cambridge university criminology phd

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PhD in Criminology

University of cambridge, different course options.

• Key information

Course Summary

Tuition fees, entry requirements, similar courses at different universities, key information data source : idp connect, qualification type.

PhD/DPhil - Doctor of Philosophy

Subject areas

Criminology

Course type

The Institute of Criminology has a worldwide reputation for excellence in both teaching and research. PhD candidates benefit from close links with the Institute's six dedicated research centres, providing them with unrivalled opportunities and the support to develop as independent researchers, while being part of an integrated community of criminologists working at different levels and through multidisciplinary approaches.

The PhD in Criminology is an advanced research degree, awarded on the basis of a thesis and an oral examination (viva voce). The primary purpose of the PhD is the preparation and presentation of a substantial piece of independent and original academic research. Completion usually requires three to four years of full-time study, and five years if studying part-time, including a probationary period. Students are required to be resident in Cambridge during that time.

Every PhD student in the Institute of Criminology is supported by a supervisor. Supervisors are experts in their field of study and support students throughout the PhD. PhD candidates will also benefit from the advice and support of other academic members of staff who will be involved in progression through the various stages of the PhD, from the registration assessment exercise at the end of the first year through to the completion of the thesis.

The Cambridge PhD is designed as structured, flexible and individual preparation for becoming a professional researcher. It will help students develop the core skills needed by an arts, humanities or social sciences professional researcher of the future, which are valued by both academic and non-academic employers. By the end of the programme, candidates will have acquired the skills, experience and knowledge to undertake postdoctoral work (research and teaching) or another related profession.

UK fees Course fees for UK students

For this course (per year)

International fees Course fees for EU and international students

Applicants for this course should have achieved a UK Masters (Merit). New admissions: Master's degree, with at least a high Merit (67 per cent) or equivalent (3.6 GPA in the American system), preferably in a social science discipline, although applicants from other disciplines will also be considered. Continuing applicants are advised to complete the MPhil in Criminological Research. The academic requirement is an average of 74 on assessed MPhil essays, and at least 74 on the MPhil Thesis.

MA/PGDip/PGCert Criminology and Criminal Justice

University of roehampton, criminology with forensic psychology msc, middlesex university, criminology ma, ma applied criminology, youth and criminal justice, criminology and sociology ma, bangor university.

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Prospective PhD Students

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The Violence Research at the Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge, welcomes applications from students wishing to undertake PhD research within the Centre's areas of expertise. Graduate students work in the stimulating research environment of the Centre located in the Institute of Criminology under the direction of their supervisor. Violence Research Centre members supervise PhD students in a broad range of topics related to their respective research areas. Please note that we are experiencing a high number of applicants, do read each supervisor's profile carefully before contacting them. Information on PhD studentships at the Institute of Criminology is here .

PhD opportunities with Prof Manuel Eisner

Prof Manuel Eisner  mainly supervises doctoral theses that use a quantitative approach in the following areas: (1) history of violence, (2) causes of aggression and violence, (3) prevention of violence and intervention research, (4) international research on micro- and macro-level predictors of violence. There may also be possibilities to conduct a PhD related to one of his ongoing research projects in the Violence Research Centre. More information on the ongoing projects can be found here .

PhD opportunities with Dr Maria Ttofi

Dr Maria Ttofi  supervises MPhil and PhD students with an interest in quantitative criminology, including youth aggression and violence, juvenile delinquency, systematic/meta-analytic reviews on a variety of psychological criminology topics, programme evaluation and developmental criminology/longitudinal research. Students with a strong methodological background who may be interested in analysing longitudinal data from the CSDD are strongly encouraged to contact her and the Director of the CSDD study, Prof David P. Farrington, directly via email.

PhD opportunities with Dr Paolo Campana

Dr Paolo Campana welcomes proposals from students with an interest in network analysis and organised forms of criminality. The latter includes protection rackets, human trafficking and smuggling, drug trafficking, gangs, cybercrime and possibly terrorist networks. Proposals with a strong network analysis component are welcome. Students are advised to contact Dr Campana by email with a short summary of their research proposal before submitting an application.

