Green Criminology and Environmental Crime (MRes)

About the Course

Green criminology is an expanding area of interest that speaks to contemporary concerns about sustainability, climate change, environmental justice, biodiversity, and nonhuman animal harm. The MRes in Green Criminology and Environmental Crime draws on Liverpool Hope University's significant research strength in green criminology, and offers an innovative programme for aspiring academic researchers, policy-makers, and practitioners with an interest in a subject at the cutting edge of contemporary criminology.

As the first programme of its type in the UK, this unique course aims to give students a robust grounding in the study of green criminology, nonhuman animal victimology, and environmental justice. Across two taught modules and an original research dissertation you will engage with in-depth subject teaching in this area, as well as advanced quantitative and qualitative research skills, and the ethics and practicalities of conducting research on environmental crime. This will build towards the production of an original research dissertation that explores a contemporary issue in line with the course content. By providing you with a world-leading understanding of the core issues in this field, and the skills to produce high-quality original research, it will allow you to pursue careers in and around criminal justice and environmental policy or practice, advocacy, or to engage in advanced academic study via further postgraduate research qualifications.

Course Leader - Dr. Melanie Flynn

Hello, I’m Dr Melanie Flynn, Associate Dean for Research and Knowledge Exchange and Senior Lecturer in Criminology. I have been researching and writing about green criminology, environmental crime, and animal harm since 2008 and I sit on the steering group of the British Society of Criminology Green Criminology Researcher Network. My research and expertise have taken me to Malaysia (wildlife crime), Ethiopia (forest crime), and the US (policing) and I am currently supervising a PhD project on artisanal fishing in Ghana. I am delighted that you are interested in the MRes in Green Criminology and Environmental Crime and I look forward to hearing about your research plans. This innovative and intellectually stimulating programme is one of only a few Green Criminology Masters programmes in the world. It offers a combination of in-depth subject teaching and advanced research training coupled with an extended dissertation supported by one-to-one supervision. Whether you aspire to pursue further academic research, work in criminal justice, or shape policy within governmental, non-governmental, or multilateral organizations, this MRes will equip you with the expertise to make a meaningful impact.

View my academic profile here: Dr. Melanie Flynn

Curriculum Overview

The MRes in Green Criminology and Environmental Crime comprises two compulsory taught modules of 30 credits each and a compulsory research dissertation of 120 credits. Assessment methods may include coursework, in the form of essays, reports, presentations, and an empirical research dissertation.

Modules

During the programme you will study

Green Criminology and Environmental Crime (30 credits - compulsory)

This module will critically explore key contemporary concepts and issues in the fields of green criminology and environmental crime. It will critically consider relevant theories and perspectives, such as ecological and species justice, to support analysis of the nature and drivers of environmental and nonhuman animal harms and possible responses to them. This exploration will be situated within local, national and international contexts and politics, including inequality and development, human rights, the animal industrial complex, consumerist societies, and the legacies of colonialism on indigenous communities and the Global South. Approaches and challenges relating to green criminology research will also be considered.

The module will be delivered through a combination of lectures and discussion-based seminar classes. Lectures will be grouped into themes of Fundamentals of Green Criminology, Dynamics of Green Criminology, Dimensions of Green Criminology, Responding to Green Criminology, and Researching Green Criminology.

Seminars will take a problem-based learning approach, using case studies to support students to consolidate and apply their learning from the lecture programme, set reading, and further directed study activities.

Advanced Research Methods (30 credits - compulsory)

This module will provide students with an overview of the advanced social research methods that provide the foundation for their dissertation research. It will cover a range of relevant topics and skills, including quantitative and qualitative research methods, research design, ethical issues in research, sources of data collection, and the use of specialist software.

The module will be delivered through a combination of lectures and discussion-based seminar classes. These lectures will be grouped into themes of quantitative and qualitative research methods, and cover topics such as research design, ethical issues, sources of data, and analysing data using specialist software. 

Seminars will focus on practical research skills, and will provide students with the opportunity to work in groups on the design and analysis of quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods research projects. The sessions will also provide guidance for students in developing a research proposal for an empirical dissertation project.

Extended dissertation (120 credits - compulsory)

The extended dissertation offers students the opportunity to produce a longer piece of original research on a topic related to the core subject focus of the degree programme. This may draw on themes introduced in taught modules, or may alternatively speak to interests and/or topics from outside the core programme syllabus.

Produced under the guidance and oversight of a member of academic staff through regular one-hour one-on-one supervisory meetings, the 30,000-word extended dissertation will involve the collection, analysis, and presentation of results from original primary and/or secondary research. In so doing it will provide a test of the student's knowledge and understanding of ethics, research practice, planning, and time-management.

Entry Requirements

Normally a minimum of a Second-Class Honours degree in a relevant discipline awarded by a UK university, or an equivalent higher education qualification is required.

International Entry Requirements

Possess a degree from an overseas institution that is judged by the Registrar or Nominee to be equivalent to a second class honours degree from a UK University.

For students whose first language is not English there is a language requirement of IELTS 6.0 overall with 5.5 minimum of all components. In addition to this, we also accept a wide range of International Qualifications, for more information please visit our English Language Requirements page.

For additional information about country specific entry requirements visit the your country pages. 

*Part time study is not available for Non-EU International applicants

Teaching and Research

The MRes Green Criminology and Environmental Crime is taught by highly-regarded criminologists with strong teaching and research reputations. Our academics have published highly-cited papers and developed concepts that are pushing the boundaries of the discipline. They are actively involved in various green criminology academic networks, meaning you will be taught by professionals who are at the cutting-edge of developments in this subject area. They have particular research interests in species justice, nonhuman animal victimology and abuse, policing, enforcement and sentencing, and environmental justice. They have contributed to research projects in various countries, including Ethiopia and Malaysia, and their work has informed advocacy and policy.

UK/Channel Island Tuition Fees

2025/26

Tuition fees for Home students are £9,500

Funding

We offer a number of scholarships and loans to help fund your postgraduate studies. Visit our scholarships pages for more details.

EU/Non EU International Tuition Fees

2025/26

Tuition fees for EU/Non-EU International students for 2025/26 are £15,250

Please be aware that the UK’s departure from the EU may affect your tuition fees. Learn more about your fee status and which tuition fees are relevant to you.

Careers

Sustainability, biodiversity, and environmental and climate protection will undoubtedly be growth areas for employment over the coming years, whilst the impacts of climate change, environmental degradation and animal harm will need to be responded to across a range of traditional sectors domestically and internationally, such as policing, local and national government, victim services, and criminal justice. The course will appeal to those who wish to work in a broad range of sectors, as well as being suitable for those seeking professional development (for example, wildlife crime police officers, or those working in environmental, conservation, or maritime industries and NGOs).