Master (MA) in Financial Crime and Criminal Justice

The Master in Financial Crime and Criminal Justice reflects the priorities of the University’s mission, is designed to provide a course of studies that meets local and national needs, promotes links with local communities and embraces modern pedagogy and learning technologies. The Master (MA) in Financial Crime and Criminal Justice will be offered by the School of Law that is dedicated to the academic excellence through teaching and research.

Specializing in a particular field is a smart choice for everyone interested in pursuing a career in that field. In that perspective the specialization in Financial Crime and Criminal Justice provides a well-designed, practice oriented, academic, post graduate education for those, on the one hand, practicing already criminal law as lawyers, prosecutors or judges, and for those, on the other, who are graduate students, aspiring to become leaders in the field of criminal law and criminal procedure in a national and European environment. During recent decades transnational Financial crime has become a major area of concern for politicians and policy makers and an increasingly important area of research. This has transformed Financial crime from a very specific area of practice, to a “day-to-day” practice, similar to civil litigation with a lot of research, drafting, factual development and argument, but with more significant client contact, which tends to be very close.

Our MA Specialization in Financial Crime and Criminal Justice intends to examine the phenomenon in terms of its recent emergence and further development, as well as to highlight typical forms and law enforcement responses to transnational organized crime. Accordingly, the aim of the program is not only to pursue an academic theoretical study, but also to enable theory to inform practice. The program is divided thematically between substantive issues of Financial crime and procedural issues within an Economic crime trial. In both cases emphasis is given on the transnational character of both the crime and the trial. Among the substantive areas which are covered are: Corporate Penal Law, Corruption – Bribery, Tax evasion, Organized crime, Money laundering, Misuse of Capital Market, Cybercrime, Fraud against the EU’s financial interests, Market Abuse, Cybercrime and Money Laundering. Participants will also learn how to deal with complex procedural matters arising in an Economic criminal trial with transnational elements, such as the principle of ne bis in idem, the rule of speciality in mutual assistance, the procedure in freezing property etc.

DURATION OF THE PROGRAMME

1.5 academic year (3 academic semesters, 90 ECTS) In accordance with the relevant announcements made by the Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education, students have the opportunity to complete their postgraduate studies in two academic semesters (12 months) as long as they start the conduction of their Master’s Dissertation during the first or second semester of their studies, including the summer period. In this case, the completion of the Master’s Dissertation may be prolonged during the summer period, for one or two months. In any case, the total ECTS remain 90. Furthermore, a more flexible part-time route is offered. Students have the opportunity to complete their postgraduate studies in maximum three (3) years. Students will have to complete minimum 15 ECTS per semester.

ADVANTAGES OF THE PROGRAMME

• Excellent academic staff with strong expertise in the taught subjects.
• The field of fighting financial crime is growing rapidly
• It is aimed at professionals of different disciplines and not just legal professionals
• International collaborations with many Universities.
• The use of advanced technology and resources.
• Competitive tuition fees.

The Master (MA) in Financial Crime and Criminal Justice teaching methodology involves a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, examinations, projects, presentations, assignments, case-study applications and independent research. In addition, it is designed to provide an academic experience going beyond that of the traditional classroom, in which the flow of information is primarily from the instructor to the student. The intention of the Master (MA) in Financial Crime and Criminal Justice is that each participant will contribute to the education of the entire class though active participation in the learning procedure

Each course is evaluated through the mid-term exam or written assignment during the semester and the final exams at the end of the semester. If a student has not attended the exams or failed the mid-term or final exams, he or she is entitled to take a re-exam to be held in August or September after the final examination of the semester.

The mid-term exam or assignment that takes place during the semester corresponds to 30% of the final grade while the final exam at 70%. In order for the student to succeed in a course he / she must receive a final grade of at least 50/100 in both the mid-term assignment and the final exams.

In the third semester, students prepare their dissertation, corresponding to 30 Credits (ECTS). The dissertation must be relevant to the content of the postgraduate student’s studies, be original, be based on research or full use of the published sources and exhaustive study of the relevant international literature and concluding with convincing conclusions. The extent of the dissertation cannot be less than 10,000 words and more than 15,000 words. The conclusions, the bibliography and the abstract are included. After submission, the principal supervisor submits a written and reasoned report with his / her consent for public support, which is done publicly or via an electronic videoconference before a three-member committee.

Applicants can submit their application electronically or otherwise (by mail, by fax, in person at the University’s secretariat). The Program takes into account the academic background of the candidate from his/her previous studies, as well as his/her ability to complete the Program.

The necessary supporting documents to be submitted with the application include:

• Completed application form
• Official transcript of academic work (degree, etc.) completed to date.
• Evidence of English language proficiency (B2 level language certificate). By decision of the Director of the Postgraduate Program, foreign language examinations may be held for candidates who are not adequately qualified, or another test, which demonstrates the candidate’s ability to meet the requirements of the Master’s Program.
• Two (2) confidential recommendation letters, one of which must be from an instructor familiar with the student’s academic work.
• A personal statement of interest in pursuing graduate studies

The University reserves its right to define the electives offered on an academic year basis.

The programme structure may change without prior notice, as a result of quality assurance procedures or/and programme recertification.