PhD
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Criminal Sciences
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Criminal Sciences at the College of International Justice (CI Justice) stands at the pinnacle of academic and research postgraduate education in advanced penal and criminal studies. It is engineered to prepare an elite cadre o...
Duration3 Years
Credit hours90
DegreePhD
Language of studyArabic
Terms6
About the program
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Criminal Sciences at the College of International Justice (CI Justice) stands at the pinnacle of academic and research postgraduate education in advanced penal and criminal studies. It is engineered to prepare an elite cadre of jurists, scholars, criminal judges, and senior strategic experts in crime prevention and penal policies, capable of producing original, groundbreaking scientific research that advances penal legislation, modern investigative techniques, and comparative criminology. The programme is delivered by a distinguished international faculty carefully selected following the review of over 10,000 academic CVs worldwide, ensuring educational excellence and rich comparative legal and criminological diversity.Spanning three academic years (6 semesters), the programme follows a rigorous, structured progression. Candidates complete 9 advanced doctoral courses (36 credit hours) across the first three semesters: 4 compulsory courses in the First Semester (commencing strictly with Advanced Philosophical Research Methodology in Criminal Sciences), 4 specialized courses in the Second Semester, and 1 culminating course in the Third Semester accompanied by the Comprehensive Doctoral Examination. Upon passing the Comprehensive Exam, candidates transition in Semesters 4, 5, and 6 to concurrent completion of Practical & Academic Application (1, 2, 3) and Doctoral Dissertation (1, 2, 3), concluding with a public Viva Voce defense before an expert Jury Committee.
Vision
To stand as the premier global academic and research benchmark in graduating criminal sciences scholars and jurists who drive penal legislative renewal and modern crime combating, and uphold procedural justice and human rights through pioneering scientific research.
Mission
To provide a world-class research and academic ecosystem that integrates comparative philosophical procedural depth, methodological rigor, and intelligent educational flexibility (Open, Virtual, and Blended Learning), empowering scholars to formulate original scientific and legal theories and solutions that bridge legislative gaps in crime combating, while supplying universities, criminal courts, security apparatuses, and UN bodies with exceptional intellectual and legal leadership.
Objectives
- Original Knowledge Production & Innovation: Empower candidates to critique existing penal and criminological paradigms and formulate novel doctrinal and legislative frameworks addressing gaps in criminal law and auxiliary sciences.
- Mastery of Philosophical & Comparative Methodology: Deepen scholars' command of advanced criminal research methodologies and penal philosophy to deconstruct complex criminal phenomena and criminal judicial precedents.
- Leadership in Penal Policies & Restorative Justice: Qualify senior experts capable of formulating and evaluating contemporary criminal policies, alternative sanctions, and modern correctional and rehabilitation systems.
- University Professorial Preparation: Prepare university professors and international lecturers skilled in academic delivery, curriculum design, and criminal legal knowledge transfer through three dedicated Practical Application semesters.
- Foresight in Emerging Criminological Frontiers: Build scholarly capacity to regulate and counter advanced cybercrimes, international terrorism, and cross-border money laundering.
Educational philosophy
The College of International Justice adopts the philosophy of "Directed Research Autonomy and Comparative Procedural Jurisprudential Inquiry" at the doctoral level, resting on the following pillars:Three Flexible Learning Modalities: Candidates select the learning method best suited to their commitments among Open Learning, Virtual Learning, and Blended Learning, with options to accelerate studies after the first semester based on cumulative GPA or utilize summer semesters.Sequential Research Seminars: Each of the 9 courses carries 4 credit hours and is studied sequentially for a minimum of four weeks via intensive research seminars relying on authoritative treatises, penal codes, and criminal case law, followed by a competency test before progressing to the next module.The Comprehensive Examination Milestone: Held in the third semester to verify holistic mastery of criminal sciences and research methodology prior to dissertation candidacy.Integration of Dissertation & Academic Practice: Across Semesters 4, 5, and 6, candidates simultaneously write their doctoral dissertation under close supervision and complete virtual university teaching and workplace practice portfolios.
Learning outcomes
- Exhibit encyclopedic and profound mastery of the philosophy of criminal sciences, modern criminological theories, and contemporary penal policies.
- Demonstrate comprehensive understanding of advanced criminal procedure, scientific and digital evidence standards, and supreme criminal court jurisprudence.
- Exercise original doctrinal critique and deconstruct penal texts and conflicting judicial precedents using rigorous scientific methodology.
- Deduce innovative legal and procedural theories, frameworks, and norms to address emerging criminal phenomena and transnational offenses.
- Lead research and security/judicial advisory teams, engineer penal policies and correctional rehabilitation programmes, and draft high-level procedural memoranda.
- Master advanced university-level teaching and curriculum design, and author an original doctoral dissertation meeting the highest standards of peer-reviewed international scholarly publishing.
- Command authoritative legal argumentation, intellectual and academic leadership, complex criminal investigation crisis management, and rigorous cross-cultural scholarly communication.
Career prospects
- Academia and Higher Education: Serving as University Professors, Chairs of Criminal Law Departments, and Deans of Faculties of Law and Police Academies at prestigious universities worldwide.
- Supreme Judiciary and Public Prosecution: Assuming roles as criminal judges, public prosecutors, or senior counselors within national cassation, supreme, and constitutional courts.
- Sovereign Security and Police Agencies: Directing major criminal research divisions, counter-terrorism and organized crime sectors, and serving as directors of police and security training institutes.
- Correctional Institutions and Penal Policy Sectors: Directing prison administrations and major correctional facilities, acting as national and international experts in penal reform and alternative sentencing.
- International Organizations and Think Tanks: Serving as senior experts and investigators within United Nations bodies dedicated to crime prevention and counter-terrorism, and directing security and criminal research think tanks.
Curriculum
Advanced Philosophical Research Methodology & Advanced Criminal Analysis 4 credit hours · DCS701Philosophy of Punishment and Contemporary Penal Policies 4 credit hours · DCS702Constitutional Criminal Procedure and Modern Evidentiary Testing 4 credit hours · DCS703Comparative Criminology & Analysis of the Contemporary Criminal Phenomenon 4 credit hours · DCS704
Advanced Cybercrimes, Information Warfare & Sovereign Digital Forensics 4 credit hours · DCS705International Economic Crimes, Money Laundering & Cross-Border Corruption 4 credit hours · DCS706International Organized Crime, Transnational Terrorism & Security Policies 4 credit hours · DCS707Advanced Forensic Medicine & Psychological/Forensic Evaluation of Dangerous Offenders 4 credit hours · DCS708
Frequently asked questions
Is the College of International Justice officially licensed and accredited to award the PhD in Criminal Sciences?
Without a doubt. CI Justice is fully accredited and shares its institutional and academic accreditations with International Suleiman University. Furthermore, the College is officially licensed by the UK Government to operate under classifications: 85421 (First-degree level higher education), 85422 (Post-graduate level higher education), 85600 (Educational support services), and 69109 (Activities of patent and copyright agents; other legal activities not elsewhere classified), holding official authority to provide academic programmes under verified registration ID: 10093951.
How was the academic faculty supervising the programme selected, and how are candidates guided in choosing their track?
Our academic staff was carefully selected through reviews of the CVs of more than 10,000 academics from all countries of the world, ensuring excellence in the educational process and enhancing cultural diversity. Our Guidance and Academic Center communicates with prospective students to provide full details, and within our initial admission system, we provide an intelligent tool that helps candidates choose the most suitable programme by answering questionnaire questions designed with data-driven paths, complemented by future-ready tools designed by practicing market experts.
What forms of flexibility exist regarding learning methods, study duration, tuition fees, and scholarships?
Flexibility is embedded throughout the programme. Scholars can choose the learning method that suits them best among three options: (Open Learning, Virtual Learning, and Blended Learning). After the first semester, high-achieving students may accelerate their study duration by registering for additional credits or taking an extra summer semester. Regarding tuition fees, students achieving a high cumulative GPA can obtain partial scholarships of up to 90%, and selected students from war and crisis-affected countries may be awarded a 100% full scholarship.
How are coursework, the Comprehensive Exam, Practical Application, and the Dissertation defense conducted?
The programme spans 6 semesters (3 years):Candidates complete 9 courses (36 credits) in the first three semesters via sequential research seminars (4 credits and min. 4 weeks per course followed by a competency test), sitting for the Comprehensive Exam in Semester 3.In Semesters 4, 5, and 6, candidates concurrently undertake Practical Application (1, 2, 3) (structuring and recording 10–20 minute PowerPoint video lectures and Word summaries for an undergraduate course, alongside workplace practice reports through our partnerships with judicial and security agencies internationally) and Doctoral Dissertation (1, 2, 3).The dissertation is governed by semi-annual supervisor reports, a final supervisor evaluation (out of 140 marks), and individual reports from a three-member Jury Committee (out of 100 marks each). A minimum score of 70% in both the supervisor's evaluation and individual Jury reports (plus a 15-day interval post-committee approval) is required to proceed to the public defense.
Can prior university studies or professional qualifications be transferred? What support ecosystem is provided?
Yes. Through our Transfer of Accreditation process, both previous postgraduate university studies and a wide range of recognized professional qualifications can be counted toward this qualification—saving you time and money by reducing the number of units you need to study. Throughout your studies, you are supported by:A Personal Tutor for each unit: Guiding you, evaluating assignments, and providing detailed feedback.Our e-Library & High-Quality Resources: Access to university libraries, course texts, podcasts, interactive media, and weekly study planners.Student Support Teams & Online Help Centre: Educational groups, community forums, free Microsoft Office 365, and full IT support from our Computing Help Center.
Admission requirements
- Academic Qualification: Hold a Master's degree in Criminal Sciences, Criminal Law, Law, or a closely related discipline from a recognized university.
- Guidance & Initial Admission Tool: The Guidance and Academic Center communicates with prospective candidates and provides a data-driven questionnaire tool within the initial admission system to help scholars select their optimal specialization pathway.
- Transfer of Accreditation: Prior postgraduate studies or recognized high-level professional qualifications (in law, investigation, or police sciences) may be evaluated and credited toward the programme, saving time and tuition costs.
- Language & Research Readiness: Advanced proficiency in the language of study (Arabic or English) and submission of an initial Doctoral Research Concept Note.
Tuition & fees
Application fee$145.00
Start your academic journey today
Submit your application now and our admissions team will contact you to complete the process.
Apply to this programAdvanced Philosophical Research Methodology & Advanced Criminal Analysis
DCS701 4 credit hours Advanced
•Academic Description: Serving as the mandatory foundational cornerstone and the very first course for doctoral candidates in Criminal Sciences, this module elevates scholars from traditional legal research methods to criminal epistemology and procedural science philosophy. The course delves into complex doctoral-level criminal research methodologies, encompassing philosophical doctrinal analysis, deconstructive critical methodology, cross-jurisdictional comparative methodology (Civil Law and Common Law penal systems), and empirical qualitative and quantitative assessment of the criminal phenomenon and penal policy efficacy. Candidates receive rigorous training in identifying genuine scholarly and legislative research gaps within criminal jurisprudence, formulating complex research problems, and constructing testable theoretical hypotheses. Furthermore, the course emphasizes systematic deconstruction of judgments and rulings issued by cassation, supreme, and international criminal courts, alongside objective scholarly critique of competing doctrinal penal schools. The module culminates in intensive practical training on engineering a comprehensive Doctoral Dissertation Prospectus, managing multilingual bibliographic databases, and adhering to the highest standards of academic integrity and peer-reviewed international publishing (Scopus / Web of Science), delivered through intensive research seminars.
Philosophy of Punishment and Contemporary Penal Policies
DCS702 4 credit hours Advanced
•Academic Description: This compulsory doctoral course centers on a profound philosophical, historical, and critical investigation of the philosophy of punishment and the justifications of criminalization and penal sanction in human and positivist thought. Doctoral researchers deeply analyze the philosophical evolution of criminal sanctions from deterrence, absolute and relative retribution, to theories of rehabilitation, reformation, and Restorative Justice. The curriculum critically evaluates the crisis of traditional correctional institutions (prisons) in achieving reform, studying the philosophy of alternatives to custodial sentences (electronic monitoring, community service, mandatory community justice) and their psychological and social impacts. Furthermore, scholars delve into evaluating contemporary criminal policies in combating crime, the role of human rights within correctional walls, and formulating a novel penal philosophy balancing societal security with human dignity, delivered through deep comparative research seminars.
Constitutional Criminal Procedure and Modern Evidentiary Testing
DCS703 4 credit hours Advanced
•Academic Description: This doctoral module provides an anatomical, in-depth examination of the constitutional and procedural dimensions of criminal procedure and modern evidentiary standards across comparative systems. The course critically analyzes procedural complexities concerning the protection of fundamental rights and liberties of the accused during preliminary investigations, trials, and constitutional review of penal procedures. Scholars deeply investigate the philosophy of free criminal proof and its limitations when confronting modern evidentiary technologies (such as advanced DNA profiling, cloud digital evidence, and AI-driven predictive policing). Furthermore, the curriculum deconstructs theories of procedural nullity, the doctrine of the Fruit of the Poisonous Tree and its exceptions in comparative jurisprudence, and fair trial guarantees before supreme and constitutional courts through intensive research seminars and comparative case law.
Comparative Criminology & Analysis of the Contemporary Criminal Phenomenon
DCS704 4 credit hours Advanced
•Academic Description: This compulsory doctoral course addresses advanced studies in Comparative Criminology and analyzes radical transformations in the nature of the criminal phenomenon in the 21st century. Researchers delve into modern sociological, neurological, environmental, and spatial criminological theories, analyzing the impact of globalization, economic disparity, digital transformation, and mass migration on crime rates and emerging patterns. Scholars deeply study advanced criminal psychology, the psychology of dangerous offenders (serial killers, sex offenders, terrorists), and transnational organized crime as intercontinental economic networks. Furthermore, the module discusses predictive policing technologies, environmental and spatial criminology, and evaluates the efficacy of modern crime prevention programmes in urban and virtual communities through critical, comparative research seminars.
Advanced Cybercrimes, Information Warfare & Sovereign Digital Forensics
DCS705 4 credit hours Advanced
•Academic Description: This doctoral course delves into the legal and technical philosophy of advanced cybercrimes, information warfare, and sovereign digital forensic investigations. Researchers deeply analyze the mechanisms of large-scale Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), information warfare and systematic disinformation campaigns in cyberspace, and cyber-economic crimes associated with cryptocurrencies and decentralized finance (DeFi Laundering). The curriculum deconstructs complex challenges of cross-border digital forensic investigations, the evidentiary admissibility of digital evidence extracted from cloud computing and distributed systems before courts, and dilemmas of cyber jurisdiction and the application of international and criminal law to digital space. The course relies on research seminars grounded in advanced technical literature and comparative cyber jurisprudence.
International Economic Crimes, Money Laundering & Cross-Border Corruption
DCS706 4 credit hours Advanced
•Academic Description: This course delivers an elite critical and applied examination of white-collar crimes in their complex international and financial dimensions. Doctoral scholars investigate the structural crisis of cross-border corruption, money laundering, terrorist financing, structural international tax evasion, and organized financial and banking fraud. The course deeply analyzes complex laundering mechanisms through offshore tax havens, shell companies, and modern financial technologies (FinTech). Furthermore, it studies international legal frameworks (such as the UN Convention against Corruption - UNCAC and Palermo Convention), international judicial cooperation mechanisms, extradition, the recovery of looted assets and proceeds of crime (Asset Recovery), and the enforcement of penal liability for legal entities and multinational corporations in economic crimes, supported by analysis of prominent international and domestic judicial precedents.
