Crime and Criminal Justice (MSc)

Miranda Boone

Professor of Criminology

'Only when you learn about other criminal justice systems, can you start to understand your own.'

Why choose this Master’s programme?

Students choose the master’s programme Crime and Criminal Justice because they have an affinity with human behaviour and crime and want to learn more to be able to make a contribution in preventing and fighting crime. Criminologists (lawyers and non-lawyers) are employed by organisations such as the police, the Public Prosecution Service, the prison system, the probation service, victim support, consultancy and research agencies, security companies and in the business sector.

Why choose the master’s programme Crime and Criminal Justice at Leiden University?

• Leiden Law School has a good reputation both nationally and internationally: your degree has value.
• The programme is taught in small classes with a high level of student participation. Much attention is paid to situations in practice and to research, together with fellow students and teaching staff.
• Career opportunities are good. Thanks to our large network and personal career’s advice most criminologists with adegree from Leiden find suitable employment within six months.

Is the master’s programme Crime and Criminal Justice right for you?

After your bachelors’ degree Criminology, Psychology or some other social science based degree, do you want to focus on the social challenges related to crime? For example by doing specific research and contributing to better detection and crime fighting? Then this master’s programme is right for you . Certainly if you are inquisitive, fascinated by human behaviour and if you follow developments in society closely.

The master’s programme has two specialisations

• Criminal Justice (MSc)
• Veiligheidsbeleid en rechtshandhaving (MSc)

Why Leiden University?

Criminology education at Leiden University aims to train you to become an all-round  criminologist.

All-round criminologists
You develop a keen eye for the role of victims and perpetrators. In this way you discover what impact crime has in our society. You get involved in current discussions on for example internet crime or DNA databases. You gain insight into measures aimed at reducing crime.  

The master’s programme Crime and Criminal Justice links current developments in criminology to pressing issues concerning security, and practice in policies on crime and criminal justice. In which way can society respond to crime? How can we apply policy or criminal law to deal with crime?

Studying at Leiden Law School

Leiden Law School offers challenging, top quality education with many opportunities for talent to flourish. The law school is internationally orientated and has many contacts with universities, political bodies and the professional field. Our teaching staff combine a solid academic basis with current knowledge in the professional field.  As a result the study programmes offered are versatile, topical and socially relevant.  With our additional location in The Hague we are in close proximity to the political and international organisations that operate in the areas of law, justice and policy-making.

Study at a world-class university

Leiden University is the oldest university in the Netherlands and enjoys an excellent worldwide reputation built up over more than four centuries. Since 1575 we’ve provided sound personal education for hundreds of thousands of students. We’ll do our utmost to give you the best possible support. And if you can and want to do more, we’ll challenge you every step of the way. For many years, we’ve been among the leaders in Dutch university rankings and we are currently to be found in a variety of top international rankings too.

More reasons to choose Leiden University