Master's degree course in Investigation, Crime and International Security – General Curriculum

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Class: LM-52 (Master's Degree in International Relations)
Academic year: 2026/2027
Duration: 2 years
Admission: free after verification of admission requirements
Modes: in-presence and live-streaming
 

 
Course Director: Ciro Sbailò, UNINT Full Professor
Office hours: Tuesday, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Student Representative:Francesca Contef.conte5@studenti.unint.eu
Tutoring:
Emma Cimmino

The Master's degree course in Investigation, Crime and International Security (LM-52) addresses the growing demand for highly qualified specialists in the field of security to be employed in national and international companies, institutions and organisations operating in the filed of investigation, prevention and repression of crim and in the fight against terrorism.

In this perspective, the curriculum offers courses aimed at providing advanced skills in multidisciplinary areas related to European and international defence policies, investigation and intelligence techniques, regulatory profiles of crime fighting and investigative and judicial cooperation, sociological and demographic determinants of international geopolitical tensions and the most widespread and effective tools for combating international crime phenomena. Students will also have the possibility of choosing an innovative curriculum specifically focused on cybersecurity.

The training structure includes a wide range of laboratories and in-depth activities, such as the School of Political Sciences organised by the University. In addition, students will acquire a solid language training thanks to the presence of seven courses taught in English and the mandatory study of a second language to be chosen among Arabic, Chinese, French, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, Russian and German.

Given the characteristics of the Degree course, the lectures are delivered by academics and specialists from the world of defence, justice and security.

Thanks to UNINT's innovative teaching formula, students can attend both in-presence and live-stream lectures through the UNINT Everywhere platform.

Access to the degree course is free, with a non-selective interview to verify the initial requirements. n consideration of the characteristics of the courses and the type of professional profile for which students are trained, the Course is aimed primarily at students who have obtained a Bachelor's degree in the fields of political science, languages, international relations and economics.

Professional profile and career opportunities

The Master's degree course in Investigation, Crime and International Security trains graduates capable of working in strategic roles within national and international institutions and organisations operating in the filed of common security, investigation, prevention and repression of various forms of crime, including transnational ones, and in the fight against ideological-religious terrorism. Graduates will be able to hold roles related to intelligence, combating cybercrime, strengthening national and international security, devising, directing and managing activities aimed at preventing and countering terrorist and criminal threats. They may also be employed in research centres, consultancy firms, multinational companies operating in geographical areas characterised by strong political instability and in NGOs involved in humanitarian emergencies in countries at risk.

Thanks to the skills acquired during their studies, at the end of the Course students will be able to:

  • analyse and evaluate organised crime phenomena of international relevance and illegal immigration;
  • use advanced intelligence tools and geopolitical analysis techniques for conflict and threat prevention;
  • recognise and interpret the dynamics of deviance and criminogenesis, integrating sociological and psychological knowledge;
  • use the regulatory tools of criminal law and investigative and judicial cooperation to address threats to common security;
  • analyse and interpret strategic information, with advanced intelligence tools and geopolitical analysis techniques for conflict and threat prevention;
  • manage crisis situations and plan interventions in emergency situations;
  • apply AI technologies for information processing and security management.

Accreditation and Membership

UNINT is a partner of leading international academic associations that promote the adoption of quality standards of excellence in educational and scientific activities.

Due to its recognised quality requirements in language training, the Department of International Humanities and Social Sciences is among the four Italian members of CIUTI (Conférence Internationale Permanente d'Instituts Universitaires de Traducteurs et Interprètes) and its Master's degree course in Interpreting and Translation (LM-94) is part of the EMT network (European Master's in Translation) promoted by the European Commission. Moreover, UNINT is a member of AACSB – Business Education Alliance and has started the accreditation procedure for its Degree courses in the area of economics and business.