International Organized Crime, Transnational Terrorism & Security Policies
DCS707 4 credit hours Advanced
•Academic Description: This course examines deeply the phenomenon of international organized crime and global transnational terrorism as primary threats to national and global security. Researchers analyze the organizational and economic structures of drug cartels, human trafficking and migrant smuggling networks, and black markets for arms, nuclear, and chemical materials. The curriculum rigorously studies the mechanisms of formulating security and intelligence policies to combat these networks, emergency laws, and proactive preventive security measures. Furthermore, scholars discuss the delicate dilemmas of balancing national security and heightened security policies with the protection of fundamental individual rights and liberties, the prohibition of torture, and fair trial guarantees for terrorism and organized crime suspects, through deep comparative research seminars.
Advanced Forensic Medicine & Psychological/Forensic Evaluation of Dangerous Offenders
DCS708 4 credit hours Advanced
•Academic Description: This advanced module addresses specialized applications of psychological and forensic medical sciences assisting criminal justice in major criminal cases. Researchers study cutting-edge techniques in molecular forensics, advanced forensic toxicology, and forensic genetics in complex crime scenes. Within the clinical forensic psychology sphere, the course delves into the psychological and forensic evaluation of dangerous offenders (sex offenders, serial killers, domestic and community violence perpetrators), determining cognitive fitness to stand trial, assessing penal responsibility amidst profound mental disorders, and evaluating recidivism risk (Recidivism Risk Assessment) using validated clinical and actuarial instruments admissible in court, delivered through specialized research seminars.
Drafting Penal Legislation & Comparative Legislative Policies
DCS709 4 credit hours Advanced
•Academic Description: Serving as the culminating coursework module prior to the dissertation phase, this course focuses on high-level legislative engineering for drafting penal texts and criminal procedure codes at domestic and international levels. Scholars deeply examine the technical and political mechanisms of criminal lawmaking, avoiding vagueness, contradiction, or conflict with constitutional principles and international human rights treaties. Candidates train in drafting and updating penal legislation to counter emerging, cyber, and economic crimes, and conducting Legislative and Empirical Impact Assessments of criminal statutes prior to enactment, ensuring the realization of general/special deterrence and the efficiency of the state's procedural apparatus, delivered via advanced research seminars.
Comprehensive Doctoral Examination in Criminal Sciences
DCS7010 0 credit hours Advanced
•Academic Description: Administered at the conclusion of the third semester upon successful completion of all nine coursework modules (36 credit hours), the Comprehensive Doctoral Examination (written and oral) assesses the scholar's holistic and profound mastery of the philosophical foundations, doctrinal theories, and substantive/procedural rules of Penal Law, Criminal Procedure, Criminology, and Auxiliary Forensic Sciences, alongside verifying methodological maturity and critical analytical capability regarding the criminal phenomenon and penal policy. Rather than testing rote memorization, this rigorous examination confronts the doctoral student with complex criminal and investigative problems requiring precise legal characterization, rebuttal of competing arguments, invocation of supreme judicial precedents, and formulation of doctrinally sound solutions. Passing the Comprehensive Examination is a mandatory prerequisite for advancing to formal "PhD Candidate" status and commencing the Doctoral Dissertation and Practical Application modules in the fourth semester.
Practical & Academic Application (1)
DCS711 6 credit hours Advanced
•Academic Description: Initiated in the fourth semester, this module marks the first phase of advanced practical and academic training designed to prepare the doctoral candidate as a university professor and practicing criminal sciences and investigative expert. The College assigns the candidate an undergraduate academic course (such as General Penal Law or Criminal Procedure, alongside an applied investigative portfolio leveraged through the College's extensive partnerships with judicial, security, and correctional agencies across multiple countries). In this first part, the candidate designs a comprehensive syllabus and structures the first sequence of concise academic lectures. For each lecture, the candidate authors a rigorous written scholarly summary (Word format), accompanied by a professional voice-over video presentation (PowerPoint) lasting accurately between 10 and 20 minutes, alongside submitting a detailed report on their workplace justice practice—honing their university teaching and complex criminal knowledge-transfer competencies.
