Beamter/Beamtin im Bundeskriminaldienst (gehobener Dienst)

Learning locations include: The Federal University of Applied Sciences for Public Administration (Central and Criminal Police Department): lecture halls, seminar and exercise rooms, libraries. The Federal Criminal Police Office, criminal police departments of the federal states (Bundesländer): rooms of the respective department, as well as assignments that promote training. At home (e.g., preparation and follow-up of courses, completion of homework).

The amendment to the Federal Career Ordinance came into force on March 17, 2026. It opens up needs-oriented special access routes to counteract the shortage of skilled workers. A key focus of the reform is, among other things, the equalization of vocational and academic education. In the higher technical administrative service and in the higher scientific service, for example, access is now also possible for persons with vocational further training qualifications such as Bachelor Professional or Master Professional.

Occupation type: Civil servant training. Type of training: Studium (university studies) at the Federal University of Applied Sciences for Public Administration (Central and Criminal Police Department), practical study sections at the Federal Criminal Police Office and at criminal police departments of the federal states (Bundesländer), or training in the field of cybercrime. Qualification: Bachelor (in the field of cybercrime: completion of the criminal police professional qualification). Duration: 3 years (in the field of cybercrime: 2 years). Tasks and activities: Civil servants in the higher federal criminal service are active in supra-regional and international crime fighting, including in the area of computer and internet crime. For example, they secure documents, collect information, evaluate it, and inform federal and state (Bundesland) law enforcement authorities, and, if necessary, police authorities of other states. They search for and secure evidence during crime scene investigations and through observations.

3 years. Note: The duration of qualification as a cyber criminalist is 2 years.

The selection process consists of 4 parts. In the 1st part, the psychodiagnostic test, general cognitive abilities, attention, and concentration are examined. In the 2nd part, applicants undergo a sports test, in which strength and endurance, speed, and dexterity are assessed. The 3rd part consists of a short presentation and an individual introduction before a selection committee. In the last part of the selection process, a medical examination for police service suitability is carried out. In addition, a security check takes place. For employment in the field of cybercrime, a subject-specific aptitude test must also be completed. Within the framework of a multiple-choice test, IT prior knowledge, for example, from the areas of network technology, scripting, programming, and data analysis, is examined.

Structure of the Bachelor's degree program in the higher federal criminal service: Basic studies (Fachstudien I) at the Federal University of Applied Sciences for Public Administration (Central Department in Brühl): Modules 1-4. Specialized studies II at the Federal University of Applied Sciences for Public Administration (Criminal Police Department in Wiesbaden): Modules 5-6. Practice-integrating studies I at criminal police departments of the state (Bundesland) police forces: Module 7. Specialized studies III at the Federal University of Applied Sciences for Public Administration (Criminal Police Department in Wiesbaden): Modules 8-11. Practice-integrating studies II at the Federal Criminal Police Office (in Wiesbaden, Berlin, Meckenheim near Bonn): Module 12. Specialized studies VI at the Federal University of Applied Sciences for Public Administration (Criminal Police Department in Wiesbaden): Modules 13-14. Total study modules: 14 (3 years). Structure of the qualification as a cyber criminalist: Theoretical training at the Federal University of Applied Sciences for Public Administration (Criminal Police Department).

No Studium (university study) fees are charged. Travel costs or costs for learning materials may arise. If accommodation is provided at the educational institutions, additional costs may also be incurred.

The study content is organized in modules. Specialist studies, for example, in the following areas: tasks and actions of the Federal Criminal Police Office in national, European, and international contexts; cybercrime and IT-based investigations; crime and culpability; tasks and actions of the criminal police; economic foundations of administrative action; legal foundations for performing police duties; serious and organized crime as well as economic and financial crime; politically motivated crime; social, police, and criminal science as well as psychological foundations; constitutional, European, and international law foundations as well as public service law. In addition, students attend the module-accompanying courses 'Police Training', 'Professional Ethics', and 'Police-Specific Foreign Language Training'. These convey content, abilities, and skills relevant for career qualification. Practice-integrated studies are also included.

One should prepare for the following conditions and requirements: During the theoretical teaching phases: Attend lectures and seminars in the lecture halls and seminar rooms of the Federal University of Applied Sciences for Public Administration. Practical exercises: e.g., participate in forensic investigations. Independent work: Prepare and review lectures, research in libraries, prepare presentations, complete homework (also during lecture-free periods). Organization: e.g., adhere to given deadlines for presentations and homework. During the practical study sections: Practical collaboration (under guidance): e.g., participate in manhunts and observations, record complaints, process administrative procedures; in the Cybercrime qualification course, specifically investigate hacking attacks, investigate fraud offenses on the internet, conduct forensic investigations and evaluation of digital traces. Key qualifications are also developed.

