Program Overview

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Introduction to the MSt in Applied Criminology, Penology and Management

The Master of Studies (MSt) programme in Applied Criminology, Penology and Management is a two-year part-time programme that equips senior and future leaders in criminal justice with the skills and knowledge to reflect on existing policy and practice and build towards better professional practice.

Programme Overview

The programme is designed to provide students with cutting-edge knowledge of criminological theory and research, and to equip them with high levels of academic support to develop independent research skills. The course content reflects the diversity of the socio-political, professional, and educational backgrounds of the students.

Teaching Blocks

The programme consists of four eight-day and two five-day residential blocks in Cambridge, across two years of study. Students are introduced to key criminological concepts, including legitimacy, compliance, desistance, and deterrence, as well as key methodological skills, including qualitative and quantitative approaches, ethics, and insider research.

Year One

Year One focuses on substantive criminological knowledge and the development of essential academic skills. The course is loosely structured around five key strands:

• Criminological theory & research
• Prisons and imprisonment
• Criminal justice & the community
• Sentencing, the legal context & court issues
• Leadership and management in criminal justice

Year Two

Year Two is mainly focused on research methods training, equipping students with the knowledge they need to write a substantial dissertation. The dissertation may be based on either library or fieldwork.

Assessment

Year One is assessed by three essays, each of 3,000 words, from titles that students select from topics covered by the course. Year Two is assessed by a research methods assignment (of no more than 4,000 words) and a dissertation (of no more than 18,000 words).

Course Fees

The total charge for the course is Ł22,000 (charged at Ł11,000 per annum), which covers the University composition fee and extra costs, including mandatory residential teaching blocks, college accommodation, and other related expenses.

Application and Admission

Applications are open from September to December each year. The Institute takes an inclusive approach to recruitment, focusing on candidates' motivations, skills, experience, and potential.

Research Areas

The Institute of Criminology has six active research centres:

• The Jerry Lee Centre for Experimental Criminology
• The Centre for Analytical Criminology
• The Centre for Penal Theory and Ethics
• The Prisons Research Centre
• The Centre for Community, Gender and Social Justice
• The Violence Research Centre

Teaching Team

The MSt students are taught by an academic team with world-leading criminological expertise, including:

• Dr Jake Phillips, Associate Professor and Director of the MSt in Applied Penology
• Professor Ben Crewe, Deputy Director of the Prisons Research Centre
• Dr Katherine Auty, Research Associate at the Prisons Research Centre
• Dr Jane Dominey, Senior Research Associate at the Centre for Community, Gender and Social Justice
• Professor Manuel Eisner, Wolfson Professor of Criminology and Director of the Institute of Criminology
• Dr Hannah Gaffney, Betty Behrens Research Fellow at Clare Hall
• Professor Loraine Gelsthorpe, Emeritus Professor of Criminology & Criminal Justice
• Mr Tom Hawker-Dawson, Brenda Hale Fellow in Law at Girton College
• Dr Susie Hulley, Research Associate at the Prisons Research Centre
• Dr Caroline Lanskey, University Lecturer in Criminology and Criminal Justice
• Dr Ben Laws, Research Associate at the Department of Social Anthropology
• Professor Alison Liebling, Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice
• Dr Jake Longhorn, Research Associate at the Institute of Criminology
• Professor Nicola Padfield, Emeritus Professor of Criminal and Penal Justice
• Dr Gabriela Roman, Senior Research Associate at the Institute of Criminology
• Dr Philip Stiles, Associate Professor at the Cambridge Judge Business School
• Dr Justice Tankebe, Lecturer in Criminology
• Dr Ali Wigzell, Research Associate at the Institute of Criminology
• Dr Lucy Willmott, Teaching and Research Associate at the Institute of Criminology

Support Staff

The Institute has a team of support staff, including the Graduate Programmes Manager, MSt Course Administrators, and Library staff, who are available to provide assistance and support to students.

Accommodation

MSt students matriculate as members of Homerton College, which provides accommodation during teaching blocks. The College has a range of facilities, including a library, gym, and dining hall.

Getting Around

Homerton College is located near the city centre and is easily accessible by bus or bike. Parking is available on site, but students are encouraged to use public transport or walk/bike whenever possible.

Useful Information

Students have access to a range of resources and support services, including the University Counselling Service, Disability Services, and the Graduate Union. The Institute also provides guidance on study skills, plagiarism, and referencing.