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University of New South Wales (UNSW)

  • 34% international / 66% domestic

Bachelor of Criminology & Criminal Justice / Law

  • Bachelor

Launch into a unique career that reflects your passion and purpose.

Key details

Degree Type
Bachelor
Duration
5 - 5 years full-time
Study Mode
In person
Domestic Fees
$16,000 per year / $267,500 total

About this course

Overview

Launch into a unique career that reflects your passion and purpose. The Bachelor of Criminology & Criminal Justice/Law is a five-year double degree that will provide you with the opportunity to gain valuable qualifications of professional importance to the public sector, criminal justice system, community service, business and legal practice.

In this degree, you'll develop excellent analytical skills, a capacity for scholarly research, effective oral and written communication skills, and a commitment to personal and professional development, ethical practice and social responsibility. Pairing your study of Law with Criminology and Criminal Justice will allow you to develop an understanding of historical and current issues, including drug policy, sexual and alcohol-related violence, organised crime and Indigenous mass incarceration, from different perspectives. You'll learn about key criminal justice institutions including the police, courts and prison, and their impact on the community.

Key features
  • Be challenged through debate and interactive discussion to develop practical skills such as reasoning, legal research, analysis, argument and negotiation.
  • Put what you learn in the classroom into action through legal clinics, internships, case competitions, moot court, global practicums, and clerkships.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Develop the values, skills and qualities necessary to become a qualified legal practitioner with a strong sense of citizenship, community and social 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 12th in the world*. Gain a breadth of knowledge in the #1 highest-ranking criminology program in Australia^ 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.

Multiply Your Opportunities
At UNSW, you'll study undergraduate law as part of a double degree. Be part of a diverse cohort of interdisciplinary thinkers that combine their passion for law and justice with expertise in other disciplines. Our graduates have applied their law degree to countless industries as critical thinkers and problem-solvers that bring the added perspective of a second specialisation.

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 and cover letter writing and a jobs board.

Experiential Learning
Apply your knowledge from the classroom to industry experiences and experiential learning opportunities. Through both of your degrees, you'll have the chance to gain for-credit practical experience through exchange and international courses, internships, clinics, and competitions.

Global Student Opportunities
Gain global perspectives by studying other countries' legal systems through overseas electives in China, the USA, Switzerland, India, Vanuatu and Chile. Or you may wish to immerse yourself abroad through student exchange at one of UNSW's more than 300 exchange hosts across 38 countries.

End-to-end legal education
Prepare for legal practice all in one place. All law graduates in Australia must complete PLT to practise as a lawyer. UNSW's PLT is the Graduate Diploma in Legal Professional Practice (GDLPP), so you can graduate from one place with all the qualifications you need to launch your legal career.

Program Code
4763
CRICOS Code
059028A
Campus
Kensington
UAC Code
426000
Total Units of Credit (UOC)
240
Indicative Enrolments
66
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Entry requirements

Entry requirements
2023 Lowest Selection Rank 1
94.25 + LAT
2023 A levels 2
17 + LAT
2023 IB Diploma 3
37 + LAT
2023 Lowest ATAR 4
85.2*
Learn more about LAT
    1. The 2023 Lowest Selection Rank (LSR) is the adjusted rank (ATAR plus adjustment factors) you would have needed to gain entry to this degree in 2023.
    2. The 2023 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.
    3. The 2023 IB Diploma is an indication of the IB you would have needed to gain entry to this degree in 2023. It is to be used as a guide only.
    4. The 2023 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
Additional Selection Criteria

All domestic applicants*^ who wish to study an undergraduate law double degree at UNSW need to sit the Law Admission Test (LAT), including those:

  • enrolled in their final year of secondary schooling (Year 12 HSC or equivalent)
  • who have already completed their secondary schooling (e.g. those on a gap year)
  • who are currently studying at another university and wish to apply to transfer to Law & Justice
  • students in Year 11 who wish to sit the LAT before their HSC year (LAT results are valid for two years)

*Domestic applicants include Australian citizens and permanent residents, Australian permanent humanitarian visa holders and New Zealand citizens.

^Domestic applicants that aren't required to sit the LAT as they're assessed under multiple other criteria include:

  • Indigenous students undertaking the Pre-Law Program at UNSW
  • UNSW Gateway students applying for an early conditional offer
  • Current UNSW students applying for Internal Program Transfer (IPT)
Assumed knowledge

None

Adjustment Factors

We offer adjustment factor schemes that take into account a range of personal and educational disadvantages that may have affected your studies.

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.

