Policing, Law Enforcement and Security MSc

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Course Summary

In today’s rapidly evolving world, the need for effective policing, law enforcement, and security measures has never been greater. As societies face new and complex challenges, the MSc in Policing, Law Enforcement and Security at the University of Chester stands at the forefront, preparing professionals to safeguard our communities and uphold justice. This course is designed for students with an academic/professional background in policing, law enforcement and security or related subjects who wish to pursue further study and research into topics of contemporary interest. Those completing this MSc will have become competent and independent minded, and be able to use these skills in the law enforcement sector or elsewhere.

This course incorporates and addresses the subjects that are a significant threat and challenge to contemporary society and are priority areas for policing, law enforcement and security organisations.

We draw on the extensive practitioner experience of the academic teaching team supplemented by serving practitioners from specialist law enforcement agencies, including the Police Service and the National Crime Agency, in order to provide a unique and complementary learning environment. Our expert staff bring their subject to life by referring to real-world scenarios and providing research informed teaching.

What You'll Study

During the MSc course, you will extend your knowledge, skills and expertise of more specialist areas of policing, law enforcement and security. You will also undertake a 60-credit dissertation, researching an area of policing, law enforcement or security. On successful completion of your dissertation, you will be awarded the MSc in Policing, Law Enforcement and Security – a highly rewarding and valuable qualification.

MODULES

Risk Management and Vulnerability (20 Credits) Core: The aim of this module is to provide you with advanced theoretical knowledge and understanding of the key issues and debates with regards to multi-agency working. During this module, key guidance and preventive models will be discussed, which will lead to the recognition of the key issues relevant to multi-agency working. All aspects of public protection in terms of how police, law enforcement and security agencies manage investigations and reduce the risks to the individual. Focus within this module will be towards 'safeguarding', risk identification, concepts and evidence, which supports the protection of victims/witnesses and how offenders are managed.
Research Methods (20 Credits) Core: You will critically examine the philosophy of conducting research and the complex nature of knowledge. The concept of the research cycle will form the structure around which both quantitative and qualitative research processes, methodology and methods will be explored. A key emphasis will be on the construction of the research question or hypothesis and the consequent decisions that need to be made once this is established. Critical systematic literature reviewing will be examined in detail, as will methods of information retrieval. Ethical practice in conducting research will underpin the content of this module, with critical appraisal of a range of key ethical principles particularly relevant to researching policing, law enforcement and security.
Dissertation (60 Credits) Core: This module builds on the study of Research Methods in the IP7303 module. You will design, conduct and report on an area of individual research based upon an area of study relevant to policing, wider law enforcement or security, to complete your 12,000-word dissertation. All studies that utilise research participants (such as interviews, questionnaires/surveys, focus groups and observations) will be required to submit a completed Ethics form for approval to the Department's Ethics Committee, prior to any engagement with the participants. Individual supervision sessions will provide guidance and support on all areas of the research process and will be intended to meet the specific needs of the individual researcher.
Intelligence and Covert Policing Management (20 Credits) Core: This module will introduce and immerse you in the complex world of contemporary intelligence and covert policing management and its relevance and application across the wider policing, law enforcement and security landscape. It will explore topics such as the concept of intelligence-led policing, analytical frameworks, data handling, information, intelligence and evidence, and covert policing methodologies on criminal investigations.
Culture, Values and Ethics (20 Credits) Core: This module will provide you with a critical understanding of policing accountability and policing culture. Policing culture will be examined, including how culture may impact an officer's decision making in practice, leading to impacts on community confidence in policing. The impact that leadership, instilling of ethics and values can have on policing practice will be explored.
Leading and Managing Multi-Agency Partnerships (20 Credits) Core: The aim of this module is to introduce you to the leadership and management complexities of multi-agency partnership working. The module will focus on the legislative obligations of a series of key statutory and non-statutory agencies in the public, private and voluntary sectors who have a responsibility or stakeholder interest in addressing crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour in a proscribed area of geographical responsibility.
Serious Organised Crime (20 Credits) Core: The aim of this module is for you to consider the thematic development and theoretical perspectives of the nature and threat from international serious and complex organised crime and the impact it is having on 21st-century society law enforcement. You will study the origins and evolution of Serious Organised Crime, including the key characteristics and the complexities of definition, whilst exploring the synthesis of Crime Type and Crime Groups, the impact of Human Intelligence and how the criminal use of technology is central to the threat from Serious Organised Crime. Specific emphasis will focus on the United Kingdom Serious Organised Crime Strategy and how this applies to contemporary law enforcement philosophy and practical application of investigative practices.

 The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If, during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

Who You’ll Learn From

Steph Worrell

Senior Lecturer

Mike Parsons

Senior Lecturer

Guy Hindle

Lecturer in Policing

Paul Beauchamp

Lecturer in Policing

The course has been designed to address the myriad contemporary challenges faced by Policing, Law Enforcement and Security industries, with particular focus being placed on those students who are working in or aspire to leadership roles within professional law enforcement and security organisations.

