Opportunity to study at postgraduate level within a specialist policing research centre with supervision teams with a wide range of policing research interests.

MSc Applied Policing Practice

Alternative awards:

• Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Policing Practice (Organisation, Leadership & Development)
• Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Policing Practice (Evidenced Based Police Interventions)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Policing Practice

The MSc in Applied Policing Practice is offered to police officers of all ranks and roles, police staff and all those with an interest in policing and evidence based practice across a range of different contexts. The demand on the police service and wider police family is becoming increasingly more complex and the issues involved require a wider knowledge base and new skill set to address them effectively. This programme supports students in developing their knowledge and their research interests.

Key to this programme is also leadership and management which is critical to the success of any police reform and local organisational change programme.

Our programme will is based around building new postgraduate ‘policing themes’ that can be adapted to deliver the most contemporaneous issues in crime, policing and the CJS, and then, just as quickly, respond to new reforms or challenges that may confront the police/CJS in the future. It is current and flexible in terms of content and delivery.

More information on this programme is available on the prospectus page.

MSc by Research in Policing

The MSc by Research in Policing focuses specifically on the final thesis, which is based on an empirical research study of a chosen area of policing. The programme is available either full time or part-time over two years with lectures run by the Graduate College in Canterbury, lectures in London and three study weekends in Canterbury focusing on research methods and specific issues relating to policing research. Students are provided with a first and chair of studies who will provide advice on their research and the development of their thesis. See the list of supervisors for further detail.

For more information on this course, inquiries should be directed to pgpolice@canterbury.ac.uk.

Selection of MSc research areas

Past research areas from past students include criminal investigation, police education, police complaints, sexual offences, firearms, partnership working with schools, suicide by cop, police and social media, cybercrime, stop and search and policing and mental health.

PhD and PhD by Portfolio

Staff in the School of Law, Criminal Justice & Policing have a range of different research interests with PhDs including Law, Criminology, Criminal Justice, Forensic Investigation  and Policing.

A PhD and PhD by Portfolio involve a commitment to at least 3 years’ study, (5 if part-time) and completion of a PhD thesis of 80,000 words or 5 separate assessments for a PhD by Portfolio.  Your thesis or portfolio will need to make an original contribution to existing knowledge in your chosen field. Doctoral students work closely with academic supervisors whose research interests are compatible with their own. A PhD/PhD by Portfolio is awarded purely on the strength of your research and your ability to present written work and discuss your findings in an oral examination (viva voce, often referred to as a viva). There are no written examinations. More information on the PhD can be found here.

• How to apply for one of our postgraduate research degrees through the Graduate College
• PhD by Portfolio in Policing, Criminology and Forensic Investigation

For further details and discussion about the programme and supervision please contact the following staff:

• PhD by Portfolio: Dr Paul Swallow
• PhD: Prof Stephen Tong

 To register your interest please visit our Law, Policing and Criminal Justice page.