PhD opportunities with Dr Justice Tankebe

Dr Justice Tankebe welcomes proposals focused on corruption, policing and police violence, legitimacy, procedural justice, distributive justice, vigilantism and extrajudicial violence, institutional trust, and social order.

Resources for PhD students

More details of the University's PhD programme and procedures for application can be found on the Institute of Criminology's website and the University of Cambridge Graduate Admissions website . A major scholarship is open to potential PhD students of all nationalities. You can find it here .

Photo: Sir Cam

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PhD Opportunities at PRC

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The PRC welcomes enquiries from potential PhD students.

The Prisons Research Centre welcomes applications from well qualified students wishing to undertake PhD research within the Centre's areas of expertise. Graduate students work in the stimulating research environment of the Centre under the direction of their supervisor.  Initial enquiries should be directed to Professor Alison Liebling or Professor Ben Crewe according to the person’s specific research interests.  More details of the University's PhD programmes and procedures for application can be found on the  Institute of Criminology website  and the  University of Cambridge Graduate Admissions website .

PhD Opportunities with Professor Alison Liebling

Professor Liebling is interested in receiving applications broadly looking at the changing shape and effects of imprisonment; the role of values in criminal justice; the role of safety, trust and fairness in shaping the prison experience, the work of prison officers, and in the prevention of ill-treatment, in the UK or elsewhere.

PhD Opportunities with Professor Ben Crewe

Professor Crewe would be keen to supervise PhD students interested in researching prison social life and culture, prisoner identities and adaptations, prison quality and conditions, and other issues relating to the terms, nature and organisation of imprisonment.  Students wishing to get in contact informally in order to discuss potential research ideas are welcome to email him, with a brief CV and a short research proposal. 

Current and Recent PhD Topics

PhD students work on a variety of topics relating to the research of the Centre. These include: 

• Transformative encounters in prisoner education and their role in desistance. (Judith Gardom, supervised by Alison Liebling)
• The social experiences of sex offenders in prison: A comparative analysis. (Alice Ievins, supervised by Ben Crewe)
• The prison and the city: a tale of two cultures in HMPs Pentonville and Hull (Deborah Kant, supervised by Alison Liebling)
• Emotions in prison: an exploration of space, emotion regulation and expression. (Ben Laws, supervised by Ben Crewe)
• Faith, race, gangs and ‘the street’ in prison: An inductive analysis. (Dev Maitra, supervised by Alison Liebling)
• The experience of imprisonment amongst serving and former military service personnel. (Daniel Packham, supervised by Ben Crewe)
• Democratizing democracy: Re-imagining prisoners as citizens through participatory governance. (Bethany Schmidt, supervised by Alison Liebling)
• Philosophy in Prisons: A grounded theory in personal development. (Kirstine Szifris, supervised by Alison Liebling)
• The role of self-empowerment in the process of human flourishing in prison. (Fabio Tartarini, supervised by Ben Crewe)
• The Prison Based Forensic Psychologist: in Person and Practice. (Jason Warr, supervised by Ben Crewe)
• Understanding the use and experience of segregation in English prisons. (Ellie Brown, supervised by Alison Liebling and Nicola Padfield)
• Opening new prisons: a comparative study of the penal field. (Aiden Cope, supervised by Alison Liebling)
• Peace Behind a Veil of Ignorance (VOI). (João Costa, supervised by Alison Liebling)
• Legitimacy in prison-based psychology practices. (Sophie Ellis, supervised by Ben Crewe)
• Moral development and ethical self-governance among men imprisoned for murder. (Ben Jarman, supervised by Ben Crewe)
• Caring Encounters: Exploring Kindness and Support among Male Prisoners. (Elinor Lieber, supervised by Alison Liebling)
• The construction of prisoner masculinities through experiences of work. (Martha Morey, supervised by Ben Crewe)
• Prison pen-pals: the value of correspondence and support from individuals not known to prisoners prior to their incarceration. (Tania Mejia, supervised by Ben Crewe)
• A short longitudinal study of life sentenced prisoners’ pre-release expectations and post-release realities. (Ailie Rennie, supervised by Ben Crewe)

Prisons Research at Cambridge University

The Prisons Research Centre (PRC) was founded in 2000, under the Directorship of  Professor Alison Liebling . The Centre has received funding from a wide range of sources, including the Prison Service/NOMS, the Nuffield Foundation, the Leverhulme Trust, the ESRC, KPMG, the Home Office and UKDS (now Kalyx).

