Bachelor's Degree in Criminology + Bachelor's Degree in Law

5 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Autonomous University of Barcelona

Program Overview

The Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology and Law at Autonomous University of Barcelona is a fantastic choice if you’re fascinated by how crime, justice, and legal systems shape society. This dual degree blends legal training with criminology, helping you understand why crime happens, how laws are applied, and how justice systems work in real life.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1 — Foundations of law and crime studies
You’ll start by building a strong base in both disciplines. Courses like Introduction to Law, Constitutional Law, and Introduction to Criminology help you understand legal principles while exploring the social and behavioural roots of crime. It’s the year that shapes your core perspective on justice and society.

Year 2 — Legal systems and criminal behaviour
In your second year, you dive deeper into how laws operate and how crime is analysed. Subjects such as Criminal Law, Civil Law, and Criminal Behaviour strengthen your legal reasoning while exploring the psychological and social factors behind offences. You begin connecting theory with real-world legal and criminal contexts.

Year 3 — Justice institutions and investigative frameworks
This stage focuses on how justice systems function in practice. With modules like Criminal Procedure Law, Penology, and Police and Criminal Investigation, you’ll explore court processes, correctional systems, and investigative methods. Your learning becomes more applied and professionally focused.

Year 4 — Regulation, responsibility, and prevention
Now you expand into broader legal and societal responsibilities. Courses such as Administrative Law, Victimology, and Crime Prevention help you understand public regulation, victims’ rights, and strategies to reduce criminal activity. You’ll gain a well-rounded view of justice beyond the courtroom.

Year 5 — Professional integration and specialisation
Your final year brings everything together with advanced and career-oriented learning. Through subjects like Forensic Criminology, Legal Practice, and the Final Degree Project, you’ll apply both legal knowledge and criminological analysis to real challenges. You graduate prepared for professional roles or further study with strong practical confidence.

Focus Areas (in a string):

Criminal law, criminology, justice systems, criminal behaviour, legal procedure, investigation methods, crime prevention, victim studies

Learning Outcomes (in a string):

Strong legal reasoning, crime analysis expertise, understanding of justice institutions, investigative knowledge, regulatory awareness, analytical problem-solving, professional communication

Professional Alignment (accreditation):

Officially recognised Spanish dual degree within the European Higher Education Area, aligned with professional pathways in legal practice, criminal justice, law enforcement, public administration, and criminology careers

Reputation (employability rankings):

Graduates benefit from the university’s strong academic standing, solid employer recognition across Europe, and consistent performance in global rankings for academic excellence and graduate employability

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At the Autonomous University of Barcelona's Faculty of Law on the vibrant Bellaterra Campus, our Bachelor's Degree in Criminology and Law dives deep into hands-on learning, equipping you with real-world skills to tackle crime, offenders, victims, and social control through practical training that's integrated right into the curriculum. You'll actively design crime prevention plans, conduct research, interpret studies, and get fieldwork experience via mandatory placements, all while building expertise for careers in justice, security, and victim support. This isn't just theory—it's about working seminars, workshops, and direct collaborations with professionals to make you job-ready from day one.

Here's how our program brings experiential learning to life with specific opportunities tailored to criminology and law:
- Work placements (externships): Choose 12 optional credits or up to two subjects in your fifth year for hands-on roles in real settings like the General Police Directorate, local police stations, prisons, lawyer's offices, victim assistance units, mediation services, reintegration centers, and municipal crime observatories—perfect for specializations in Prevention and Security or Criminal Justice.
- Group projects and case studies: Engage in collaborative seminars and workshops where you'll analyze crime scenarios, develop intervention plans, and simulate professional tasks like evidence assessment and policy evaluation.
- Professional collaborations: Partner with entities across the penal process, from courts and sentencing teams to post-sanction reintegration services, gaining plural, professionalized exposure.
- Classroom-based practicals at Faculty of Law facilities: Leverage the Bellaterra Campus resources, including dedicated spaces for law and criminology workshops, all in an international environment that fosters active learning.

Imagine stepping into these opportunities and emerging confident for roles in police, courts, or private security—spots are limited to 25, so applying now positions you perfectly. Ready to take the next step? Check the full facilities and campus details here: https://www.uab.cat/web/estudiar/ehea-degrees/general-information/criminology-law-1216708259085.html?param1=1345667501589.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduating from the Bachelors Degree in Criminology and Law at Autonomous University of Barcelona sets you up for careers where legal knowledge and criminal justice expertise work side by side. Many graduates move into roles such as Criminal Lawyer, Criminologist, Legal Advisor, or positions within law enforcement and justice administration — paths where understanding both the law and the science of crime gives you a real advantage. And when it’s time to step into the professional world, you won’t be doing it alone:

Dedicated career support services that help you with CV building, interview preparation, and personalised career planning
Recruitment events and employer networking sessions on campus connecting students with legal institutions and public sector employers
Internship pathways that provide hands-on experience in legal environments, justice institutions, and public administration bodies
Strong professional connections across courts, legal services, criminal justice agencies, and public institutions
A recognised European dual degree qualification that holds long-term value across Spain and the wider EU job market
Versatile graduate outcomes, opening opportunities in legal practice, criminology, compliance, public safety, investigations, and policy roles

Further Academic Progression:
If you’re thinking about specialising further, this dual degree gives you excellent flexibility for postgraduate study. Graduates can continue with master’s programs in Law, Criminal Law, Criminology, Criminal Justice, Public Policy, or related fields, and it also provides a strong pathway toward professional legal training and research-focused master’s or doctoral programmes.