As part of the activities related to quality assurance, since 2021 UNINT has been certified in accordance with the regulation UNI EN ISO 9001: 2015On February 8, 2021, the first certificate was issued, confirmed for 2022 and 2023. In 2024, the new certificate was obtained and on January 30, 2026, the certification was confirmed for the year 2026. UNI EN ISO 9001: 2015 for "Teaching, training, research and third mission activities", attesting to the correct definition and execution of the processes implemented within the University.

Courses

The Master's degree course in Investigation, Crime and International Security is structured in such a way as to provide solid knowledge of the following topics over the two years of study:

  • the sociological, historical and cultural dynamics that generate instability at an international level, with a focus on migration movements, phenomena of ideological-religious radicalism and demographic changes;
  • the fundamentals of geopolitical analysis for identifying the most significant areas of instability and the main sources of risk;
  • the rules of international law and investigative and judicial cooperation;
  • the problems related to financial flows andlegal economy manipulation;
  • the most effective intelligence strategies and techniques for the prevention, investigation and fight against crime;
  • the policies and the national and EU regulations in the field of security and cybersecurity;
  • the ways of using innovative technologies to counter international crime phenomena and for the IT security risk management;
  • techniques for analysing, planning and managing interventions in emergency or security threat situations.

Digital skills and laboratories

The professional profile of the curriculum is enhanced by the presence of in-depth thematic laboratories focused on the main skills related to the exit profiles of the Degree course: the Laboratory on Analysis of geopolitical dials, the Laboratory on Crisis communication, the Laboratory on Europlanning (taught in English), the Laboratory on Security management and Intelligence and the Laboratory on Metaverse and Virtual reality focused on International Security and Crime, delivered with the aid of state-of-the-art headsets.  

Students have the opportunity to acquire additional credits through free participation in the School of Political Sciences organised by the University and in one of the following professional courses on programming and cybersecurity languages:

  • Introduction to programming with Python;
  • Ethical Hacking and Penetration Test 1 – Kali Linux and Hacking Tools;
  • Ethical Hacking and Penetration Test 2 – Python Programming for Hacking;
  • Cybersecurity Audit.

Find out more at the following link.

Language training and certifications

Graduates of the Course will develop solid skills related to intercultural communication, thanks to the presence of seven courses taught in English. The curriculum also includes:

  • 12 ECTS dedicated to the study of the English language at an advanced level with particular reference to terminology and phraseology used in investigative and judicial cooperation;
  • 6 ECTS dedicated to the study of a second foreign language to be chosen among Arabic, Chinese, French, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and German.

 

To find out the entry and exit levels of each language course in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages ​​(CEFR), visit the following link.

The University Language Centre grants new students enrolled for the 2026/2027 academic year (Bachelor’s or Master's degree courses in any of the Degree courses offered by the University) the opportunity to take an international certification examination , at no additional cost, choosing from among the certifications offered through the University’s partnership agreements.

Curriculum

2026/2027 academic year

This page contains information about programmes for students who intend to start their academic career in autumn 2026. The information is up to date at the date of publication, although some changes may be necessary.

You can consult the complete teaching programmes for the last two academic semesters. Potential variations in the programmes are determined by the University's attention to the developments in the subjects studied and the dynamic needs of the labour market.

Find out more at the following link

ECTS

1st year

ECTS

The course delves into European security policies, addressing issues such as cooperation between member states, crisis management and international dynamics, training students to understand the context of contemporary European security.

10

Group A: The course delves into knowledge of morphosyntactic structures of the English language, focusing on the specific contexts of social sciences. Furthermore, it expands the understanding of the sociocultural aspects of English-speaking societies.

Group B: The course aims to enhance English language skills in the geopolitical and intelligence fields with a focus on oral and written comprehension, with the aim of reading and understanding geopolitical and intelligence texts, developing writing skills in related contexts.

8

History of International Relations
The course provides advanced knowledge and interpretative tools to understand the impact of political, ideological, economic and cultural factors in the evolution of contemporary international politics, delving into the historical dynamics of international relations and geopolitics.

Conflict Studies
The course aims to provide students with the necessary tools to deal with historiographical texts, developing the ability to read contemporary national and international political phenomena independently and critically.