The Cambridge Institute of Criminology Prisons Research Centre aims to provide a stimulating research environment in which a coherent strategy of high quality research can be pursued, and integration between funded and non-funded, and applied and theoretical projects can be facilitated. We investigate how prisons operate, socially, morally and operationally, how they are experienced, and the relationship between these moral and social qualities, and their effects.

Members of the PRC team carry out, individually and collectively, methodologically rigorous and theoretically relevant field-based studies addressing problems of human and social values, punishment practices, and the organisation and effects of aspects of prison life. We strive to forge links with other prisons researchers, scholars in the broader fields of criminology and sociology, and with practitioners. Our vision is to develop a rigorous and person-centred model of social inquiry.

You can read more about the latest projects in our  Annual Reports .

Institute of Criminology Sidgwick Avenue Cambridge CB3 9DA

Phone: +44 (0) 1223 335360

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Criminology

Entry requirements.

Applicants for this course should have achieved a UK High II.i Honours Degree.

If your degree is not from the UK, please check International Qualifications to find the equivalent in your country.

At least a high II.i Honours degree (67 per cent) from a UK university, or equivalent from another institution (GPA 3.6/4).

Months of entry

Course content.

The basic aims of both MPhil programmes are:

to offer up-to-date and high-quality degree courses, introducing students to some of the most important theory, methods and research in criminology;

to offer a sound academic foundation to those who aspire to undertake a PhD or a career in teaching and research in criminology or related fields; and

to provide a sound foundation of knowledge and methodological skills to those who wish to work in a wide range of criminal justice agencies, the legal profession, or other professional or voluntary organisations.

Both MPhils in Criminology and in Criminological Research provide a foundational education in prominent criminological theories, research methods, and areas of criminological knowledge.

Compulsory modules on Criminological Theories and Research Methods familiarise students with historic and contemporary criminological thinking and research.

A variety of optional seminars are on offer each year covering a wide range of criminological topics. What is on offer varies by year, but in recent years it has included topics such as Policing; the Sociology of Prison Life; Victims and Injustice; Punishment and Mercy; Socio-critical Perspectives on Criminal Justice; History of Violence; Global Perspectives on Violence; People, Places and Crime; Organised Crime, and Neurocriminology.

The MPhil in Criminology does not require empirical research as part of the final thesis and, therefore, does not include the practical training in advanced research methods (which are both provided in-house and through the Social Sciences Research Methods Programme).

Information for international students

Language Requirement

IELTS (Academic)

Element Score

Listening 7.0

Writing 7.0

Reading 7.0

Speaking 7.0

TOEFL Internet Score

Listening 25

Speaking 25

Score: Grade A & B (overall score of 193, with no element lower than 185 plus a Language Centre assessment)

Score: Grade A, B, or C (with at least 200 with no element lower than 185).

Qualification, course duration and attendance options

• Campus-based learning is available for this qualification

Course contact details

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The PhD programme

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Finance overview    Funding    How to apply

The PhD is awarded after three to four years of full-time research (or five to seven years of part-time study) on the basis of a dissertation of 80,000 words (exclusive of footnotes, appendices and bibliography, but subject to an overall word limit of 100,000 words exclusive of bibliography, table of contents and any other preliminary matter). Examination for the PhD involves an oral examination (viva) by two examiners.

Research students who intend to undertake PhD research are in the first instance automatically registered for a one-year research training programme leading to the Certificate of Postgraduate Study (CPGS) in Legal Studies. They are assigned a supervisory team by the Degree Committee of the Faculty, ordinarily consisting of a supervisor (who is principally responsible for directing and assisting the research) and an advisor (who provides a second point of contact for academic advice). At the end of the first year, the Degree Committee decides whether students should be registered for the PhD. This decision is taken on the basis of the student’s personal progress log, first-year dissertation of 15,000 words, viva conducted by two assessors from within the Faculty, and outline of plans for the full research project. Candidates who successfully complete the requirements of the CPGS and the first-year progress review are retrospectively registered for the PhD.

