The master's programme in Criminology and Criminal Justice System was started 26 years ago. Today, it is an official interuniversity master's programme offered by Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), the University of Girona (UdG) and the Open University of Catalonia (UOC).
Over the course of one year, students receive in-depth training in the theoretical and empirical foundations of criminology, the workings of the criminal justice system, and the enforcement of criminal sanctions. They moreover acquire the specific methodological knowledge they need to conduct empirical research in the field of criminology.
The programme's classes are participative, and students are given preparatory work to complete before class. The master's degree final project, which is supervised by a faculty member with relevant expertise, is due at the end of the academic year and must reflect the theoretical knowledge and research skills the student has acquired.
The master's programme is intended for university graduates in the various fields of the social and legal sciences (law, criminology, sociology, social work, social education) and in the health sciences (psychology). Specifically, it is aimed at people interested in pursuing careers in the field of criminal justice, broadly understood. Candidates should thus have a keen interest in explanations of crime and the operation and improvement of the criminal justice system, as well as an awareness of the underlying social issues. They must likewise be able to go beyond their original discipline and explore in depth the issues of crime and how the criminal justice system responds to it from a criminological perspective.
Official university bachelor's or master's degree from the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) or equivalent foreign degree allowing access to a postgraduate degree in the country that issued the degree. Should the applicant have not finished yet their studies at the time of application, they will be asked to sign a statement certifying that they will have completed them before the start of the master degree program.
Academic transcript of the accredited official training with the average grade at the university of origin.
Curriculum Vitae in Catalan, Spanish or English.
A letter of motivation in Catalan, Spanish or Englsih, stating the candidate's interest in following the master's programme (400 to 600 words).
Degrees in the following areas of study will be considered positively: Criminology, Law, Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, Social Education or another field of social sciences.
Professional experience in the field of research.
In addition, the Departments' selection committee may decide to interview the candidate.
The undergraduate degree/diploma and the academic transcript
If you have finished your Bachelor degree when you formalise your application, you will need to send us the following documents:
A photocopy of your undergraduate degree/diploma or Certification/proof of degree completion.
A photocopy of your official final undergraduate transcript.
However, if you have not yet completed your undergraduate studies when formalising application, you will need to provide us with the following documents:
A signed declaration of obtaining your degree before the commencement of the master's programme.
A photocopy of the provisional undergraduate transcript.
If the diploma or the academic transcript are not written in Catalan, Spanish, English, French, Portuguese or Italian, you will also have to include the respective sworn translations into Catalan or Spanish.
