• This Master’s program is unique in several ways: literally, in that, it’s not offered by any other university in the world. But also in its scope, because students will learn to combine insights and methodologies from several different disciplines: criminology, law, psychology, sociology, and political science. And finally, VU Amsterdam is close to The Hague – home to the UN’s International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court – the legal capital of the world. This program will truly prepare students for an international career in the field.
  • In this Master’s program, students will uncover how crimes relate to conflict, focusing on the role of individuals, groups, states, and the international community. students will delve into the psychology of perpetrators, learn about criminological theories on organizational processes, and discuss justice responses at all levels.
  • In this program, students will have active discussions about international criminal law, and students will get the chance to apply criminological, sociological, and psychological theories and methods to real-world case studies. These might include the genocide in Rwanda and the civil war in former Yugoslavia; conflict and terrorism in Syria, Libya, and Iraq, and transitional justice processes in Colombia, South Africa, Angola, and Afghanistan.
  • The ultimate aim of the program is to understand why and in what contexts criminal acts take place, and what the suitable responses should be. The courses use many different disciplines to approach conflict-related crimes – including insights from criminology, sociology, psychology, international criminal law, and political science. But this isn’t just an academic program – it’s training for a student's professional career. students will have the tools to look at the evidence objectively, get hands-on experience in the field, challenge criminological theories, draft up policies to fight crime, and develop strategies to prevent future crimes. Plus, students will get to visit all the important legal institutions in The Hague, while international experts regularly teach guest lectures and provide research seminars.