All full-time PhD students are ordinarily required to be resident in Cambridge for the duration of their research (save where given leave to work away from Cambridge for academic reasons or whilst undertaking fieldwork), and during the first year in particular must attend weekly research training sessions in the Faculty.

This overview of the PhD programme must be read in conjunction with the detailed information available under the 'Courses' section (see, in particular, the Course Directory) of the Postgraduate Admissions website . Further information on postgraduate admission to research courses in the Faculty of Law is available from [email protected] or +44 (0)1223 330039.

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MPhil in Criminology

• Student Initiatives

The MPhil in Criminology provides a foundational education in prominent criminological theories, research methods, and areas of criminological knowledge. Compulsory modules on criminological theories and research methods familiarise students with historic and contemporary criminological thinking and research. A variety of optional seminars are on offer each year covering a wide range of criminological topics.

The MPhil in Criminology does not require empirical research as part of the final dissertation and therefore does not include the practical training in research methods which is offered through the  MPhil in Criminological Research .

For further information contact the Graduate Administrators : Ms Charlotte Dove and Mrs Faith Payne

Course Aims

This course aims to:

• Offer an up-to-date and high quality degree course, introducing students to some of the most important theory, methods and research in criminology.
• Provide a solid foundation of knowledge and methodological skills to those who wish to work in a wide range of criminal justice agencies, the legal profession, or other professional or voluntary organisation.

Core knowledge students will acquire:

• An understanding of core criminological and criminal justice theories.
• A critical awareness of current problems and debates within the field.
• Skills to critically evaluate theoretical and empirical literature relevant to criminological and criminal justice research.
• The ability to synthesize and apply criminological knowledge in new contexts or to new issues.
• The ability to use theoretical knowledge creatively and independently to guide their work.
• Skills in communicating criminological knowledge to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Research methods students will acquire:

• A comprehensive understanding of qualitative and quantitative research methods used in criminology.
• The ability to use acquired knowledge to propose new hypotheses and identify and address research problems.
• The ability to critically assess research designs.
• The ability to apply research competencies to practical issues.
• The ability to independently acquire and interpret additional knowledge relating to research.
• An understanding of the quality of work required to satisfy peer review.

Course Structure

The MPhil in Criminology is structured as follows:

• Students attend two core courses : Criminological Theories and Criminological Research Methods;
• and three optional courses and;
• One research term (Easter) devoted to the preparation of a Dissertation.

Supervision

Each student will be assigned a supervisor. The main role of the supervisor is to provide general academic advice to students, and subject-specific advice relating to the dissertation. During term time, you can expect to meet with your supervisor about every two weeks (depending on your level of need).

Course Assessment

The overall mark for the mphil in criminology is determined through seven assignments comprising of four units of assessment:.

• Four Essays: One Criminological Theories essay, three Optional essays (each relating to a different optional course the student has attended), and SSRMP exercise. Each essay should be of no more than 3,000 words, on topics which the student will choose from lists announced by the Examiners.
• The Criminological Research Methods exercise
• A presentation on your Dissertation research (At the start of the second Term)

Dissertation

To be awarded the MPhil degree students are required to pass each of the units of assessment (i.e., achieve a mark of 60 or above), apart from the dissertation presentation.

A mark between 57 and 59 is considered a marginal fail and this may be compensated by a strong performance, normally denoted by a mark of 68 or above, in one of the other written units (not including the presentation). If a student receives a marginal fail overall and all their marks are below a 68 they may be required to participate in an oral examination. Ultimately, decisions regarding marginal fails are made by the Board of Examiners in light of all relevant information.

To be awarded a distinction, students must obtain an overall weighted mark of 75.

