Deciding on the ideal locale to earn a degree in criminology abroad can be tough; after all every country in the world has crime, law, and order. Making the right choice depends on your chosen career path or the justice issues that inspire you.

Crimes against women are common in many countries, unfortunately, and many cases go unreported because of the stigma and shame associated with common crimes against women, such as rape. Thus, gender crimes make for a crucial area of study for criminologists. Places where these crimes are prolific include India, the United Kingdom, and the United States. If you choose to earn a degree in criminology abroad, the lessons you learn can be applied to understanding and preventing crimes against damsels in distress all around the world.

Organized crime is on the rise in many countries, which leads to corruption in the justice system. Crimes such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, and illegal wildlife trade are all very complicated, as they tend to cross borders and involve multiple countries. If elephant poaching makes you sick, you want to work with drug enforcement or INTERPOL one day, or you just want to be famous for taking down the real Tony Montana, you may consider earning your criminology degree in Thailand, Costa Rica, or South Africa.

If you would like to study in a country founded by boatloads of convicts sent into exile, whip your yellow notepad out in Australia. Behavioural science, psychology, and evidence-based research skills are emphasized in the Land Down Under, with youth offenders and sexual assaults leading current prevention investigations. Direct approaches and public education seem to be doing well, as most people fear poisonous snakes and strong tides more than the sunny smiles of the Aussies.

Criminologists could also benefit from studying in countries that have found unconventional solutions to crime problems. In the Netherlands, the motto might be: “If you can't beat it, regulate it.” Lifting the ban on certain recreational drugs and prostitution has brought everything out into the open and under government control, which some may argue is a better way gain the upper hand, and drive black markets out of business.