Investigative Management MA

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Develop your skills and be part of the future of the police. Bring a high level of professionalism to investigation. Qualify for more senior roles within the police.

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Overview

The MA Investigative Management degree is ideal for professionals seeking to advance their careers by studying leadership and management in the context of work-based investigative practice.

This investigation course has been designed in collaboration with senior police representatives to enhance your intellectual capability and professional practice in relation to how investigations are led, managed and delivered.

By its nature, this cross-disciplinary investigation course has a substantive professional experience component. Throughout your studies you will be supported by academic staff, as well as various professionals with practical experience of investigation. With a clear focus on merging theory and practice, you will gain a deeper understanding of investigative management in the context of real-world experience(s) and professional practice(s).

This investigation course includes a dissertation module which allows you to tailor your studying to suit your career needs and research interests.

Why us?

Benefit from flexible studying that fits around your work commitments
Learn from academic teaching staff with substantial experience in the field of investigation

Qualify for more senior positions in investigative practice
Gain an extremely industry-specific postgraduate qualification

Course structure

MA Investigative Management is taught via lectures, workshops, and self-study.

Your progress will be assessed with coursework, a research proposal (in written and presentation form), and your dissertation.

Throughout your studies, you will receive one-on-one guidance and support from academic staff and professionals with practical experience in investigation.

The course module dates are:

22–23 October 2025
11–12 February 2026
3–4 June 2026
14–15 October 2026
13–14 January 2027

Course modules

Core modules:

Advanced Critical Thinking and Applied Research Skills (30 credits)

Gain a critical understanding of the processes involved in conducting effective business management and build awareness of a range of research strategies and techniques to pursue your own research interests. Explore the significant role that theoretical principles play in the research process and the importance of presenting clear and credible argumentation and evidence to support both the research design and study’s findings.

Professional Leadership and Decision-Making in Investigation (30 credits)

Examine the wider impact of your professional leadership and decision-making in investigations, both for your own and your organisation’s benefit. Consider the changing nature of your professional environment by exploring various theories of professional leadership and management, focusing on a process of critical reflection upon your professional identity. Develop a deeper understanding of the practical issues of managing and leading investigations with a view to improve current practice.

Critical Decision-Making in Investigation (30 credits)

Develop an understanding of and reflect upon the importance of criticality in decision-making within the professional context of investigative management. Examine the similarities and differences between the approaches to critical evaluation of different stakeholders, and how these approaches impact outcomes of relevant investigations.

Advanced Investigative Management Proposal (30 credits)

Identify a key area of operational practice related to investigative procedure which you perceive requires further reflection and analysis to produce a written assessment, tailored towards writing for a practitioner-friendly peer journal.

Investigative Management Dissertation (60 credits)

Enhance your understanding of the processes involved in conducting effective business management research. Analyse, interpret and critically evaluate information relevant to the research topic and produce an investigative management dissertation from the gathered data.

Some modules have prerequisites. Read more about what this means in our Help and Advice article.

More about MA Investigative Management at Sunderland

Discover more articles

You can access free Wi-Fi throughout the University campus, so you can work from anywhere. If you don't want to carry a laptop around, just use one of the University’s PCs or Macs. We have hundreds of computers for you to use in the Murray Library, St Peter's Library, and the David Goldman Informatics Centre. If you ever have any technical problems, just ask the friendly helpdesk team.
IT provision
University library services will be central to your study experience and are delivered at our two libraries on campus, as well as online. Our libraries offer a variety of study environments to meet your needs, including areas for groupwork, individual and silent study. You’ll also have access to desktop PCs, space to use your own mobile technology and printing facilities.

The library works closely with academic staff within each faculty to offer specialist, industry standard resources in your subject discipline. The Faculty of Social Sciences provides thousands of relevant books and e-books, with many more titles available through the inter-library loan service. You’ll also have access to a comprehensive range of print and electronic journals which are always kept up to date, including Project Muse, Lexis, JSTOR and many more.

To find out more information, visit our University Library website.
Library Services - social sciences
Map and directions

Facilities

You'll be based at the recently refurbished Wearside View, situated on the award-winning Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter's. This stunning riverside location benefits from dedicated library services and has superb transport links with the city centre and City Campus.

Entry requirements

We don’t currently display entry requirements for United States. Please contact the Student Admin team on studentadmin@sunderland.ac.uk or 0191 515 3154.

To apply for this course you need to be at least one of the following:

Graduate in BA (Hons) Applied Investigation
Senior investigative professional with experience of leading and managing investigations
Professional graduate with at least five years’ experience in investigation
Have attained PIP level 3.

If English isn't your first language, please see our English language requirements.

Fees and finance

The total fee for this course is £5,300 (£2,650 per year).

Please note, part-time study isn't available to international students.

If you currently serve (or have recently served) within the Armed Forces, then the Ministry of Defence's ELCAS scheme may be able to help cover your funding for this course. Visit this page for more information about funding.

Take a look at the scholarships and bursaries that may be available to you.

This information was correct at the time of publication.

Career ready

The MA Investigative Management course has been designed in response to the current sector needs in policing. It is extremely relevant to modern police practices, and its structure, content and assessment strategies have been created in collaboration with senior police representatives. As an Investigative Management graduate you will be able to immediately make a positive impact in your current role in the police. If you are seeking employment or planning to change roles, you will be qualified for positions with more seniority and responsibility within police investigation.

Meet the students

The team draw on a wealth of experience that no other university course in this field can offer.

Jesse
The skills I’ve acquired haven't only helped me succeed academically but prepared me professionally.

Steven Gill

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Contact

Contact the Student Helpline for further information about studying at the University of Sunderland:

0191 515 3000

student.helpline@sunderland.ac.uk

View Programme Specifications for the Faculty of Education and Society

Page last updated: 23 July 2025

We aim to provide clear, accurate and timely information to prospective and current students. We continuously review and enhance course content in consultation with our students and the information provided on our website is the latest available. If you have received an offer from us to start a course, we will communicate any important changes to you in writing. We will always seek to ensure that our prospective students are fully aware of the basis on which they are accepting an offer.