UCL Department of Security and Crime Science

The MSc in Countering Organised Crime and Terrorism is aimed at security professionals whose role involves developing and implementing strategies to address the threat of extremism, against public, corporate and critical targets. The course is also suitable for those wishing to make a career in these areas.

The course is delivered by experienced practitioners and researchers working in counter-terrorism, intelligence, law enforcement, risk assessment and security technology. Students also benefit from full access to UCL experts on a range of ethical, political, religious, and community issues.

Taught in central London, this integrated programme can be taken FULL-TIME (one year) or PART-TIME (normally over two or three years, but can be extended to five). Learning is also facilitated through access to secured online seminars, course materials and research articles.

UCL offers the students and their organisations an opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge needed to address a particular security-related project.

Objectives

Students who graduate from the MSc in Countering Organised Crime and Terrorism programme will have acquired:

• An overview of organised crime and terrorism
• An understanding of the theory of risk analysis
• An understanding of the techniques for gathering and analysis of intelligence for countering terrorism and organised crime
• An understanding of factors influencing decision-making
• An understanding of the counter-terrorism technology
• An understanding of strategies for prevention, detection and disruption of terrorism activities 
• An understanding of related legal, political, religious, social, and economic aspects.
• An understanding of the subjects complementary to, but outside of, terrorism and organised crime, such as media communications.
• An understanding of leadership and contingency planning
• An understanding of techniques applicable to research and advanced scholarship

STUDY STREAMS

Students on the MSc take one of two streams of study:

Stream A

Comprises six core modules (90 credits) plus two elective modules (30 credits) and a research project (60 credits) 

Stream B

Comprises six core modules (90 credits) and a major research project (90 credits)

Students are expected to take Stream A unless you are able to satisfy the course director that you have access to the type of data required to undertake the longer research project.

FULL TIME STUDENTS

Full time students complete the course in one year. Students should allow at least two hours a week for library visits and approximately 10 additional hours per week, per module for studying.

Students will attend core module lectures on Thursdays and Fridays in term one and Fridays in term two. Terms two and three are also dedicated to exams and the research project.

Students will also take two optional modules, the timetable for this varies depending on the module. We are unable to provide a timetable for this because many of the modules are organised by other departments and can vary from year to year.

PART TIME STUDENTS

Although part time students can complete the course in up to five years, completion in two or three year completion is normal.

• Two years

In the first year, students will attend core module lectures on Friday mornings from 9am to 1pm in terms one and two. Term three is the exam period. In the second year, students will attend core module lectures from 9am to 1pm and 4pm to 5pm on Thursdays in term one. Terms two and three are dedicated to exams and the research project.

Students will also take two optional modules over the two years, the timetable for this varies depending on the module. We are unable to provide a timetable for this because many of the modules are organised by other departments and can vary from year to year.

Students should allow at least two hours a week for library visits and approximately 10 additional hours per week, per module for studying.

• Three years

In the first year, students will attend core module lectures on Friday mornings from 9am to 1pm in terms one and two. Term three is the exam period. In the second year, students will attend core module lectures from 9am to 1pm and 4pm to 5pm on Thursdays in term one. Term three is dedicated to exams. In the third year, students will undertake the research project.

Students will also take two optional modules, usually in year one or two, the timetable for this varies depending on the module. We are unable to provide a timetable for this because many of the modules are organised by other departments and can vary from year to year.

Students should allow at least two hours a week for library visits and approximately 10 additional hours per week, per module for studying.

CORE MODULES

The six compulsory modules are worth a total of 90 credits

Research Methods (assessed by one research paper and an unseen exam)

Dr Shane Johnson, UCL Department of Security and Crime Science

Provides students with an understanding of different types of research design and statistical analysis, with a particular focus on those methods and concepts that are appropriate to the study of terrorism and crime.

