The UNSW Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice – Australia’s #1 Criminology and Criminal Justice program* – 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 from expanding 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.

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.

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

There are several admission pathways to an undergraduate degree at UNSW including high school qualifications, UNSW Foundation Studies, UNSW Diploma, recognised prior study or university trans

IELTS: 7.0 overall (min. 6.0 in each subtest); TOEFL IBT (Internet Based): 94 overall (min. 25 in writing, 23 in reading, listening and speaking); Pearson (PTE - Academic): 65 overall (min. 54 in each subtest); C1 Advanced Cambridge: 185 overall (min. 169 in each subtest); C2 Proficiency Cambridge: 185 overall (min. 180 in each subtest); UNSW Global University English Entry Course (UEEC): B, Writing C.