Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology
Swinburne Online - online delivery only
In this course, you’ll study local and global criminality, traditional approaches and responses to crime along with emerging trends and practices in the field.
You’ll also learn about the international dimensions of criminal justice as well as the technological advances impacting the sector, including predicting the commission of crime, detecting and stopping criminal behaviour and implementing effective criminal sanctions. You’ll also get professional learning experience as you complete a Capstone Project in your final year.
This degree gives you the knowledge and skills to work in a range of sectors and industries; including policing, corrections, courts, offender rehabilitation, victim support and government policy development.
Every international student application is considered for a scholarship
Whether you’re living in Australia or overseas, you’re automatically considered for a scholarship of up to 20% off your course fees. Please check our updated entry requirements.
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Duration
3 Year/s
Intakes
Online (March, July, November) - View application and start dates
CRICOS code
098002K
Fees
A$31000 (annual for 2023)*
The indicative course fees shown in Course Search apply to international students for the relevant year only. They are based on a standard study load per year. However, please note that fees are assessed according to a student's study load in each semester, and variation to study load will result in an adjustment to tuition fees. All fees are subject to annual review and may be adjusted.

Study with Swinburne Online
With Swinburne Online, the learning experience is 100% online and studied at your own pace. Our courses are built for the jobs of the future with a focus on collaboration and our flexible learning environment empowers you to study on your own terms. They are developed by leaders in the field and taught by professionals with industry experience.
Course information in detail
- Course detail, course structure and units of study.
Course description
The proposed program encompasses both criminology and criminal justice. The criminology aspects of the course focuses mainly on the causes of crime and attempts to consider solutions that can reduce criminal behaviour. It provides a pathway for people who want to develop and monitor rehabilitation programs and also more broadly to work in the area of community safety (trying to anticipate where crime might occur).
Criminal justice deals mainly with the fallout of crime and activities that directly try to prevent crime in a manner that does not involve attempting to understand and change the mindset of offenders and potential offenders. Thus, the criminal justice aspects provides a pathway to jobs in policing, prosecution, the courts and prisons.
Ideally, most government funding should be directed to the front end of criminal behaviour (i.e. the causes of crime – criminology), but it is not. Most funding is directed at the back-end, i.e. dealing with the fall out of crime (i.e. criminal justice). Hence, the reason that the proposed course encompasses both criminology and criminal justice program.
International students in Australia who hold student visas are required to study full-time and on campus. Courses that are taught entirely online are only available to international students studying outside Australia or those in Australia who are not on a student visa. Online courses are not available to international students in Australia who hold a student visa.
Course structure
17 Core Units of Study (212.5 credit points)
7 units of other studies (up to 87.5 credit points) comprising of a major, minor/s or electives
The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology is 150 credit points (normally 12 units).
Units of study
LAW10024 Criminal Law and Process
LAW20030 Sentencing *
LAW20031 Crime and Punishment in the International Context *
PSY10007 Brain and Behaviour
Careers and graduate outcomes
- Career opportunities and course aims and objectives.
Career opportunities
Aims and objectives
- describe the nature of criminal activity and evaluate the main causes of crime
- systematically review and undertake research to evaluate the consequences of crime on victims and the broader community
- apply knowledge and skills to compare and analyse Australia’s response to crime with that of other nations
- effectively and persuasively communicate with legal and non-legal audiences
- analyse information from a variety of sources to investigate and evaluate proposed solutions to crime
- evaluate technological and other scientific approaches to reducing crime and dealing with the consequences of crime
- function as an effective member or leader of a diverse team and critically reflect on individual performance

Pathways and scholarships
- Scholarships.
Course fees and requirements
- Fees, entry requirements and English language requirements.
Course fees
Entry requirements
A prerequisite for many courses, the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) can now be done on campus in Hawthorn at Room 132, Building TD. Book now or call +61 3 9214 3584 for more information.
English language requirements
Satisfactory completion of one of the following:
- Swinburne’s English for Academic Purposes (EAP 5 Advanced level) with overall 65%, all skills 65%
- minimum IELTS overall band of 6.0 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 6.0
- TOEFL iBT (internet-based) minimum score of 75 with a reading band no less than 18 and writing band no less than 20
- Pearson (PTE) minimum score of 50 (no communicative skills less than 50)
- any other equivalent assessment of English language proficiency.
Find out more about English language requirements.
How to apply
Please note: This online course is not available to on-shore international students holding a student visa.
Find out more
Tel: +61 3 9214 8444 (outside Australia)
Freecall: 1800 897 973 (within Australia)
Email: international@swinburne.edu.au