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Criminal and Corporate Investigations and Intelligence MA

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  3. Criminal and Corporate Investigations and Intelligence MA

Key Facts

  • Level

    PostgraduatePG MA

  • Duration

    1 year Full Time
    2 years Part Time

  • Starting

    September

Updated 09/04/2025

Open Days

Updated 09/04/2025

Get in touch

For questions regarding study and admissions please contact us:

UK STUDENTS ENQUIRIES

study@northampton.ac.uk
0300 303 2772

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ENQUIRIES

international@northampton.ac.uk
44 (0)1604 892134

Overview

In a world where businesses and organisations are at significant risk of external and internal threats, they are increasingly turning to their internal investigative and intelligence arms to identify, prevent and tackle those threats. Designed with industry in mind, our MA Criminal and Corporate Investigations and Intelligence aims to equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to be future leaders and policymakers in investigative and intelligence-based practice. On this programme, you will join a community of experienced tutors, and a range of student-peers, who might be industry professionals, recent graduates or career movers. Your journey through this programme will culminate in a significant project, which may entail primary research, critical engagement with work-based experiences or a policy proposal.

Highlights

  • The modules have been informed by key industry stakeholders and are designed to be applied, practical and skills-focused.
  • Our teaching team has professional and research experience in managing intelligence and serious and complex investigations.
  • Subject to availability, you will have access to the academic programme of i2 Analysts Notebook.
  • Your studies will benefit from guest lectures by industry and/or academic scholars.
  • This MA programme is aimed at developing and supporting you to take the next steps to become leaders in investigations and intelligence.

Entry Requirements

A recognised First-Class or Second-Class Honours degree from a UK University (or an international equivalent) in related disciplines.

 

  • Consideration will be given to significant industry experience to be equivalent to a degree for the purposes of meeting the programme’s prerequisites.

    All applications which fall outside the University’s standard admissions criteria will be reviewed by a panel of the programme team.

    Related disciplines include, but are not limited to:

    • Accounting, Finance and Tax
    • Business Management
    • Criminal Justice
    • Criminology
    • Human Resources
    • Intelligence Studies
    • Law
    • Politics and International Relations
    • Professional Policing (including Apprenticeships) and Public Services
    • Psychology
    • Security studies, Organised Crime and Terrorism
    • Sociology and Social Work

    For information on how to apply to study the MA Criminal and Corporate Investigations and Intelligence degree with us, please see our How to Apply page.

  • All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:

    • Minimum standard – IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) for study at postgraduate level.

    For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.

Course Content

  • With a passion for excellence, the Criminal Justice Team at the University of Northampton aims to inspire you to become trailblazers as leaders and policymakers in the investigations and intelligence arena. A blend of practical exercises, classroom-based learning and independent research activities will see you take your career to the next level. Our team of experts, consisting of former investigators, leaders and published academics, are ready to support you in developing the skills and knowledge you need to further your expertise.

    The programme has been designed with input from our industry partners and is therefore designed with your future career in mind. In addition, the larger project module has been designed flexibly, to enable you to tailor this to your needs, whether this be in the context of your research, professional or practical development.

    During the first trimester of your MA, you will be provided with advanced training pertaining to research and academic writing. You will also undertake modules pertaining to the underpinning of investigations and intelligence in the corporate context and the risks posed to corporations.

    In the second trimester, you will look more closely at key factors impacting corporate resilience and safety, such as organised crime, financial crime and digital criminality. In the third and final trimester, you will undertake a supervised extended project, which might take the form of a traditional dissertation, a work-based learning portfolio or a policy reform exercise.

    • Modules

      Academic Development (20 credits):

      The purpose of this module is to introduce and signpost students to a range of advanced academic and employability/professional skills to support their successful engagement with the programme. Students will develop the skills needed to undertake academic research related to their area of expertise or interest.

      ​Organisational Vulnerabilities and Solutions (20 Credits):

      ​The purpose of this module is to equip students with broader appreciation of the role of investigations/intelligence and solution generation in the context of business continuity and success, particularly through the lens of potential threats and vulnerabilities. Students will explore creative and practical approaches to risk and vulnerability management.

      ​Cybercrime and Digital Criminality (20 Credits):

      ​The purpose of this module is to explore theoretical perspectives on Cybercrime and digital criminality, and their potential impact on individuals and organisations. Students will develop understanding of investigative approaches and techniques, and will gather insights into opportunities for intelligence acquisition and analysis in digital contexts.

      ​Investigations and Intelligence (30 Credits):

      ​The purpose of this module is equip students with advanced investigative and intelligence skills and techniques in order to tackle complex issues within the criminal and corporate sphere. Students will engage in opportunities to test their decision-making skills in various scenarios in order to advance their practice as investigators/intelligence professionals.

      ​Transnational Organised Crime and Terrorism (20 Credits):

      ​The purpose of this module is to explore the global governance, fluidity and complexity of transnational organised crime and terrorism in the context of criminal and corporate spheres. Students will be equipped with advanced understanding of the structures, motivations and methodologies of groups engaged in transnational criminality and terrorism.

      ​Ethical Leadership in Investigations and Intelligence (30 Credits):

      ​The purpose of this module is for students to explore their own leadership styles and values, developing their critical ethical thinking skills and decision-making approaches. Students will investigate a variety of principles and theories and apply the skills required to support organisations as ethical leaders.

      ​Major Project (40 Credits):

      ​This final project module will provide students with the opportunity to select an area of focus within Criminal and Corporate Investigation and Intelligence for an in-depth research project. Students will develop and utilise research skills garnered throughout the programme to become independent researchers.

  • How will I be taught?

    Your taught sessions will be delivered via a range of face-to-face, online and blended learning activities, consisting of discussion-based workshops, practical exercises (including in our state-of-the-art Hydra suite) and academic skills exercises.  You will study three modules per semester and receive two hours of instruction per week, per module.

    How will I be assessed?

    We use a range of assessment methods, such as written essays, reports, simulations, presentations and pitches. We aim to be as inclusive as possible in our assessment approach, so all students can achieve their best.

Fees and Funding

2025/26 Tuition Fees

Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 25/26 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  • UK Full Time: £8,500
  • UK Part Time: £945 per 20 credit module
  • International – Full Time: £17,495

  • There are no additional costs for this course for students beginning their studies in September 2025. Should this change, applicants and students will be contacted by the university with details of the costs.

  • For more information about possible funding options, please visit our Fees and Funding and Scholarships pages.

  • Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 2024/25 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

    • UK Full Time: £8,250
    • UK Part Time: £920 per 20 credit module
    • International – Full Time: £16,995

Careers and Employability

This programme builds upon our successful undergraduate programme, Criminal and Corporate Investigations BA (Hons). Students graduating from that programme have gone on to be investigators, intelligence analysts and law enforcement officers. It is envisaged that the MA Criminal and Corporate Investigations and Intelligence will open doors to leadership roles in those arenas.

Facilities

At the University of Northampton, our Hydra Suite allows for immersive scenario-based teaching and learning. We put theory into practice by testing the students’ teamwork, communication and decision-making skills on scenarios informed by the real-world.

Is this course for you?

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