Transnational Organised Crime MA MA

Study options Award

Duration

2 Years

Location

Stoke-on-Trent campus

Transnational Organised Crime has become a significant concern and appears to be on the increase. You’ll study contemporary global issues such as drug and human trafficking, international terrorism, illegal arms trading and financial crime through the lens of critical criminology.

You’ll examine the recent emergence of transnational organised crime, its historical precedents at a global level and law enforcement responses. You’ll consider how Transnational Organised Crime is represented by the media.

This course offers valuable insight for a range of careers concerned with Transnational Organised Crime and developing strategies and policies for its prevention. You can enhance your knowledge and career prospects through this qualification.

You’ll study unique topics, taking a critical perspective and work with our experts in sociology and criminology.

Our robust training in research methods will support those wanting to undertake a PhD.

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: MA Transnational Organised Crime

Part-time study

If you wish to study this course part-time, the duration of the course is two years. The expected study pattern is to complete modules totalling 180 credits over the two years of study.

Distance learning

The MA in Transnational Organised Crime is a distance learning course and teaching is carried out online. You will not be required to come onto campus to study.

Work placements

Employability is embedded throughout the course and you’ll have the opportunity to undertake a dissertation project within your place of work or volunteer within an organisation, business or government department relating to the issues covered on the MA course.

Course content

The programme of study has been carefully designed by a team of criminologists into a compelling package of discrete compulsory modules. All the modules make extensive use of a variety of historical and contemporary case studies to illuminate how students might undertake research into this sensitive, controversial and continually evolving subject.

In your first year, you will study 3 modules: Transnational Justice and Organised Crime Researching Crime and Society: Research Design and Data Collection Crimes of the Powerful: Corporate, White Collar and Financial Crime

In your second year, you will complete a postgraduate project in a subject area of your choosing, along with: Trafficking: the illegal trade in people, goods and services Understanding and Tracking Domestic Organised Crime

VIDEO:REF results interview – Professor Kevin Hetherington

Modules

The tables provide an indicative list of the modules that make up the course for the current academic year. Each module is worth a specified number of credits. Our teaching is informed by research, and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline. We aim to ensure that all modules run as scheduled. If for any reason a module cannot be run we will advise you as soon as possible and will provide guidance on selecting an appropriate alternative module.

Year 1 compulsory modules
Year 1 compulsory modules
Crimes Of The Powerful: White-Collar, Corporate And State Crime	20 credits
Researching Crime And Society	40 credits
Transnational Justice And Organised Crime	20 credits

Year 2 compulsory modules
Year 2 compulsory modules
Postgraduate Project	60 credits
Trafficking Illegal Trade In People Goods And Services	20 credits
Understanding And Tackling Domestic Organised Crime	20 credits

Year 1 compulsory modules
Year 1 compulsory modules
Crimes Of The Powerful: White-Collar, Corporate And State Crime	20 credits
Postgraduate Project	60 credits
Researching Crime And Society	40 credits
Trafficking Illegal Trade In People Goods And Services	20 credits
Transnational Justice And Organised Crime	20 credits
Understanding And Tackling Domestic Organised Crime	20 credits

Entry requirements

A 2:2 honours degree or above, or relevant professional experience.

Language level must be at least IELTS 6-6.5 or equivalent. However, you’ll be considered if you have a level of fluency to meet the needs of the course.

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For equivalent entry requirements in your home country, please see the information on our country pages.

Choose your country

Check our entry and English language requirements for your country.

Facilities

Off-campus library services

Distance learners benefit from a range of services including access to e-books, postal loans of physical books, online support from subject librarians and more. Read more

Library services and learning resources

We offer an extensive range of library services to our off-campus students and help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Our comprehensive online catalogue of eResources are available for you to search for and access material such as eBooks, journals and databases. Our team of librarians can help you find your way around the electronic resources and library catalogues, or if there’s something specific you need, they can help you to source it.

Our LibGuides provide information and advice on using our online resources, with specific pages for each subject area, and can help you search for quality-assured websites.

Find out more: Library Resources

Support for distance learners

Studying remotely doesn't mean that you will be left to study alone. Which is why we ensure that however you study with us, you'll still be able to access the same services as our on-campus students. Read more

However you study with us, or wherever in the world you’re based, you’ll still be able to access the same services as our on-campus students, including IT and study support, online library, careers and wellbeing service. We’ll help to connect with other online learners to help you get the most out of your learning experience and feel a part of the community. Find out more: Support for distance learners

Blackboard (VLE)

Blackboard is a virtual learning environment which houses your learning content. It enables online teaching/learning, provides spaces to build online communities and knowledge sharing.

Careers

On completion of the Transnational Organised Crime MA, you’ll be equipped to work in a wide range of roles, including:

National Crime Agency (NCA)
Armed Forces
Policing professions tackling transnational organised crime
Banking sectors tackling financial fraud and compliance, and financial and white-collar crimes
NGOs supporting victims of trafficking
Policy

Eager for more knowledge? Upon completion, you’ll be ideally placed for further academic study at PhD level.

All students have access to Career Connect, our dedicated careers team.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

The bulk of teaching will be delivered via virtual learning. Virtual learning will consist of a 20-minute podcast lecture and PowerPoint slides. You’ll write up weekly tasks in a learning journal which will inform a final piece of assessed coursework. The lecturer will review a sample of journal entries each week and give feedback.

