Masters study

Tailor your learning experience

Most of our courses have optional modules which provides you with the flexibility to shape your degree around your interests and career goals. You could, for example choose to specialise in areas such as Gender Studies, Migration, the Digital Economy, and more.

Engaging teaching and contact time

You’ll typically have two hours of contact time per module each week, which may take the form of a two-hour seminar, or a one-hour lecture followed by a one-hour class.

Our department also fosters a strong research culture, encouraging students to attend regular seminars featuring prominent external speakers—giving you the chance to engage with cutting-edge ideas beyond the classroom.

Personalised academic support

All postgraduate taught students are assigned a Personal Tutor, who you’ll meet shortly after you arrive and regularly throughout your course. Your tutor is there to guide you through your academic journey and help you navigate any challenges, referring you to additional support services when needed.

Academic staff also hold regular support hours during term time. These are open times when you can drop in to discuss anything related to your modules - whether it’s understanding seminar readings or exploring feedback on your coursework.

Join a Department Shaping the Future of Sociology and Criminology

As a postgraduate student in the Department of Sociology and Criminology at Essex, you’ll be part of a community that has pushed boundaries and challenged convention since the 1960s. You’ll study alongside leading academics whose work shapes public debate, influences global policy, and transforms lives.

You'll have the opportunity to engage with world-renowned scholars such as:

Professor Linsey McGoey

A pioneering voice in the field of ignorance studies, Professor McGoey is internationally recognised for her critical analyses of power, knowledge, and philanthropy. Her influential books No Such Thing as a Free Gift and The Unknowers challenge how we think about elites, global foundations, and institutional accountability.

Professor Joan Busfield

A leading figure in the sociology of health and illness, Professor Busfield’s research has deeply shaped understandings of psychiatry, mental disorder, and gender. As a former President of the British Sociological Association, her legacy continues to inform critical approaches to mental health policy and practice.

Our research-active academics frequently appear in major international media, including:

• BBC World News
• Sky News
• The Guardian
• Vogue
• The New York Times
• Washington Post
• Radio France
• The Hindu

Their work has influenced global and national policy across areas such as:

• Immigration and asylum reform
• Surveillance legislation and CCTV regulation
• Domestic violence policy and legislative change
• Advisory work for the Victims’ Commissioner and development of Victims’ Law
• International crime policy in collaboration with Interpol
• Parliamentary consultations on refugee rights and health service oversight

At Essex, your Masters degree will place you at the heart of sociological innovation—where critical thinking meets real-world impact.