Universiteit Leiden

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Comparative Criminal Justice (MSc)

Comparative Criminal Justice is a one-year master's programme at the renowned Leiden Law School of Leiden University. The programme explores contemporary criminal justice developments and challenges from legal and criminological perspectives. It is unique in its cross-national and multidisciplinary scope.

Miranda Boone

Professor of Criminology

Miranda Boone

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

Jannemieke Ouwerkerk

Professor of European Criminal Law

Jannemieke Ouwerkerk

'European integration provides an important impetus to engage in a comparative study of national criminal justice systems.'

Why did Yeonhee choose the master's in Comparative Criminal Justice?

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A Comparative and Interdisciplinary Approach to Criminal Justice

Globalisation poses new challenges for the fight against national and international crime. Students will learn to apply a comparative perspective to analyse the criminal justice process regarding its ability to deal with crimes that take place both within and beyond national borders. Transnational crimes like human trafficking and terrorism increasingly demand coordinated criminal justice responses on a European or international level. This has created a demand for graduates who understand these relevant processes and the actors involved. The master's programme also devotes attention to the involvement of non-state actors and agencies outside the criminal justice system in crime control and the implications for legitimacy and accountability.

Why study this master's programme?

  • Leiden Law School has an excellent international reputation and staff conduct cutting edge research on the themes that feature in the master. You will benefit from this as teaching will be informed by the latest developments in research.
  • The Criminal Justice Master distinguishes itself by its international comparative perspective, analysing criminal justice systems, legislation and policies in common law and civil law countries. The programme is unique both in its comparative and multidisciplinary focus.
  • The Master experience is enhanced by an international group of students with different backgrounds, including Criminology, Social Sciences, Law, International Relations and Philosophy.
  • Teaching takes place is small groups and is interactive in nature, with a great diversity in class formats and assignments, including research papers, blog posts and presentations.