Criminal Law and Criminal Justice (LLM)

Programme Description

This programme offers the ideal opportunity to study contemporary debates in both criminal law and criminal justice at an advanced level.

Our wide portfolio of courses will help you understand the key concepts and theories underpinning criminal law and criminal justice and how they operate in practice.

It is suitable for students who have studied law at undergraduate level and wish to develop their understanding of criminal justice in particular. It prepares you for further work in this area, whether professional or academic.

Programme structure

You must complete 180 credits of study – 60 credits are taken in the compulsory dissertation and the remaining 120 credits are taken in taught courses.

On these courses your studies will be led by members of the Law School academic community. You are expected to prepare in advance by reading the required materials and by reflecting on the issues to be discussed, and your participation in classes will be assessed.

For the dissertation you will have a supervisor from whom you can expect guidance and support, but the purpose of the dissertation is to allow you to independently design and conduct a piece of research and analysis. Courses are assessed primarily by way of essay and other written work, but oral presentations may also be required.

Please note that due to unforeseen circumstances or lack of demand for particular courses, we may not be able to run all courses as advertised come the start of the academic year.

• Programme structure and courses

Learning outcomes

Having completed the programme, students will emerge with an understanding of contemporary debates in criminal law theory and doctrine, the ability critically to analyse existing practice and new developments in this and related subjects, and advanced-level skills in legal research and analysis.

Career Opportunities

This programme is ideal preparation for students considering further work in the field of criminal law and criminal justice, whether professional or academic.

Visit the Criminal Law and Criminal Justice (LLM) page on the University of Edinburgh website for more details!