Crime Science MSc

Find out more about our Crime Science MSc and its four routes of study

Our Crime Science MSc is an internationally renowned programme that focuses on applying science to crime problems, developing strategies for preventing crime, and increasing the probability of detecting and arresting offenders.

This is a multidisciplinary degree, drawing on expertise in psychology, social science, statistics, mathematics, architecture, forensic sciences, design, geography and computing.

Those wishing to study our MSc in Crime Science can select one of the four routes detailed below.

Routes of study

Our Crime Science MSc provides students with a thorough understanding of how science and scientifically based techniques can deliver immediate and sustainable reductions in crime.

The programme focuses on how to better apply science to understand crime problems, develop strategies for preventing them, and increase the probability of detecting and arresting offenders.

Through a wide choice of optional modules this programme offers students the flexibility to tailor the focus of their degree toward various areas of crime that include Research Methods & Analysis, Policy & Future Planning, Cybercrime, Forensics and Criminal Justice and Organised Crime.

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Data has turned into a high-value strategic asset that affects nearly every aspect of our changing society. It’s allowing us to gain ever deeper insights into how people interact and connect with each other and is changing the way we respond to national and global challenges through a more profound understanding of the processes that underpin our everyday lives.

The Crime Science with Data Science MSc route will equip students with the skills and knowhow for developing strategies to understand and effectively respond to real-world problems using data-driven approaches.

Students will become proficient in the application of data science principles to evaluate the value of, and utilise crime and security data through critical assessment, statistical interpretation and an in-depth understanding of data analytics.

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Cybercrime is a borderless global problem that affects governments, businesses, and individuals. Cybercriminals often operate maliciously and their methods for exploiting human and security vulnerabilities and are becoming ever more sophisticated. As digital revolution continues to grow and the world becomes more dependant and trusting of online platforms for services and social interactions, new opportunities for criminal activity will emerge.

The Crime Science with Cybercrime MSc route provides students with the opportunity to learn about the drivers, motives, and dynamics of cybercriminal operations, and the various actors involved in carrying them out.

By laying the groundwork for studying cutting-edge cyber-security technologies, students will gain knowledge of how multidisciplinary approaches can be adopted to establish where pinch-points exist in the commission processes of cybercrime, and design mitigation techniques to effectively disrupt them.

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The Crime Science with Serious Organised Crime MSc route provides students with a thorough understanding of how science and scientifically-based techniques can tackle challenges in serious and organised crime.

Students will become equipped with the knowledge and skills that are sought after by both government and industry to address ongoing and evolving challenges in this area.

Thse range from disrupting the networks within which crime groups operate, gaining insights into their structure, and developing techniques for detecting and mitigating immediate and sustainable reductions in crime.

Students will also learn how to identify and critically assess various mechanisms that allow organised criminals to successfully operate, and embody a problem-based multidisciplinary approach to effectively tackle these issues

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A flexible approach to learning

We offer the MSc Crime Science and its routes in a variety of ways so it can fit around your work and other commitments:

Crime Science MSc is offered as full-time in person study (one year course), full time distance learning study (one year course), modular flexible in person study (up to five years) and modular flexible distance learning study (up to five years).
Crime Science with Data Science MSc is offered as full time in person study (one year course) and modular flexible in person study (up to five years). This programme does not have a distance learning option.
Crime Science with Cybercrime MSc is offered as full time in person study (one year course) and modular flexible in person study (up to five years). This programme does not have a distance learning option.
Crime Science with Serious Organised Crime MSc is offered as full time in person study (one year course), full time distance learning study (one year course), modular flexible in person study (up to five years) and modular flexible distance learning study (up to five years).

Find out more about distance learning

Facilities

The Jill Dando Research Laboratory (JDIRL) is a state-of-the-art secure computer facility, the first of its kind in Europe. It allows our students and staff to conduct world-leading research, using sensitive datasets that would not otherwise be easily accessible. Our partners include UK police forces, national and local government agencies, private companies and NGOs.

As a student on the MSc Crime Science and its routes, you will be able to apply to gain access to these datasets for your dissertation research (subject to appropriate personal security checks).

Career prospects

The interdisciplinary nature of the programme equips its graduates with transferable skills such as problem solving, quantitative and qualitative analysis, research methods and critical thinking. These skills open the doors to a wide range of career paths.

Career development following graduation from this route includes front-line jobs in crime science, such as intelligence and crime prevention analysts; jobs in research and policy, ranging from the civil service and academia to NGOs and think-tanks; and careers in the private sector, covering areas such as data science, risk management, fraud and security analysis.

Many of our graduates have gone on to successful careers in the field of crime prevention and detection for public sector employers such as the Home Office, police and Ministry of Defence, or private sector companies with a crime prevention and community safety focus. Other graduates go on to further doctoral research.

See our alumni profiles for more information

Networking

The programme offers an array of networking opportunities such as careers events, seminars and annual events such as the Women in Security, Crime and Forensic Science showcase and the International Crime Science Conference. All of these events aim to enrich students’ academic experience and professional growth.

These events also provide a platform for students to connect with practitioners across the world and researchers across academia, government, and related organisations, offering a chance to learn from their expertise and establish valuable contacts.

Student testimonials

High-quality teaching and facilities, the incredibly vast amount of published material students have access to, diversity of course offering, variety of high-level guest speakers and diversity of backgrounds of people I studied and worked with are the best bits of studying at UCL Security and Crime Science for me.

Thanks to the MSc in Crime Science, I have come to believe interdisciplinary research is often crucial to advancing understanding and solving problems. By merging techniques from different fields, I have managed to develop new theories and solutions. This has been extremely important for my career. I went on to study a PhD in Criminal Justice at John Jay College in New York.

I enjoyed the practical focus of the course: such as the opportunity to learn analytical tools, and the hands-on experience dealing with real-world problems of direct concern to decision makers.

During the MSc in Crime Science I had serious health issues that made time management a real challenge. However, the invaluable continuing support and understanding of UCL Security and Crime Science staff and professors allowed me not only to complete the programme but to graduate with Distinction.