Global Crime, Justice and Security MSc
Awards: MSc
Study modes: Full-time, Part-time
Funding opportunities
Programme website: Global Crime, Justice and Security
This programme provides an excellent opportunity to study global developments in the field of crime, criminal law, justice and security.
This MSc is ideal for students with a background in criminology, international relations, law, politics, governance studies or sociology. As a student on this programme, you will have access to the expertise and insight of our active community of researchers, international scholars and local practitioners. The programme is truly interdisciplinary, with teaching provided by academics from both the School of Law and the School of Social & Political Science.
The two compulsory courses on the programme introduce you to different forms and contexts of global crime and how we respond to these, whilst the wide range of courses allows you to tailor the programme to your areas of particular interest.
You can benefit from top-quality training in research methods and skills essential both for doctoral study, or employment in the field of criminal justice and security.
You must complete 180 credits of study – 60 credits are taken in the compulsory dissertation and the remaining 120 credits are taken in taught courses, which may include the options listed below.
You are expected to prepare in advance by reading the required materials and by reflecting on the issues to be discussed, and your participation in classes will be assessed.
For the dissertation you will have a supervisor from whom you can expect guidance and support, but the purpose of the dissertation is to allow you to independently design and conduct a piece of research and analysis.
Please note that due to unforeseen circumstances or lack of demand for particular courses, we may not be able to run all courses as advertised come the start of the academic year.
Find out more about compulsory and optional courses
We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.
Award | Title | Duration | Study mode | |
---|---|---|---|---|
MSc | Global Crime, Justice and Security | 1 Year | Full-time | Programme structure 2024/25 |
MSc | Global Crime, Justice and Security | 2 Years | Part-time | Programme structure 2024/25 |
Students who complete the MSc will acquire an advanced understanding of the major contemporary debates and theoretical perspectives on crime, justice and security in a global context, and will enhance their research and analytic skills.
Our graduates have found employment in a range of settings including commercial security consultancy and management, banking and anti-money laundering work, cyber security research, and civil service and third sector roles. Some have gone on to further professional or academic study in crime-related fields, and those with existing professional experience have been promoted in their workplace.
These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.
A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in law or a social science subject.
We will also consider candidates with a degree in a related discipline which includes relevant prior study.
In evaluating your application for postgraduate study, greater emphasis may be placed upon results of prior learning in subjects relevant to the intended degree programme.
Entry to this programme is competitive and meeting the minimum requirements for consideration does not guarantee an offer of study.
Supporting your application
Relevant work experience is not required but may increase your chances of acceptance.
Relevant professional qualifications will be considered.
Preference will be given to those with grades above the minimum requirements due to strong competition for places on this programme.
Students from China
This degree is Band A.
International qualifications
Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:
English language requirements
Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.
English language tests
We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:
- IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 7.0 in writing and 6.5 in all other components. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
- TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 25 in writing and 23 in all other components.
- C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 185 in writing and 176 in all other components.
- Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
- PTE Academic: total 73 with at least 73 in writing and 65 in all other components. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
- Oxford ELLT: 8 overall with at least 8 in writing and 7 in all other components.
Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.
Degrees taught and assessed in English
We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:
We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).
If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.
Find out more about our language requirements:
Award | Title | Duration | Study mode | |
---|---|---|---|---|
MSc | Global Crime, Justice and Security | 1 Year | Full-time | Tuition fees |
MSc | Global Crime, Justice and Security | 2 Years | Part-time | Tuition fees |
Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.
Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:
borrowing money
taking out a loan
family support
personal savings
income from work
employer sponsorship
- scholarships
Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study
UK government postgraduate loans
If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.
The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:
- your programme
- the duration of your studies
- your tuition fee status
Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.
Other funding opportunities
Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:
- Edinburgh Law School Postgraduate Office
- Phone: +44 (0)131 650 2386
- Contact: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
- Phone: +44 (0)131 650 9697
- Edinburgh Law School Postgraduate Office
- Old College
- South Bridge
- Central Campus
- Edinburgh
- EH9 9YL
- Programme: Global Crime, Justice and Security
- School: Law
- College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
Applying
Select your programme and preferred start date to begin your application.
MSc Global Crime, Justice and Security - 1 Year (Full-time)
MSc Global Crime, Justice and Security - 2 Years (Part-time)
Due to high demand, the school operates a number of selection deadlines. We will make a small number of offers to the most outstanding candidates on an ongoing basis, but hold the majority of applications until the next published selection deadline when we will offer a proportion of the places available to applicants selected through a competitive process.
Deadlines for applicants applying to study in 2025/6 will be published shortly.
Please be aware that applications must be submitted and complete, i.e. all required documents uploaded, by the relevant application deadline in order to be considered in that round. Your application will still be considered if you have not yet met the English language requirement for the programme.
You must submit one reference with your application.
Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:
Further information
- Edinburgh Law School Postgraduate Office
- Phone: +44 (0)131 650 2386
- Contact: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
- Phone: +44 (0)131 650 9697
- Edinburgh Law School Postgraduate Office
- Old College
- South Bridge
- Central Campus
- Edinburgh
- EH9 9YL
- Programme: Global Crime, Justice and Security
- School: Law
- College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences