Study Master of Laws Criminal Justice with Placement Year

Course Highlights

LLM in Criminal Justice provides knowledge, understanding and critical thinking in the areas of Criminal Justice. It is an ideal course for those who wish to specialise in the areas of Criminal Justice, Criminal Law and Global Policing.

This LLM Criminal Justice offers one compulsory module, Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice and Criminal Law, which is your Pathway Specific Module (only available to LLM in Criminal Justice students within the Programme) plus a compulsory elective where you may choose between Global Policing and Law Enforcement or Crimes of the Powerful.

Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice and Criminal Law will cover contemporary topics such as miscarriage of justice, presumption of innocence, case study analysis for Nulla Poena Sine Lege, cultural defence in criminal law, consent in sexual offences, process of criminalising new offences and decriminalising the existing offences. You will also have a wide range of other modules from the LLM programme to choose between for your optional modules, such as International Humanitarian Law, Medical Law and Ethics and Family Law, which will help you to expand your areas of interest.

Course Modules

Learning Structure

Hertfordshire Law School follows a blended learning approach with strong emphasis on accessibility and inclusivity. They have a strategic focus around community, inclusivity, diversity of opportunity and employability in line with the University strategic objective (2020-25) of 'Transforming Lives' through the three pillars of Offering Opportunity, Building Community and Embracing Flexibility. You have an extensive range of optional modules available to tailor the course to your own professional goals and preferences.

They emphasise importance of authentic assessment where students are assessed in a manner designed to replicate aspects of situations and tasks they may face in the workplace.

The course is digitally enhanced for a blended learning experience making full use of technology and using authentic activities and assessments to ensure students develop skills and understanding required for future careers.

Entry Requirements

• A 4-year Honours degree (or equivalent) in Law, or Business, Political Science or International Relations discipline with CGPA 2.50 or 50% of marks (or above) from recognised institution.

English Language Requirements

IELTS Academic

Overall 6.0

With minimum 5.5 in each components

TOEFL iBT

Overall 79

Minimum in Listening: 17, Reading: 18, Speaking: 20, Writing: 17

PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic

Overall 61

With minimum 59 in each components

LanguageCert Academic

Overall 65

With minimum 60 in each bands

OIETC (Oxford International English Test Centre)

Overall B2+

With minimum B2 in each bands

Study Gaps

For applicants with an academic or professional gap of up to 5 years, admission is generally considered acceptable. If the gap exceeds this period, applications may still be successful but will typically be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

To strengthen your profile, it is important to:

• Provide a clear explanation of how you spent the gap period (e.g., employment, further learning, personal responsibilities).
• Emphasize the skills and experiences you developed during this time that are relevant to the program.
• Demonstrate that your academic qualifications continue to meet the course entry requirements.