Bachelor
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,...
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.
*EduRank 2023
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.
World-class Scholarship
Learn from the minds at the forefront of research and industry knowledge at UNSW Law & Justice, ranked 12th in the world*. Gain a breadth of knowledge in Australia's #1 program for Criminology and Criminal Justice^ that brings together knowledge from the School of Law, Society and Criminology and School of Social Sciences.
*QS World Rankings by Subject 2024. ^EduRank 2023
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.
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.
None
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.
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.
TAFE Admission Pathways
If you've completed a qualification under a relevant TAFE Training Package, you can receive credit transfer for up to 48 units of credit (UOC) into the Bachelor of Criminology & Criminal Justice. Please see here for the Bachelor of Criminology & Criminal Justice study plan, opens in a new window
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.
| Qualifications | Direct entry requirement |
|---|---|
|
International ATAR
|
75
|
| UNSW Foundation Studies GPA |
6.9
|
|
Great Britain General Certificate of Education (GCE A levels)
|
10
All applicants must present a minimum of two Advanced Level (A2) subjects. Entry Scores are calculated from the best two, three, or four A2 Level subjects (excluding repeated subjects) using the following values: A*=6, A=5, B=4, C=3, D=2 and E=1. |
|
International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB)
|
26
Results based on scores required for entry into UNSW in 2019 and are only applicable if the Diploma has been completed. Students currently attempting the IB can apply directly to UNSW or through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC). For more details, visit www.uac.edu.au |
|
Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) (after 2016)
|
1130
Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) based on the total of evidence-based reading and writing and mathematical test scores. Must be provided in conjunction with evidence of successful completion of senior secondary studies. |
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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 Sydney's number 1 law faculty* and
UNSW has been named 'Most Employable University' by the Australian Financial Review, four years in a row. 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.
*QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024