8

1st year
2 free-choice courses

The course explores the meeting points between crime and migration, offering an in-depth understanding of social dynamics through critical training and analysis of phenomena, promoting awareness and skills in addressing the challenges related to crime and migration.

8

The course provides an overview of public international law, focusing on investigative and judicial cooperation, focusing on critical understanding of the international legal system, preparing students to explore investigative and judicial issues in global contexts.

8

The course aims to provide an understanding of the rules that regulate the management of migratory flows. The course aims to explore the condition of emigrants and foreigners' issues at EU level and in individual sovereign systems, with particular emphasis on the Italian jurisdiction. 

8

The course analyses Islamic law and its historical evolution in depth, facilitating knowledge of Mediterranean geopolitical contexts, developing the ability to compare European models with Islamic countries, analysing political and institutional dynamics in North Africa, with attention to national and European interests.

8

The course aims to provide advanced skills to understand, prevent and manage digital threats, addressing issues related to cybersecurity, cyber intelligence and online crime.

8

1st year
2 free-choice courses

The course focuses on the importance of the Italian Civil Protection System, examining planning, procedures and coordination during disaster events and aims to provide students with an understanding of decision-making dynamics, interaction between actors, emergency management and territorial planning.

8

The course explores the analysis of deviant behaviours and aims to make students understand criminological theories and the application of methodologies to analyse social deviance.

8

The course aims to provide students with strategic management skills for Human Resources in security and cybersecurity contexts with the aim of integrating HR practices with specific needs of critical sectors and resource management in high-risk environments.

8

The course explores the deviant behaviours of contemporary political and religious movements, focusing on Europe and Italy, providing fundamental notions on extremist and radical phenomena, analysing the interaction between techno-scientific development, the role of the media, and geopolitical agenda.

8

The course aims to develop analytical skills for interpreting and assessing geopolitical risks in international and regional contexts. The course addresses the main political, economic, strategic, and technological factors that influence international stability and relations between global actors. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of crisis areas, power competition, and the strategic and analytical implications for public and private actors.

8

2nd year

The course provides theoretical and practical knowledge of intelligence and the methodologies for gathering, analyzing, and evaluating information, as well as infiltration, exfiltration, and counter-intelligence techniques.

8

Control of transnational financial flows and migration smuggling
The course focuses on money laundering, financial/transnational flows control and migration smuggling. It aims to provide essential notions and analyse application aspects to orient yourself in substantive and operational law.

Cybersecurity Risk Assessment
The course provides theoretical and methodological tools for conceptual analysis and risk assessment in cybersecurity. The course explores the main methodologies for threat identification, vulnerability assessment, and cyber risk management in public and private contexts. Special attention is paid to incident prevention, mitigation strategies, and response to cyber events, as well as the integration of risk assessment into strategic and institutional decision-making processes.

8

Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian
The course aims to develop linguistic proficiency for everyday situations (A2+/B1-), exploring the different linguistic dimensions with a contrastive approach for in-depth understanding.

French, Portuguese, Spanish
The course aims to achieve linguistic proficiency (B2-/B2) for everyday situations and explores the dimensions of the language (phonetics, morphology, syntax, pragmatics) with a contrastive approach.

English
The course focuses on the development of daily use linguistic skills at a B2-/B2 level, exploring the dimensions of the language (phonetics, morphology, syntax) also with a contrastive approach for in-depth understanding.

German
The course aims to develop linguistic proficiency for everyday situations (B1+/B2-), exploring the different linguistic dimensions with a contrastive approach for in-depth understanding.

6

2 free-choice courses

The course offers an in-depth understanding of the criminal legal system, examining fundamental rules, procedures and theories, with the aim of providing solid legal skills to address criminal matters and promote justice.

8

The course explores social conflicts and geopolitical tensions in the contemporary world with the aim of analysing the causes and dynamics of global conflicts, providing in-depth understanding of current social and geopolitical challenges.

