Programme overview
The University Specialist Study Programme in Criminal Investigation was established with the aim of providing graduates of law, criminology, public administration, and other fields involved in criminal investigations and preliminary criminal proceedings in various capacities (such as police officers, state attorneys, judges, lawyers, inspectors, etc.) with specialised knowledge in these areas. This makes the programme unique in the Republic of Croatia. The programme lasts three semesters, with a total workload of 90 ECTS credits, and upon completion, students are awarded the academic title of Specialist in Criminal Investigation (spec. crim.).
The programme is oriented towards the acquisition of practically applicable skills, while lectures and examinations are scheduled at times convenient for students who are employed. Since participants in criminal investigations require knowledge in both law and criminology, the Criminal Investigation Study Programme integrates content from both disciplines. A range of elective courses is available to students, allowing for further specialisation in accordance with their prior knowledge, interests, and professional needs.
Detailed information about the programme and individual courses is provided in the study programme syllabus, while general rules regarding the conduct of classes and examinations are outlined in the Regulations on Study Programmes.
Head of the program:
Assoc. Prof. Igor Martinović, PhD
igor.martinovic@uniri.hr
Programme secretary:
Assist. Prof. Iva Parenta, PhD
iparenta@uniri.hr
Study programme
Academic title awarded upon completion of the programme:
Specialist in Criminal Investigation (spec. crim.)
Alignment of the programme with the corresponding qualification:
The programme is aligned with the qualification registered in the Croatian Qualifications Framework (CROQF) at level 7.2.
Admission requirements:
1. Individuals who have completed a university integrated undergraduate and graduate study programme in Law or a four-year university graduate programme in Law in the Republic of Croatia (univ. mag. iur., mag. iur., dipl. iur.) have the right to enrol without the obligation to take a qualifying examination.
2. Other individuals who have completed a university graduate programme, a university integrated undergraduate and graduate programme, or a professional graduate programme are eligible for enrolment upon passing a qualifying examination entitled “Criminal Law System of the Republic of Croatia.” Individuals referred to in point 2 who have completed their studies in the Republic of Croatia may, at the discretion of the head of the programme, be exempted from the qualifying examination or part of it if, during their studies, they completed one or more courses whose content, objectives, and learning outcomes correspond to the content, objectives, and learning outcomes of the qualifying examination.
Admission requirements for the next semester and academic year:
In the first year of the programme (i.e., the first and second semesters of the study programme), students enrol in 60 ECTS credits. In the second year of the programme (i.e., the third semester of the study programme), students enrol in 30 ECTS credits. There are no special requirements for progression to a higher year or semester of study.
Learning outcomes of the study programme:
1.demonstrate and apply specialized practical knowledge in criminal investigation as a complex activity involving the collection of data on criminal acts, perpetrators, and victims;
2. synthesize and connect knowledge in legal fields relevant to criminal investigation;
3. categorize and develop operational knowledge from related interdisciplinary fields, primarily criminology;
4. integrate and connect different elements of criminal investigation into a purposeful whole aimed at achieving the legally defined objective;
5. formulate hypotheses when working on the most complex cases;
6. build and enhance communication skills, particularly with foreign participants in criminal investigations;
7. develop and evaluate a research question within the narrow field of criminal investigation;
8. describe and analyse reforms in criminal law.
The enrolment quota:
The enrolment quota is 40 students.
Structure and mode of instruction:
The programme is delivered as a postgraduate programme and lasts three semesters. Upon completion, participants are awarded a minimum of 90 ECTS credits. Classes are held on Fridays and Saturdays in the form of lectures and exercises, in accordance with the published timetable. The mode of instruction for each course is specified in a dedicated section of the study programme.
Completion of studies:
The study programme is completed by passing exams in compulsory and elective courses, fulfilling all other study requirements, and preparing and successfully defending a final thesis. Details regarding the conduct of examinations and the fulfilment of other study requirements are stipulated in the Regulations on Study Programmes and the course syllabi.
The course-specific section of the study programme contains a list of compulsory and elective courses, indicating ECTS credits, modes of instruction, course content, learning outcomes, course instructors, and assessment methods for each course.