Why Study / Key Benefits

The Graduate Diploma in Criminal Justice (GradDipCJ) is designed for graduates who want to complement or extend their existing undergraduate studies with specialised knowledge of criminal justice.

UC describes it as suitable for:

• Graduates seeking employment in criminal justice sector occupations.
• People already working in the criminal justice sector who want a professionally relevant graduate qualification.
• Students wanting to understand crime, criminal law, sentencing, prisons and corrections.
• Students interested in criminal justice policy, policing, investigation, security and related government services.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The qualification consists of 120 points of compulsory and elective study.

Current compulsory courses include:

• CRJU201 – Crime and Justice
• CRJU202 – Criminal Law and Procedure
• CRJU301 – Sentencing Theory and Practice
• CRJU302 – Prisons and Corrections
• MAOR219 – Te Tiriti: The Treaty of Waitangi

Students also complete 30 points of electives from the approved list.

Available elective options include:

• CRJU 300-level courses
• LAWS378 – Genetics, Neuroscience and the Criminal Law
• PHIL324 – Bioethics: Life, Death, and Medicine
• PSYC330 – Forensic Psychology
• PSYC335 – Introduction to Clinical Psychology
• PSYC336 – Industrial and Organisational Psychology
• HIST395 – Crime, Criminology and Policing in Modern Europe since 1750
• HSRV311 – Qualitative Research Methods

Disciplines / Specialisations

There are no formal majors, minors or named specialisations within the Graduate Diploma in Criminal Justice.

The principal study areas are:

• Criminal justice
• Criminal law and procedure
• Criminology
• Sentencing
• Prisons and corrections
• Policing
• Forensic psychology
• Criminal justice policy
• Social and community perspectives on crime
• Treaty and indigenous perspectives in the New Zealand justice system

Programme Highlights

Important features include:

• 120-point graduate qualification.
• Bachelor's degree can be from another discipline.
• Combination of compulsory and elective Criminal Justice study.
• Study of criminal law and procedure.
• Study of sentencing and corrections.
• Inclusion of Te Tiriti: The Treaty of Waitangi.
• Option to explore interdisciplinary areas such as forensic psychology and qualitative research.
• Potential pathway into postgraduate Criminal Justice qualifications.

Career Outcomes

UC identifies a broad range of criminal justice-related career areas.

Graduates may pursue roles connected with:

• New Zealand Police (Ng? Pirihimana O Aotearoa)
• Ministry of Justice (T?h? o te Ture)
• Department of Corrections (Ara Poutama Aotearoa)
• Prisons
• Probation
• Parole
• Criminal justice policy
• Forensics
• Public investigation
• Private investigation
• Security
• Social work
• Government and public-sector services.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

The current programme information remains active on UC's website, and the Faculty of Law published updated postgraduate Criminal Justice information on 26 August 2026. The Faculty currently lists the Graduate Diploma alongside the Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma and Master of Criminal Justice.

Important programme-specific requirements remain:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent.
• Overseas qualifications assessed for equivalence.
• Previous study must be of an acceptable standard and relevance.
• Approval by the Dean of Law.
• Postgraduate English-language requirements for students whose first language is not English

International Student Visa Requirements

For an international student accepted into this programme, the relevant New Zealand visa would generally be the Fee Paying Student Visa.

Immigration New Zealand currently states that this visa:

• Costs from NZD $850.
• Allows a stay of up to 4 years.
• Has a published processing timeframe of 80% within 8 weeks.
• Requires an offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Requires evidence of sufficient funds for tuition fees.
• Requires evidence of sufficient funds for living expenses.
• Requires acceptable medical and travel insurance.
• Requires applicants to meet health, character and genuine-intention requirements.
• Requires evidence that the student can leave New Zealand at the end of the stay.