
Program description
KU Leuven's Master of Criminology is designed to provide students with an advanced understanding of crime, public response to crime and, specifically, criminal justice in Europe and beyond.
What is the Master of Criminology all about?
The programme is characterised by a strong link between education and research, an explicitly international orientation and comparative methodology, with special attention given to the cross-border character of criminality.
General subjects include criminological theories and models of law enforcement, psychology, law and criminal justice, youth criminology and juvenile justice, and research methods. The programme also offers cutting-edge courses on international police and judicial cooperation, political crimes and transitional justice, restorative justice, terrorism, and organised and corporate crime. You can also apply for a programme in cooperation with Maastricht University.
LINC is the most recent institutional incarnation (2007) of the criminological tradition in Leuven, which began with the establishment of the School for Criminology in 1929. Excellence in criminology continues in the present day, combining solid research with a deep commitment to a society structured within ten research lines. LINC is composed of 11 professors and more than 70 assistants and fellows involved in criminological research and education.
strengths
- The Master of Criminology contains a rich selection of international courses, providing an in-depth study of crime, law enforcement and criminological theories.
- The courses are taught by internationally respected academics that are specialist in their field.
- The programme builds on the expertise of the Leuven Institute of Criminology, guaranteeing an excellent academic education and a supportive learning environment.
Admission requirements
Please consult the programme website for recent information on admission requirements.
Does this course require proof of English proficiency?
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Learn moreScholarships & funding
Please consult our website for recent information on available scholarships.
Tuition fees
Please consult our website for recent information on tuition fees: kuleuven.be/tuitionfees
Career opportunities
The programme is intended to prepare you for further research and professional employment in (inter-)national policy and operational agencies in the fields of criminal justice and victim assistance.
Graduates find employment in the domains of:
- police forces and justice enforcement
- youth care
- execution of sentences and penal measures
- forensic mental healthcare
- private security and safety
- the civil service
- the non-profit sector at the national, European and international levels
About this institute

KU Leuven. Inspiring the Outstanding
KU Leuven is Europe’s most innovative university. Located in Belgium, it is dedicated to research, education, and service to society. KU Leuven is a founding member of the League of European Research Universities (LERU) and has a strong European and...
Why study at KU Leuven
A Highly Ranked University
According to international rankings, KU Leuven is among the best 100 universities in the world. Moreover, KU Leuven was ranked as most innovative university of Europe by Reuters four years in a row (2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019). All of KU Leuven’s disciplines proudly belong to the top 100 of their field. Scholars and researchers, teachers and visionaries, thinkers and makers all have their place in KU Leuven’s fertile intellectual habitat.
Most Innovative University in Europe
KU Leuven has been identified as Europe’s most innovative university for four years in a row by Reuters. By developing the most important drug against HIV, a new type of solar panel that converts oxygen into hydrogen and uncovering the secrets of Sagalassos, KU Leuven researchers have a profound impact on our everyday lives in nearly all fields of research. That innovative character is deeply embedded in the way we teach our students, by integrating relevant guest lectures, taking an Interdisciplinary approach and opening the most advanced research and education facilities.
A Comprehensive University
As a comprehensive university, KU Leuven offers a wide range of disciplines organized by 15 faculties. Each of these disciplines is ranked in the top 100 of its field according to the THE World University Rankings by subject. Half of the university’s faculties are even in the top 50 within their fields of study.