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Bachelor degree · university
Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice
This degree examines the causes of crime, its effects on victims and communities, and how the justice system responds.
- How long it takes
- 3 years
- full time
- Entry ATAR
- From 40.95
- Lowest offered at Federation University Australia, 2026
- How you can study
- Online, on campus or a mix
- Includes a work placement
- Taught by
- 9 providers
- 5 states and territories
Is this course right for you?
What the Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice asks of you, and what you might want to check first.
It helps to have
- an interest in how laws and justice systems work
- curiosity about why people break the law
- good communication skills for writing and discussing ideas
- a fair and open-minded attitude to different viewpoints
Before you start
Each provider sets its own entry requirements, so check the ones you are considering.
Bachelor or Diploma?
The Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice is the higher level qualification, while the Diploma of Criminology and Criminal Justice is at diploma level.
See the courseWhere this course can take you
No job needs this course on its own, but it can help with the work below.
Jobs a degree can help with
None of these jobs needs a set qualification.
Fraud Analyst
Fraud analysts examine transactions and account activity to spot the signs of financial crime before it causes a loss.
Median pay$85,800 (estimate)
In demand
Pay is the median for everyone in the job, and “In demand” means the job is on the national shortage list. Pay marked as an estimate is our own analysis, not a published figure.
Where you can study this course
There are 9 places you can study this course. When you compare them, check they teach it the way you want to study, how far you'd be from a campus, what it will cost you and what past students say about the teaching and support. They're listed by how often people search for them, and none of them pays to be here or to move up.
- Website for Griffith University (opens in a new tab)
Griffith University
Brisbane South (Nathan), Gold Coast, QLD
4.3from 1,317 Google reviews
- ATAR
- 55.8 lowest
- (63.4 median, 2026)
- How you study
- Online or on campus
- (full or part time)
- Fee
- $17,200 a year
- (Government-supported place)
What students like
- Lecturers and tutors are supportive and approachable
What to weigh up
- Tutors can be slow to reply to emails
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
Swinburne University of Technology
Hawthorn, VIC
4.0from 1,190 Google reviews
- ATAR
- 47.05 lowest
- (57.05 median, 2026)
- How you study
- On campus
- (full or part time)
- Next intake
- Feb 2027
RMIT University
City, VIC
3.8from 1,757 Google reviews
- ATAR
- 50.05 lowest
- (60.5 median, 2026)
- How you study
- On campus
- Next intake
- Feb 2027
Adelaide University
Adelaide City, SA
4.5from 1,262 Google reviews
- ATAR
- 58.4 lowest
- (65.45 median, 2026)
- How you study
- On campus
- (full or part time)
- Next intake
- Feb 2027
What students like
- Lecturers and staff are helpful and professional
What to weigh up
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
- Website for Australian Catholic University (opens in a new tab)
Australian Catholic University
Blacktown, Melbourne, North Sydney (MacKillop), NSW, VIC
3.7from 436 Google reviews
- ATAR
- 49.25 lowest
- (59 median, 2026)
- How you study
- On campus or a mix
- (full or part time)
- Course page for University of New South Wales (opens in a new tab)
University of New South Wales
Sydney - Kensington, NSW
4.4from 1,572 Google reviews
- ATAR
- 70.4 lowest
- (80 median, 2024)
- How you study
- On campus
- Course page for The University of Queensland (opens in a new tab)
The University of Queensland
St Lucia, QLD
4.5from 1,654 Google reviews
- ATAR
- 71.3 lowest
- (75.05 median, 2026)
- How you study
- On campus
- (full or part time)
- Next intake
- Feb 2027
- Fee
- $15,142 a year
- (Government-supported place)
Federation University Australia
4 campuses, VIC
4.2from 562 Google reviews
- ATAR
- 40.95 lowest
- (51.55 median, 2026)
- How you study
- Online or on campus
- (full or part time)
- Next intake
- Feb 2027
What you’ll learn
The main topics covered in the Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice.
- Causes and patterns of crime
- Policing, courts and criminal law
- Punishment and corrections
- Victims and community impact
- Research and data analysis
Questions to ask before you enrol
Providers run this course differently, so the answers change from one to the next.
- When is the next intake, and how many are there each year?
- What is the total cost, including materials, checks and any placement costs?
- Can I study part time or online, and how does that change the length?
- Who arranges the work placement, and how many hours does it involve?
- Do the units count towards a higher qualification if I go on to study further?
Questions people ask
Do I need experience or other qualifications first?
Entry requirements are set by each provider, so check with the provider you choose.
How is it different from Diploma of Criminology and Criminal Justice?
The Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice is the higher level qualification, while the Diploma of Criminology and Criminal Justice is at diploma level.