Perspectives on Organised Crime and Terrorism (assessed by two essays)

Dr Noemie Bouhana, UCL Department of Security and Crime Science

Provides students with an overview and understanding of the phenomenon of organised crime and terrorism. A number of special topics will be examined, such as suicide terrorism and the organised crime aspect of human trafficking; providing students with an up-to-date picture of the terrorist landscape and the pervasive influence of organised crime worldwide.

Risk and Contingency Planning (assessed by exam)

Dr Hervé Borrion, UCL Department of Security and Crime Science

Provides the student with frameworks and techniques for security risk assessment and contingency planning, incorporating cost-benefit analysis. It presents key elements of risk theory including quantitative assessment of threats, vulnerabilities and assets, and introduces the student to risk management.

Intelligence Gathering and Analysis (assessed by assignment and exam)

Mark Evans, UCL Department of Security and Crime Science

Provides an account of how intelligence gathering and analysis is organised in the UK. We will examine the intelligence life-cycle in some detail from the identification of an intelligence requirement through to the actions consequent on an intelligence report. Students will also become familiar with graphical and computer-based techniques for organising, analysing and presenting complex heterogeneous data.

Prevention and Disruption (assessed by essay)

Professor Nick Tilley, UCL Department of Security and Crime Science

This will focus on methods of preventing and disrupting terrorism and organised crime. Four major strategies are considered. The first comprises attempts to address the ideologies and belief systems; the second comprises efforts to anticipate and prevent organised crimes and terrorist acts of various kinds; the third comprises enforcement means used to disrupt, disable or suppress the activities of organised criminals and terrorist networks and the fourth comprises efforts to remove the economic basis for terrorist activities by attacking organised crime.

Investigation and Detection (assessed by essay)

Dr Ruth Morgan, UCL Department of Security and Crime Science

This provides students with an overview of the approaches used in detecting crime and terrorism. Students will study the scientific processes of hypothesis formulation and testing, drawing inferences and making deductions based on the available evidence, in addition to the science of probabilities and their relevance to crime investigation. The module will examine terrorist behaviour and decision-making and the implications for detection strategies.

OPTIONAL MODULES

For students taking Stream A: two modules must be chosen from the following list

Globalisation and Security aims to develop a critical understanding of relationships between globalisation and security via an engagement with social theory and the exploration of specific case study areas. It uses social theories to consider how discourses and practices of security are shifting in response to concerns about globalization. Rather than starting with a study of security threats, it examines security itself as a significant factor in shaping how societies - and globalisation more generally - work.

Thinking Scientifically aims to provide an understanding of the general principles of scientific thinking, and examine the relevance of these principles to the practical goals of crime detection and prevention. We will explore both the continuity and the differences between scientific thinking and everyday thinking. There will be a continual focus on fostering a critical attitude to current conventional wisdom and an analytic approach to problem-solving.

People and Security will enable students to specify usability criteria that a security mechanism has to meet to be workable for end-user groups and work contexts. You will also learn how to identify the strengths and weaknesses of particular security mechanisms in practice and be able to specify accompanying measures (policies, training, monitoring and ensuring compliance) that a user organisation needs to implement to ensure long-term security.

Peace and Security introduces students to major themes and debates in the contemporary study of international peace, security and stability. The course will survey a range of traditional and contemporary approaches and topics, including literatures on interstate warfare, alliance formation, deterrence and compellence, weapons of mass destruction, civil war and ethnic conflict, failed states, international terrorism, humanitarian intervention and peacekeeping, and the relationship between development and security.

Terrorism familiarises students with historical and theoretical descriptions of the decision made by non-state actors to employ terrorist violence, the nature of specific threats faced globally (both historically and in a contempoprary setting), and a brief overview of the range of options available to governments looking to counter this threat. Students will be asked to complete a comprehensive set of readings, to participate actively in seminar discussions, and to complete a long paper assignment.

