Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice
- Commencing Terms
- Term 1, 2 & 3
- Duration
- 3 Year(s)
- Delivery Mode
- Face-to-face (includes blended)
- Campus
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Kensington
- Codes
- UAC code 422350
- Program code 3422
- CRICOS code 038415G
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2025 Indicative first year full fee
- $16,000*
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2025 Indicative full fee to complete degree
- $50,000*
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2025 Indicative first year full fee
- $48,000*
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2025 Indicative full fee to complete degree
- $149,500*
Fees
Fees
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Innovative teaching
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Cross-faculty program
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Career support
UNSW Law & Justice Information Evening
Wed 14 May, 6 - 7pm AEST | Online
Discover what you can achieve as a UNSW Law & Justice student. Hear from faculty experts, academics and current students about what sets us apart and how you can benefit from studying at the number one law school in Australia. Join us online to learn about our programs, entry pathways, vibrant student experience and more.
UNSW is introducing a new academic calendar from 2028.
What does this mean for my studies? UNSW is moving to a new ‘flex-semester’ calendar.
- Overview
- Entry requirements
- What will I study?
- Future careers
- Double degrees
- How to apply
- Fees & Scholarships
Overview
The UNSW Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice is ranked #1 in Australia for Criminology and Criminal Justice program (EduRank, 2024). It is a three-year full-time or six-year part-time equivalent undergraduate degree designed to critically explore the causes of crime, deviance, criminal behaviour, social control, and the legal system. After you’ve completed the degree, choose to expand your knowledge in postgraduate studies or dive into an abundance of career opportunities in crime and justice roles within Australia and across the globe.
In this degree, you’ll explore the big picture of crime and learn from different faculties including the School of Law, Society and Criminology, and the School of Social Sciences. Gain critical insights into all aspects of the criminal justice system through innovative teaching that focuses on real-world case studies and experiences outside the classroom.
Criminology and criminal justice are growing fields with increasing opportunities to create change in communities affected by crime and the social structures and systems that influence and respond to it. You’ll develop an understanding of historical and current issues, including drug policy, human rights, sexual and alcohol-related violence, organised crime, and Indigenous mass incarceration. You'll also learn about key institutions in the criminal justice system including the police, courts, and prison, and the impact they have on the community.
Key features
Practical Experiences
Translate what you learn about crime prevention in the classroom and put it into practice. You’ll go beyond lectures through a range of experiential learning opportunities such as real-world case studies, visiting courts and prisons and hearing first-hand from the people involved in the justice system through guest presenters and other engagement opportunities.
Work-integrated Learning
Undertake an internship with a range of criminal justice agencies and not-for-profits through our Criminology Work-Integrated Learning Placement course. Opportunities include work experience placements with NSW Police, Corrective Services NSW, Department of Justice, Youth Justice, and various NGOs working with at-risk and criminal justice-involved people.
Honours Program
Expand your career opportunities by deep-diving into a specialised and extended research project to further develop your research and analytical skills. Available for high-achieving students in the Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice.
Why study at UNSW?
World-class Scholarship
Learn from the minds at the forefront of research and industry knowledge at UNSW Law & Justice, ranked #1 in Australia and #12 globally for law and legal studies (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2025). Gain a breadth of knowledge in a Criminology program that is ranked #1 in Australia for Criminology and Criminal Justice program (EduRank, 2024) and brings together knowledge from the School of Law, Society and Criminology and School of Social Sciences.
Crime and Justice Research Networks
Through seminars, conferences, workshops and internship opportunities, you’ll have the chance to engage with UNSW’s world-leading research centres and build your profile within the justice sector. UNSW is home to the Centre for Crime, Law and Justice (CCLJ), Gendered Violence Research Network (GVRN), Australian Human Rights Institute, Social Policy Research Centre (SPRC), National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) and Kirby Institute.
Exclusive Career Support
Graduate career-ready with UNSW Law & Justice’s in-house careers service, dedicated to helping our students best position themselves to secure a rewarding job at the end of their studies. The service includes a range of resources and workshops to help students maximise their employability including interview preparation, resume & cover letter writing and a jobs board.
Global Student Opportunities
UNSW is one of Australia’s most international universities. Student exchange is a great way to immerse yourself in another culture and discover perspectives and global experiences with over 300 hosts across 38 countries.
Want to see more from UNSW Law and Justice?
Entry requirements
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- The 2024 Lowest Selection Rank (LSR) is the adjusted rank (ATAR plus adjustment factors) you would have needed to gain entry to this degree in 2024.
- The 2024 A levels score is based on four Advanced Level (A2) subjects. Entry scores are calculated from the best three or four A2 subjects (excluding repeated subjects) using the following values: A*=6, A=5, B=4, C=3, D=2, E=1. At most one Applied A Level subject may be included in the best four subjects used to calculate the aggregate.
- The 2024 IB Diploma is an indication of the IB you would have needed to gain entry to this degree in 2024. It is to be used as a guide only.
