Program Overview

---

About this course

Study for a Policing and Criminal Investigation MSc at LJMU and work with crime victims and witnesses to enhance your knowledge and key skills in this area.

• Explore investigative issues to gain the knowledge and practical skills to operate as a crime investigator in serious and complex cases
• Consider the links between investigation, forensics and psychology
• Work with crime victims and witnesses
• Choose this programme if you are a serving officer or about to embark on a policing or academic career
• Look forward to excellent employment opportunities in policing/investigative work, private investigation and governmental bodies
• Progress to doctorate study

Whether your career aspirations lie in investigative work within the police service, within private security or with other public bodies, this new MSc will develop your investigative skills and prepare you for career success. Working with crime victims and witnesses, you will explore the links between investigation, forensics and psychology.

You will receive specialist supervision and study within a diverse community of fellow researchers. Staff have significant research expertise in a wide range of fields including: Data Science; Evidence-Based Practice; Forensic Science; Leadership, Governance and Ethics; Professional Development and Knowledge Exchange; Transnational and Public Order Policing; Urban Intelligence and Informatics; Victimology and Domestic Violence; Serious and Organised Crime and Intelligence Led policing.

The programme will challenge your intellect and encourage you to explore and critically analyse key developments in the field of criminal investigations and policing. You will consider links between investigation, forensics and psychology, and by working with crime victims and witnesses, you will gain practical skills and knowledge to enable you to operate as a crime investigator.

Course modules

Discover the building blocks of your programme

Further guidance on modules

Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.

Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.

Core modules

Drugs: Recognition and Identification

20 credits

This module will examine the unique difficulties posited during a drugs investigation and the importance of investigative ethics. It aims to:

• recognise the differences and street identification of illicit and licit drugs
• examine the impact that drugs have upon criminal behaviour and criminal tactics
• make you capable of ‘problem-solving’ in the field of drugs investigations
• assist in the recognition of drug-related items, and equipment that is used to produce, conceal and consume illicit drugs and the differences between specific drugs
• recognise the crime scene dangers in clandestine labs

Advanced Research Skills

20 credits

This module aims to prepare you for the dissertation in semester three by introducing key epistemological and methodological issues that impact on research into crime, security, community safety and criminal justice. While exploring the politics and practice of research in these areas, the module will introduce research theories and methods.

Advanced Investigation Skills

20 credits

This module will examine the administrative difficulties posited during a criminal investigation and the importance of investigative ethics. It aims to:

• examine the contributions that forensics bestow upon criminal investigations
• make you capable of ‘problem-solving’ in the field of criminal investigations

Forensic and Medicolegal Death

20 credits

Discover core foundational concepts of criminal investigations, enabling you to understand, explain, analyse and evaluate causes, sustainment and consequences of processing a death scene

Forensic Cognition: Violence and Victims

20 credits

Cognition is recognised as a key component in the way people think and behave. This course will examine influential theories that have been developed to aid in investigating sexual/violent offences. This module also aims to explore the investigative niche area of serial offending and why offenders chose certain victims.

Investigative Interviewing

20 credits

The aim of the module is to critically explore the intersection of psychology and policing. It will also examine current practices, techniques and applications of police interviewing. You will be exposed to comparative international techniques in interviewing, interpretation of verbal and physical behaviour, causes of denial, deception and defensiveness.

Dissertation - Policing

60 credits

The aim of the dissertation is to develop the ability of students to analyse and interpret an issue in their chosen field, drawing on the relevant body of knowledge, collecting data and completing a piece of writing in a manner conforming to the tenets of disciplined, lucid and critical scholarship. Supervision will be led by the most appropriate academic tutor with full support from the Policing Studies module team.

Your Learning Experience

Teaching Assessment

An insight into teaching on your course

Study hours

Full-time students are expected to physically attend sessions 12 hours a week and part-time students should expect to participate 6 hours per week with additional outside study hours.

Teaching methods

The course offers a range of approaches to learning, with peer and tutor feedback greatly encouraged. Workshop activities and tutor support facilitate formative feedback to enable you to work on your weaknesses and build on your strengths.

Applied learning

All Policing Studies students have opportunities to learn directly from practitioners via workshops and masterclasses. The latter are held each month and include talks from a range of eminent experts, professionals and practitioners, from Leader of the North West Circuit, David Steer QC to UN Police Advisor, Chief Inspector Cecilia Dunster and Marie McCourt, mother of 'no-body' murder victim, Helen McCourt.