Monthly gross basic salary for trainees: €1,744. Source: Federal Remuneration Act (BBesG). Note: In addition to the basic trainee salary, trainee emoluments include capital-forming benefits, possibly also family allowances, and other allowances, remunerations, and surcharges.

In-depth knowledge in the following school subjects are good prerequisites for a successful Studium (university study): Economics/Law: e.g., because the Studium has a high proportion of legal content. German: e.g., to write papers and reports. Sports: e.g., because it is an important part of the Studium. Computer Science: e.g., to be able to understand network technology, programming, encryption techniques, and data analysis.

The following alternatives are available for the profession of Civil Servant (Beamter/Beamtin) in the higher Federal Criminal Service: Area of Law and Administration: Civil Servant in the State Criminal Service (higher service), Police Officer in the Federal Police (higher non-technical service), Police Officer in the higher non-technical service of the Bundesländer (federal states), Civil Servant in the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (higher service), Civil Servant in the higher non-technical customs service, Civil Servant at the Federal Intelligence Service (higher service). Commonality: Undertake tasks in crime fighting and prevention. Area of Protection and Security: Security Management (undergraduate). Commonality: Analyze security risks and reduce them through appropriate measures.

The Bologna Process, which began in 1999, reformed the European higher education landscape with goals such as creating a unified European higher education area, harmonizing study programs and degrees (introducing Bachelor's and Master's degrees), and improving student and lecturer mobility. In 2014, a new regulation for the federal higher criminal service was issued, restructuring study content into 14 modules and integrating police-specific key qualifications into the main study phase. In 2019, an amendment to the Criminal Career Regulation introduced a 24-month qualification in the field of cybercrime. A new regulation for preparatory services for the federal higher criminal service was issued in 2020, offering three possible preparatory services: a Bachelor's degree in criminal enforcement service at the Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt), a shortened qualification for criminal enforcement service at the Federal Criminal Police Office, and a criminal police technical qualification for deployment in the cyber field.

The Ausbildung (vocational training) in the federal higher criminal service is conducted as a preparatory service or a Bachelor's degree program and lasts 3 years. It is regulated by federal ordinances and concludes with a career/Bachelor's examination. For training in the cybercrime field, a qualification as a cyber criminalist must be completed. This qualification lasts 2 years, is also regulated by federal ordinances, but requires a completed university degree.

Upon successful completion of the Bachelor's degree, the following academic degree is awarded: Bachelor of Arts - Criminal Enforcement Service at the Federal Criminal Police Office (B.A. - Kriminalvollzugsdienst im Bundeskriminalamt). Note: There is no degree designation for the criminal police technical qualification in the cybercrime field. The career designation is Officer - Federal Criminal Service (higher service). The responsible authority determines whether the career is offered as a Studium (university study).

After their Studium (university study), officers in the federal higher criminal service work at the Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt). They can keep their specialized knowledge up-to-date through adaptive further training, covering topics from personal protection to administrative law. With suitable qualifications, officers in the federal higher criminal service have the opportunity to advance to the next higher career level after a successful promotion procedure. Further Studium (postgraduate study) can also be considered, such as obtaining a Master's degree in criminology.

Regulation on preparatory services for the federal higher criminal service (GKrimDVDV), published as Article 1 of the Regulation of 09.12.2020 (BGBl. I S. 2883), last amended by Article 2 para. 8 of the Regulation of 11.03.2026 (BGBl. 2026 I Nr. 67). Regulation on careers in the federal criminal police enforcement service (Kriminallaufbahnverordnung - KrimLV) of 18.09.2009 (BGBl. I S. 3042), last amended by Article 2 para. 4 of the Regulation of 11.03.2026 (BGBl. 2026 I Nr. 67).

The prerequisite for admission to the Bachelor's degree program is the Fachhochschulreife (university of applied sciences entrance qualification) or the allgemeine Hochschulreife (general university entrance qualification) or a comparable educational qualification. For admission to the criminal police technical qualification in the cybercrime field, a completed Bachelor's degree or an equivalent recognized university degree in an information technology, engineering, or natural science field of study is required. Furthermore, the following are generally required for admission: maximum age of 41 years (or 42 years for criminal police technical qualification), a class B driver's license, proof of English language skills (at least level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages), and a grade point average of at least 3.2 for the Bachelor's degree program.