You’ll be able to communicate with staff via email, through face-to-face supervision meetings on campus, telephone calls and skype. This learning provision has been designed to be flexible so you can fit your studies around a full-time job and your personal commitments.

Assessment

There are two types of assessments: practice (also called formative) or formal (also called summative).

Practice assessments do not count towards your final mark. These are your chance to test your understanding – and learn how to improve for the real thing.

You’ll have formal assessments at the end of each module. These could include essays, reports, e-posters, e presentations, problem-based assignments or portfolios.

Learning support

Your course tutors will provide lots of support. But you can also take advantage of our Academic Skills team, who can help you with:

Study skills (including reading, note-taking and presentation skills)
Written English (including punctuation and grammar)
Academic writing (including how to reference)
Research skills
Critical thinking
Assessment skills (including time management)

Additional support

If you have additional needs like dyslexia or a sensory impairment, then our Student Inclusion Services are here to help make sure nothing stands in your way.

Feedback

A sample of learning journals will be reviewed each week giving generic feedback about what students are doing well and what things need improving, these will be written up in a course blog.

At the end of each teaching week, the module leader will be online for 20 minutes to discuss the week’s activity. These sessions will be recorded and posted on Blackboard, to provide access to any students who cannot join the virtual session.

Independent learning

As well as timetabled sessions, we know it’s important for you to discover things on your own terms. This could involve:

Reading journals, articles and books
Working on projects, alone or in a group
Researching in the library
Preparing coursework

We’ve invested in state-of-the-art facilities to help you make the most of your private study time. Whether you need a library or a computer, you’ll find it at University of Staffordshire.

Staff

You will be taught be dedicated and research active lecturers, whose expertise and knowledge closely match the content of the course. Each of our team has a PhD, or is working towards one, and all are members of the Higher Education Authority. Each of our team has extensive contacts within the Criminal Justice System and/or local community partnerships.

Sarah Page

Associate Professor

Sarah is an Associate Professor teaching on our undergraduate and post graduate courses in Criminology and post graduate course in Leadership in Action on Poverty. She is also the Co-Director of the Staffordshire University Crime and Society Group.

Sarah's profile

Professor James Treadwell

Professor In Criminology

James became a Professor in Criminology at Staffordshire University in 2017. His expertise are in violent, professional and organised crime; prisons, prison violence and victimisation; drugs and crime; Ethnography; Crime and the Military.

James's profile

Louis Martin

Senior Lecturer

Louis worked for Derbyshire Constabulary before becoming Head of the Roads Policing Unit and Detective Inspector for Derby City Centre. He is Course Leader for Criminal Justice with Offender Management.

Louis's profile

Dr Arta Jalili-Idrissi

Lecturer

Arta is a critical criminologist and Lecturer in Criminology at Staffordshire University. Arta's main areas of interest are imprisonment, carceral space and technology, penalty and social control.

Arta's profile

Fees

For the course starting on 22 September 2025 the tuition fees are:

Tuition fees for MA-Part-time, distance learning
Study option	UK / Channel Islands	International
Part-time	£9,135 per course	£9,135 per course

Tuition fees for MA-Part-time, distance learning
Study option	UK / Channel Islands	International
Full-time	£9,165 per course	£9,165 per course

If you would like to know more about the fees listed and what this means to you then please get in touch with our Enquiries Team.

Alumni discount

If you have previously completed an undergraduate degree with us, you may be entitled to an alumni discount off your course fee for any subsequent postgraduate taught course. For further information please contact feesandbursaries@staffs.ac.uk.

Included in tuition fees
Included in the fees:
As a University of Staffordshire student, you’ll be entitled to a range of free software programs. As a University of Staffordshire student, you’ll be entitled to a range of free software programs.

Not included in tuition fees
Not included in the fees:
Text books are available from the library and online resources, but some students choose to purchase their own copies. Printing Travel costs Any optional field trips Text books are available from the library and online resources, but some students choose to purchase their own copies. Printing Travel costs Any optional field trips

Accommodation and living costs
Accommodation and living costs
Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees. For more information on accommodation and living costs, please see: Accommodation

Sources of financial support

Providing you are studying towards a full Masters qualification you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan of up to £11,570 to help with tuition fees, maintenance and other associated costs. Student loans are available for many of our postgraduate degrees and are provided by the Student Loans Company (SLC). The loan can cover a wide range of postgraduate study options; part-time, full-time and distance learning.

For more information and how to apply visit masters loan.

Apply

Location	Award	Study option	Start date	Apply Link
Stoke-on-Trent campus	MA	Part-time, distance learning	22 September 2025	Apply now

Location	Award	Study option	Start date	Apply Link
Stoke-on-Trent campus	MA	Full-time, distance learning	22 September 2025	Apply now

Rules and regulations

If you are offered a place at University of Staffordshire, your offer will be subject to our rules, regulations and enrolment conditions, which may vary from time to time.

Students of University of Staffordshire enter into a contract with us and are bound by these rules and regulations, which are subject to change. For more information, please see: University Policies and Regulations.

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Transnational Organised Crime MA MA

Duration