How learning is monitored on your programme

To cater for the wide-ranging content of our courses and the varied learning preferences of our students, we offer a range of assessment methods on each programme.

Assessment methods on this programme include: academic essays; annotated bibliographies; reflective research exercises; position papers; exams; reports; case studies; portfolios; online blogs and wikis; workplace practice; posters; oral presentations (individual and group); debates; reviews; group work and the dissertation/research project.

Where you will study

Based within the John Foster Building, in the Mount Pleasant Campus, the School of Justice Studies is equipped with everything you require for your studies, including a bespoke crime scene investigation facility, well-equipped IT Suites, a light-filled Student Common Room and dedicated postgraduate study areas. At the back of the John Foster Building is the Aldham Robarts Library, which provides an exceptional range of materials to support your studies.

Career paths

Further your career prospects

LJMU has an excellent employability record with 94% (HESA 2022) of our postgraduates in work or further study fifteen months after graduation. Our applied learning techniques and strong industry connections ensure our students are fully prepared for the workplace on graduation and understand how to apply their knowledge in a real world context.

This programme prepares you for further study, employment or new roles in your current profession.

Policing and other related public sector fields currently suffer a skills gap in relation to quantitative research. This programme aims to fill that gap. It teaches the advanced skills of research, conceptualisation, analysis, argument, and presentation – all highly valued in many areas of employment.

Students with an interest in pursuing an academic path will be encouraged to progress to PhD level. This MSc plays an important development role in this process.

On completion of your MSc, you may consider a career in the police service or in areas connected to investigation, security or criminal justice. For example, the armed services, prison service, social work or criminal justice-related roles within the Civil Service. If you are already in employment, the MSc will prepare you to specialise in your area of interest.

Tuition fees and funding

Home

Part-time per credit:

£60

Fees

The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as library membership and student IT support with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources including programme-appropriate software and on campus wifi.

Financial Support

There are many ways to fund postgraduate study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you’ll find all of the information you need on our specialist postgraduate funding pages. The University offers a range of financial support for students. You'll find all the information you need on our specialist financial support pages including details of the Student Support Fund and other activities to support with the cost of living.

Additional Costs

In addition to fees, students should also keep in mind the cost of:

• Accommodation
• Travel costs and field trips unless paid for by LJMU
• Stationery, IT equipment, professional body membership and graduation gown hire

Entry requirements

You will need:

Home International

Qualification requirements

Undergraduate degree

• a minimum 2:2 in Policing, Criminology, Criminology and Psychology, Psychology, Criminal Justice or a related subject

or

• evidence of current and relevant academic learning, including a Professionalising Investigation Programme (PIP) qualification and/or relevant CPD learning

Further information

• Extra Requirements
• RPL
  • RPL is accepted on this programme

International requirements

IELTS

• IELTS English language requirement: 6.0 with a minimum 5.5 in each component

Further information

• Extra Requirements
• RPL
  • RPL is accepted on this programme

Find your country

Please Note: All international qualifications are subject to a qualification equivalency check.

How to apply

Securing your place at LJMU

To apply for this programme, you are required to complete an LJMU online application form. You will need to provide details of previous qualifications and a personal statement outlining why you wish to study this programme.

Applications are assessed on: your application form, academic transcript (or equivalent) and reference.

You will need to:

• demonstrate sufficient knowledge to embark on the programme
• display the potential to develop high level research skills
• demonstrate the ability and commitment to work at postgraduate level

Your university life

From accommodation and academic support to clubs and societies. Find out what LJMU has to offer.

Related Links

Accommodation

Postgrad life at LJMU

Living in Liverpool

Your campus

Go Abroad

Sports, societies and lifestyle

Accommodation

Accommodation

Postgrad life at LJMU

Postgrad life at LJMU

Living in Liverpool

Living in Liverpool

Your campus

Your campus

Go Abroad

Go Abroad

Sports, societies and lifestyle

Sports, societies and lifestyle

Talk to our students

Connect with a current LJMU student for advice and guidance on university life, courses and more.

