Transnational Organised Crime MA

For HM Forces

Study options Award

Duration

2 Years

Location

Stoke-on-Trent campus

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Our MA Transnational Organised Crime degree is designed specifically for MOD Intelligence personnel.

Transnational Organised Crime has become a significant concern and appears to be on the increase. With University of Staffordshire, you will hone your knowledge to an expert level, studying 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

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

Entry requirements

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

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

In addition to the excellent support you will receive from your course teaching team, our central Academic Skills team provides group and one-to-one help to support your learning in a number of areas. These include:

study skills such as reading, note-taking and presentation skills
written English, including punctuation and grammatical accuracy
academic writing and how to reference
research skills
critical thinking and understanding arguments
revision, assessment and examination skills
time management

Additional support

Our Student Inclusion Services support students with additional needs such as sensory impairment, or learning difficulties such as dyslexia.

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.

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.

Apply

Location	Award	Study option	Start date	Apply Link
Stoke-on-Trent campus	MA	Part-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.