MSc Policing and Criminal Investigation | Part-time
- Entry year:
- 2025/26
- Start date:
- September
- Study mode:
- Part-time
- Course duration:
- 2 years
- Campus:
- Mount Pleasant
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
Your Learning Experience
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
What you can expect from your School
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.
Course tutors
Dr Heather Panter
- Programme leader
I am a passionate teacher who draws on my previous police experience to create an innovative pedagogic environment which enables students to both grasp and apply complex criminological and investigative ideas.
I am a passionate teacher who draws on my previous police experience to create an innovative pedagogic environment which enables students to both grasp and apply complex criminological and investigative ideas.
Heather is programme leader for Policing and Criminal Investigation. Her research interests include LGBT+ criminology, investigative science and crime scene processing, and death studies. Her past publications have focused on social biases, gender theories, psychological conflict theories, issues surrounding social acceptance of those in stigmatised minority groups within policing, and LGBT+ bias within death investigations. Heather is a retired police detective with a combined 13 years of American law enforcement experience with local and federal police agencies.
Career paths
Further your career prospects
LJMU has an excellent employability record with 96% (HESA 2018) of our postgraduates in work or further study six 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 e.g. 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:
- £53.05
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
Apply for a College of Policing bursary
The 2024 College of Policing bursary scheme is now open for applications from serving police officers, closing on Thursday 4 April.
The College of Policing bursary offers a maximum of £4,000 towards two years of course fees at higher education level – for example, studying for a BSc/BA, masters degree or PhD.
Entry requirements
You will need:
Qualification requirements
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
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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.