Everything you need to know...
-
What is the fee?
Home: £10,620 for the course
International/EU: £17,725 for the course -
How long will I study?
1 Year
-
Where will I study?
-
When do I start?
September 2025
Where will I study?
Course summary
- Engage with criminal justice professions and academic communities in the UK and internationally.
- Explore a range of topics such as mass imprisonment, policing and green criminology.
- Develop your skills through an academic dissertation or work-related project.
On this course, you’ll explore real-world contemporary international issues in criminology and criminal justice, from both academic and professional perspectives. You’ll develop excellent transferable skills to prepare you for further study or a range of careers – from policing and probation to youth justice and the third sector.
Come to an open day
Find out more at our postgraduate open days. Book now for your place.
How you learn
At Sheffield Hallam, all our courses are designed to engage you with the world and challenge you to think in new ways. You’ll get to collaborate with others, and you’ll be taught in a supportive environment where you can thrive.
You’ll be taught by tutors from a diverse range of professional, academic and research backgrounds – all qualified educators engaged in impactful research and scholarly activity.
Teaching is largely interactive – you’ll be challenged intellectually with a learning-focused approach that’s enriched by real-world employers and research. This means you can collaborate with students, experts and global organisations, preparing you to thrive personally, culturally and professionally.
You learn through:
- In-person teaching
- Employer-led sessions
- Remote learning and networking
- Collaboration with international universities and professionals
- Independent learning
- Applied learning
Course topics
While exploring contemporary international issues in criminology and criminal justice, you’ll use data to make criminological inquiries. You’ll put your knowledge into practice through a dissertation or work-related project.
Assessments are designed to be flexible and inclusive and to allow for personalisation and the focus on real world experiences allows you to develop your postgraduate skills and outcomes.
You’ll learn how to understand, critique and create knowledge and information, developing and practising the key skills and attributes that are essential for your career ahead. You’ll challenge and confirm the personal and professional values you need to become an active citizen within a diverse society – ambition, collaboration, inclusion, innovation and integrity.
Course support
You’ll have an exceptional, inclusive and flexible student experience, helping you to achieve your potential as a part of our vibrant Hallam community.
- Throughout your learning journey, you’ll experience a range of dedicated support, such as:
- Access to an academic adviser for the duration of the course.
- Regular formative feedback.
- Feedback on summative assessments.
- Support from the careers and employability service.
Course leaders and tutors
Paula Hamilton
Senior LecturerAs senior lecturer I am responsible for the development and delivery of range of Criminology undergraduate and postgraduate modules
Applied learning
Your course has been designed to embrace real-world challenges and provide you with the practical skills and knowledge you’ll need to be successful in your chosen field.
Live projects
Throughout the course, you’ll apply your learning to real-world issues, scenarios and research in criminology and criminal justice.
You’ll be able to draw on our strong links with criminal justice and related stakeholders – locally, nationally and internationally. You’ll have opportunities to learn by working – interacting with employers and stakeholders at various points of your course.
This includes an employer-led/industry-focused symposia – where live projects are set by external partners so you can apply your learning to the real world.
You’ll later complete your dissertation or work-related project on real-world problems or live projects within the criminal justice sector or with other related partners.
Networking opportunities
In-person teaching sessions will include valuable guest lectures from industry experts. You’ll also have opportunities to interact and network with international universities and/or criminal justice professionals.
These are great chances to engage with employers and apply your learning – enhancing your employability skills, attributes and values.
Future careers
This course prepares you for a career in:
- The Police
- The Probation Service
- The Youth Justice Service
- The Prison Service
- The National Crime Agency
- Victim support organisations
- Various inter-governmental and non-governmental organisations
- Third-sector organisations (victim support, criminal justice and offender management and support roles)
- Further studies and academia
Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for:
- Nacro
- The Probation Service
- South Yorkshire Police (and other police forces)
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | City Campus tour
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEquipment and facilities
Most of our teaching is conducted in dedicated lecture studios, small teaching rooms and computer labs.
You’ll work with:
- Innovative digital teaching and learning platforms and apps
- Specialist software
- Data analysis packages
- Data collection tools
We're investing £250 million in new facilities over the next five years. This means students have access to new, innovative, and flexible spaces to study and relax in, making their student experience even better.
Entry requirements
All students
Typically a degree in a relevant subject from a UK university or international equivalent or at least three years relevant professional experience. Applicants with a degree of less than a 2:2 (or equivalent) classification may be required to attend interview as part of the application process and make a commitment to engaging with study skills support as necessary as advised by the module team.
If English is not your first language you will need an IELTS 6.5 score with a minimum of 6.0 in writing and 5.5 in all other skill areas or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.5 or equivalent we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules
Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.
Final year
Compulsory modules
Contemporary International Issues In Criminal Justice & Penology
Contemporary International Issues In Criminology
Critical Inquiry In Criminology And Criminal Justice
Elective modules
Dissertation
Reform, Innovation And Change In Criminal Justice Practice
Social Research Methods
Work Related Project
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £10,620 for the course.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £17,725 for the course.
Postgraduate student loans
Up to £11,222 available for Home students on most masters courses.
Additional course costs
The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
General course additional costs
Additional costs for Sheffield Institute of Law and Justice (PDF, 141.3KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