8

The course aims to provide students with fundamental knowledge about AI, with a focus on machine learning, deep learning, robotics and computer vision. 

8

The course analyses the crucial phases of the birth and development of the mafia phenomenon, examining the transformations in the economic, political and social network of the various countries involved, with particular attention to Italy. 

8

The course aims at the achievement of in-depth knowledge about the topic, of its specific terminology, the main scholars and their doctrines, as well as the operational environments, including emerging ones such as outer space and internet.

8

The course aims to introduce fundamental knowledge and principles to enable students to understand hacking, assess risks and opportunities, as well as analyse and manage risk in IT systems.

8

The course offers an in-depth overview of communication theories and practical strategies. It aims to develop skills in content creation and management, media analysis and advanced communication skills.

8

The course analyzes the main demographic trends and dynamics at the global and regional levels, with particular reference to phenomena such as population aging, migration, demographic transitions, and urbanization. The course analytically examines the impact of demographic change on public policy, security, economic development, and international relations, providing interpretative tools for analyzing complex demographic scenarios.

8

free-choice ECTS

Student's free-choice courses 

8

Other activities

Laboratory on Analysis of geopolitical dials
The laboratory explores global geopolitical quadrants through in-depth analyses, with the aim of developing skills in interpreting geopolitical relations, providing a global perspective and honing analytical skills to understand international affairs.

Laboratory on Crisis communication
The laboratory aims to provide students with management strategies during communication crisis, focusing on the development of practical, analytical and decision-making skills to manage emergency situations, communicating effectively with both stakeholders and the media.

Laboratory on Europlanning  (taught in English)
The laboratory delves into the planning and management of European projects, in order to acquire practical skills in the development of project proposals, budgeting and relations with European institutions.

Laboratory on Security management and Intelligence
The laboratory aims to provide skills in security management, analyzing risks, developing strategies, acquiring intelligence capabilities, exploring the field of cybersecurity and criminology.

Laboratory on Metaverse and Virtual reality focused on International Security and Crime
The laboratory aims to provide an introduction to the use of virtual reality and metaverse tech for social virtual spaces creation and management. The approach is pragmatic, based on sharing experience and learning in situations that systematise the process of knowledge acquisition. In particular, the lab will focus on security risks in the metaverse, including crime, disinformation, and cybersecurity in general.

4

Final test

12

Those students enrolled in the Master's degree course in Investigation, Crime and International Security (LM-52) have the opportunity, during the entire study cycle, to participate in one of the following professional courses entirely free of charge:

  • Introduction to programming with Python;
  • Ethical Hacking and Penetration Test 1 – Kali Linux and Hacking Tools;
  • Ethical Hacking and Penetration Test 2 – Python Programming for Hacking;
  • Cybersecurity Audit.

Find out more at the following link.

Curriculum Compilation Guide

At the beginning of the academic year, the University organises dedicated sessions to guide students through the completion of their curricula. During these sessions, which involve faculty, the Orientation Office, and the Student Secretariat, studetns receive technical instructions on how to complete their curriculum, as well as general information regarding the training offer and the awarding of credits.

Book here

Study Abroad Experiences and Internships

Given the University's strong international outlook, UNINT's Degree courses offer students the opportunity to spend a period abroad for study or internship purposes, thanks to a network of over 100 international agreements with European and non-European universities. The University also has around 700 active agreements for internships and work placements with public and private institutions in Italy and abroad.

Framework agreements

The Università degli Studi Internazionali di Roma – UNINT Auticon has signed a memorandum of understanding with Auticon, which provides, starting in the 2026/2027 academic year, for the activation of curricular and extracurricular internships for students and graduates of the bachelor's degree program in Political Science, International Security, and Crime (L-36) and the master's degree program in Investigation, Crime, and International Security (LM-52) diagnosed with autism, aimed at entering the workforce. Upon completion of the internship, Auticon undertakes to evaluate, where possible, the continuation of the relationship through hiring or other forms of professional collaboration consistent with the skills acquired. The memorandum promotes neurodiversity in the workplace as an effective model for promoting the social and occupational inclusion of neurodivergent individuals.
The collaboration between UNINT and Auticon also aims to promote the dissemination of inclusive best practices and contribute to the construction of a business and academic environment based on the principles of equity, sustainability, and social responsibility, with positive economic and social impacts.


