Maastricht University, Faculty of Law
LLM in Forensics, Criminology and Law
Maastricht, Netherlands
LLM
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English, Dutch
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
EUR 21,500 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for non-EU/EEA | 1 June 2026 for EU/EEA
** institutional fees | €2,695 - statutory fees
Key Summary
About: LLM in Forensics, Criminology and Law at the Faculty of Law, Maastricht University explores criminal behavior, evidence collection, DNA investigations, witness reliability, fraud and asset confiscation. The multidisciplinary programme links law, criminology, forensic science, psychology, accounting and medicine. You’ll take compulsory and elective courses, internships, and use Problem-Based Learning in small tutorial groups (max 19) to build research, teamwork and critical-thinking skills.
Career Outcomes: With this master’s you can work as lawyers, researchers, policy officers, consultants, forensic advisors, anti-fraud coordinators, probation officers, or in the judiciary, Ministry of Justice, Prosecutor’s Office, law enforcement, psychiatric services, education; alumni work abroad.
Why does someone commit a crime? How do police, judiciary and forensic experts operate? Delve into the world of criminal justice from different perspectives, combining law with criminology, psychology, physics and more.
Forensic research is becoming increasingly important in criminal investigations and the collection of evidence. Lawyers, public prosecutors and judges experience that in their everyday work. The master’s programme in Forensics, Criminology and Law gives you insights into the different disciplines involved in the field of forensic research. You will also take a look at the part the criminal justice system plays within society. You'll take a number of compulsory courses, and you can choose from a wide range of elective courses and internship opportunities.
The Big Picture of Criminal Justice
In this multidisciplinary programme, you’ll explore the big picture of the criminal justice system. You will study subjects of different forensic disciplines, namely psychology, psychopathology, accounting and medicine, covering topics such as:
- causes and explanations of criminal behaviour
- methods of evidence collection
- human behaviours during criminal proceedings
- psychological aspects of the search for the truth in criminal law
- reliability of witness statements
- responsibility
- combating fraud and confiscating illegally obtained assets
- DNA search in criminal investigations and evidence collection
With our Problem-Based Learning method, you:
- learn to think and work in a solution-focused way to solve practical problems.
- learn to conduct independent research and develop a critical mindset.
- learn to collaborate with others in a dynamic and international environment.
- get actively involved in small tutorial groups of a maximum of 19 students.
- acquire the knowledge and skills that will boost your future career.
- Are you fascinated by the causes of criminal behaviour?
- Do you want to examine crime and sentencing from multiple perspectives?
- Do you wonder how reliable a witness really is?
Compulsory Courses
- Criminological Perspectives
- Evidence
- Psychology and Law
- Advanced Criminal Procedure
Specialisation Courses
- International Cold Case Analysis Project
- Strafrechtelijke Sancties
- European Criminal Law
- Verdediging in Strafzaken
- Organisational Crime
- Criminalistics and Forensic DNA
- Verdieping Materieel Strafrecht
- Forensische Accountancy
- International Criminal Law
- Transforensic Psychiatry
- Forensische Geneeskunde
- OM en Rechtshandhaving
Elective Courses
- Evidence
- Advanced European Law
- International Dispute Settlement
- International Investment Law
- Public International Law
- International Commercial Dispute Resolution
- Cold Cases
- The Foundations of European Institutionalisation
- Rechtshandeling en Overeenkomst
- Ondernemingsrecht
- Verdieping Relatie-, Vermogens- en Erfrecht
- Arbeidsrecht I
- Verdieping Bestuursrecht
- Verdieping Staatsrecht
- European Value Added Tax
- International Trade Law
- European Competition Law
- European Fundamental Rights Law
- Internal Market Law and Governance
- Intellectual Property Law
- Global Environmental Law
- Introduction to Modern Computing and AI
- Tussen publiek en privaat: een metajuridische analyse
- International Commercial Law
- Onrechtmatige Daad en Schadevergoeding
- Sociale Zekerheid I
- Omgevingsrecht
- Human Rights and Human Development
- Human Rights of Women
- Advanced International Trade Law
- Regulation of Data, AI and Digital Servi
- Legal Data Analysis and Ethics
- Comparative Company Law
- Goederenrecht (Master)
- Sociale Zekerheid II
- European Labour and Social Security Law
- Arbeidsrecht II
- Europees en Nationaal Constitutioneel Recht
- European and National Constitutional Law
- Pension
- Customs Law
- European Migration and Asylum Law
- External Relations of the European Union
- State Aid and Public Procurement in the EU
- The Law of the Economic and Monetary Union
- Law of the Sea
- Networks, Security and Regulations
- Global Law
- The Good Lawyer
- Advanced Property Law
- Insolventierecht
- Comparative Corporate Governance
- Europeanisering Sociaal Recht
- Global Tax Policy and Sustainable Governance
Internships
- Master's internship forensics
Thesis
- Master Thesis FCL
- Start your career as a forensic specialist or researcher in criminal justice
- Build your career as an anti-fraud coordinator or probation officer
- Get a job as an expert in a municipality, bank or security agency
With a master’s in Forensics, Criminology and Law, a number of career opportunities are open for you. You can enter the legal profession, working as a lawyer, or within organisations such as the judiciary, the Ministry of Justice or the Public Prosecutor’s Office. Law enforcement services, as well as psychiatric services and institutions, are also looking for people with forensic knowledge. You can also become a professional legal researcher within governmental or educational institutions.
More than 300 students have graduated successfully from the master’s programme in Forensics, Criminology and Law. Alumni have found work as:
- lawyers
- researchers
- policy officers
- consultants
- forensic advisors
- jurists
- teachers
- anti-fraud coordinators
- probation officers
A number of graduates work abroad in countries such as Greece, Germany, Belgium and the UK.
These topics often overlap with those of other programmes taught at Maastricht University, which is why you will be working closely with students and professors from other faculties. This allows you to profit the most from our existing knowledge base and to use it in your own programme.
You will learn through lectures and tutorial groups. The lectures will provide you with insights into the content of the programme, insights gained through scholarship as well as professional practice. The tutorial groups allow you to dig deeper into the matter at hand, using Problem-Based Learning (PBL). In small tutorial groups of 10 to 12 students, you'll seek solutions to ‘problems’ taken from real-world situations or real legal cases. Instructors act as facilitators, giving help as it’s needed. This allows you to build independence and develop problem-solving skills that you’ll need in the field.