Criminology and Policing postgraduate courses

Based at the distinctive One Friar Gate Square building in the city centre, we have a self-contained site, which houses its own cafe, learning spaces and specialist facilities including a replica Crown Court, interview rooms and student legal advice centre, making this the perfect environment for innovative and engaging learning. 

We are home to Derby Law School, the International Centre of Excellence in Policing and Criminal Justice, as well as the Social, Cultural and Legal Research Centre in which many of our postgraduate academics play an active role. Within the research centre, there is a Criminology, Policing and Investigation cluster, which conducts research that seeks explanations and motivations for criminal behaviour, while also researching how criminality and criminal behaviour can be tackled to prevent future occurrence.

By studying a postgraduate Criminology and Policing course at the University of Derby, you will be able to upskill, specialise or develop new skills that can help you progress in the Criminal Justice sector. 

What opportunities can a postgraduate course offer you?

• Academic and research roles
• Career progression
• Crime prevention
• Intelligence and security
• Law enforcement
• Policy making

Police leaders today have to operate in a transparent, ethical and highly accountable arena - where their decisions are often scrutinised by politicians, the media and the general public. The Policing vision 2025 outlines the plan for professionalising policing over the next ten years, and acknowledges the social and political challenges our forces face. Our MSc in Police Leadership, Strategy and Organisation aims to meet the professional development of current and future leaders as well as providing a provision for individuals with high potential and capacity to shape the future of the profession. 

Meeting 21st century priorities

This exciting course offers a unique combination of the latest business and management thinking, criminology and social sciences - all applied to the complex challenges of contemporary policing. It has been launched at a time of calls for greater public accountability, the growing importance of community partnerships and, in some quarters, a crisis of confidence in the integrity of police services.

Our MSc goes well beyond traditional public sector skills and generic leadership programmes. It gives you an in-depth knowledge of the critical issues surrounding police accountability, independence, policing effectiveness, performance and organisational transformation. It will stretch and inspire you to take your leadership skills to the highest professional standards.

Powerful networks

You’ll benefit from the wisdom of some of the most influential figures in policing today. We pride ourselves on a superb network of contacts, from chief constables and crime commissioners, to the representatives from national policing organisations such as Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, the College of Policing, the Chartered Management Institute and representatives of the private sector. They have played a key role in the design of our course to ensure it matches the needs of the profession today.

These strong partnerships mean we can offer an outstanding visiting speaker programme, enabling you to discuss issues - in complete confidence - with leaders in the field. We also host regular events with organisations such as the Society of Evidence-based Policing and the British Society of Criminology.

A truly global outlook

Our approach provides a unique bridge between policing in the UK and the rest of the world. While other police leadership courses focus primarily on the UK and USA, our MSc boasts a broader international perspective and you’ll find yourself sharing insights and experience with senior police officers from around the world.

Teaching Team

You can be confident in our quality of teaching as we have an experienced team of academics that have over 250 years combined experience in the criminal justice sector. They’ll give you a fresh perspective on real world policing alongside relevant academic theories.