Chat to an LJMU student now

See what our students are saying

At LJMU we want you to know you’re making the right choice by studying with us. You can see what our students are saying about their experience with us through their reviews on the following websites:

Related Links

Read Student Crowd reviews

Ask questions on The Student Room forum

Read Student Crowd reviews

Read Student Crowd reviews

Ask questions on The Student Room forum

Ask questions on The Student Room forum

News and views

Browse through the latest news and stories from the university

News

11 June 2025 Valencia 'Tsunami' changed lives forever

News

07 May 2025 'Policing in a Polarised World'

News

06 May 2025 Police detectives graduate!

News

22 April 2025 How online sexual harassment can seriously harm victims’ mental health

News

16 April 2025 LJMU to support College of Policing in training future leaders in the police service

News

18 March 2025 Police turn to wearable tech to improve sleep and fitness

News

11 March 2025 Pregnant women 'should not be jailed'

News

27 January 2025 Scientists propose database of volunteers for forensic research

News

07 January 2025 LJMU explores research and collaboration to support veteran wellbeing

News

03 December 2024 'The progress, the power and the challenge of police communications'

__

__

The University reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the University. Where this does happen, the University operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.

Further information on the terms and conditions of any offer made, our admissions policy and the complaints and appeals process.

Related courses

• MA Criminal Justice

Full time

LJMU's Criminal Justice MA is a stand-alone qualification designed to enhance your career prospects in criminal justice agencies, the probation service and the police.

• MA Criminal Justice | Part-time

Part time

LJMU's Criminal Justice MA is a stand-alone qualification designed to enhance your career prospects in criminal justice agencies, the probation service and the police.

• MSc Criminal Psychology and Criminal Justice

Full time

LJMU's MSc Criminal Psychology and Criminal Justice is a stand-alone qualification designed to enhance your career prospects in criminal justice agencies, the probation service and the police

• MSc Criminal Psychology and Criminal Justice | Part-time

Part time

LJMU's MSc Criminal Psychology and Criminal Justice is a stand-alone qualification designed to enhance your career prospects in criminal justice agencies, the probation service and the police

• MA Criminology

Full time

MA Criminology at Liverpool John Moores University aims to engage students in cutting-edge debates in criminology, you’ll look at some of the most recent and advanced intellectual developments from around the world in relation to crime, (in)justice, and social harm.

• MA Criminology | Part-time

Part time

MA Criminology at Liverpool John Moores University aims to engage students in cutting-edge debates in criminology, you’ll look at some of the most recent and advanced intellectual developments from around the world in relation to crime, (in)justice, and social harm.

• Doc Doctor of Policing and Criminal Justice | Part-time

Part time

LJMU's Doctor of Policing and Criminal Justice is a Professional Doctorate which will develop competent, informed, reflective, ethically and professionally competent practitioners who have a sophisticated academic understanding of wider policing, and criminal justice theories and issues

• MA Evidence Informed Practice | Part-time

Part time

LJMU's Evidence-Informed Practice programme is designed for 'in-service' criminal justice professionals who want to develop research skills.

• MSc Policing and Criminal Investigation

Full time

Study for a Policing and Criminal Investigation MSc at LJMU and work with crime victims and witnesses to enhance your knowledge and key skills in this area.

• Previous Image
• Next Image

Connect with us

• Instagram
• TikTok
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• YouTube
• Spotify

Study

Study

• Undergraduate students
• Postgraduate students
• International students
• Degree Apprenticeships
• Continuing Professional Development
• Applicants

About LJMU

About LJMU

• Your Student Experience
• Staff profiles
• Liverpool
• Our vision and values
• LJMU achievements and impact
• Celebrating LJMU's history
• Vacancies at LJMU

Get in touch

Get in touch

• Contact LJMU
• How to find us
• Press Office

Legal

Legal

• Accessibility statement
• Copyright notice
• Disclaimer
• Freedom of Information
• Governance and charitable status
• Modern Slavery Statement
• Privacy notice and cookies
• Cookie Preferences

2025 Liverpool John Moores University - All Rights Reserved

Cookie settings

Some essential features of our website won't work without cookies. Please check your cookie settings below and deselect any you wish to opt out of:

Essential cookies

Required

Essential cookies cannot be turned off as they are key in helping you to navigate through our website and use its features.

Marketing cookies

These cookies collect information about your browsing habits in order to make advertising more relevant to you and your interests, and measure the effectiveness of advertising campaigns.

Analytics cookies

These cookies capture anonymous data that helps us to understand how people are using our site, so that we can continually improve it.

Personalisation cookies

These cookies allow the website to remember the choices you make and provide enhanced, more personal features.

Learn more about our cookies

Accept all Reject all Save preferences