Bachelor of Criminology & Criminal Justice / Law
- Commencing Terms
- Term 1
- Duration
- 5 Year(s)
- Delivery Mode
- Face-to-face (includes blended)
- Campus
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Kensington
- Codes
- UAC code 426000
- Program code 4763
- CRICOS code 059028A
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2024 Indicative first year full fee
- $16,000*
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2024 Indicative full fee to complete degree
- $85,000*
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2024 Indicative first year full fee
- $46,500*
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2024 Indicative full fee to complete degree
- $267,500*
Fees
Fees
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Flexible double degree
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Broad study areas
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Guaranteed work experience
International application pause for 2025 intakes
Applications for international students to study at UNSW in 2025 are currently paused. Please submit your expression of interest to join our application waitlist so we can contact you.
- Overview
- Entry requirements
- What will I study?
- Future careers
- How to apply
- Fees & Scholarships
Overview
Launch into a unique career that reflects your passion and purpose. The Bachelor of Criminology & Criminal Justice/Law is a five-year double degree that will provide you with the opportunity to gain valuable qualifications of professional importance to the public sector, criminal justice system, community service, business and legal practice.
In this degree, you’ll develop excellent analytical skills, a capacity for scholarly research, effective oral and written communication skills, and a commitment to personal and professional development, ethical practice and social responsibility. Pairing your study of Law with Criminology and Criminal Justice will allow you to develop an understanding of historical and current issues, including drug policy, sexual and alcohol-related violence, organised crime and Indigenous mass incarceration, from different perspectives. You'll learn about key criminal justice institutions including the police, courts and prison, and their impact on the community.
Key features
- Be challenged through debate and interactive discussion to develop practical skills such as reasoning, legal research, analysis, argument and negotiation.
- Put what you learn in the classroom into action through legal clinics, internships, case competitions, moot court, global practicums, and clerkships.
- Undertake an internship with a range of criminal justice agencies and not-for-profits through our Criminology Work-Integrated Learning Placement course. Opportunities include work experience placements with NSW Police, Corrective Services NSW, Department of Justice, Youth Justice, and various NGOs working with at-risk and criminal justice-involved people.
- Go beyond lectures through a range of experiential learning opportunities such as real-world case studies, visiting courts and prisons and hearing first-hand from the people involved in the justice system through guest presenters and other engagement opportunities.
- Develop the values, skills and qualities necessary to become a qualified legal practitioner with a strong sense of citizenship, community and social justice.
Why study this degree at UNSW?
World-class Scholarship
Learn from the minds at the forefront of research and industry knowledge at UNSW Law & Justice, ranked 12th in the world*. Gain a breadth of knowledge in the #1 highest-ranking criminology program in Australia^ that brings together knowledge from the School of Law, Society and Criminology and School of Social Sciences.
*QS World Rankings by Subject 2024
Crime and Justice Research Networks
Through seminars, conferences, workshops and internship opportunities, you’ll have the chance to engage with UNSW’s world-leading research centres and build your profile within the justice sector. UNSW is home to the , , , , and .
Multiply Your Opportunities
At UNSW, you’ll study undergraduate law as part of a double degree. Be part of a diverse cohort of interdisciplinary thinkers that combine their passion for law and justice with expertise in other disciplines. Our graduates have applied their law degree to countless industries as critical thinkers and problem-solvers that bring the added perspective of a second specialisation.Ìý
Exclusive Career Support
Graduate career-ready with , dedicated to helping our students best position themselves to secure a rewarding job at the end of their studies. The service includes a range of resources and workshops to help students maximise their employability including interview preparation, resume and cover letter writing and a jobs board.
Experiential Learning
Apply your knowledge from the classroom to and opportunities. Through both of your degrees, you’ll have the chance to gain for-credit practical experience through exchange and international courses, internships, clinics, and competitions.
Global Student Opportunities
Gain global perspectives by studying other countries’ legal systems through in China, the USA, Switzerland, India, Vanuatu and Chile. Or you may wish to immerse yourself abroad through at one of UNSW’s more than 300 exchange hosts across 38 countries.
End-to-end legal education
Prepare for legal practice all in one place. All law graduates in Australia must complete PLT to practise as a lawyer. UNSW’s PLT is the (GDLPP), so you can graduate from one place with all the qualifications you need to launch your legal career.
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Entry requirements
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- The 2024 Lowest Selection Rank (LSR) is the adjusted rank (ATAR plus adjustment factors) you would have needed to gain entry to this degree in 2024.
