Security and Risk Management - MSc/PGDip/PGCert

This is for you if... you have, or aspire to have, responsibility for crime prevention, risk and security within your organisation.

Course description

The increasing professionalisation of the security industry has meant that both existing security professionals and those seeking entry into the profession view a postgraduate degree as essential to their career ambitions. The course will not only enable you to develop your academic knowledge of crime, risk and security management, but it will also strengthen your professional skills and abilities.

This distance learning degree will provide you with a thorough knowledge of security and crime risk analysis and management. You will develop an understanding of a range of theoretical models that explain why and how people commit crime, how to analyse and assess risk, and how to manage security. 

You will gain a thorough grounding in theory and practice of security and risk management. The course will equip you with the skills to engage in informed debate about major issues in security and risk management and to design, conduct and critically appraise research and develop new approaches to problem solving which can be applied in practice.

You will also benefit from a number of supported learning events – ranging from an online Induction, to Academic Skills Programmes. You will also be invited to attend two study schools where you will be able to get face-to-face support from academics and also meet other students on your course. Study schools run in April and September. Attendance is optional and there is no additional cost for study school attendance, this is included in the course fees. However, students are expected to pay their own travel and accommodation costs. 

The course will be of immense professional value if you are working within a security context, either in the private or public sector and want to further your career. Our MSc will support your professional work experience with an academic qualification which will enhance your CV and be used as evidence to demonstrate to your current or potential employer your skills and abilities.

If you have any questions about this course, join us for a live online chat with academic tutors and admissions staff.

Our links to the security industry – free Security Institute Membership 

Our Department has long-establishment links to the security industry. We offer free membership to The Security Institute to all our distance learning students for the duration of their studies. The Security Institute is the UK's largest membership body for security professionals and there are several benefits of membership including: access to the Security Institute Mentoring Programme, the opportunity to participate in the Security Institute CPD Scheme and access to the Research Directorate Knowledge Centre.

Careers and employability

A postgraduate distance learning qualification from the University of Leicester is career changing. It can be the springboard to promotion with your current employer, the platform to move into a new area or to simply become more effective in your current role.

Within Criminology at Leicester, distance learning is part of our core educational provision and our programmes are flexible, high quality and focussed on you and your needs.

The MSc in Security and Risk Management is designed for those working or intending to work in security and risk related areas or those interested in this field. The course will be of particular interest to anyone wishing to enhance their knowledge and skills and move up the career ladder or make a career transition. This course will help to provide an academic context and qualification that relates to your work experience in this area.

Students are based worldwide and most have a security function in common. They may be likely to be from the following sectors (although this is not exhaustive):

• The Armed Forces – serving, or those shortly leaving or who have left. We are an ELCAS learning provider
• The Police – serving or retired police officers
• The United Nations, aid agencies and international development bodies
• Private security companies
• Prison security management – public or private sector
• Healthcare security management – public or private sector
• Private sector organisations – including retail, finance, the energy sector – those responsible for the security function in these types of organisations
• Public sector organisations – those responsible for a range of security functions
• Security providers – guarding and specialist security services
• Security consultants

Our Career Development Service is here to support you – by email, phone or skype – with advice on interviews, CVs, work experience and more. From registration to Graduation and beyond, they are here to help you reach your professional goals.

Visit the Security and Risk Management - MSc/PGDip/PGCert page on the University of Leicester website for more details!