Alternative Entry

Not everyone applies to university straight from high school. That's why UNSW considers a range of qualifications, life experience and pathway programs for admission into our degrees. Find out what you'll need to apply to UNSW, depending on where you're at in life.

Find out more

UNSW Internal Program Transfer (IPT)

Every year UNSW Law & Justice provides up to 100 places for students studying a non-law degree at UNSW to transfer into a Law double degree. Alternative entry through Internal Program Transfer (IPT) doesn't require you to sit the LAT and providing you receive full credit for your first year of studies, it won't take you any longer to complete a law double degree.

Find out more

Credit Transfer Policy
If you've completed prior learning at another tertiary institution or in another UNSW degree, you may be eligible for a credit transfer. Find out more in the Credit Transfer Rules and Regulations.

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.

International direct entry
I studied in:
Qualifications Direct entry requirement
International ATAR
92
UNSW Foundation Studies GPA
8.2
Great Britain General Certificate of Education (GCE A levels)
15

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)
35

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)
1300

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.

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.

UNSW Global has university pathway programs that provide seamless transition to UNSW Sydney so you can achieve your academic and career goals.

Learn more

UNSW Internal Program Transfer (IPT)
Every year UNSW Law & Justice provides up to 100 places for students studying a non-law degree at UNSW to transfer into a Law double degree. Alternative entry through Internal Program Transfer (IPT) doesn't require you to sit the LAT and providing you receive full credit for your first year of studies, it won't take you any longer to complete a law double degree.

Find out more

Credit Transfer Policy
If you've completed prior learning at another tertiary institution or in another UNSW degree, you may be eligible for a credit transfer. Find out more in the Credit Transfer Rules and Regulations.

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.

Check the specific English language requirements for this program
Select from the options below *
Which applies to you? *

Study locations

Kensington

Career pathways

Future careers

Study Law as a double degree to be a well-rounded graduate prepared for a career practising law or applying your legal mind and skills to other industries. UNSW Law & Justice is ranked 1st in Australia and 15th globally for employer reputation (QS World University Rankings by Subject (Law and Legal Studies), 2024). That's because we teach our students to think outside the box, so when it comes to your career, employers will seek you out for your critical thinking, persuasive communication, creative problem solving and analytical skills.

You'll graduate from this degree with two degrees of professional importance, with career opportunities in the public sector, criminal justice, community service, business and law practice. 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.

In addition, you may also undertake analytical and research work in a wide range of legal areas such as sentencing and punishment and the social causes of a range of crimes from domestic violence to terrorism.

End-to-end legal Education at UNSW

Completing a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) at UNSW is the first step towards becoming a lawyer, followed by Practical Legal Training (PLT). All law graduates in Australia must complete PLT to practise as a lawyer. UNSW's PLT is the Graduate Diploma in Legal Professional Practice (GDLPP), so you can graduate from one place with all the qualifications you need to launch your legal career.

Step 1 - Complete your Bachelor of Laws (LLB).

Step 2 - Complete your GDLPP at UNSW.

Step 3 - Apply to the Supreme Court for admission to practice.

UNSW Law & Justice students also have the opportunity to fast-track their entry into the legal profession by completing their PLT while finishing their undergraduate degree.

Find out more
Potential careers
  • Criminal lawyer
  • Policy adviser
  • Researcher/analyst
  • Attorney-Generals and other government departments
  • Crime prevention
  • Advocacy
  • Law enforcement
  • Humanitarian

Our reputation can open doors

Studying at UNSW is about much more than what you learn in the classroom. Through engaging in immersive learning, you'll become equipped to explore complex ideas required to tackle tomorrow's big challenges.

The Bachelor of Criminology & Criminal Justice/Law degree offers a hands-on approach that helps you build your skillset through practical experiences. When you enrol to study this double degree at one of Australia's top law faculties, you'll join your peers in a program that is underpinned by an ethos of justice for all.

Explore ways to think big and form deeper connections with our world. Our award-winning teaching faculty will nurture your passions, purpose & potential and prepare you for a career that will drive positive change beyond borders

UNSW has been named 'Most Employable University' by the Australian Financial Review, four years in a row. With on-the-job experience built into the Bachelor of Criminology & Criminal Justice/Law, you'll graduate with the skills, confidence and connections to launch a successful career in the legal profession.

Graduating from the widely respected Bachelor of Criminology & Criminal Justice/Law at a prestigious Go8 university like UNSW will open up a world of opportunity that could take you anywhere - Australia and beyond.

Accreditation

Legal Profession Admission Board (NSW)