Turn high-achieving into a higher degree

An honours degree is a one-year program that builds upon undergraduate study by introducing the challenge of an extended project.

There are many reasons we encourage graduates to apply for an honours year. You might want to build the necessary foundations for postgraduate research. You could be seeking answers to questions no one else is asking in criminology. Perhaps you’re keen to develop deeper insight into emerging crime forms to gain an employability edge for the future.

Our prerequisite for the Bachelor of Criminology (Honours) is a Distinction average in a Bachelor of Criminology or other bachelor degree with a Criminology major. Applications are called for in October and November each year.

What will you do?

• Attend regular classes for advanced coursework, with an emphasis on research training and critical thinking.
• Partner with an academic mentor who’ll support and encourage your intellectual development.
• Produce an extended piece of work (thesis) on a chosen topic.

Further details on honours are available from schools and disciplines in the faculty. 

Example Study Plan

Study plans are available on the Faculty of Arts website.

Career Readiness

Our graduates will go on to a wide range of rewarding careers. Many find employment amongst the various operational professions that make up the criminal justice system, such as in policing, security, intelligence, corrections and court administration. 

Elsewhere, graduates choose employment across the vast array of other hands-on and critical welfare and support roles that enhance outcomes for victims, offenders and the community at large. Other graduates take on policy-making, research, education or entrepreneurial roles for a diverse cast of employers including Commonwealth, state or local government agencies, universities, schools and various other training or service providers.

The University of Adelaide Careers Service prepares, inspires and empowers students to achieve successful career transitions and connect with industry.

Potential careers

Graduates of this program have gone on to roles such as:

Judicial Associate;  Jury Consultant;  Parliamentary Adviser;  Parole Officer;  Police Officer;  Correctional Officer;  Counsellor;  Court Officer;  Crime Analyst;  Criminologist ...

Successful completion of an Australian year 12 qualification with a minimum pass in an accepted English language subject.

IELTS: Overall 6.5 (Reading 6, Listening 6, Speaking 6, Writing 6); TOEFL: Internet-based: Total score of 79 with a minimum of 21 in Writing, 18 in Speaking and 13 in Reading and Listening; TOEFL Paper-based: Total score of 577 with a minimum of 4.5 in the Test of Written English (TWE); Pearsons: Overall 58 (Reading 50, Listening 50, Speaking 50, Writing 50); Cambridge: Overall 176 (Reading 169, Listening 169, Speaking 169, Writing 169).