- The 2024 Lowest ATAR is the lowest ATAR (before adjustment factors were applied) to which an offer was made. Where <5 is listed, this indicates that less than 5 ATAR-based offers were made and so the score has not been published. N/A indicates no offers were made on the basis of ATAR.
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At UNSW, we are committed to ensuring prospective students have all the information they need in order to make informed decisions about their study options.
To assist you in gaining a better understanding of how Admissions works at UNSW, we have provided you with a summary of ATAR offers and the student profile.
We hope this information will help you identify the degree that is right for you.
Assumed knowledge
None
Adjustment Factors
We offer a range of adjustment factor schemes that reward students for academic performance and extra-curricular achievements. These schemes also take into account a range of personal and educational disadvantages that may have affected your studies.
HSC Plus
This scheme rewards students who perform well in Year 12 subjects that are relevant to their preferred UNSW degree. You may be awarded up to five points.
Elite Athletes, Performers and Leaders (EAPL)
This program recognises achievements in the areas of sport, academia, leadership and music at an elite level. You may be eligible for up to five points.
Educational Access Scheme (EAS)
Factors such as illness, financial hardship, language difficulties or attending a particular school can mean you don't always get the best possible marks in Years 11 and 12. If one of these situations applies to you, submit an application for the Educational Access Scheme (EAS) via UAC. Eligible students can receive between 1 and 10 points towards their chosen UNSW degree.
Admission pathways
Your ATAR is not the only measure of your potential to succeed, which is why we offer a range of pathways into university. Explore your options below and get in touch with our Future Student Advisers to discuss your path to UNSW.
Gateway Admission Pathway
This scheme is open to students who attend Gateway schools, live in a low-socioeconomic area based on IRSAD and IEO indexes of SEIFA criteria, or are an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person. It adjusts the ATAR requirements for your preferred UNSW degree and provides early offers and early conditional offers to UNSW.
Entry programs for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
We offer entry programs for Indigenous Australians, including the Indigenous Preparatory Programs and the Indigenous Admission Scheme (IAS). The entry pathway program you apply for will depend on the degree you want to study.
TAFE Pathways Program
This degree is eligible for the TAFE Pathways Program. If you've completed a qualification under a relevant TAFE Training Package, you may be eligible for credit transfer. For more details, including this program's TAFE Pathway study plan, visit UNSW TAFE Pathways Program.
English language requirements
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on your educational background and citizenship. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If you’re completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (e.g. NSW HSC or equivalent), you do not need to provide anything extra to prove your proficiency. Your qualification will be used as evidence of your English proficiency.
If you do need to provide evidence of your English proficiency, this will be indicated in your application. You can prove this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
- English language tests and university English courses
- Prior study in the medium of English
- Other qualifications
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
For more details, visit the English Language Requirements page.
International direct entry
We do not accept secondary qualifications from this country. We may accept tertiary study results, please contact us for more information.
Please contact us for direct entry requirements.
Admission pathways
If you do not meet the requirements for direct entry into your chosen degree, you may be eligible for a pathway program with UNSW College. UNSW College provides alternative entry options using university-approved content so that you can start your UNSW journey with confidence.
English language requirements
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on whether you are from an English-speaking background or non-English speaking background. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If English is not your first language, you’ll need to provide proof of your English proficiency before you can be given an offer to study at UNSW. You can do this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
- English language tests and university English courses
- Prior study in the medium of English
- Other qualifications
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
For more details, visit the English Language Requirements page.
Check the specific English language requirements for this program
What will I study?
Program structure
The Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice is a unique cross-faculty program taught by specialised schools in UNSW Law & Justice and UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture. Build your skillset, confidence and career opportunities through interactive experiences and work-integrated learning.
Across three years full-time, or equivalent part-time duration, you’ll study 16 courses in Criminology, Criminal Law and Social Sciences, and a further eight elective courses from a wide range of specialist Criminology subject areas. Through experiential learning and applied social research and policy analysis, you’ll learn career-ready skills by:
- Developing grant applications
- Completing policy analysis, quantitative and qualitative social research and independent research projects
- Conducting crime safety audits
- Going on field trips to visit prisons, courts and other agencies in the justice system.
High-achieving students who complete the degree may be eligible to undertake an Honours year. The Honours Program in Criminology provides students with the opportunities to achieve a significant piece of criminological research and graduate well-prepared for a research or policy career.
Full program structure
The Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice structure brings together interdisciplinary courses designed to explore your interests and investigate a broad range of topics from different perspectives. You'll study courses that bring together knowledge from law, philosophy, psychology, sociology, history, politics, economics, architecture and cultural studies.