- The 2024 A levels score is based on four Advanced Level (A2) subjects. Entry scores are calculated from the best three or four A2 subjects (excluding repeated subjects) using the following values: A*=6, A=5, B=4, C=3, D=2, E=1. At most one Applied A Level subject may be included in the best four subjects used to calculate the aggregate.
- The 2024 IB Diploma is an indication of the IB you would have needed to gain entry to this degree in 2024. It is to be used as a guide only.
- The 2024 Lowest ATAR is the lowest ATAR (before adjustment factors were applied) to which an offer was made. Where <5 is listed, this indicates that less than 5 ATAR-based offers were made and so the score has not been published. N/A indicates no offers were made on the basis of ATAR.
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At UNSW, we are committed to ensuring prospective students have all the information they need in order to make informed decisions about their study options.
To assist you in gaining a better understanding of how Admissions works at UNSW, we have provided you with a summary of ATAR offers and the student profile.
We hope this information will help you identify the degree that is right for you.
Additional Selection Criteria
All domestic applicants*^ who wish to study an undergraduate law double degree at UNSW need to sit theÌý, including those:
- enrolled in their final year of secondary schooling (Year 12 HSC or equivalent)
- who have already completed their secondary schooling (e.g. those on a gap year)
- who are currently studying at another university and wish to apply to transfer to Law & Justice
- students in Year 11 who wish to sit the LAT before their HSC year (LAT results are valid for two years)
*Domestic applicants include Australian citizens and permanent residents, Australian permanent humanitarian visa holders and New Zealand citizens.
^Domestic applicants that aren’t required to sit the LAT as they’re assessed under multiple other criteria include:
- Indigenous students undertaking theÌý
- Ìýstudents applying for an early conditional offer
- Current UNSW students applying forÌý
Assumed knowledge
None
Adjustment Factors
We offer adjustment factor schemes that take into account a range of personal and educational disadvantages that may have affected your studies.Ìý
Factors such as illness, financial hardship, language difficulties or attending a particular school can mean you don't always get the best possible marks in Years 11 and 12. If one of these situations applies to you, submit an application for the Educational Access Scheme (EAS) via UAC. Eligible students can receive between 1 and 10 points towards their chosen UNSW degree.
Admission pathways
Your ATAR is not the only measure of your potential to succeed, which is why we offer a range of pathways into university. Explore your options below andÌýÌýwith our future student advisors to discuss your path to UNSW.Ìý
This scheme is open to students in Years 11 and 12 who attend Gateway schools. It significantly adjusts the ATAR requirements for your preferred UNSW degree and provides you with an early conditional offer to UNSW.Ìý
We offer entry programs for Indigenous Australians, including the Indigenous Preparatory Programs and the Indigenous Admission Scheme (IAS). The entry pathway program you apply for will depend on the degree you want to study.Ìý
Alternative Entry
Not everyone applies to university straight from high school. That’s why UNSW considers a range of qualifications, life experience and pathway programs for admission into our degrees. Find out what you’ll need to apply to UNSW, depending on where you’re at in life.
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UNSW Internal Program Transfer (IPT)
Every year UNSW Law & Justice provides up to 100 places for students studying a non-law degree at UNSW to transfer into a Law double degree. Alternative entry through Internal Program Transfer (IPT) doesn’t require you to sit the LAT and providing you receive full credit for your first year of studies, it won’t take you any longer to complete a law double degree.
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Credit Transfer Policy
If you've completed prior learning at another tertiary institution or in another UNSW degree, you may be eligible for a credit transfer. Find out more in theÌýCredit Transfer Rules and Regulations.
English language requirements
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You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on your educational background and citizenship. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If you’re completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (e.g. NSW HSC or equivalent), you do not need to provide anything extra to prove your proficiency. Your qualification will be used as evidence of your English proficiency.
If you do need to provide evidence of your English proficiency, this will be indicated in your application. You can prove this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
- English language tests and university English courses
- Prior study in the medium of English
- Other qualifications
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
International direct entry
We do not accept secondary qualifications from this country. We may accept tertiary study results, please for more information.
Please for direct entry requirements.
Admission pathways
If you do not meet the requirements for direct entry into your chosen degree, you may be eligible for a pathway program with . UNSW College provides alternative entry options using university-approved content so that you can start your UNSW journey with confidence. 
UNSW Global has university pathway programs that provide seamless transition to UNSW Sydney so you can achieve your academic and career goals.
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UNSW Internal Program Transfer (IPT)
Every year UNSW Law & Justice provides up to 100 places for students studying a non-law degree at UNSW to transfer into a Law double degree.ÌýAlternative entry throughÌýInternal Program Transfer (IPT)Ìýdoesn’t require you to sit the LAT and providing you receive full credit for your first year of studies, it won’t take you any longer to complete a law double degree.
