Admission requirements

On this page, you will find important details of the application process (such as deadlines, admission requirements, required documents and application assessment) for the master's programme in Forensics, Criminology and Law for the academic year 2025-2026.

The information on this page is for students who would like to start in academic year 2025-2026. View the admission requirements for academic year 2024-2025.

Important deadlines for application

The master's programme in Forensics, Criminology and Law starts in September.
The deadlines below are applicable for applicants who want to start their studies in September 2025.

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Date	What you need to know about this date
1 October 2024	Studielink is open for applications for the academic year 2025-2026
1 May 2025, 23:59 CET	Deadline for completing the entire application process for non-EU/EEA applicants (these applicants require a visa or residence permit)
1 June 2025, 23:59 CET	Deadline for completing the entire application process for applicants from the EU/EEA or Switzerland

Are you a non-EU citizen requiring a visa/residence permit for study?

Please note that Maastricht University can only formally apply for your visa/residence permit if you have met all admission and enrolment requirements.

This means you have to have completed all admission and enrolment tasks in the MyApplication portal (except the ‘visa/residence permit’-task and the ‘send certified copy of diploma’-task) before we can send your application to the IND (Dutch Immigration and Naturalization Service).

We have to send the application to the IND before 1 July if you are starting your studies in September. Please note: a few pre-master and master programmes offer a start in February. If you’re study programme offers a start in February and you want to start your studies in February, we have to send the application to the IND before 1 December. You can find out if your study programme offers a start in February on the admission requirements web page of that programme (pre-master’s, master’s).

Therefore, we strongly recommend that you reconsider applying for this study programme if you are not sure that you will meet the following requirements before 1 July/1 December (if applicable in your situation):

Having remedied all subject and/or language deficiencies (if applicable)
Having qualified for admission to your study programme, including being selected (if applicable to your study programme) AND
Having paid the tuition fee for your study programme

General requirements: previous education

The admission requirements for academic year 2025/26 for the master’s programme in Forensics, Criminology and Law depend on your previous education. Please check below which requirements apply to you.

Students from Maastricht University

You qualify for admission to the master’s programme in Forensics, Criminology and Law if you have a UM bachelor’s degree in:

European Law School
Rechtsgeleerdheid
Fiscaal Recht

You may also qualify for admission:

If you have successfully completed the pre-master Law at UM, provided that the additional substantive requirements for admission to the master’s programme in Forensics, Criminology and Law have been met.

Students from a different educational institution

The Board of Admissions may establish that you qualify for admission if one of the following situations applies to you:

If you have a Bachelor of Laws degree from another university, including a foreign university, which is comparable in level with the Dutch degree
If you have a Bachelor’s degree of Criminology from another Dutch or Belgian university
If you have a Bachelor’s degree from a related (academic) bachelor

Do you have another forensic, criminological, or legal background (with a focus on criminal law and criminal procedure law) and are you unsure whether you qualify for admission? Then we recommend that you apply via Studielink and complete your tasks in the MyApplication portal, so that the Board of Admissions can assess your application.

An introductory course in criminology, forensic psychiatry, forensic psychology or psychology and law is recommended.

Important: the above provides an indication as to whether you qualify for admission, not a guarantee.

Additional requirements

Language requirements for English-language master programmes

As English is the language of instruction in this study programme, it is essential that your English language skills are good enough for you to undertake intensive and challenging academic courses that are taught and examined in English.

Answer the questions below to find out if you meet the language requirements.

Applicants who received their previous education in a non-EU/EEA country (handling fee)

Applicants applying for this study programme who received their previous education in a non-EU/EEA country will have to pay a handling fee. More information on this handling fee and how to arrange this payment can be found on the Handling fee page.

Documents required for application process

During the application process for this study programme, you will need to complete a number of tasks for which you will often have to upload documents. The list below gives you an insight into what documents you will (and might) need to prepare.

Required documents for all applicants to this study programme

A recent portrait picture*
This picture must satisfy certain requirements. You can find these requirements in the task description 'Upload portrait picture' in the MyApplication portal.

A copy of your valid passport or your EU/EEA identity card**
Make a copy of the page with your personal details. Save this copy as ‘passport copy’ and not as ‘passport picture’.

A copy of your most recent grades transcript and a copy of your diploma if you have obtained it.
If you have not graduated yet, you can upload your official grades transcript from your bachelor's programme

Letter of motivation
All candidates must write a well-prepared and structured letter of motivation for this specific master’s programme. The letter should explain the motivation for choosing this specific master’s programme. It should also include an overview of what the candidate intends to learn and how this programme fits into their future professional plans. In addition, an explanation should be included as to why the candidate meets the requirements for direct admission to the master’s programme. The letter must be dated and addressed to the Board of Admissions of the Faculty of Law.
Two letters of recommendation

For this particular programme only academic letters of recommendation are accepted. Professional letters of recommendation may be submitted in addition to but not instead of an academic one. The letters should give an overall picture of the candidate's strengths and professional promise. More specifications can be found in the MyApplication portal.
Documents that demonstrate your proficiency in English
Answer the questions concerning language requirements under ‘Language requirements for English-language master programmes’ on this webpage to find out if you need to provide additional documentation. The outcome of your answers will indicate which documents you can use to prove your proficiency.

Please note: all documents must be in Dutch, English or German.

* For current UM students it is not necessary to upload a recent portrait picture in the MyApplication portal.
** For current UM students it is not necessary to upload this document in the MyApplication portal. Unless your passport is not valid on 1 September 2025; in that case you do have to upload a copy of your passport. You will be notified of this with a specific task in the MyApplication portal.

How do we assess your application?

When you want to apply or are applying to this study programme, it is useful to know how we assess your application. You can find more information about this in this section.

For this master's programme selection takes place on the basis of your quality and suitability. For this your motivation and your academic experience are important.

Note: only complete applications will be assessed. We therefore recommend that you adhere to the deadlines provided in the table under ‘Important deadlines for this study programme’ on this page. We strive to assess your application and communicate the result to you within three to four weeks.