Call for Applications to the Doctorate in Criminology | Fall 2020

How to Apply

For academic information related to the doctorate contact the programme coordinator Dr Stavroula Soukara via email at [email protected].

The application must be submitted only via the online procedure available at: https://www.unic.ac.cy/apply.

The aim of the PhD program in Criminology is to provide students with a coherent and intellectually challenging degree that prepares them to conduct research in/among the many aspects of criminology and criminal justice, varying with individual interests and areas of specialty. Doctoral students are expected to design and execute an independent original research project and produce a Thesis. Through their research project students are expected to evidence an original contribution to knowledge, and develop or apply innovative research and advance scientific knowledge in the diverse area of Criminology.

The specific aims of the programme are to:

1. Develop students’ in depth understanding and critical analysis of current literature and research methodology in the field of Criminology.
2. Provide students with a critical awareness of current problems and debates within the field, and enhance their skills in critical evaluation of theoretical and empirical literature relevant to criminological and criminal justice research.
3. Develop students’ understanding in applying research competencies to practical issues, and develop skills in communicating criminological knowledge to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
4. Make a significant contribution to the status of criminal justice and criminology as a discipline, through the advancement of knowledge and professional practice within the sector.
5. Enable students to independently acquire and interpret additional knowledge relating to research, and an understanding of the quality of work required to satisfy peer review for potential publications.

Faculty Members and Research Areas

Dr Marios Constantinou – Professor of Clinical Child and Forensic Neuropsychology

• Clinical Child Psychology: Empirically Supported Treatments, Behaviorism
• Clinical Pediatric Neuropsychology: Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Disorders of Childhood and their Neuropsychological Assessment, Cognitive Improvement in Diseases and Disorders with Empirically Supported Treatments, Eating Habits and Cognition, and Cognitive Rehabilitation
• Clinical Forensic Neuropsychology: Malingering, Assessment of Forensic Cases, Assessment of Court Readiness for Children, Young Criminals Assessment, Profiling
• Neuroscience and Neuropsychology
• Psychometric Theory and Test Development

Dr Xenia Anastassiou-Hadjicharalambous – Associate Professor of Developmental Psychopathology

• Empathy, Callous-unemotional Traits and Developmental Pathway to Psychopathy
• Attachment Perspective on Psychopathology
• Childhood Trauma, Emotional Dysregulation, Psychiatric Symptomatology and Growth
• Developmental Psychopathology and Cross-cultural Effects
• Bereavement, Traumatised Childhood, Adverse Effects and Growth

Dr Stavroula Soukara – Program Coordinator

• Psychology and Law
• False Confessions and Miscarriages of Justice
• Investigative Interviewing of Suspects: Interviewing Tactics – Personality Characteristics and Skills of Interviewers
• Investigative Interviewing of Witnesses
• Investigative Interviewing of Children

Dr Alexia Zalaf – Lecturer

• Domestic violence
• Individual differences and personality
• Dark personality traits
• Animal abuse and animal welfare
• Forensic psychology and criminology topics

* Faculty from other Departments (i.e. Law) with relevant areas of expertise/research can also be considered

Admission Requirements and Procedures

1. An accredited Masters and Bachelors degree along with their respective Official Transcript. At least one of the previous degrees (Bachelors or Masters) must be in Social
   Sciences (i.e. law, police studies, psychology, sociology, criminology) or other related disciplines. Applicants who do not hold a degree in the above-mentioned disciplines will be evaluated and considered on an individual basis.
2. Initial Research Proposal (Information on how to prepare the proposal available on the “Regulations for application proposal” document)
3. Statement of Purpose: Applicants are required to submit a comprehensive letter outlining their academic and individual competencies and state why they believe they are suitable for admission to the Program. The statement should not be more than one page long (Times New Roman 12, single spaced)
4. Letters of Recommendation: Applicants must obtain two recommendation letters from individuals who have known the applicant in an educational and/or professional environment. At least one of the recommendation letters must be from an academic institution where the applicant has studied previously.
5. English Language Proficiency: TOEFL (paper based test 600, computer based test 250, internet based test 100) or IELTS 6.5. For students who graduated from an English speaking University, English language is not a requirement.
6. Application form: Applicants must submit an application form for admission and enrolment to the program. The application form requests general information about the applicant, their qualifications, relevant experience.
7. Application Fee: An application fee of €55 (non-refundable) will need to be paid upon submission of the application. Alumni of the University of Nicosia are exempted from this.

The Department Postgraduate Programs Committee (DPPC) and the Director of Doctoral Programs will assess all written applications and invite for an oral interview only those applicants who pass the first stage of assessment. The interview will assess the candidate’s abilities in critical thinking, scientific communication, fit of the proposed project with the department’s lines of research and supervisory match and availability. If the candidate is successful at interview level, an invitation letter to join the program will be sent within two weeks of the interview date.

Final Evaluation: In view of the limited number of applicants to be admitted to the program, the Department Doctoral Program Committee will decide on the basis of merit and by evaluating specific criteria who are the most suitable candidates to be admitted to the program.

The Committee will exercise its judgment, taking into account the overall quality, merit and feasibility of the research proposal, the quality of the prior research work of the candidate and the candidate’s academic and other relevant qualifications as included in the curriculum vitae and the applicant’s performance during the individual interview.