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Applied Management of Offending Behaviour MSc

Why do people commit crime? And what makes them stop? Untangle the causes of criminality, explore management options and research routes out of offending. Studying with us, you’ll develop the expertise for a career in criminal justice.

Overview

Course length: 1 year full-time
2 years part-time
Start dates: September 2025
September 2026
Location: Online study
Subject(s): Policing and Criminal Justice
Faculty: Arts and Sciences
Department: Law and Criminal Justice
Four students talking, sat around a desk, in the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine.

What role should criminal justice agencies play in rehabilitation? How should we manage individuals who have committed a crime? You’ll learn how to question the theory, policy and practice of managing offending behaviour.

This Masters, which is delivered entirely online, is perfect if you currently work in probation, prison, youth justice, policing or community settings. Or, if you’re ready to launch your career, we’ll give you a competitive edge.

Develop expertise in the issues professionals are facing while working in this challenging area. Explore the processes, contexts, risks and protective factors behind criminal behaviour.

You’ll look at the complex web of power connecting crime, law and order. See how offender management is affected by the police, courts and prison system and conduct your own research in an area that interests you.

Course features

  • International students can apply

What you'll study

Explore the roles of people and the state in different kinds of crime and offending. Uncover the complicated relationships between psychosocial factors and economic realities that lead people into criminality.

We’ll help you understand the risk factors that are linked to different offences. You’ll also examine the role of psychosocial and political factors, as well as exploring historical and international views for context.

You’ll use research to analyse and assess how the various criminal justice agencies manage people who commit crimes. Then you’ll investigate how offenders can be supported back into mainstream society. You’ll look at the how and the why behind rehabilitation success stories.

We’ll also cover research methods and research ethics to prepare you for the culmination of the programme. You’ll write a dissertation critically evaluating an area of offending behaviour management and identifying any gaps in current research.

Compulsory modules:

Expand all
Crime Typologies
Dissertation
Management of Offenders
Offending and Risk
Pathways to Desistance
Research Methods
The Social and Economic Contexts of Crime

How you'll study

The course will be delivered online through a combination of lectures, workshops, tutorials and independent study.

You can expect to receive your timetable at enrolment. Please note that while we make every effort to ensure that timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day or evening of the week.

How you'll be assessed

You will be assessed through a combination of written coursework, online presentations, time-limited assessments, and personal research in the form of a dissertation.

Who will be teaching you

You will be taught by tutors whose research and teaching has a well-established national and international reputation, for instance, in areas of youth justice, sex offending, and restorative justice. We are committed to focused teaching where tutors concentrate primarily on areas of specialism. You will benefit from studying in a highly committed and research-active department.

Your future career

Our MSc Applied Management of Offending Behaviour course is ideal preparation for a career in any of the key criminal justice agencies. You can use your Masters to open doors in probation, youth justice, prisons and the police. Our course is particularly suitable if you intend to apply for management positions.

You’ll also be well placed to pursue a career working with offenders outside of the criminal justice system. You might choose a role in community-based programmes, restorative justice, youth work or victim support.

If you want to carry out further applied research in the management of offending behaviour, this Masters is also an excellent launch pad to do just that.

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

You should have a degree equivalent to UK first-class or upper second-class honours (2:1 or above) in a relevant subject such as criminology, psychology or social sciences.

Applications from graduates with a 2:2 in a relevant subject, or a 2:1 in an unrelated subject, who have experience of working within the criminal justice system will also be considered.

An interview may form part of the selection process.

English language requirements

International students require IELTS 6.5, with a score no lower than 6.0 in each individual component, or an equivalent English language qualification.

If your current level of English is half a band, one band, or one-and-a-half bands lower, either overall or in one or two elements, you may want to consider our Pre-Sessional English course.

How to apply

Please note, this course is now closed to international applications for 2024 entry.

There is an online application process for this course.

Please choose the application form for your preferred intake date and mode of study.

Please see our international student pages for further information about how to apply as a prospective international student.

Should you accept an offer of a place to study with us and formally enrol as a student, you will be subject to the provisions of the regulations, rules, codes, conditions and policies which apply to our students. These are available at www.edgehill.ac.uk/studentterms.

Visit Edge Hill University

There’s plenty of opportunities to come take a look around campus. Attend one of our open days to see what life at Edge Hill University is all about.

Book an open day

Facilities

Law and Psychology buildingThe ÂŁ6million Law and Psychology building provides contemporary teaching and learning facilities for students in the School of Law and Criminal Justice and the Department of Psychology.

The three-storey building includes a 250-seat lecture theatre, seminar and tutorial rooms, and social learning areas which encourage a more informal and interactive style of learning.

Where you'll study

Law and Psychology

Finance

Tuition fees

UK Full-Time

ÂŁ9,250

for the course

UK Part-Time

ÂŁ51 per credit

for 180 credits

International

ÂŁ17,000

for the course

EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, as well as Irish nationals, may be eligible for the UK tuition fee rate.

Financial support

Please view the relevant Money Matters guide for comprehensive information about the financial support available to eligible UK students joining postgraduate courses at Edge Hill University.

EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme may be eligible to apply for financial support. Irish nationals can ordinarily apply to Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). If you are an EU student who does not have settled or pre-settled status, or are an international student from a non-EU country, please see our international student finance pages.

Download our course leaflet