Skip page header and navigation

Modern Slavery Studies (Part-time) (MA)

Distance Learning
3 Years Part-time

Modern slavery is a crime that affects an estimated 45 million people across the globe. The aim is to provide a suite of programmes that will align the right skills, powers and experience to meet challenging anti-slavery requirements.

As the role of the anti-slavery workforce becomes further embedded in public and private sector organisations, there is a need to ensure that continuous professional development is available which is academically accredited and recognises the skills and knowledge of people required by the role. This MA portfolio of programmes provides this accredited CPD route.

The programmes have been developed in close and regular liaison with members of the Wales Anti-Slavery Leadership Group. The initial programme, the University Certificate, worth 40 Level 7 credits, recognises the importance and complexity of the role of those working within modern slavery departments and further professionalises it.

On successful completion of the University Certificate, there is an opportunity for learners to ‘top-up’ this award by studying a further 20 credit module to achieve a Postgraduate Certificate. Subsequently, the credits achieved can be used to top-up to a Postgraduate Diploma or an MA.

Course details

Start date:
Study modes:
  • Distance Learning
  • Part-time
Language:
  • English
Course length:
3 Years Part-time

Why choose this course?

01
There are clear benefits of these programmes for both the individual and for the wider public, private and not-for-profit organisations.
02
For the individual, it recognises and builds upon their professional competency and practice by providing an appropriate, focused and useful programme of continuing professional development.
03
For the organisations, it will help develop academic and practitioner research and hence a corpus of knowledge that will enhance the contribution and assessment of mechanisms to combat modern slavery for societal well-being.

What you will learn

The programmes take a distance learning approach enabling work-based learners to complete much of the programme online at a distance, providing the flexibility they require to accommodate employment and study.

However, annual face-to-face events allow learners to synthesise and further develop the learning to date. The programmes are proposed in progressive, bite-sized chunks of learning (University Certificate, PGCert, PGDip and MA), offering learners the opportunity to progress through the various awards, undertaking between 40- and 180-credits worth of CPD. The modules will involve masterclasses from current practitioners in the field.

Learners are expected to apply theoretical concepts and principles to practical contexts.

The initial programme, the University Certificate, worth 40 Level 7 credits, explores the Global and UK history of modern slavery, landmark cases and the current picture as it’s impacted by issues such as Brexit and Black Lives Matter. The Certificate also explores the type of offending, the legislation currently in place to tackle perpetrators and support victims and the role of the criminal justice system.

In the ‘top-up’ to a Postgraduate Certificate, the programme considers the effectiveness of the multi-agency response on a national, regional and local scale to tackling modern slavery and also the involvement of politics and the media.

In the ‘top-up’ to a Postgraduate Diploma, the programme considers the Global context and the role of the EU and the mechanisms currently in place to monitor and evaluate levels of modern slavery to ensure transparency and also allow for lessons to be learned. Current approaches to safeguarding the vulnerable in society are also explored, with the impact of issues such as County Lines and Forced Marriage being investigated.

Learners are expected to apply theoretical concepts and principles to practical contexts.

To complete the MA learners will focus on an area of interest producing a research study.

This illustrates the ability to work independently, critically reflect and also operate strategically by completing a research study and contributing to the needs of an organisation.

Disclaimer

  • We listen to student feedback and insights from industry and from professionals to ensure that course content is high-quality and up-to-date, and that it offers the best possible preparation for your future career or study goals. 

    For this reason, there might be modifications to the content of your course over time, to keep up to date with changes in the subject area or in the sector. If a module is no longer running, we’ll make sure to keep you informed, and work with you to choose a different suitable module.

Ratings and Rankings

Staff

Our People

You will be taught and supported by a wide range of professional staff and teams here to help you get the university experience you are looking for. Our teaching staff were ranked 2nd in Wales for assessments and feedback (NSS 2023) meaning the comments you get back from your work will help you learn. Our commitment to your learning has seen our students us as Top 10 in the UK for Lecturers and Teaching Quality. Find out more about our academic staff who teach across our courses. 

Further information

  • Degree (2:2) or relevant professional experience.

  • Assessment methods that are both formative and summative are varied, contemporary, and linked to professional practice.

    Formative assessment is used extensively throughout the programmes to prepare and rehearse students for the summative assessment; this is achieved via practical exercises undertaken online and/or discussed in scheduled sessions, e.g. case studies, practical work and presentations by learners. Each module is assessed summatively through individual assessment tasks that provide feedback on a learner’s performance for the module but includes feed-forward guidance to support learners in subsequent modules/learning.

    A range of summative methods is employed. Exams are not used in the programmes because the assessment focuses on the rehearsal of activities typically undertaken in the anti-slavery environment. Coursework and practicals are the primary assessment strategies as they facilitate assessment that synthesises knowledge and understanding, cognitive, practical and key skills using methods appropriate to both the level of study and workplace requirements. Assessment includes written assignments, reports, presentations, and plans that test knowledge, understanding, cognitive skills, and practical and key (transferable) skills that mirror the learners’ skills within their employment role.

  • There are no additional costs associated with this programme, although students would be expected to have access to IT equipment and would have to cover own travel costs to campus.

  • You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available, please visit our Bursaries and Scholarships section.

  • One of the concerns of the Welsh Modern Slavery Leadership group is that within Wales and the UK there is limited opportunity for anti-slavery professionals to obtain vocational and academic qualifications in this extremely complex area of serious and organised crime.

    The aim is to provide a suite of programmes that will align the right skills, powers and experience to meet challenging anti-slavery requirements.  As the role of the anti-slavery workforce becomes further embedded in public and private sector organisations, there is a need to ensure that continuous professional development is available which is academically accredited and recognises the skills and knowledge of people required by the role. This MA portfolio of programmes provides this accredited CPD route.

    The skills gained during the programme are also transferable to other professions or organisations

More Law, Criminology and Policing courses

Search courses