Applied Research Methods I is designed to teach students how to conduct statistical analyses most appropriate for the application of crime science. It will provide students with the opportunity to apply these techniques using real and simulated data using computer packages (e.g. Excel and SPSS) routinely used in the discipline.

Applied Research Methods II considers the analysis of geographically referenced crime (and other) data, covering both the theory and application of the relevant techniques. It will provide students with the opportunity to analyse real and simulated data using Geographical Information Systems (e.g. ArcGIS) and other computer packages (e.g. CrimeStatIII) routinely used in the discipline.

DISSERTATION

Stream A: A report (dissertation) of 10,000 words – worth 33.3% of the programme (60 credits) to be submitted by 15 September of your final year.

Stream B: A report (dissertation) of 15,000 words – worth 50% of the programme (90 credits) to be submitted by 15 September 2012.

Eligibility

Applicants for admission should have, or expect to obtain before entry, a good Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline (for example criminology, psychology, sociology, law, geography or hard science) equivalent to an upper second class-degree at a UK university or five years or more relevant professional experience.

Candidates whose degree class falls below 2:1 but who have at least five years experience are also eligible. In exceptional circumstances, students who do not fulfil these requirements may be considered.

Applicants are asked to note that a pass mark on the module ‘research methods’ is a requirement of the course and those with limited mathematics/statistics in their qualifications may find this difficult. It is also recommended that students wishing to take elective modules possess a basic familiarity with the subject matter. 

Proficiency in the use of spoken and written English is required. Students whose first language is not English will need to meet the College's English language requirement.

Deadlines

Applications are considered throughout the year, but applicants are advised to apply early. The course deadline is officially 30 June. However, places are offered on a first come, first served basis and the course may be full before that deadline.

Application forms are available from:

Admissions and General Enquiries Office

University College London

Gower Street

London WC1 6BT

Email: admissions@ucl.ac.uk

Tel 020 7679 7742

Fax 020 7679 3112

or visit the website: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate-study

MSc in Countering Organised Crime and Terrorism

(*Please note there is an Application Processing Fee for all Postgraduate Taught programmes of £25 for online applications and £50 for paper applications.)

For those taking the programme over two or more years, you will be charged according to the number of credits you take that year, therefore the annual cost will vary according to your study load. However, the overall fee will be approximately the same as the full time fee, with a slight increase to allow for annual inflation:

A 15 credit component (equivalent to one taught module) corresponds to approximately £833 for home/EU students and £1667 for overseas students. The research project is 60 credits (or 90 credits in Stream B).

Fees are paid on an annual basis.

Please be advised that the deadline for applying for these scholarships has now passed. If you have been successful, you will be contacted by the middle of June with details of the bursary that we will be awarding you. We will not be contacting unsuccessful applicants, so if you do not hear from us by this time please assume that you have not been successful.

10 bursary scholarships available for the 2012-13 academic year

This year the UCL Department of Security and Crime Science and the UCL JDI Centre for the Forensic Sciences are offering up to 10 bursary scholarships that will pay between 25% to 100% of the course fee for students applying for one of our MSc courses:

• MSc in Crime and Forensic Science
• MSc in Crime Science
• MSc in Countering Organised Crime and Terrorism

When completing their application students wishing to apply for a bursary should do the following:

• In the Funding section of the application form where it asks If you hold or are intending to apply for funding please state: Name of Award please write:
  

  • "Bursary scholarship"

• Under Value and Duration of Award please write: 

  • "25%-100% of course fees, during the full term of the course"

Once the application has been assessed, students will be informed as to whether or not they have been awarded a bursary, and if so for what percentage of the course fee. Please be aware that the deadline for applying for these bursaries is April 30th 2012. However, we do make awards to outstanding candidates as and when we receive such applications, therefore we advise applying as early as possible. After April 30th 2012, you may still apply for the various courses, but not for these bursaries.

(Note: due to the highly competitive nature of these bursaries we strongly encourage all applicants to seek additional sources of funding.)