Program overview
Criminal law is one of the most "hardcore" areas of law. Simply put, it studies what behaviors count as crimes, what punishments they deserve, and how to ensure fairness in the punishment process. At the graduate level, you'll dive deep into China's criminal law general principles (crime composition, criminal responsibility), specific provisions (various specific crimes like theft, fraud, corruption), criminal procedure law (how police, prosecutors, and courts handle cases), plus electives like criminology, criminal policy, and comparative criminal law. Chinese universities emphasize case-based teaching—professors use real court judgments for analysis, and mock trials are common. This field suits students who are logical, enjoy debate, and have a passion for social justice. China's legislative and judicial practices in anti-corruption, cybercrime, and transnational crime are highly active, so studying here gives you access to first-hand materials.