Criminology

The Bachelor of Criminology at the University of New England offers students a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the social, legal, and psychological aspects of crime and criminal behavior. This undergraduate program is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to analyze criminal activity, understand the criminal justice system, and develop effective strategies for crime prevention and community safety. Throughout the course, students will explore a wide range of topics, including criminological theories, law enforcement practices, forensic science, juvenile justice, policing, and victimology. The program emphasizes critical thinking, research skills, and ethical considerations, preparing graduates for diverse careers within the criminal justice sector, including roles in law enforcement, forensic analysis, policy development, social work, and community engagement. The program combines theoretical foundations with practical applications, including opportunities for internships, fieldwork, and collaborations with industry professionals. Students will also develop strong communication and problem-solving skills, essential for working effectively in complex and dynamic environments. The curriculum is regularly updated to keep pace with advancements in crime prevention techniques, forensic technologies, and criminal law. Graduates of this program will be well-positioned to contribute to the safety and wellbeing of society by applying their knowledge to real-world issues related to crime and justice. With an emphasis on ethical standards and social responsibility, the Bachelor of Criminology at UNE prepares students to become thoughtful, informed, and proactive professionals committed to making a positive impact in their communities.

Detailed Course Facts

Application deadline You are advised to apply as early as possible Tuition fee

• EUR 12700 Year (National)
• EUR 12700 Year (International)

Start date February,June,October 2015 Credits 240
Duration full-time 60 months Languages Take an IELTS test

• English

Delivery mode Online Educational variant Part-time, Full-time Intensity Flexible Attendance No Attendance Teacher support Continuous support with feedback on request

Course Content

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

BCrim component: demonstrate an understanding of the causes and consequences of crime within Australia, including the role that the media and legal system play in shaping our understanding of crimes;

demonstrate an understanding of the major criminological and sociological theoretical perspectives that explain both crime and deviance. Graduates will be able to apply this theoretical understanding to practical criminological scenarios, providing graduates with a deeper understanding of the issues at hand and a wider knowledge base to assist with employment opportunities;

demonstrate the practical use of criminological research and study within the criminal justice system. Through undertaking research method units and practical work related units, graduates will develop practical skills that will enable them to apply their theoretical knowledge to the criminal justice system and to enhance their career prospective;

demonstrate an understanding of the Australian Criminal Justice System and the key institutions within this system, in particular policing and prisons. Graduates will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the key local and international political and social changes that have shaped the progression of the Australian criminal justice system;

demonstrate an ability to understand and critically evaluate criminological literature, including policy and government documents and media articles. Graduates will have the ability to locate, evaluate and apply information from a variety of academic and non-academic sources in an appropriate manner; and

demonstrate an understanding of various disciplines related to criminology, including sociology, law, psychology, forensic science, archaeology, and anthropology. Through studying various disciplines, graduates will gain a wide range of skills that will assist them in a variety of different workplaces.

BLaws component: critically understand a wide range of legal concepts, values, principles and rules of the law relevant to the course;

compose a clear, coherent and logical argument, to communicate it effectively through both the written and spoken word, to defend it against criticism, as well as being able and willing to recognise potential alternative conclusions for particular situations;

develop an interest in, and positive attitude towards, the appropriate development and reform of the law, and the intellectual integrity and independence of mind to challenge orthodoxy and to stand up for a personal conception of what is right, whilst also being self-critical and open to alternative views;

demonstrate a thorough grounding in the theory of finance and financial planning;

show the application of theory of finance and financial planning; and

be able to apply their knowledge to real world problems and projects.

Graduate Attributes

Knowledge of a Discipline

BCrim: Knowledge of criminology, the Australian criminal justice system, theoretical perspectives of crime, changing policy responses to crime control and the way in which crime is presented in media and political discourse will be taught in lectures, unit materials and online activities. This knowledge will then be assessed throughout the degree through a range of different activities. BLaws: Knowledge of the discipline is taught, practised and assessed in both core units and electives; in particular the Priestly Eleven discipline areas are covered in the core units. Students will demonstrate an understanding of these key areas to allow accreditation with the Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB).

Communication Skills

BCrim: Communication skills will be taught and practised in lectures, tutorials and online activities. These skills will include oral, online and written communication skills that are appropriate for graduates to use within the workplace. BLaws: Communication skills will be practised and assessed in all assessment tasks. In particular, students will develop skills in legal writing and argument. These skills will benefit participants' ability to communicate with both clients and colleagues in both legal and non-legal contexts.