E ssay Marking Scheme

MPhil in Criminology students must complete a dissertation of between 15,000 and 18,000 words on a criminological topic chosen by the student. Students are expected to demonstrate a critical understanding of research principles and analytical skills. A dissertation must be based on an extensive literature review, and the examiners expect the dissertation to make a contribution to knowledge. This can be achieved by addressing a criminological issue not covered extensively in the literature; approaching a topic from a new angle; developing new research methods; presenting exceptionally high-quality empirical analysis; or advancing theory in a significant way.

Students for the most part free to choose their dissertation topic, although it must fall within the field of criminology, i.e., relate to the study of crime – e.g., the nature of crime, what causes or prevents crime, or how we respond to crime. In some cases academic staff may be able to suggest topics to students, or invite them to work on an ongoing research project in a way that serves their dissertation purposes. This will depend on their interests, abilities and what work is currently ongoing at the Institute. A Dissertation Ideas Booklet is provided to students in the Michaelmas term, from which they can learn more about possible dissertation topics from academics in the Institute, as well as practitioners who may be involved in relevant projects that may be conducive to MPhil research. During the Michaelmas Term a student's supervisor will aim to help them decide on a dissertation topic, and over the course of  their programme will be in regular contact to support them during their research.

The dissertation is researched and written from the start of the academic year in October, but worked on most intensively from April to June (Easter Term). Students should be aware of the limited time frame, especially if they are considering carrying out empirical research.

Empirical Research - For MPhil in Criminology students the restricted time frame makes empirical research very challenging. However, if a student wishes to pursue empirical research they will need to discuss this with their supervisor at the earliest opportunity during the Michaelmas term. In particular, you should discuss the steps and time needed to plan your research design, gain access, and collect and analyse data. MPhil in Criminology students who pursue original empirical research will be marked to the same standards in terms of quality of the research, although it is understood the scope / breadth of the research may be limited. An empirical piece of research may rely on a variety of quantitative or qualitative research methods, including, for example, a series of interviews, an observational case-study, documentary or discourse analysis, a small survey, an experiment or quasi-experiment, or secondary analysis of existing data.

Each student is also required to give a short presentation on their dissertation topic in January / February (Lent Term).

Dissertation Marking Scheme

Completing your application.

The application portal for entry in 2025-26 is will open in September 2024.     

Before starting an application we recommend that applicants read the information provided on the University's Postgraduate Admissions Office website.  In addition to this, we offer the following departmental guidance:

• The course code for the MPhil in Criminology is CRM1 .

Please note: Applicants are discouraged from applying to both of the Institute's MPhil courses.  Applicants who submit applications for both MPhil courses will be asked by the Criminology Graduate Office to choose their preferred course, and only this application will be considered. Applicants will be asked to withdrawn the least preferred course.

Supporting Documents and other Information

Applicants will need to provide the following documents / information when applying for the MPhil in Criminology or the MPhil in Criminological Research. Please see the Postgraduate Admissions website for further details.

• Two academic references
• Transcripts
• Evidence of competence in English
• Reasons for applying [ see below ]
• Statement of interest [ see below ]
• Sample of academic written work. [ see below ]
• Applicants for the Gates Scholarships will need to provide details of an additional referee who can provide a  personal reference .

When Will I Receive a Decision?

Applications are considered as they are received and some early offers are made; however, the majority of decisions are made after the main funding deadline, in January and February. An interview may take place in borderline cases, or if the admissions panel require further information to make an assessment of the application. Applicants will be notified as soon as their application has been evaluated, if it has been accepted, rejected, or put on hold. Applications that are put on hold will be assessed as a gathered field after the application deadline, in late April. T he Department is subject to restrictions on the number of offers it can make for these courses and whilst in some cases a decision on an application will be made following the first review, in a large number of cases an application will be held for re-consideration at a later stage.  This may mean that a decision on your application is not taken until after the closing date for applications to the course. 

Applicant FAQs

The Postgraduate Admissions Office has a comprehensive list of  Frequently Asked Questions  relating to the applications process. Please refer to these while making your application and throughout the process of applying.

• An honours degree with at least a high II.i (67 per cent) from a UK university or equivalent from another institution (GPA 3.6/4 in the United States), preferably in a social science discipline, although applicants from other disciplines will also be considered.
• If your degree is not from the UK, please check the International Qualifications  section of the Postgraduate Admissions website to find the equivalent in your country.