Admission requirements, verification of initial preparation and pre-courses

Admission requirements to the Master's degree course in Investigation, Crime and International Security (LM-52) are possession of one of the following qualifications: Bachelor's degree or university diploma or other qualification obtained abroad, recognised as suitable according to current legislation, in the following degree classes pursuant to Ministerial Decree 270/04: L-5; L-6; L-8; L-10; L-11; L-12; L-14; L-16; L-18; L-19; L-20; L-24; L-31; L-33; L-36; L-37; L-39; L-40; L-41; L-42; LMG/01; DS/1; L/DS. The degree classes pursuant to DM 509/99 are equivalent to the classes pursuant to DM 270/04 listed, pursuant to the Interministerial Decree of 9 July 2009.
For graduates of other classes, admission is conditional on possession of the curricular requirements defined within the Degree course's academic regulations.  

For the purposes of enrolment, an interview is required with a commission of teachers in order to verify initial preparation and the adequacy of the curricular requirements.

For the academic year 2026/2027 the test will take place remotely on the following dates:

  • 20 February 2026 | 3:00 pm

  • 8 May 2026 | 3:00 pm

  • 22 July 2026 | 3:00 pm

  • 17 September 2026 | 3:00 pm

  • 16 October 2026 | 3:00 pm

  • 30 October 2026 | 3:00 pm

To enrol in the Degree course, it will be necessary to verify that you meet the requirements.

Pre-courses

In order to support the start and management of studies, pre-courses in fundamentals of law, fundamentals of geopolitics and fundamentals of criminal law are available before the start of lectures. Participation in the pre-courses is optional and not binding for the purposes of enrolment.

Tuition fee, scholarships and financial aids

Università degli Studi Internazionali di Roma - UNINT provides for a banded tuition fee system that rewards scholastic and university merit as well as scholarships linked to talent and social and civil commitment for high school graduates, students about to graduate and graduates. 

To find out about the tuition fees, scholarships and financial aids.

Learn more

Furthermore, students wishing to enrol can, as would be the case by enrolling at a State University, access the ‘Right to Study’ Call for Applications, through which DiSCo (regional body for the right to education and knowledge) and Regione Lazio provide benefits and services to university students to guarantee the right to study in accordance with Article 34 of the Italian Constitution, which enshrines the principle of equal educational opportunities.

By participating in the call for applications, it is possible to access scholarships and receive financial support to cover university costs

The services offered also include accommodation in student residences, and subsidised access to the canteen with meals at reduced costs. International mobility grants are also provided to support students during periods of study or internship abroad, thus facilitating international educational experiences.

 The call for application is published every year on the website http://www.laziodisco.it/.
For further information, please consult the Valid identity document and contact the relevant office whose contact details are given below.  

Contacts Right to study
Sonia Fronte
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Wednesday and Friday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
E-mail: dirittoallostudio@unint.eu
Tel (+39) 06.510.777.296

UNINT Accommodation agreements

Università degli Studi Internazionali di Roma – UNINT has entered into agreements with various residential facilities and specialised platforms in order to facilitate students' access to housing solutions at advantageous conditions.
Detailed information on affiliated facilities and benefits are available in the dedicated section on the University's website.

Course of Study Steering Committee

  • Alessandro De Nisco, Director of UNINT Department of International Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Giacomo Aiello, State Attorney
  • Antonino Albanese, Istituto San Pio V Councillor
  • Adele Colombani, Business Analyst
  • Marco Minniti, President of Fondazione Med-Or, former Minister of the Interior

Survey of student opinions for the academic year 2024/2025

Dual Degree

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