Sample courses include:
- Crime, Politics and the Media
- Indigenous Perspectives in Criminal Justice
- Young People and Juvenile Justice
- Violence and Victimisation
- State Crime and Human Rights
- Restorative Justice
- Psychology and Law
- Issues in Drug Policy
- The Criminal Trial
- Public Health and Corrections
- Criminology Work Integrated Learning Placement
Below is an example of what you could study in a standard three-year full-time study plan:
First Year
- 2 Criminology Core Courses
- 2 Social Science Core Courses
- 2 Free Electives
- 2 General Education Courses
Second Year
- 3 Criminology Core Courses
- 2 Social Science Core Course
- 2 Free Electives
- 1 Prescribed Criminology Elective
Third Year
- 1 Criminology Core Course
- 3 Social Science Core Courses
- 2 Arts, Design & Architecture Prescribed Electives
- 2 Prescribed Criminology Electives
Future careers
You'll graduate with a Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice and interdisciplinary skills applicable to a diverse range of career opportunities in government agencies, private corporations and the education sector. You'll learn to think expansively about issues and develop skills such as ethical and social responsibility, policy analysis and research methods critical to success across many fields.
As a criminologist, you can apply your skills to make a difference in crime prevention, law enforcement, corrective services, terrorism, cybercrime, policy design and more.
The Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice integrates career readiness training, alongside mentoring programs, job-seeking modules, and professional career support through our exclusive Careers Service to ensure students are best positioned to secure themselves a rewarding job at the end of their studies.
Potential careers
- Investigations
- Youth Work
- Fraud & Crime Prevention
- Harm Reduction & Primary Prevention
- Research and Analysis
- Political Advisors & Regulatory bodies
- Cybercrime
- Law Enforcement & Corrective Services
- Border Security & Intelligence
- Policy Design and Advising
- Academia
- Victims Support Services
- Risk assessment and management
Our reputation can open doors
We believe that university is about more than what you learn in the classroom. A UNSW Law & Justice degree focuses on balancing theoretical studies and hands-on learning in the criminal justice system to prepare you for the workforce.
When you enrol in the Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice you’ll be joining the law faculty that is ranked #1 in Australia for law and legal studies (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2025) and the Criminology and Criminal Justice program that is ranked #1 in Australia (EduRank, 2024).
Our students are recognised as the most employable students for six years in a row (Australian Financial Review (AFR) Top100 Future Leaders Awards, 2020-2025). Our students build professional portfolios through proximity and partnerships with some of Australia's most influential figures in crime and justice. We’ll help you unlock industry connections for placements and work experience, and tap into rewarding careers in the criminal justice system.
Graduating from the widely respected Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at a prestigious Go8 university like UNSW will open up a world of opportunity that could take you anywhere — Australia and beyond.
Double degrees
Our double degrees give you a broad and cross-disciplinary education. Merge your interests to enhance your career prospects. Explore our double degree options below.
Double degree options
How to apply
Applications for undergraduate study from domestic students (Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, Australian permanent humanitarian visa holders and New Zealand citizens) are processed by the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).
Visit the Apply section of the UAC website and you can nominate up to five degrees in order of preference, with the first being your most desired degree and university.
On-time applications for admission usually close at the end of September each year for Term 1 admission. Late applications can be submitted, but a late fee will apply. For study starting in Term 1, the majority of offers are made in December and January. Visit the UAC website for key dates for admission outside of Term 1.
Ready to start your application?
For most international students, applications are submitted via our Apply Online service. We encourage you to submit your completed application as early as possible to ensure it will be processed in time for your preferred term.
Some high-demand programs with limited places, may have an earlier application deadline or may have an earlier commencement date. For more information visit our international applicant information page.
*If you are an international student studying an Australian qualification, go to the Universities Admission Centre (UAC) for application and UAC key dates. Note: If you are under 18 years of age, you need to make special arrangements. Read more.
Ready to start your application?
Fees & Scholarships
Commonwealth Supported Place: Student Contribution Band 4
*The student contribution for a Commonwealth Supported Place is an indication only of the amount payable in Year 1 based on a standard full-time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). The actual student contribution you will be liable for depends on your individual program of study and the calendar year in which you enrol. Actual fees are calculated upon enrolment. Student contribution amounts are subject to annual review by the university and may increase each year during your studies (subject to caps determined by the Australian Government), effective at the start of each calendar year.
The indicative fees listed here are based on an estimated average and are for tuition only - other fees and charges are not included.
*Fees are subject to annual review by the University and may increase annually, with the new fees effective from the start of each calendar year. The indicative fees listed here are based on an estimated average and are for tuition only, other fees and charges are not included. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year to enrol, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (8 courses per year).
Indicative fees are a guide for comparison only based on current conditions and available data. You should not rely on indicative fees. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.
Indicative fees to complete the program have been calculated based on a percentage increase for every year of the program. Fee increases are assessed annually and may exceed the indicative figures listed here.
Indicative fees to complete the program include tuition plus an estimate of study-related costs of approximately $1,000 per year. To find out more about other costs, visit UNSW International.
Scholarships
At UNSW, we award over $83 million in scholarships each year. We pride ourselves on rewarding excellence and making university accessible to students from all walks of life. Whether you’re a domestic or international student, our range of scholarships, prizes and awards can support your journey.
QS World University Rankings, 2025
AFR Top100 Future Leaders Awards, 2020-2025
#1 Australian uni attended by start-up founders
