Bachelor's Degree — Forensic & Investigative Criminology

Overview

Crime today moves across borders, platforms and societies. This programme prepares you to confront an evolving landscape — from criminal behaviour and victimology to AI-enabled crime, forensic neuroscience and global security — through a rigorous, multidisciplinary approach.

What you learn

Criminal law, forensic psychology, crime-scene analysis, cybercrime, digital forensics, intelligence and victimology — taught with hands-on case work and lab simulations.

Who it's for

Curious investigators, future legal professionals and analytical minds drawn to criminal justice, security, intelligence or forensic research with a strong international outlook.

Outcomes

Graduates work in courts, police HQs, law firms, private investigation, victim support and as court-appointed technical consultants — in Italy and abroad.

"Criminology is not only the study of crime, but the study of people, patterns and the societies we build." — Prof. Eleonora di Molfetta, PhD Criminology, Erasmus University Rotterdam

Curriculum — 180 ECTS over 3 years

Year I — Foundations Year II — Investigative Practice Year III — Specialisation & Thesis

Italian LinguisticsGLOT-01/A6 ECTS

Foundations of Italian morphology, syntax and stylistic analysis applied to professional and academic communication.

Introduction to CriminologyGSPS-07/B6 ECTS

Schools of thought, key theories and empirical methods used to study criminal behaviour and the social response to crime.

VictimologyGSPS-07/B6 ECTS

The experience of victims, patterns of victimisation and the legal and social frameworks designed to support and protect them.

Sociology of DevianceGSPS-07/A6 ECTS

How deviant behaviours emerge from social, economic and cultural conditions, and how societies define and react to them.

Criminal Law IGIUR-14/A6 ECTS

Principles, sources and structure of Italian and comparative criminal law, including offence categories and procedural fundamentals.

First Foreign Language I (English) — Language · Culture · TranslationANGL-01/C15 ECTS

Integrated four-skill development in English combining language structures, cultural context, translation practice and applied workshop activities.

Second Foreign Language I — Language · Culture · TranslationLING-02/C15 ECTS

Parallel development of a second working language across linguistic structures, cultural context, translation practice and workshop activities.

Italian Linguistics IIGLOT-01/A6 ECTS

Advanced Italian text analysis with attention to legal, investigative and institutional discourse.

Forensic PsychologyPSIC-04/B6 ECTS

Application of psychological assessment to investigative practice, witness evaluation and the criminal justice context.

Criminal ProfilingPSIC-05/A6 ECTS

Behavioural analysis techniques used to build offender profiles from crime-scene evidence and case patterns.

Crime Scene Investigation LabGIUR-14/C6 ECTS

Hands-on lab in crime-scene inspection, chain of custody, trace evidence collection and reconstruction methods.

Intelligence & TerrorismGSPS-07/C6 ECTS

Strategic analysis of intelligence cycles, counter-terrorism doctrine and contemporary global security threats.

First Foreign Language II — Intermediate/AdvancedANGL-01/C12 ECTS

Consolidation of English at B2/C1 level through advanced register, sector terminology and translation practice.

Second Foreign Language II — Intermediate/AdvancedLING-02/C12 ECTS

Consolidation of the second language at B2/C1 level with advanced register, sector terminology and translation practice.

Cybercrime & Digital ForensicsINFO-01/B6 ECTS

Detection, attribution and forensic analysis of digital crime, including evidence acquisition from devices and networks.

Forensic Sciences (DNA, Toxicology)MEDI-11/A6 ECTS

Scientific foundations of DNA profiling, toxicology and other laboratory disciplines that produce courtroom-grade evidence.

CybersecurityINFO-01/D6 ECTS

Threat models, defensive techniques and incident response with focus on protecting investigative and judicial information systems.

Italy: Birthplace of CriminologyGSPS-07/B3 ECTS

From Lombroso to contemporary Italian schools — how Italian thinkers shaped modern criminological theory and practice.

Women in MafiaGSPS-07/D3 ECTS

The roles, agency and victimisation of women within organised criminal networks, from family structures to active leadership.

First Foreign Language III — Advanced/ProficientANGL-01/C9 ECTS

Refinement of English to C1/C2 level for specialised legal, investigative and institutional communication.

Second Foreign Language III — Advanced/ProficientLING-02/C9 ECTS

Refinement of the second language to C1/C2 level for specialised legal, investigative and institutional communication.

IT for ForensicsINFO-01/C3 ECTS

Practical IT competences for forensic workflows: data handling, secure documentation and reporting tools.

InternshipTIRO-006 ECTS

Supervised on-site placement with a partner organisation — court, law firm, police body, agency or victim-support service.

Final ThesisPROF-009 ECTS

Original research project supervised by faculty and presented before a final examination committee.

Career opportunities

Graduates are equipped to operate across the criminal justice, security and investigative sectors — in Italy and internationally.

Courts & Prosecutor's Offices

Judicial assistants and analysts in ordinary courts, surveillance and juvenile courts.

Police HQ & Penitentiary Admin

Civilian roles in police headquarters and regional penitentiary inspectorates.

Law Firms

Defensive investigations support for criminal-defence law practices.

Private Investigation Agencies

Field investigators and intelligence analysts for licensed private agencies.

Victim Support Organisations

Casework and advocacy in victim-support centres and community services.

Court-Appointed Technical Consultants

Independent expert witnesses on forensic, digital and behavioural matters.

Ready to apply?

1

Take the entry test

2

Submit application

3

Receive your decision

Take admission test

Frequently asked questions

Do I need prior knowledge of law or psychology?

No prior knowledge is required. The programme is designed as an entry-level bachelor's and builds foundational legal and psychological competencies from Year I.

Which languages can I study?

Students choose two foreign languages from the Unicollege portfolio of ten: English (typically as First Foreign Language), plus Spanish, French, German, Russian, Chinese, Arabic, Portuguese, Japanese or Korean.

Is there an admission test?

Yes — admission is through selection and a mandatory Entry Test assessing English proficiency, reasoning and general culture. Multiple sessions are held year-round; register via the Admissions page.

Are courses taught in English?

Yes. The entire Bachelor's in Applied Languages and Global Careers is delivered in English, with dedicated Italian-language and foreign-language modules for language skill development.

Can I do a semester abroad?

Yes. Unicollege partners with 90+ universities in 40+ countries and offers Erasmus, Columbus (USA/Canada), and direct exchange programmes. Study abroad is integrated into the third year where applicable.

Are there scholarships or financial aid?

Merit-based scholarships and partial fee reductions are available. Check the Tuition & Fees and Scholarships page for current calls and eligibility.

What careers do graduates pursue?

Graduates work in Courts, Prosecutor's Offices, Penitentiary Administration, Police HQ, defensive-investigations law firms, private investigation agencies, victim-support organisations, and as court-appointed technical consultants. See the Careers section above.

Forensic & Investigative Criminology