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About the education

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 own 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.

The programme is based on self-study, group work, journal clubs, workshops and lectures. You are encouraged to discuss, question and think critically in all learning activities. In line with the Swedish learning approach at university level, students are responsible for their own learning development and are provided with an open and interactive teaching environment.

The programme highlights international perspectives and encourages student mobility. All courses can be taken independently and are open to national and international students and free-movers, as well as exchange students.

The duration of the programme is two-year (120 credits). However, there is a possibility to graduate with a one-year master’s degree (60 credits).

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.

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.

International opportunities

There are various opportunities for you to do part of your studies in another country. For example, you can do an exchange semester, write a thesis or do an internship abroad. Opportunities may vary depending on your course of study.

More about international opportunities on the Student Web

CIM

As a student at the Faculty of Health and Society, you have the opportunity to participate in various international activities both within Sweden and abroad, and earn what is referred to as a ‘Certificate of International Merits’ (CIM). The CIM functions as a supplement to your diploma, demonstrating: your international experience, your academic personal and professional development, your intercultural competence, and your ability to compare international contexts related to your career.

Courses within the programme

Autumn 2024 - Semester 1

Spring 2025 - Semester 2

Autumn 2025 - Semester 3

Spring 2026 - Semester 4

Syllabus autumn 2024

Earlier syllabuses

Entry requirements and selection

Here you can find the entry requirements, as well as how the available study places are distributed between applicants in the selection. 

If you have any questions about general admission, you are welcome to contact us.

Contact form

Entry requirements

Bachelor’s degree with a major in social or behavioural science or medicine and the equivalent of English 6 in Swedish secondary school.

Selection

Applicants are selected and ranked according to precedence from submitted three-part supporting document.

Apply with supporting document

Please note that you are recommended to submit a supporting document with your application to this programme. If you fulfil the admissions requirements but do not submit the supporting document, you can only be admitted if space allows. You cannot use documents from other universities. 

To complete your application with the supporting document, follow the steps below:

  • Create an account and apply to the programme via universityadmissions.se or antagning.se.
  • Upload your documentation as a pdf on universityadmissions.se/antagning.se or send the document by post. You will need to demonstrate both a bachelor's degree and English proficiency to be considered eligible for the programme. Applicants in their final year, who will receive their diploma before the programme starts, can also apply but must follow specific instructions.
  • The supporting document must be uploaded to universityadmissions.se (antagning.se) by the deadline. 
  • For students applying in the first application round (international admission round, 18 October – 17 January), the supporting document must be uploaded to universityadmissions.se by 1 February. 
  • For students applying in the second admission round, (national admission round, 15 March – 15 April ), the supporting document must be uploaded to antagning.se (universityadmissions.se) by 15 April.

Supporting documents submitted after the above dates will not be accepted. For late applications, study places and waiting list places are ranked by application date.  

Supporting document Criminology

Assessment matrix for the supporting document

Prior knowledge and capability to perform in the programme

Part 1: List of previous experiences

Education and work experiences with relevance to the programme.

  • Not applicable (0p): Not assessable/ unclear, the applicant lacks education and experiences of relevance for the master’s programme in criminology.
  • To a minor extent (1p): The applicant’s previous education and experiences show some knowledge of relevance for the master’s programme in criminology.
  • To a high extent (2p): The applicant’s previous education and experiences show knowledge of high relevance for the master’s programme in criminology.
  • To a very high extent (3p): The applicant’s previous education and experiences show knowledge of very high relevance for the master’s programme in criminology.

Part 2: Description of how previous education and experiences are related to the Criminology master’s programme

Understanding in the subject area of the programme, ability to write, argue, and present.

  • Not applicable (0p): Not assessable/ unclear, no link between the subject area of the programme and previous experiences is provided.
  • To a minor extent (1p): The applicant’s previous education and experiences show some understanding of the subject area of the programme. The writing shows that the applicant can communicate on a sufficient level for advanced studies.
  • To a high extent (2p): The applicant’s previous education and experiences show a good understanding of the subject area of the programme. The writing of the applicant displays good communication skills.
  • To a very high extent (3p): The applicant’s previous education and experiences show a very good understanding of the subject area of the programme. The writing of the applicant displays good communication skills.

Part 3: Independent project work

Academic relevance in relation to the programme, and ability to analyse and reflect.

  • Not applicable (0p): Not assessable/ unclear, the independent project work lacks relevance for the content of the programme.
  • To a minor extent (1p): In the independent project work (problem, purpose and theoretical approach), the applicant displays some academic knowledge relevant to the content of the programme, and some ability to analyse and reflect.
  • To a high extent (2p): In the independent project work (problem, purpose and theoretical approach), the applicant shows good academic knowledge relevant to the content of the programme, and a good ability to analyse and reflect.
  • To a very high extent (3p): In the independent project work (problem, purpose and theoretical approach), the applicant shows very good academic knowledge relevant to the content of the programme, and a very good ability to analyse and reflect.

Contact

This education is provided by

Faculty of Health and Society

At the Faculty of Health and Society, research is carried out in the fields of both medicine and social sciences — representing...

Department of Criminology

Criminology is the study of crime. It is a multidisciplinary subject that addresses the development and causes of criminality a...