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Credit Transfer Policy
If you've completed prior learning at another tertiary institution or in another UNSW degree, you may be eligible for a credit transfer. Find out more in theÌýCredit Transfer Rules and Regulations.
English language requirements
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on whether you are from an English-speaking background or non-English speaking background. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If English is not your first language, you’ll need to provide proof of your English proficiency before you can be given an offer to study at UNSW. You can do this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
- English language tests and university English courses
- Prior study in the medium of English
- Other qualifications
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
Check the specific English language requirements for this program
Program structure
The Bachelor of Criminology & Criminal Justice/Law double degree program is five years full-time and consists of 40 courses (240 Units of Credit).
Two degrees doesn’t mean double the workload. Each year you’ll complete the same number of units as a single degree full-time study load, eight courses (48 UOC) across three terms. Our three-term calendar allows you the flexibility to tailor your schedule to suit your goals. With two three-course terms and one two-course term per year, you’ll have the time to focus on completing extra-curricular activities on campus or for-credit industry opportunities.
As part of your degree, you’ll undertake hands-on courses that integrate industry experience into your program. You’ll also participate in interactive teaching, group work, and a clinical component in which you’ll work with clients and lawyers at (KLC), a fully functioning legal centre that operates out of the UNSW Law & Justice Building.
Full program structure
The Bachelor of Laws will explore all the areas of law you’re required to understand and teach you essential skills such as legal research, reasoning and analysis. Through your core law courses, you’ll comprehensively study all areas of the law, including torts, administrative law, constitutional law, criminal law and contracts. Your law electives will allow you to dive into areas of the law that interest you most, such as human rights, taxation law, commercial law, property law and international law.
The Bachelor of Criminology & Criminal Justice brings together interdisciplinary courses designed to explore your interests and investigate a broad range of topics from different perspectives. You'll study courses that bring together knowledge from law, philosophy, psychology, sociology, history, politics, economics, architecture and cultural studies.Ìý
Below is an example of what you could study in a standard five-year, full-time study plan.
First Year
- 3 Law Core Courses
- 2 Criminology Core Courses
- 3 Social Science Core Courses
Second Year
- 3 Law Core Courses
- 2 Criminology Core Courses
- 2 Social Science Core Courses
- 1 Prescribed Criminology Elective
Third Year
- 5 Law Core Courses
- 1 Criminology Core Course
- 1 Social Science Core Courses
- 1 Prescribed Criminology Elective
Fourth Year
- 5 Law Core Courses
- 1 Criminology Core Course
- 1 Social Science Core Courses
- 1 Prescribed Criminology Elective
Fifth Year
- 1 Prescribed Law Elective
- 7 Law Electives
High-achieving students who complete the degree may be eligible to undertake an . The Honours Program in Criminology provides students with the opportunities to achieve a significant piece of criminological research and graduate well-prepared for a research or policy career.
Future careers
Study Law as a double degree to be a well-rounded graduate prepared for a career practising law or applying your legal mind and skills to other industries. UNSW Law & Justice is ranked 1st in Australia and 15th globally for employer reputation (QS World University Rankings by Subject (Law and Legal Studies), 2024). That’s because we teach our students to think outside the box, so when it comes to your career, employers will seek you out for your critical thinking, persuasive communication, creative problem solving and analytical skills.
You’ll graduate from this degree with two degrees of professional importance, with career opportunities in the public sector, criminal justice, community service, business and law practice. Criminology and Criminal Justice are growing fields with increasing opportunities to create change in communities affected by crime and the social structures and systems that influence and respond to it.
In addition, you may also undertake analytical and research work in a wide range of legal areas such as sentencing and punishment and the social causes of a range of crimes from domestic violence to terrorism.
End-to-end legal Education at UNSW
Completing a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) at UNSW is the first step towards becoming a lawyer, followed by Practical Legal Training (PLT). All law graduates in Australia must complete PLT to practise as a lawyer. UNSW’s PLT is the , so you can graduate from one place with all the qualifications you need to launch your legal career.
Step 1 – Complete your Bachelor of Laws (LLB).
Step 2 – Complete your GDLPP at UNSW.
Step 3 – Apply to the Supreme Court for admission to practice.
UNSW Law & Justice students also have the opportunity to fast-track their entry into the legal profession by completing their PLT while finishing their undergraduate degree.
Potential careers
- Criminal lawyer
- Policy adviser
- Researcher/analyst
- Attorney-Generals and other government departments
- Crime prevention
- Advocacy
- Law enforcement
- Humanitarian
Our reputation can open doors
Studying at UNSW is about much more than what you learn in the classroom. Through engaging in immersive learning, you’ll become equipped to explore complex ideas required to tackle tomorrow’s big challenges.
