Englisch 
Deutsch Who this Master fits – and what you need to get in
This programme suits experienced practitioners who want to ground their prevention work in research and evaluation. Typical profiles include: police or probation professionals moving into evidence-based crime prevention; municipal safety or community development officers designing and coordinating prevention networks; and social workers, youth workers or NGO coordinators running violence, radicalisation or victim support projects who seek advanced methods and leadership skills.
Admission requirements
To be admitted, you must meet the formal criteria below. The programme is taught in German and runs part-time with blended delivery.
- First university degree (e.g. Bachelor or equivalent). International degrees are recognised if comparable to a German first degree.
- At least one year of qualified professional experience in a criminological or crime prevention context, completed after your first degree.
- Language: German at CEFR level C1. If your previous education was not in German, you must provide proof of C1 proficiency. Documents not issued in German or English require a certified translation into one of these languages.
- Study places are limited (approx. 35 per year). Start: winter semester (October). Application window typically 1 May–15 July.
- No Abitur is required for this Master; admission is based on your first degree plus relevant experience.
For the application you typically upload: proof of higher education entrance and first degree (with ECTS and final grade), evidence of employment and roles (showing field, duration and current status), CV, ID, and—if applicable—German language certificate and certified translations.
Personal requirements
Studying remotely from abroad demands reliable routines. You should be comfortable reading academic texts in German, writing structured papers, and discussing cases and research in seminars. Expect two live evening sessions per week (online) and plan regular self-study for literature, assignments and exam preparation; there is also one on-campus weekend in Berlin each semester, so you need the ability to travel to Germany.
- Self-organisation: block fixed study slots each week and protect them.
- Perseverance: assessment in every module rewards steady progress over last-minute work.
- Time-zone readiness: evening sessions are scheduled in Central European Time; ensure they fit your local time.
- Technical setup: stable broadband, webcam and a quiet space for live seminars and group work.
- Language confidence: solid academic German (C1) for reading, writing and presenting; English is helpful for literature but does not replace German proficiency.
If you enjoy linking data with practice, can manage part-time postgraduate study alongside work, and are motivated to evaluate and improve prevention programmes, you will be well prepared for this blended-learning Master.
What will you study in the Criminology and Crime Prevention (M.A.) at Berlin School of Economics and Law?
The programme is taught entirely in German (Deutsch). To participate, you need German at C1 level; applicants typically provide recognised certificates such as TestDaF, DSH or Goethe C1. You will earn 90 ECTS over four semesters in a Fernstudium (distance learning) at a German university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule).
You build a rigorous foundation in criminological theory and prevention science. Typical core topics include: - Criminological theories and concepts - Foundations of crime prevention and related approaches - Empirical social research and methods, including evidence and evaluation
You then deepen your perspective on crime phenomena and legal/psychological frames. Expect modules such as: - Phenomena of crime and victimology - Developmental and social-psychological perspectives on offending - Legal frameworks and criminal policy
Practice transfer and management skills are a recurring thread. You work on: - Evaluation and evidence-based prevention - Implementation and impact assessment - Project, network and cooperation management for multi-agency settings
Electives let you steer your profile. Options highlighted by the university include Youth Crime and Municipal Crime Prevention, alongside additional topics in the third semester where you carry out either your own research project or a prevention project in practice.
Special features: the degree is structured for working professionals, includes one hands-on project semester (3rd) and a supervised Master’s thesis (4th). As a state-approved distance programme at a public university, it does not require separate ZFU approval; for context, the ZFU is Germany’s authority that approves private-sector distance-learning courses.
How does the Criminology and Crime Prevention distance programme work?
This is a blended-distance Master designed for professionals. You learn mainly online at your own pace, complemented by live evening classes and one mandatory on-site weekend per semester in Berlin. Each module ends with an assessment; the degree concludes with a Master’s thesis.
