Expand+Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study. We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Secon...

Hide-Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study. We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

Get additional information for International applicants at https://www.ulster.ac.uk/doctoralcollege/postgraduate-research/apply/international-students

English language requirements
In order to be admitted to research study at Ulster, you will need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency as part of your application.

Get full details on the requirements for both home and overseas applicants can be found on our English language requirements page.

Expand+Overview
The School of Applied Social and Policy Sciences has a vibrant and multi-disciplinary research environment, which is home to a wide range of research projects that tackle important questions in the social sciences.

We have an excellent i...

Hide-Overview
The School of Applied Social and Policy Sciences has a vibrant and multi-disciplinary research environment, which is home to a wide range of research projects that tackle important questions in the social sciences.

We have an excellent international reputation for producing high quality research which has global impact.

Our work is centred around three key themes:
- persistent and emerging socio-economic challenges
- policy and practice in divided societies
- national global social justice

If you are interested in pursuing doctoral research in Criminology and Criminal Justice at Ulster University, you’ll be joining a community of academics who are engaged in an evolving field dealing with an extensive range of sensitive issues.

From traditional forms of deviance and offending, through to contemporary issues such as cybercrime and crimes against the environment, criminology continues to be highly relevant to the harms faced in society.

The criminology team at Ulster University is diverse in terms of teaching and research interests, which range from the more formal aspects of the criminal justice process, policing and prisons for example, through to community responses to deviance and offending.

Our research extends from a focus on individual offences and victims on a local level, through to corporate and state crimes on a national and global scale.

Expand+Key research themes and potential supervisors include:

Prisons and Punishment
Dr Linda Moore
Dr Conor Murray
Dr Una Convery
Aisling McLaughlin
Colette Barry

Desistance from Offending
Dr Brendan Coyle
Dr Conor Murray
Dr Brian Payne
Aisl...

Hide-Key research themes and potential supervisors include:

Prisons and Punishment
Dr Linda Moore
Dr Conor Murray
Dr Una Convery
Aisling McLaughlin
Colette Barry

Desistance from Offending
Dr Brendan Coyle
Dr Conor Murray
Dr Brian Payne
Aisling McLaughlin
Colette Barry

Restorative Justice
Dr Brian Payne
Dr Julie Harris

Victims and Survivors of Violence and Offending
Dr Julie Harris
Dr Una Convery
Michelle Rouse

Children’s Rights and Youth Justice
Dr Una Convery
Dr Linda Moore
Dr Conor Murray
Aisling McLaughlin

Gender, Crime and Justice
Dr Linda Moore
Dr Conor Murray
Michelle Rouse
Colette Barry

Policing, Human Rights and Accountability in a National and Transnational context
Dr Julie Harris
Dr Brian Payne
Dr Brendan Coyle
Shane Mac Giollabhuí

State Violence, Crime, Resistance and Human Rights
Prof Kris Lasslett
Dr Dawid Stanczak
Dr Linda Moore
Michelle Rouse
Gabrielle Nugent-Stephens

Terrorism/Political Violence, Security and Intelligence Handling
Dr Julie Harris
Gabrielle Nugent-Stephens
Shane Mac Giollabhuí

Cybercrime and/or Cyber Security
Gabrielle Nugent-Stephens
Shane Mac Giollabhuí
Human Trafficking/Modern Slavery
Dr Ruth McAlister
Dr Brian Payne

Drugs and Drug Policy - Consumption, Markets and Regulation
Dr Julie Harris
Aisling McLaughlin

Environmental Crime, Harm and Justice
Dr Dawid Stanczak

Transnational Corporate Crime and Corruption
Prof Kris Lasslett
Dr Dawid Stanczak
Gabrielle Nugent-Stephens

We welcome interest from prospective PhD candidates in any of these areas.

For more information on the research interests of each staff member in Social Work, please visit the Criminology and Justice page on the website of the Doctoral College. For more information on how to prepare an application, including how to draft a research proposal, please visit our School’s webpage that describes the variety of PhD Opportunities.

Expand+Careers and opportunities
PhD graduates are recognised by employers to hold valuable transferrable skills, as the nature of the degree trains candidates in creativity, critical inquiry, problem solving, negotiation skills, professionalism and confid...

Hide-Careers and opportunities
PhD graduates are recognised by employers to hold valuable transferrable skills, as the nature of the degree trains candidates in creativity, critical inquiry, problem solving, negotiation skills, professionalism and confidence.

The most recent Ulster survey of PhD graduates found that 92% had secured employment within the first year since graduation (HESA Destination of Leavers Survey 2015), and while two thirds end up in the Higher Education or Research sectors, the range of skills acquired equips the remainder for employment in a wide range of contexts.