Bachelor of Criminology & Criminal Justice

Imagining a more just future.

Are you interested in crime and justice? Study Criminology & Criminal Justice at UNSW to examine the complex nature of crime, why people commit it and how society and the criminal justice system respond to it.

Faculty

Faculty of Law and Justice

Delivery Mode

Face-to-face (includes blended)

Award

Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice

Commencing Terms

Term 1, Term 2, Term 3

Duration (Full Time)

3 Year(s)

Overview

The UNSW Bachelor of Criminology & Criminal Justice 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.

This degree looks at the big picture of crime by bringing together cross-faculty knowledge from the School of Law, Society and Criminology and School of Social Sciences. Through innovative teaching that focuses on real-world case studies and experiences outside the classroom, you’ll gain critical insights into all aspects of the justice system.

Criminology and criminal justice are growing fields with increasing opportunities to create change in communities affected by crime and the social structures and systems in place that influence and respond to it. You’ll develop an understanding of historical and current issues, including drug policy, sexual and alcohol-related violence, organised crime and Indigenous mass incarceration. You'll also learn about key institutions of criminal justice including the police, courts and prison, and the impact they have in the community.

Key features

Practical Experiences
Translate what you learn in the classroom 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 & Criminal Justice.

Why study this degree at UNSW?

World-class Scholarship
Learn from the minds at the forefront of research and industry knowledge at UNSW Law & Justice, ranked 13^th in the world*. Gain a breadth of knowledge in the highest-ranking criminology program in NSW^ that brings together knowledge from the School of Law, Society and Criminology and School of Social Sciences.

^{*QS World Rankings by Subject 2023. ^Excellence in Research for Australia Report 2018}

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 our students and alumni. The service includes a jobs board and a range of resources, presentations and workshops to maximise your employability.

Global Student Opportunities
UNSW is one of Australia’s most international universities. Student exchange is a great way to immerse yourself in another culture, discover different perspectives and global experiences with over 300 hosts across 38 countries.

Program Code

3422

CRICOS Code

038415G

Campus

Kensington

UAC Code

422350

Total Units of Credit (UOC)

144

Indicative Enrolments

309

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Entry requirements

2023 Lowest Selection Rank

2023 A levels

2023 IB Diploma

2023 Lowest ATAR

70*

The 2022 Lowest Selection Rank (LSR) is the adjusted rank (ATAR plus adjustment factors) you would have needed to gain entry to this degree in 2022.

The 2022 A levels score is based on four Advanced Level (A2) subject. 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 2022 IB Diploma is an indication of the IB you would have needed to gain entry to this degree in 2022. It is to be used as a guide only.

The 2022 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.
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.

See more

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 advisors to discuss your path to UNSW.

Gateway Admission Pathway
This scheme is open to students in Years 11 and 12 who attend Gateway schools. It significantly adjusts the ATAR requirements for your preferred UNSW degree and provides you with an early conditional offer 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.

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:

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.

International direct entry

I studied in:

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:

Check the specific English language requirements for this program

Select from the options below

Which applies to you?

Program structure

The Bachelor of Criminology & Criminal Justice is a unique cross-faculty program taught by specialised schools in UNSW Law & Justice and UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture.

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 an 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

This degree's 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

Go to the handbook

Future careers

You'll graduate with 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 that are 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 & Criminal Justice integrates career readiness training through our Criminology Capstone course, Criminology in Practice, alongside mentoring programs, job-seeking modules, and professional career support opportunities. In this course, you'll draw together key concepts, themes and debates in criminology and apply them to current issues. You'll graduate with a portfolio of work that touches on eight current themes within criminology.

Potential careers

Research and analysis
Policy design and advising
Project management
Crime prevention
Courts and Corrective Services
Federal and State Police
Security and intelligence
Insurance
Finance
Risk assessment and management

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

Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)/Criminology & Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Criminology & Criminal Justice/Law.

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?

Apply now

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?

Apply now

Fees & Scholarships

2023 Indicative First Year Full Fee

$15,140*

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.

2023 Indicative First Year Fee

$40,025*

2023 Indicative Fee to Complete Degree

$121,695*

*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.