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Reasons to study International Criminal Justice in Marburg

The M.A. program “International Criminal Justice: Law, History, Politics” is a research-oriented, interdisciplinary, and internationally focused degree and is currently unique in Germany and the German-speaking region.

By acquiring interdisciplinary knowledge, developing theoretical and analytical skills, and completing independent research projects, students gain both general competencies for qualified professional work and a comprehensive ability to engage in active, independent academic research, including preparation for doctoral studies.

The aim is to develop a comprehensive understanding of international criminal justice, including its capacities, mechanisms of action, and limitations, thereby training qualified researchers and practitioners.

  • Interdisciplinarity

    Crimes under international law and their prosecution cannot, due to their complexity, be reduced solely to their judicial dimension. This applies both to scholarly analysis and to the practice of international criminal law. What is required—and also feasible—is a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach.

    The master’s program is fully interdisciplinary. The essentially equal participation of the disciplines of law, history, and political science is a distinctive feature of the program. The departments of law, history and cultural studies, as well as social sciences and philosophy, all contribute equally to shaping the program’s content.

    Graduates are characterized above all by their extensive methodological expertise, a special ability for interdisciplinary discourse, and a comprehensive, genuinely interdisciplinary understanding of macro-level criminality.

    Nevertheless, students are given the opportunity to develop their own study profile and set thematic priorities, which may lead to a more intensive focus on one of the three disciplines that define the program.

    For holders of the first state examination in law, a master’s program can be a meaningful alternative or an additional qualification to the second state examination. You can read experience reports, for example, here: LTO Online – Master’s Degree Instead of the Second State Exam.

  • International focus

    Particular emphasis is placed on the international applicability of the course content, enabling and encouraging professional and research engagement beyond national boundaries.

    A voluntary semester abroad can be integrated into the study program without extending the overall duration of the degree.

    Students in the Master’s program “International Criminal Justice: Law, History, Politics” have the opportunity to complete an internship abroad and benefit from the ICWC’s international excursions and events.

  • Research

    Students in the Master’s program “International Criminal Justice: Law, History, Politics” can participate in conferences, lectures, and workshops organized by the ICWC and make use of the center’s infrastructure (e.g., library, databases) for their own research work.

  • Fields of activity and professional opportunities

    Graduates of the master’s program enter the labor market with solid, interdisciplinary knowledge as well as subject-specific, methodological, social, and self-management skills that are in demand across numerous professional fields, including in particular:

    - International and internationalized courts
    - National and international organizations combating international and transnational crime
    - Other national and international institutions in related fields (e.g., human rights, transitional justice)
    - Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Justice, Interior, Defense, and parliamentary bodies
    - International and national non-governmental organizations, think tanks, and foundations
    - Museums, memorials, archives, and documentation centers
    - Media, public relations, journalism
    - Publishing houses (e.g., editorial departments)
    - Academia (universities, research institutions)
    By selectively attending specific courses, choosing the internship placement, and shaping the topic of the master’s thesis, students can tailor their qualifications toward specific professional fields.
     
    The Career Service page of the university provides an initial overview of potential professional fields.

  • Trial-Monitoring Training Program

  • More good reasons for studying in Marburg

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