Criminology Schools and Programs in Barcelona, Spain

About Criminology Schools and Programs in Barcelona, Spain

Criminology studies crime, offenders, victims and the way society and the criminal justice system respond to them. The degree combines law, psychology, sociology and research methods, and prepares graduates for work in crime prevention, security and the penal system. In Barcelona, official criminology degrees are taught at both public and private universities.

How the degrees are organised

In Spain, criminology is taught as an official university bachelor's degree (grado). As a general rule, bachelor's degrees have 240 ECTS credits (four years) and official master's degrees 60, 90 or 120 credits. All official degrees are listed in the ministry's Registry of Universities, Centres and Degrees (RUCT), which is the place to check that a programme is an official degree and not a school's own qualification (título propio).

Where to study Criminology in Barcelona

Examples from our directory:

• Universitat de Barcelona: a public university that teaches the official bachelor's degree in Criminology and the Máster Universitario en Criminología Aplicada (Applied Criminology), both listed in the RUCT.
• Universitat Abat Oliba CEU: a private university with a bachelor's degree in Criminology and Security (Criminología y Seguridad): four years, 240 ECTS credits and 60 places, taught in a blended format (semipresencial). According to the university, it includes a higher course in Private Security Management and its own qualification in Private Investigation, recognised by the Ministry of the Interior for working as a private security director and a private detective. Work placements in companies, law firms or institutions are compulsory in the final year, and students can spend a semester at partner universities in the United States, Mexico or the Netherlands. The first year costs €8,295 in the 2026-27 academic year.
• Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC): a private university that offers the Máster Universitario en Psicopatología Legal, Forense y Criminológica (legal, forensic and criminological psychopathology), listed in the RUCT.

At Catalan universities, classes may be taught in Catalan or Spanish, so check the language of each subject in the study plan.

Admission for international students

To enter a bachelor's degree, students who finished secondary school outside Spain usually apply for UNEDasiss accreditation. UNEDasiss is the UNED service that assesses the academic records of international students and runs the specific subject tests needed to enter Spanish bachelor's degrees. With it, students then apply to each university. Private universities add their own process: at Abat Oliba CEU, applicants are assessed on their academic record and admission tests. A master's degree requires a previous university degree; if it is from abroad, the university checks its level.

Recognition and careers

For holders of a foreign degree, the ministry distinguishes between homologación, which gives access to a regulated profession in Spain, and the declaration of equivalence (declaración de equivalencia), which certifies the academic level of the degree (bachelor's or master's). If you plan to work in your home country, check how it recognises a Spanish degree.

Common career paths include work as a criminologist in public administrations and private companies, the state, regional and local police forces, private security (as a security director or private detective, with the required licence), prison and rehabilitation services, victim support and research. Joining a police force also requires passing that force's competitive entrance exams (oposiciones).

Frequently asked questions

How long is a criminology degree in Barcelona?

Four years and 240 ECTS credits, the standard length of a bachelor's degree in Spain. The Criminology and Security degree at Universitat Abat Oliba CEU is one example.

Can I study Criminology at a public university in Barcelona?

Yes. The Universitat de Barcelona, a public university, teaches the official bachelor's degree in Criminology and the Máster Universitario en Criminología Aplicada.

How do students from outside Spain apply for the degree?

Most apply for UNEDasiss accreditation, which assesses their school record and, where needed, tests them in specific subjects. With it they apply to the universities they choose.

Does the degree qualify you to work as a private detective?

At Universitat Abat Oliba CEU, the degree includes the university's own qualification in Private Investigation which, according to the university, is recognised by the Ministry of the Interior for working as a private detective.