The MSc offers modules that will enable you to study subjects that are of significant threat and challenge to contemporary society and are reflected in the United Kingdom’s National Strategic Assessment of Serious and Organised Crime and the National Security Strategy as priority areas for Policing, Law Enforcement and Security agencies. Examining the importance of culture, values and ethical practices in leadership and management, when working within organisations, multi-agencies and partnerships; in addition to modules focused on Intelligence and Covert Policing Management and Risk Management and Vulnerability. The culmination of the course will require you to complete the 60-credit Dissertation module (IP7304) – you will be provided continuing supervision from your dissertation supervisor during the module. Scheduled contact hours range between approximately three and seven hours per week, depending upon whether studying the course full-time or part-time.

All teaching is delivered by experienced academics and practitioners, with the fundamental principles of the Chester Future Skills Curriculum at its core – building your subject competence, confidence and key transferable skills to shape you into a world-ready Chester graduate. The lecturing team comprises academic members of the University who are also former professional practitioners with significant and varied practical experience of the module content, in addition to staff who are subject specialists and have engaged with research in the relevant areas of study. Furthermore, you will be provided with up-to-date inputs by the inclusion of a range of guest speakers that are currently serving practitioners from a variety of agencies in policing, law enforcement and security.

Unique aspects of this course include level of pastoral support offered to students; the small group sizes; and the range of students on the course, including progressing students, international students and professionals who are undertaking the MSc course. You will be given the opportunity to join undergraduate students on days where they are using the Immersive Learning Suite and the Crime Scene House, for simulated role-plays.

There is a wide range of assessments designed to help you consolidate your learning and develop key skills, so you will be equipped for a variety of careers. Assessments include coursework, research portfolio, presentations, and a research dissertation. The use of authentic assessments including the Risk Management Plan and Professional Discussion; Multi-Agency Plan/Strategy and an Intelligence Plan. All modules are supported by a suite of detailed online learning activities and guidance, including lessons, readings and tasks to supplement knowledge. All resources are included, including digital access to core texts through Library Services and subscriptions to online databases.

The structure of this course is purposely focused to include content on the real-world professional context. The curriculum will enable you to attain transferable skills that you can use in your future employment. The available modules are considered to be fundamentally important 21st-century baselines for all professional organisations and provide the underpinning knowledge expected of practitioners, supervisors and leaders in multi-layered hierarchical disciplined organisations in wider Law Enforcement and Security.

Entry Requirements

2:2 honours degree

A minimum of a 2:2 honours degree in a relevant discipline, e.g. Policing, Criminology, or equivalent qualification is required. Credit exemption may be given for certified or experiential learning taken during the previous five years. An interview can form part of the admissions process, for students with relevant experiential learning.

Applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence of proficiency to IELTS 6.5 with no less than 5.5 in each band or equivalent.

2:2 honours degree

English Language Requirements

For more information on our English Language requirements, please visit International Entry Requirements.

Where you'll Study Wheeler, Chester

City centre location

On-site library

Social spaces

Fees and Funding

£8,775for a full-time course (2025/26)

Guides to the fees for students who wish to commence postgraduate courses are available to view on our Postgraduate Taught Programmes Fees page. Here you will also find information about part-time fees and project/placement year fees.

£15,000for a full-time course (2025/26)

The tuition fees for international students studying Postgraduate programmes in 2025/26 are £15,000.

Please note: For MSc programmes where a placement or project year is undertaken there will be an additional charge of £2,750 for the placement/project year (due at the start of the second year of the course).

The University of Chester offers generous international and merit-based scholarships for postgraduate study, providing a significant reduction to the published headline tuition fee. You will automatically be considered for these scholarships when your application is reviewed, and any award given will be stated on your offer letter.

For more information, go to our International Fees, Scholarship and Finance section.

Irish Nationals living in the UK or ROI are treated as Home students for Tuition Fee Purposes.

Your course will involve additional costs not covered by your tuition fees. This may include books, printing, photocopying, educational stationery and related materials, specialist clothing, travel to placements, optional field trips and software. Compulsory field trips are covered by your tuition fees.

The University of Chester supports fair access for students who may need additional support through a range of bursaries and scholarships.

Full details, as well as terms and conditions for all bursaries and scholarships can be found on the Fees and Finance section of our website.

Your Future Career

Job Prospects

The MSc has been designed following consultation with policing, law enforcement and security agencies, so that the content delivers the key knowledge requirements of professionals currently working in that field. The course will provide graduates with an in-depth understanding and appreciation of the complexities of Policing, Law Enforcement and Security in contemporary society.

While studying our MSc in Policing, Law Enforcement and Security, you will develop skills that are in high demand with employers across all sectors. Graduates from this course will be equipped with substantial knowledge and understanding of theoretical and methodological approaches to contemporary policing, law enforcement and security. Furthermore, they will possess excellent transferable skills which are developed through all modules and in particular within the research methods module.

Career paths identified for graduates include roles within policing, the Youth Offending Service, Prison and Probation Service, the National Crime Agency, and the Civil Service, but the knowledge, abilities and skills developed throughout the programme of study will prove valuable in a wide range of central and local government areas. Additionally, graduates can choose to further pursue their studies and undertake a PhD.

Careers Service

The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.

Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.

We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extracurricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs and postgraduate study.