Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Swedish Higher Education Act (1992:1434)

Education at the second cycle level shall involve a deepening of knowledge, skills and abilities in relation to the first cycle level and shall, in addition to what is required at the first cycle level,

- further develop the students’ ability to independently integrate and use knowledge in both English and Swedish,

- develop the students’ ability to deal with complex phenomena, questions and situations, and - develop the students’ qualifications for professional activities that make substantial demands on the individual’s ability to work independently or for research and development work.

Swedish Higher Education Ordinance (1993:1000)

To be awarded a Master’s degree in criminology, the student must demonstrate

- knowledge and understanding within the main subject area, criminology, both generally and specifically in relation to the area of crime prevention, and a specialised insight into criminological research and development work, and

- specialised knowledge of the scientific methods used in criminological research and related areas of research.

To be awarded a Master’s degree in criminology, the student must demonstrate

- the ability to integrate knowledge and to analyse, assess and deal with complex phenomena, questions and situations within the field of criminology,

- the ability to independently identify and formulate criminological research questions and to plan and, using appropriate methods, perform advanced tasks within a specified period of time,

- the ability both verbally and in writing to present and discuss his or her conclusions and the knowledge and arguments that form the basis of these in dialogue with other interested parties and target groups within the field of criminology, and

- such skills as are required in order to participate in research and development work or to fulfil another qualified professional role within the field of criminology.

To be awarded a Master’s degree in criminology, the student must demonstrate

- the ability, within the field of criminology, to make judgements taking relevant scientific, social and international factors into consideration and an awareness of ethical aspects of research and development work,

- an insight into the potential and limitations of scholarship, its role in society, and people’s responsibility for how it is used, and

- the ability to identify his or her needs for additional knowledge and to assume responsibility for developing his or her knowledge within the field of criminology.

Swedish Higher Education Ordinance (1993:1000)

To be awarded a Master’s degree in criminology, the student must demonstrate

- knowledge and understanding within the field of criminology, including both a broad knowledge of criminology and essential, specialised knowledge and understanding within the field of crime prevention, and a specialised insight into the work of criminological research and development, and

- specialised knowledge of the scientific methods used in criminological research and other areas of social science research.

To be awarded a Master’s degree in criminology, the student must demonstrate

- the ability to critically and systematically integrate knowledge and to analyse, assess and deal with complex phenomena, questions and situations within the field of criminology, even on the basis of limited information,

- the ability to critically, independently and creatively identify and formulate criminological research questions and to plan and, using appropriate methods, perform advanced tasks within a specified period of time, thereby contributing to the development of knowledge, and to evaluate this work,

- the ability both verbally and in writing and in both Swedish and international contexts to present and discuss his or her conclusions and the knowledge and arguments on which these are based in dialogue with other interested parties and target groups within the field of criminology, and

- such skills as are required in order to participate in research and development work or to fulfil another qualified professional role within the field of criminology.

To be awarded a Master’s degree in criminology, the student must demonstrate

- the ability, within the field of criminology, to make judgements taking relevant scientific, social and ethical factors into consideration and an awareness of ethical aspects of research and development work,

- an insight into the potential and limitations of scholarship, its role in society, and people’s responsibility for how it is used, and

- the ability to identify his or her needs for additional knowledge and to assume responsibility for developing his or her knowledge.

Criminology at Malmö University has a multidisciplinary foundation and includes a broader range of study objects than “crime”, in the form of health-related factors and in particular mental illness. Criminology at Malmö University is furthermore a subject where the individual and societal levels – and thus several different subject areas – are clearly integrated. The Master’s programme is also characterised by international elements. The programme is thus constructed in a way that will promote the students’ ability to develop a transboundary competence with a major emphasis on multi-disciplinary, multi-professional and international work. The Master’s programme opens the way for improving the competence of existing professions within the municipal, county council and state administrations. The four terms provide top-level expertise in prevention and intervention within the fields of crime, substance abuse and mental illness. The programme prepares different types of professionals for the development and organisation of prevention work. Interventions, irrespective of whether they are preventive, treatment-oriented or rehabilitative, should proceed from a common, knowledge-based policy that is of relevance for practical/clinical work and for organisations with the goals of promoting health or preventing ill-health. The program also confronts the need to create better conditions for collaboration in relation to issues of crime, substance abuse and mental health, particularly within the public sector as well as in the field of healthcare provision and the justice system. The programme manifests an ambition to develop the students’ inter-professional competence, which means that upon completion of the programme, every student will understand the significance of, and be able to demonstrate the capacity to engage in, collaborations with different professions within the field of criminology.

The programme has the objective of integrating different areas of knowledge and also theoretical and applied/practical elements. The theoretical studies are intended to ensure that the students develop both a framework for understanding and the analytical tools required for applications within the field of criminology.

The point of departure for the teaching is that both subsequent studies and future professional activities are based on the students’ ability to independently develop their own knowledge and to collect, work through and critically examine texts and other information. The teaching work has the goal of ensuring that the students will develop these abilities by means of active participation in, and assuming responsibility for, their own knowledge development and that of other students.

Master´s degree (120 credits).

Master´s degree (60 credits).

Upon completion of the programme, the degree requirements for a two-year Master’s degree (120 credits) are fulfilled. There is an opportunity for students to take an intermediate exit point for a one-year Master´s degree (60 credits) upon completion of 60 course credits. Malmö University issues degree certificates upon application. The Swedish degree certificate specifies either Magisterexamen i kriminologi or Masterexamen i kriminologi. The English translation of the degree certificate specifies either Master (One Year/ 60 credits) of Science in Criminology or Master (Two Years/120 credits) of Science in Criminology.