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 13th 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