Teaching language and proof
Teaching is in German. You need German at C1 level. If your prior education was not in German, you will be asked to submit recognised proof of C1 proficiency (for example TestDaF, DSH or Goethe-Zertifikat C1). Course materials, live sessions and exams are conducted in German.
Learning format and study materials
The format is blended learning. Core content is provided online for flexible, asynchronous self-study. These materials are analysed and discussed in synchronous formats: two live online evenings per week, each typically 3 teaching hours. Discussions link theory and current practice in crime prevention.
Exams and where you take them
Every module ends with an exam or assessed coursework. The exact format varies by module (for example written papers, presentations or applied project work). The university conducts regular teaching and assessment online; details and deadlines are set per module. The Master’s thesis is submitted remotely with academic supervision.
On-site sessions in Germany
There is one compulsory on-campus weekend per semester (Friday/Saturday) at the HWR Berlin, Campus Lichtenberg. You must plan travel and accommodation for these weekends. A student visa is not required for the programme itself; short visits for the weekends can usually be done under standard short-stay rules, depending on your nationality.
Workload, time models and time zones
The standard duration is four semesters (90 ECTS). Expect a steady weekly workload alongside your job, with live online classes held on weekday evenings in the Berlin time zone (CET/CEST). The annual start date is October (winter semester).
What does the Criminology and Crime Prevention cost?
The regular tuition is €8,900 in total for the full four-semester programme. That equals around €2,225 per semester. If you plan in monthly terms over 24 months, that is roughly €371 per month as an orientation figure. The fee includes study materials as well as exam and graduation fees.
Instalment options are available. Beyond tuition, budget for travel and accommodation for the mandatory on-campus weekends in Berlin, and for any certified translations of documents you may need for admission. Payment is made directly to the university; students outside Germany typically handle international transfer fees with their bank or payment provider.
What careers and recognition does the Criminology and Crime Prevention offer?
You graduate with a Master of Arts (90 ECTS) from the Berlin School of Economics and Law (Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Recht Berlin), a state-recognised public university in Germany. The degree is accredited through the German Accreditation Council system for the period 2025–2033 and follows the Bologna framework, which supports international comparability of credits and degrees.
What this means abroad: ECTS credits and the M.A. title are widely understood in Europe and in many international recruitment contexts. Recognition is always employer- and country-specific, but Accreditation Council status and a public-university degree are strong trust signals for international CVs and applications.
Career paths include: - Municipal crime prevention and public safety coordination - Policy and programme roles in ministries, councils and NGOs - Police, probation, and justice-adjacent services (strategy, analysis, prevention) - Community and youth services leadership, including project and network management - Evaluation and evidence roles in institutes, think tanks and consultancy
Note on German public service: the university states that the Master fulfils the educational prerequisite for access to the higher civil service (höherer Dienst) in Germany. However, final recognition is never automatic and depends on the specific employer and career regulations.
Who is the Criminology and Crime Prevention right for - and who not?
This Master suits professionals who want an academically grounded, practice-oriented qualification in prevention and applied criminology — while continuing to work. The blended format combines flexible self-study with structured live learning and clear assessment points.
- You work in crime prevention, policing, probation, social work, public administration or NGOs and want to lead projects and networks.
- You value evidence-based approaches, evaluation and implementation skills for real-world impact.
- You need a distance-learning format with evening classes and defined touchpoints.
- You seek a public-university Master with Accreditation Council status and 90 ECTS.
There are also clear reasons not to choose this programme. These relate to language, logistics and professional goals typical for international applicants.
- You need an English-taught programme. This Master is delivered fully in German and requires C1-level proficiency.
- You cannot travel to Germany. One on-campus weekend per semester in Berlin is mandatory.
- You cannot attend live sessions in the CET/CEST evening time window; weekly synchronous classes are part of the design.
- You are looking for a clinical or licensure pathway (e.g. psychotherapy, forensic psychology with patient work). This degree does not grant access to regulated health professions.
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