The Bachelor of Criminology & Criminal Justice/Law degree offers a hands-on approach that helps you build your skillset through practical experiences. When you enrol to study this double degree at one of Australia’s top law faculties, you’ll join your peers in a program that is underpinned by an ethos of justice for all.​
Explore ways to think big and form deeper connections with our world. Our award-winning teaching faculty will nurture your passions, purpose & potential and prepare you for a career that will drive positive change beyond borders
UNSW has been named ‘Most Employable University’ by the Australian Financial Review, four years in a row. With on-the-job experience built into the Bachelor of Criminology & Criminal Justice/Law, you'll graduate with the skills, confidence and connections to launch a successful career in the legal profession.
Graduating from the widely respected Bachelor of Criminology & Criminal Justice/Law at a prestigious Go8 university like UNSW will open up a world of opportunity that could take you anywhere — Australia and beyond.
Accreditation
Legal Profession Admission Board (NSW)
How to apply
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To apply for our Law double degrees at UNSW, you will need to apply for Double Law (426000) through the UAC application portal. Upon receiving an offer to for this degree, you will choose the second degree to pair with Bachelor of Laws during the acceptance process.
Applications for undergraduate study from domestic students* are processed by the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).
Visit the Apply section of the and you can nominate up to five degrees in order of preference, with the first being your most desired degree and university.
When applying for UNSW Bachelor of Arts/Law through UAC, you’ll need your Law Admission Test (LAT) registration number to ensure your LAT results are considered in the admission process. The LAT registration opens in May and is held in September each year. Keep up to date with .
On-time applications for admission usually close at the end of September each year for Term 1 admission. Late applications can be submitted, but a late fee will apply. For study starting in Term 1, most offers are made in December and January.
Visit the for key dates for admission outside of Term 1.
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*Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, Australian permanent humanitarian visa holders and New Zealand citizens
Ready to apply?
For most international students, applications are submitted viaÌýour  service. We encourage you to submit your completed application as early as possible to ensure it will be processed in time for your preferred term.
Some high-demand programs with limited places, may have an earlier application deadline or may have an earlier commencementÌýdate. ForÌýmore information visitÌýour .
*If you are an international student studying an Australian qualification, go to the  for application and UAC key dates. Note: If you are under 18 years of age, you need to make special arrangements. .
Ready to apply?
Fees & Scholarships
Commonwealth Supported Place multiple Student Contribution Bands may apply for this double degree. See single degrees for the applicable fee bands.*The student contribution for a Commonwealth Supported Place is an indication only of the amount payable in Year 1 based on a standard full-time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). The actual student contribution you will be liable for depends on your individual program of study and the calendar year in which you enrol. Actual fees are calculated upon enrolment. Student contribution amounts are subject to annual review by the University and may increase each year during your studies (subject to caps determined by the Australian Government), effective at the start of each calendar year. The indicative fees listed here are based on an estimated average and are for tuition only other fees and charges are not included.
*Fees are subject to annual review by the University and may increase annually, with the new fees effective from the start of each calendar year. The indicative fees listed here are based on an estimated average and are for tuition only, other fees and charges are not included. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year to enrol, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (8 courses per year).
Indicative fees are a guide for comparison only based on current conditions and available data. You should not rely on indicative fees. More information on fees can be found at theÌý.
Indicative fees to complete the program have been calculated based on a percentage increase for every year of the program. Fee increases are assessed annually and may exceed the indicative figures listed here.
Indicative fees to complete the program include tuition plus an estimate of study-related costs of approximately $1,000 per year. To find out more about other costs, visitÌý.
Scholarships
At UNSW, we award over $83 million in scholarships each year. We pride ourselves on rewarding excellence and making university accessible to students from all walks of life. Whether you’re a domestic or international student, our range of scholarships, prizes and awards can support your journey.
Featured scholarships
Several scholarships have been established to support students undertaking undergraduate Law at UNSW, including the:
- Joan Brown Memorial Scholarship
Established to assist a female high school leaver student with financial assistance to undertake undergraduate study in Law at UNSW - UNSW Law Disability Support Scholarship
Established to support students with a long-term medical condition or disability and who are in financial need.
Featured scholarship
UNSW Law International Award (PUCA1028)
This award was established to empower the brightest and most passionate international students to achieve their goals through their studies at UNSW Law & Justice.
QS World University Rankings, 2025.
AFR Top 100 Future leaders Award.
#1 Australian uni attended by start-up founders.
UNSW Law & Justice has a holistic and practical approach to student learning.
