School of Law

Regulations for the Degree of Master of Arts in Criminal Justice

For the purpose of these Regulations, 'the Board of Examiners' refers to examiners as constituted at Board of Examiners' meetings in June and September or, where appropriate, at the School Board following the relevant meeting of the Board of Examiners.

All units involved in the undergraduate and postgraduate taught courses referred to below are credit-rated in accordance with the principles contained in the CATS Guide and Regulations (see Section IV). Details of how the CATS arrangements apply to each course is included in the relevant student handbooks.
  1. The degree of Master of Arts in Criminal Justice (MA (Criminal Justice)) shall be awarded by Senate to candidates who have satisfactorily completed not less than twelve months' full-time study, or twenty four months' part-time study, and satisfied the Board of Examiners as to the required assessment. The degree may be awarded with Distinction.

  2. The requirement for entry to the course shall normally be a good honours degree of any approved University. Candidates with other qualifications may be accepted by School Board.

  3. A candidate shall be assessed at such time or times as shall be prescribed by School Board prior to the commencement of his/her course and must satisfy the Board of Examiners in a dissertation in accordance with Regulation 4(a)(i) below, in each of the four core subjects (except Methods in Criminological Research) listed in Regulation 4(a)(ii) below, and in each of three subjects selected in accordance with Regulation 4(a)(iii) below. Each of the core subjects (except Methods in Criminological Research) and each of the three optional subjects taken shall be examined by assessed work. Methods in Criminological Research will not be examined, but candidates will be required to comply with Regulation 5 below in respect of that subject.

  4. The course shall commence in October and shall consist of:

    1. the preparation of a dissertation in a subject approved by the Head of School; and

    2. studies in the following core subjects:

      Criminology
      Criminal Justice Process
      Law and Theories of Justice
      Methods in Criminological Research;

      and

    3. subject to the agreement of the Head of School, studies in any three of the following subjects which School Board decides shall be available during the year or years in question:

      Criminal Evidence
      Criminal Responsibility
      Youth Justice
      Penal Policy Making
      Police Governance and Accountability
      Race, Politics and Society
      Punishment in the Community

    The School Board shall have power to add to the lists of topics in Regulation 4(ii) and (iii) above from time to time, and also to withdraw any topics from such lists.

  5. Candidates shall be required regularly to attend and to perform the prescribed work of the course to the satisfaction of the Head of the School of Law.

  6. Each candidate shall submit the title of his/her dissertation not later than the end of the eighth week of the second term of the course. Completed dissertations, which shall be typewritten, shall be lodged with the School Registrar not later than 30 September in the year following the commencement of the course. In exceptional cases, and with the permission of the Head of the School of Law, the dissertation may be submitted by a later specified date.

    1. A candidate failing to satisfy the Board of Examiners in one subject only may, on one subsequent occasion, submit supplementary assessed work by a date to be specified.

    2. A candidate whose performance, in the view of Board of Examiners, may have been adversely affected by medical or other exceptional and substantial circumstances may be permitted to submit supplementary assessed work by a date or dates to be specified.

    3. Without prejudice to 7(a) above, a candidate failing to satisfy the Board of Examiners in the dissertation may resubmit a revised dissertation on the same topic on one subsequent occasion by a date to be specified by School Board.