Doctoral Dissertation (1): Theoretical & Methodological Grounding
DCS712 12 credit hours Advanced
•Academic Description: This module marks the formal commencement of the Doctoral Dissertation, undertaken concurrently with Practical Application (1) following the Comprehensive Examination. Working under the direct supervision of a senior faculty professor specializing in Criminal Sciences, the candidate completes the official registration of the dissertation topic with the Faculty and University Councils. Research in this semester centers on conducting an exhaustive, multilingual literature, comparative penal code, and criminal jurisprudence review, refining the core research problem and hypotheses, and drafting the foundational first part/chapters of the dissertation dedicated to philosophical, historical, and conceptual grounding. The academic supervisor closely monitors the candidate's methodological rigor and submits a semi-annual progress report detailing accomplishments and adherence to doctoral standards.
Practical & Academic Application (2)
DCS713 6 credit hours Advanced
•Academic Description: In the fifth semester, the doctoral candidate advances to the second phase of academic and professional training. The candidate develops and records the second sequence of lectures for the assigned undergraduate course, focusing on integrating applied case studies, investigative case files, and criminal judicial rulings into both the written scholarly summaries (Word) and interactive video presentations (PowerPoint, 10–20 minutes per lecture). Additionally, the candidate trains in designing academic assessment instruments (hypothetical investigative and procedural nullity problems, and grading rubrics), co-moderating virtual seminars (Webinars), and submitting detailed workplace practice reports—solidifying their readiness as a university faculty member and senior international criminal forensic expert.
Doctoral Dissertation (2): In-Depth Comparative Jurisprudential, Judicial & Field Analysis
DCS714 12 credit hours Advanced
•Academic Description: Representing the analytical and critical core of the Doctoral Dissertation, this fifth-semester module transitions the candidate from theoretical grounding to in-depth comparative jurisprudential, legislative, judicial, and field analysis (the main substantive chapters of the dissertation). The candidate rigorously tests their research hypotheses by deconstructing penal and procedural provisions, comparing legal solutions across penal systems, and analyzing pertinent case studies and judicial precedents from cassation courts and international bodies. At this stage, the scholar's independent academic voice must emerge prominently—critiquing prevailing doctrines, advancing original legal and scientific arguments, and deducing novel penal principles or policies that resolve the core research problem. The supervisor continuously reviews the manuscript to ensure analytical depth and originality, submitting the semi-annual progress report to the Faculty Council.
Practical & Academic Application (3)
DCS715 6 credit hours Advanced
•Academic Description: Concluding the practical and academic training track in the sixth semester, the candidate completes the final sequence of written summaries and video lectures for the assigned undergraduate course, yielding a complete, peer-reviewed instructional portfolio (12 to 14 model lectures in Word and PowerPoint Video formats) ready for university delivery. Furthermore, the candidate culminates this track by authoring a publishable scholarly paper derived from their research or delivering a comprehensive Doctoral Colloquium / Masterclass before faculty and peers, alongside submitting their final detailed workplace practice report—demonstrating full readiness for professorial appointments or senior criminal advisory and judicial leadership upon graduation.
Doctoral Dissertation (3): Conclusions, Final Drafting & Public Defense
DCS716 12 credit hours Advanced
•Academic Description: This module represents the final culmination and public defense of the Doctoral Dissertation. The candidate drafts the concluding chapters, synthesizes verified research findings, formulates actionable legislative recommendations or innovative penal and procedural frameworks, and completes comprehensive linguistic and methodological editing of the final manuscript. Upon the supervisor's final review confirming fulfillment of statutory duration and originality standards, the supervisor submits a formal readiness report to the university administration (evaluating the candidate's performance out of 140 marks), accompanied by a signed copy of the dissertation and proposed names for the examining Jury Committee for Faculty Council approval. Following individual written evaluations by the three Jury members (out of 100 marks each—requiring a minimum score of 70% in both the supervisor's evaluation and individual Jury reports, and a minimum 15-day interval after committee approval), the candidate defends the dissertation in a Public Viva Voce Defense, concluding with a signed collective Jury report (out of 100 marks) conferring the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Criminal Sciences.