MSc Criminology and Criminal Justice

The Criminology and Criminal Justice programme at the University College Dublin is a unique programme, based in Ireland’s only Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice, for non-lawyers who wish to work in the field of criminology and criminal justice.

Quick Facts

Duration 1 year full-time
2 years part-time
Start Date September
Tuition Fee €21,520 per year full-time
€10,760 per year part-time
Location Dublin, Ireland

Programme Aims

  • To understand and think critically about the intersections between law, politics and social policy that come to the fore in the study of Criminology and Criminal Justice;
  • To apply knowledge and understanding of Criminology and Criminal Justice to real and hypothetical factual situations;
  • To conduct independent research and write coherent, well-structured papers.

Courses include:

  • Gender, Conflict-related Harm & Transitional Justice
  • Crime and Society
  • Punishment, Prisons & Public Policy
  • Advanced Criminological Theory
  • Desistance, Rehabilitation and Reintegration
  • Victims

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Career Opportunities

The Criminology and Criminal Justice programme at the University College Dublin provides opportunities for those who wish to work or are already working in relevant areas, such as policing, youth justice, prisons, probation and voluntary organisations to enhance their knowledge of the field. It also provides a good platform for doctoral studies and a possible academic career in what has become an area of substantial growth in universities around the world.

We have an excellent Careers Development Centre here at UCD, designed to help you with information regarding future employment or studies. UCD hold a number of graduate events throughout the year including a dedicated law fair at which at which many of the big Law firms will be in attendance. The School of Law has a dedicated careers advisor on it’s Academic staff, and a staff member from the careers office will be in attendance at the School of law on a number of occasions throughout the academic year.

Why study with us?

UCD is consistently ranked in the top 1% of higher education institutions worldwide. In the 2022 QS World University Rankings, UCD was again named as one of the best universities globally, and was placed 173rd in the world.

UCD is the most international and diverse university in Ireland with 8,500 international students from 130 different countries. Our network of 288,000 successful and influential alumni can be found in 169 different countries around the world.

The UCD campus is one of the largest urban campuses in Europe and is situated just 5 kilometres from Ireland’s capital city of Dublin. Our students enjoy world-class teaching and learning facilities, modern and comfortable student accommodation, state-of-the art sports and fitness amenities, an Olympic sized swimming pool, a cinema, cafes and student centre all on our beautiful, nature-filled campus. 

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