Global Perspectives

BCrim: Graduates will learn about a variety of criminal justice systems, and the way that they have developed over time in relation to different political and social contexts. Graduates will be assessed on their capacity to understand how international events have impacted on Australia?s adoption of certain systems, such as policing or prisons, and why international events can have such a dramatic impact on our criminal justice system. BLaws: The focus of an Australian law degree is Australian law but core units will often provide information about relevant law in other areas of the world in order to encourage a critical perspective. A compulsory Jurisprudence unit considers questions such as global justice and American constitutionalism. A number of elective units are focused on students achieving a global perspective: Human Rights; Public International Law; Conflict of Laws and Information Technology Law. Students are provided with references to comparative material, which may include social, political and economic perspectives, through a mixture of lectures, tutorials, online discussion and weekly set readings. Comparative jurisdictions include but are not limited to England and Wales, Canada, New Zealand, the United States, and a number of European jurisdictions. The quality of legal argument, which includes the ability to cite relevant comparative material where relevant, is assessed through a number of forms of assessment including assignments and end of unit examinations.

Information Literacy

BCrim: Graduates will be taught, and directed to, relevant criminological literature and how to assess its validity. Graduates will be assessed on their ability to identify relevant literature, and on their ability to critically analyse the literature. BLaws: Students will be required to use complex databases to obtain relevant information about previous legal cases which, will require a high level of information literacy and students will be required to use this information in assessment tasks.

Life-Long Learning

BCrim: The development of intellectual capacity and critical thinking skills will be fostered in lectures, unit materials and online activities. Through completing the assessments, graduates will be provided with the necessary lifelong skills to be able to research, write and discuss social issues. These are transferable and essential lifelong skills. BLaws: The dynamic nature of law is such that students must be aware of current cases and decisions. Law units teach this process by considering the development of legal doctrine through the case law and statutes that change that doctrine. This encourages the practice of lifelong learning as a means of professional development. The quality of legal argument, which may include the ability to explain the development of a legal rule, is assessed through a number of forms of assessment including assignments and end of unit examinations.

Problem Solving

BCrim: Graduates will need to locate, evaluate and apply information from a variety of sources throughout their degree. Graduates will be able to evaluate and interpret information in a useful manner. Graduates will be assessed on their ability to deconstruct assignment tasks and to integrate theory and literature into their work BLaws: This Graduate Attribute is taught, practised and assessed during the course through the use of problem-based learning (in tutorials and online discussion) and assessment (in assignments and examination).

Social Responsibility

BCrim: Graduates will be taught about their professional responsibilities as a researcher to provide balanced and accurate research and data. In addition, graduates will be taught that they have a social responsibility to question and challenge some ?facts?. BLaws: Students are encouraged to reflect critically on the content of the law in most law units. Units specifically dedicated to providing context are the compulsory units LS101 (Law in Context) and LS355 (Jurisprudence). Ethical issues are also addressed in the core unit LS320 (Professional Conduct). Assessment may include an essay question which, requires the students to critically evaluate the current state of a particular area of law by reference to these perspectives.

Team Work

BCrim: The development of collaboration and group participation skills will be developed through on-campus and online interactive teaching. Graduates will be able to participate in professional, respectful and ethical discussions. BLaws: Students are required to engage in group work during the moot component of the core unit LS480 (Advanced Research, Writing and Advocacy). Other units within the degree may use group assessment.

English Language Requirements

IELTS band : 6 TOEFL iBT® test : 79

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

take an IELTS test. More About IELTS

Requirements

For direct admission into undergraduate courses offered by the University of New England, international applicants must have completed an educational qualification considered to be at least equivalent to completion of Year 12 in Australia.

A candidate shall be qualified for admission (see Admission Rule Undergraduate Policy).

Assumed Knowledge is any two units of English.

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Alumni Study Travel Fund

  Scholarships for students who are already attending the University of Reading.

• Amsterdam Merit Scholarships

  The University of Amsterdam aims to attract the world’s brightest students to its international classrooms. Outstanding students from outside the European Economic Area can apply for an Amsterdam Merit Scholarship.

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than University of New England.

Funding

The University offers a number of faculty/college and country scholarships available to Australian citizens and permanent residents.

The Bachelor of Criminology at the University of New England is a comprehensive program designed to provide students with a deep understanding of the criminal justice system, criminal behavior, and methods of crime prevention. The course offers a multidisciplinary approach, integrating perspectives from law, psychology, sociology, and public policy to prepare students for diverse careers in criminal justice, law enforcement, corrections, and related fields. Throughout the degree, students engage with core topics such as criminal law, policing, sentencing, juvenile justice, forensic science, and ethical considerations in criminal justice.

The program emphasizes practical skills alongside theoretical knowledge, incorporating opportunities for internships, research projects, and fieldwork. These experiential components allow students to gain real-world insights into the workings of criminal justice agencies and develop critical skills in communication, investigation, and analysis. The curriculum is designed to be flexible, enabling students to tailor their studies toward specific interests within criminology, such as cybercrime, terrorism, or criminal psychology.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Criminology at UNE are well-equipped to pursue careers in law enforcement agencies, the judiciary, corrections, social services, or policy development. The program also lays a solid foundation for further study at postgraduate levels in criminology or related disciplines. Students benefit from dedicated faculty with extensive research expertise and strong links to professional networks, ensuring a relevant and current educational experience. With a focus on justice and ethical practice, the program aims to produce graduates who are thoughtful, responsible, and prepared to contribute meaningfully to the criminal justice field.