Master in Criminology
Malmö, Sweden
Master degree
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Jan 2027
TUITION FEES
SEK 245,000
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* this is the deadline for national round. Non-EU/EEA students who require a residence permit should apply during international admissions round opening mid-October 2026.
Key Summary
About: You’ll analyze complex social and behavioral science topics focused on criminology. Classes include students from diverse backgrounds; you'll discuss Swedish and international contexts. The Department of Criminology specializes in risk assessment, prevention, crime geography, juvenile offending, criminal careers and victimology, hosts guest researchers and gives thesis supervision while you pursue employer contacts.
Career Outcomes: The programme builds competence for public and private roles and research: prison and probation, social services, courts and justice agencies, psychiatric and substance-use services, municipal administration, research institutes and NGOs. Taught in English, it prepares you for international work in justice, policy and welfare systems.
You will independently, critically, and systematically analyse complex topics relevant to social and behavioural science with a focus on criminology. Students from a variety of fields and cultural backgrounds make up the classroom environment, and you are encouraged to discuss subjects in both a Swedish and an international context.
The Department of Criminology specialises in the areas of risk assessment, prevention, geography and crime, juvenile offending, criminal careers, and victimology. The department also hosts guest researchers from both Swedish and international universities for our students to broaden their perspectives. Students receive supervision while writing their thesis and have the opportunity to explore research topics of their choosing. This is a chance for students to establish contact with employers and identify new research projects that meet the needs of society and the students’ future careers.
If you have not studied criminology before
If you are new to criminology, one or all of the following books can be useful as an introduction and/or reference during the programme: Criminology by Tim Newburn, Introduction to Criminology by Frank Hagan, The Oxford Handbook of Criminology by Mike Maguire, Rod Morgan, and Robert Reiner.
Organisation
The programme is full-time and will lead to a Master’s degree in Criminology upon completion of the course requirements for semesters 1–4, according to the content in the programme syllabus.
Thesis
For a Master´s degree (120 credits), the student is required to produce a thesis corresponding to 30 course credits during semester 4.
Examination
The examination takes place individually and by the description included in the relevant course plan.
Contents
Autumn 2025 - Semester 1
- Criminology: Individual characteristics, environment, and crime (KA811E), 7.5 credits, compulsory
- Criminology: Criminal Careers and Life Course Perspectives (KA912E), 7.5 credits, compulsory
- Criminology, Advanced Research Methodology and statistical analysis (KA913E), 15 credits, compulsory
Spring 2026 - Semester 2
- Criminology: Criminological Theory (KA823E), 15 credits, compulsory
- Criminology: Contemporary Criminology (KA922E), 7.5 credits, compulsory
- Criminology: Violence Risk Assessment (KA923E), 7.5 credits, compulsory
Autumn 2026 - Semester 3
- Criminology: Victimology (KA931E), 7.5 credits, compulsory
- Criminality and Ill-health (KA821E), 7.5 credits, compulsory
- Criminology: Crime Prevention and Evaluation Methodology (KA933E), 15 credits, compulsory
Spring 2027 - Semester 4
- Criminology: Master´s (Two Year) Thesis (KA942E), 30 credits, compulsory
Knowledge and understanding
For a Degree of Master in Criminology (120 credits), the student shall:
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding within the field of criminology, including both a broad knowledge of criminology and essential, specialised knowledge and understanding within the field of crime prevention, as well as specialised insight into the work of criminological research and development.
- Demonstrate specialised knowledge of the scientific methods used in criminological research and other areas of social science research.
Competence and skills
For a Degree of Master in Criminology (120 credits), the student shall:
- Demonstrate the ability to critically and systematically integrate knowledge and to analyse, assess, and deal with complex phenomena, questions, and situations within the field of criminology, even based on limited information.
- Demonstrate the ability to critically, independently, and creatively identify and formulate criminological research questions and to plan and, using appropriate methods, perform and evaluate advanced tasks within a specified time frame, thereby contributing to the development of knowledge.
- Demonstrate the ability, both orally and in writing, and both in Swedish and international contexts, to present and discuss their conclusions and the knowledge and arguments on which these are based in dialogue with other interested parties and target groups within the field of criminology.
- Demonstrate the skills required to participate in research and development work or to fulfil another qualified professional role within the field of criminology.
Judgement and approach
For a Degree of Master in Criminology (120 credits), the student shall:
- Demonstrate the ability, within the field of criminology, to make assessments taking relevant scientific, social, and ethical factors into consideration, as well as an awareness of the ethical aspects of research and development work.
- Demonstrate an insight into the potentials and limitations of scholarship, its role in society, and people’s responsibility for how it is used.
- Demonstrate the ability to identify their needs for additional learning and to assume responsibility for developing their knowledge.
There is a substantial demand in today’s labour market for knowledge in the field of criminology.
There is a need for collaboration between social actors that offenders and victims come into contact with, such as the prison and probation services, social services, the justice system, the psychiatric sector, and other sectors involving individuals with substance use and mental health issues. This programme seeks to improve the competence of students entering existing professions within municipalities, county councils, and state administrations, as well as institutes and organisations within the private sector. The programme builds upon the students’ earlier experiences and academic studies.
Since the programme is taught in English, our students will be well-prepared for the international labour market.