Professional Doctorate in Criminology and Criminal Justice, DCrim

Enhance your professional expertise with the DCrim Professional Doctorate.

a group of research students chatting in their office

Course Overview

The Professional Doctorate in Criminology and Criminal Justice (DCrim) is a part-time programme designed for those working in the criminal justice and third sector in Wales, the UK or internationally. It offers an opportunity to approach issues in Criminology and Criminal Justice in a professional, critical manner, through a combination of taught modules and doctoral level study.

The DCrim at Swansea will be research led throughout, supported by academics with international reputations for excellence. The modules offered are designed to support students to systematically acquire and understand a ‘substantial body of knowledge which is at the forefront’ of research and practice, as well an understanding of advanced research methods, in line with requirements for doctoral degrees. Throughout your academic experience, you will receive increased contact with cutting edge research, augmenting an understanding of a wide range of issues with support from personal tutors and the programme director via online and in-person meetings.

The structure of the DCrim comprises a taught phase which includes five modules taken over three years, and a research phase, during which time you will produce a doctoral thesis. During the research phase you will undertake your own research, to be presented and defended during a viva voce examination, as with other doctoral programmes. Due to the nature of the programme, the level of commitment to research and dedication to study and research time is essential and should be considered alongside other lifestyle commitments.

The programme allows minimum candidature of six years and a submission date of seven years.

Why Swansea:

When you join our thriving community of postgraduate research students, you’ll become part of a supportive and friendly environment where we are dedicated to understanding some of society’s most challenging issues.

We have a wide range of expertise which includes, but is not limited to:

  • Criminal justice in Wales
  • Cybercrime and terrorism
  • Digital technology in the criminal justice system
  • Desistance
  • Gender based violence and violence against women domestic and sexual violence
  • Illegal and informal economies
  • Maritime security and crime
  • Policing, governance and political economy
  • Probation and offender management services
  • Organised crime
  • Sentencing and courts
  • Sex work
  • Social harms
  • Sports-based violence and criminality
  • Violent and sex offenders
  • Youth justice

Postgraduate training is available to enhance academic, personal and professional development, as well as research seminars, workshops, and international conferences.

As a student at our School of Social Sciences, you will benefit from a dynamic and supportive research environment with many opportunities to make connections across disciplines and develop links with organisations and policymakers both in the UK and abroad. As such, you can be confident that your research will inform and be informed by the wider criminal justice environment.

Based in the School of Social Sciences, on our stunning Singleton Park campus, you will study a programme designed to promote individual and collaborative research activity of international standard.

According to the most recent Research Excellence Framework in 2021, over 81% of the research in Education, Sociology and Social Policy was of international or world-leading quality.