Criminal Science in Australia

The Master of Criminology (Research) enables you to further explore aspects involving criminal law, forensic psychiatry, drug policy and the law, gender and race relations, youth and crime, policing in society, and other social and cultural aspects of criminal justice.

The Master of Criminology is available full-time up to two years or part-time over four years and is awarded on the basis of a supervised thesis of 50,000 words.

The thesis must make a substantial contribution to the knowledge of the subject concerned. Students are also required to undertake the compulsory research-support coursework unit, LAWS6077 Legal Research 1.

Criminology is the study of crime and social control. Crime, how we define it, how we understand its causes, and the ways we respond to it provides a window into a society’s challenges, values and aspirations. You will consider the local, national and global aspects of crime and justice and become familiar with a range of lenses for understanding and assessing the efficiency and impact of society’s changing understandings and responses. You will gain an understanding of victimisation and perpetration, inequality and its impacts, and approaches to understanding crime and difference and learn about crime committed by individuals, groups, organisations and states and the mechanisms of the criminal justice system including police, courts and corrections.

You will engage with research and policy leaders in crime and justice and experience criminal justice in action in a range of international, national and local contexts. The course challenges you to apply abstract knowledge to real-world problems of crime and justice and develop solutions. You will be equipped to identify credible evidence, to understand how to measure and analyse the impact of policy, and to develop informed, independent thinking skills.

Completing Honours gives you the opportunity to pursue studies that combine coursework and research in a specialised area of knowledge. The advanced analytical, research and communications skills you'll gain are highly sought after by employers, giving you the edge in an increasingly competitive job market.

Honours includes a research component and a series of research seminars. The research component includes a self-directed thesis on a topic approved by the Honours Coordinator. Ten compulsory research seminars are conducted across the year and students are required to present a paper on their individual research project, developing essential employability skills in oral and written communication.

Our Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice explores the causes of antisocial behaviour and develops the knowledge and expertise you’ll need to make a valuable contribution in the criminal justice sector. By studying this degree, you’ll understand the complex causes and impact of crime, and the legal and social policies that keep us safe. The course includes studies in forensic psychology, forensic science, cybercrime, border protection and biosecurity, understanding violence and trauma.  All criminology students will undertake a community engagement in third year. You’ll graduate prepared for a range of exciting career opportunities in areas such as cybersecurity, law enforcement, intelligence and investigation, correctional and rehabilitation services, and more. 

The Bachelor of Criminology enables you to specialise in a major and choose a number of core and additional elective units. These units examine criminal law and procedures, policing, punishment, prisons, forensic science, psychology, theories of crime, rural crime and juvenile delinquency, among others.

You will have the opportunity to undertake training in research methods, apply theory to practice and investigate geographical differences and inequities within crime and criminal justice in systems in Australia and around the world.

UNE is Australia’s oldest regional university and a pioneer in the delivery of distance education. Students consistently award UNE the maximum 5-star ratings for Overall Experience and Student Support in The Good Universities Guide, so no matter whether you choose to study online or on campus, you are in very good hands.

What makes our course different?

We focus on you being able to integrate your academic knowledge into your real world of work. UNE is a pioneer in the field of rural crime, and is home to the Centre for Rural Criminology, a world-first hub of collaborative international research, which seeks to understand all aspects of rural crime in order to help build safe and resilient communities. You will have opportunities to:

• Learn from leading researchers with expertise in rural crime, policing, crime prevention, drug policy, historical criminology, cultural criminology, forensics and more.
• Get hands-on experience within the criminal justice system through our WorkReady program. Additionally, through CRIM312: Professional Practice in Criminology you will have the opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge learned throughout your degree by working directly with an industry partner such as the New South Wales Police Force to solve criminological problems.
• Learn to understand and critically evaluate the various agencies of the criminal justice system and explore possible alternative strategies.
• Study flexibly — on campus, or completely online at home in your own time.
• Choose from a range of specialised unit choices, with options to tailor your study path to your interests or complete multiple minors.*
• Apply your academic knowledge in a relevant professional setting, and have it count towards your degree, developing your professional skills and improving your employability through our Work Integrated Learning Program.
• Travel overseas and get credit towards your degree by studying at one of our partner universities.