The Postgraduate Admissions website provides full details on  course fees and living costs, and their finance overview tool will help you calculate your costs. They also provide information on possible funding opportunities at Cambridge University, and there is also a  funding search tool   which will help you identify possibly funding opportunities.

The Institute also has several funding opportunities, details of which can be found on our  funding page .

Eng Seng - MPhil in Criminology

"It was a wonderful year for us - my 3 year old twins and wife enjoyed life here as much as I did. The university accommodation was comfortable and safe, and the MPhil programme was intellectually stimulating and enriching. We had students from all five continents and the exchange of ideas and perspectives were incredibly diverse and meaningful.  I particularly liked the optional modules, where the smaller class size allowed us to discuss, learn and dive deeper into issues.  Lecturers and Institute staff were very helpful and understanding.  Overall, the programme was very well planned and paced, and there were ample opportunities to travel around with my family."

Atticus DeProspo - MPhil in Criminology

"I am a Bill Gates-Cambridge Scholar from the United States, who studied Criminology at the Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge during the 2017-2018 academic year. I conducted research under the supervision of Professor Loraine Gelsthorpe on interrogating police officers suspected of misconduct in the United States. My coursework in criminological research methods and criminological theories helped prepare me to critically analyze police handbook and training materials related to police interrogation techniques. I enjoyed the taught and research aspects of the Criminology program, as I was able to improve my research skills through the courses and then I had the opportunity to apply those research skills in an area of interest to me through my dissertation.  I entered the Criminology program to improve my research and analytical abilities, so I could use these skills as I pursue a career as a lawyer in the United States."

Continuation to the PhD degree course involves a separate application process, undertaken during the MPhil year.  Prospective PhD students are encouraged to discuss their plans with their MPhil supervisor as early as possible during the MPhil year. Both the Institute's MPhil courses provide excellent preparation for doctoral study, and many of our MPhil students choose to stay at Cambridge to pursue a Cambridge PhD. However, we do recomment that current MPhil students whose aim is to progress to a PhD should apply to the MPhil in Criminological Research in the first instance.

Continuation from the MPhil course to a PhD is subject to:

• Current MPhil in Criminological Research students achieving at least an overall pass mark of 74 . 
• A MPhil student deciding on a suitable research topic and proposal, and finding an available supervisor.

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PhD in Sociology

The PhD in Sociology offers a world-class programme of research study in sociology supervised by experts in their respective fields. The Department of Sociology at the University of Cambridge is ranked first for Sociology in the  Guardian's Best Universities league table  and first for Sociology in the  Complete University Guide League Table 2024 . And the  QS World University rankings  list our departments as 2nd out of over 500 Sociology Departments across the world in 2023.

In the first year you are encouraged to take research methods courses offered by the Department and the  Social Science Research Methods Programme (SSRMP)  to build the methodological grounding of your individual research projects. 

The Department also offers a programme of seminars covering transferable skills such as academic writing, presentation skills and in-depth information about how to progress the PhD and the academic career. PhD students are supported by their supervisor and a faculty adviser.

Watch our open day video

The Programme

The course aims to provide all students with the skills they need to be professional researchers and academics. There is an organised programme of courses for first-year PhD students, which has three major components:

• Basic academic and research skills, designed to provide the essential tools of academic work
• The core training programme, which covers issues of social science research in general
• Issues of research specific to particular disciplines or areas of interest, and research design, including the integration of methodological, theoretical and substantive issues

The standard period for PhDs is 3-4 years full-time or 5-7 years part-time.    Click here for further information about part-time PhD studies .

Meet our Candidates

What you can do with your phd.

Students who complete graduate programmes in Sociology have the opportunity to develop the analytical and writing skills to help them succeed in academia but also in careers such as health and social care, marketing and public relations, politics, and education, amongst others.

Postgraduate Prospectus

The PG prospectus details all the courses on offer at Cambridge, as well as introducing the different Colleges and describing the admissions process.

The Department of Sociology University of Cambridge Free School Lane Cambridge CB2 3RQ

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