Home page
Home page

Master’s Degree

As part of the Unlocked Graduates programme, you will complete a fully-funded, bespoke master’s degree.

Awarded by our academic partner Leeds Trinity University (LTU), this MSc in Applied Custodial Leadership will allow you to explore your professional interests in an academic setting. These studies will give you a chance to take a step back from the day-to-day to investigate the theory behind driving system change on the frontline.

500
Over 500 research papers have now been written by Unlocked Graduates participants as part of their master’s degree in Applied Custodial Leadership.

This master’s degree is delivered in partnership with LTU’s world-leading criminology experts across a series of dedicated in-person and online lecture days throughout the two years of the programme. Alongside teaching for the master’s degree, lecture days also provide an opportunity to share learnings with the rest of your cohort and hear from guest speakers.

The master’s course provides specialist knowledge and an advanced understanding of the prison environment that will support you in your day-to-day role on the landings. It will give you the skills and expertise to change attitudes and perceptions to encourage new approaches that support rehabilitation, while building an academically-informed, evidence-based perspective on a wide range of issues in the criminal justice sector.

Part One Understanding Why – Pathways to Imprisonment and Desistance

Develop an understanding of the various psychological, criminological and sociological theories that underpin our understanding of pathways to imprisonment and desistance and how these contribute to the development of practice, guidance and/or policy.

Part Two Making a Difference – Applied Ethical and Professional Practice

Explore how you can make a difference as a prison officer and custodial leader by reviewing the relevant literature underlying ethical and professional practice, including reflective practical and operational skills, effective communication skills and motivational interviewing.

Part Three Transformational Leadership – Inspiring Lasting Change

Evaluate the theoretical approaches to studying leadership across different contexts, and reflect on your own personal approach, style, strengths and weaknesses that you bring to the leadership process.

Part Four Research Project

Complete a research project relevant to your workplace and your own professional interest, and which potentially generates new knowledge and/or develops our conception of the topic studied.

The Unlocked programme’s MSc in Applied Custodial Leadership is awarded by our academic partner, Leeds Trinity University. The course was developed with Professor Danielle McDermott (professor of custodial practice) and Claire Vilarrubi. Between them, Danielle and Claire have over 30 years’ experience in the Criminal Justice System.