Vienna International Summer School on Transnational Crime and Justice in partnership with the Alliance of NGOs on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

About

Delivered by the Alliance of NGOs on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Summer School offers a truly unique hands-on learning experience to graduate students and young professionals.

This intensive two-week program features:
- Guest lectures by internationally recognized experts
- Interactive group projects
- Field visits to Vienna-based international organizations, including the OSCE and the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC)

By the end of the Summer School, students are expected to:

• Explain how criminal markets, networks, and governance structures operate across borders
• Analyze how international borders both constrain and enable transnational crime
  Critically evaluate the quality, limitations, and political uses of transnational crime data
• Identify key legal, institutional, and enforcement mechanisms for international cooperation and assess their effectiveness
• Assess how states use international law and cooperation frameworks to prevent and combat organized crime
• Evaluate private-sector, public-private, and civil-society responses to transnational crime and identify best practices
• Gain hands-on experience contributing to the UNODC SHERLOC Knowledge Management Portal
• Support the dissemination and analysis of the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and its three Protocols

Applications

The Summer School is open to master- and doctoral-level students working on relevant topics. Applications from early-career professionals, including those who work for civil society organizations (CSOs), will also be considered. Outstanding undergraduate students may be admitted on an exceptional basis. Participation in the program is limited to individuals who are 18 years of age or older.

The program is delivered in English. Participants must demonstrate strong written and spoken English proficiency.

To apply, submit the following documents in PDF format:

1. Curriculum vitae (CV) in English
2. A 250-word statement explaining:
1. Why you wish to participate in the Summer School
2. How you intend to use the knowledge and skills gained

Incomplete or late applications will not be reviewed.

The application deadline is March 10, 2026.
Applicants will be notified of the outcome by email by March 20, 2026.

Selection criteria

Applications will be assessed on the basis of:
• Academic or professional relevance to transnational crime and justice
• Quality and clarity of the motivation statement
• Demonstrated interest in international, legal, or policy-oriented work
• Geographic and disciplinary diversity of the cohort

Fees

The registration fee is €550 and includes the full two-week academic program, lectures, course materials, a guided visit to the Vienna International Centre (UN/UNODC), and one organized social event (farewell dinner). Participants are responsible for their own travel and accommodation.

Registration is confirmed only after acceptance and receipt of full payment.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

Registration fees are refundable only if cancellation is received in writing by May 25^th, 2026. After that date, refunds cannot be guaranteed except in documented cases of visa refusal or medical emergency.

Funding

To promote geographic and socioeconomic diversity, two full tuition waivers will be awarded. Applicants seeking funding must submit a 180-word statement explaining their motivation and financial need together with their application.

Curriculum

1. Transnational organized crime and its key markets
   Including human trafficking, migrant smuggling, drug trafficking, environmental crime (waste trafficking, illegal mining, fisheries crime, and wildlife trafficking), cyber-enabled organized crime, trafficking in cultural property, counterfeiting, falsified medical products, and firearms trafficking.
2. Criminal justice and enforcement responses
   Including investigation, prosecution, financial intelligence, and international cooperation tools.
3. UNTOC and related international legal frameworks
4. Data, research methods, and risk analysis

Students will prepare case briefs based on real transnational crime cases. Selected cases will be submitted to the UNODC SHERLOC team for possible inclusion in the SHERLOC Case Law Database.

Certificate and Academic Recognition

Participants who successfully complete the program will receive an official certificate issued by the Alliance of NGOs on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in cooperation with UNODC.

Faculty

While the 2026 faculty is being finalized, previous editions have featured experts from UNODC, INTERPOL, the Alliance of NGOs on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC), Utrecht University, Transcrime and Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, The University of Alabama, and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), among others.

These partnerships are expected to continue in 2026, ensuring a multidisciplinary learning environment that integrates policy, law enforcement, and academic expertise.

Visa Support

Participants who require a visa to enter Austria will receive official visa support upon acceptance to the Summer School. The Alliance of NGOs on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice will provide formal invitation letters and confirmation of enrollment to support student visa applications.

Please note that while visa support is provided, applicants remain responsible for submitting their visa applications to the relevant Austrian consulate or embassy and for complying with all national immigration requirements.

Students are therefore encouraged to apply as early as possible after receiving their acceptance.

Insurance

Participants are responsible for obtaining their own travel and medical insurance; the program organizers do not assume responsibility for medical expenses or hospitalization incurred during the program.

Code of Conduct

All participants are expected to uphold standards of professional, respectful, and non-discriminatory conduct. The Summer School reserves the right to remove any participant whose behavior is disruptive, unsafe, or inconsistent with these standards.

Contact

For any questions, please contact us at summerschool@crimealliance.org