: See Fees section
• International Fees 25/26 >: See Fees section
• Location >: Waterside

Overview

If you are a graduate in Criminology or a similar discipline, this Criminology PhD programme offers an excellent opportunity to expand your knowledge and research skills. The PhD in Criminology is an advanced research degree, awarded based on successful oral defence (viva voce) of the final thesis. A PhD is the highest qualification that any UK university can award. It will also offer researchers an excellent opportunity to develop their career in academia or move into higher management positions in the industry. Our faculty of Business and Law welcomes applications that fit with the specialisms of our research staff.

Highlights

• Pursue innovative doctoral research investigating a diverse array of social and criminological issues
• Work in an environment that supports intellectual and personal development
• Receive extensive research support and training
• Work closely with Research Institutes and Centres which specialise in your research area
• Regular research seminars, conferences and research activities led by our Research Centres and the Graduate School

Entry Requirements

• Bachelor’s (Honours) degree in a cognate subject at 2:1 or above (or overseas equivalent); or
• Master’s degree in a relevant subject (or overseas equivalent)

Other Entry Requirements:

• Students with lower-level qualifications, or qualifications in a different subject area but relevant experience, will also be considered on an individual basis.
• We accept a range of qualifications from different countries.

For your application to be successful, your academic credentials are important; we pay close attention to the suitability of our candidates for both the programme and for the research interest of our team of academics. PhD applicants are assessed based on their previous academic performance, the quality of their research proposal and the availability of supervisors for their proposed area of study.

All offers of a place on the programme are subject to:

• Successful interview by the University
• Availability of suitable member of staff to supervise the chosen research topic

Before you start your application, you should read all guidance thoroughly on our How to apply page, and familiarise yourself with the Postgraduate Research application process. Please also view the guidance notes on how to write a proposal for a research degree.

English Language Requirements

If English is not your first language, you will need to demonstrate that you meet the IELTS test minimum score – 7.0 overall, 6.5 in writing and 6.5 in other sections (or equivalent). Please note that some English Language test results are only valid for two years, including IELTS. Applications with IELTS lower than 5.5 in all components will not be considered.

Course Content

This Criminology PhD programme is a way for you to develop your specialism and improve your skills in research, academic writing, presentation, and practice. While developing your research projects, you will initially receive general, and project-specific training so that you can conduct your research work effectively and independently. Normally, our PhD students are initially registered for an MPhil and within the first twelve months of their study, they are expected to transfer from the MPhil to a PhD programme. The transfer process requires students to produce a detailed research proposal and apply for ethics approval. Students will be required to present their written work to an academic audience and then proceed for the internal viva examination with an internal transfer viva examiner. The transfer viva process, appointment of an internal examiner, and approval of ethics documents are all subject to approval by the University’s research committees. All PhD students are assigned a supervisory team consisting of a Director of Study (DOS), and first and second supervisors. Our students are required to work independently on their research, under the advice and guidance of their supervisory team. Due to the nature of PhD study, our students spend a vast majority of their time studying and engaging in independent research. Students are required to attend regular supervision meetings to discuss their progress, their action plan for the next stages of their project, and to offer suggestions on improvements for the PhD programme.

Research areas:

• Violence (institutional, sexual, domestic)
• Positivism, Ethnography, Feminist methodologies
• Historical Criminology (eugenics), social movements, Criminologies of the military
• Feminist criminological perspectives, Human Rights, Social movements
• Institutional Corruption
• Security, Peace and Conflict, Pacifist criminology
• Offender identities
• Prison culture
• Critical military studies, Governance and Armed Groups
• Social Justice

Fees and Funding

2025/26 Tuition Fees

Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 25/26 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

Doctor Of Philosophy Degrees

• UK – Full Time: £5,700
• UK – Part Time: £2,845
• International – Full Time: £16,350
• International – Part Time: £7,640

Scholarships and Bursaries

Please visit the funding pages and our scholarship pages for more details on how to fund your study.

Staff

• Senior Lecturer in Criminology
• Senior Lecturer in Human Resource Mgmt
• Senior Lecturer in Criminology
• Head of Criminology
• Senior Lecturer in Criminology
• Lecturer in Criminology
• Senior Lecturer in Criminology

Careers and Employability

Successful researchers can progress within a wide variety of roles in academia or move into higher management positions in the industry and other criminological professions and associated fields. The University of Northampton has an excellent Careers and Employability Service who are dedicated to equipping students with the skills to thrive, adapt and innovate in our ever-changing world.

Facilities

Our PhD students have access to exceptional research facilities such as:

• Dedicated PhD study area with computer and printer in the Learning Hub
• Skills support for PhD students
• Well-equipped library with access to academic e-books, journal articles and learning resources for on-site and off-site study
• Spacious individual and group working space and discussion areas
• Teaching and Research Assistant opportunities should you meet the requirement
• Library and Learning support for PhD students
• Opportunities for research collaboration with staff and students
• Excellent social groups for student meetings and engagement

Related Courses

• Criminology BA (Hons)
• Criminology with Psychology BA (Hons)
• Law with Criminology BA (Hons)