Bachelor of Criminology/Bachelor of Laws

5 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of New England Armidale

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Criminology / Bachelor of Laws at University of New England is a comprehensive double degree that combines the study of criminal behaviour with a strong foundation in legal principles, preparing students for impactful careers in justice, law, and public policy. Delivered at Armidale Campus, New South Wales, Australia, this program suits students who are interested in understanding crime, justice systems, and legal frameworks while building practical legal and analytical skills for real-world application.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1:
In the first year, students build core foundations in both law and criminology through introductory units such as Introduction to Legal Systems, Criminal Justice in Australia, and Foundations of Criminology. This year focuses on understanding how laws are created, how justice systems operate, and the basic theories behind criminal behaviour. Students also develop essential academic writing, legal reasoning, and research skills that support advanced study in later years.

Year 2:
In Year 2, students progress into more structured legal and criminological analysis with units like Criminal Law and Procedure, Law of Torts, and Crime and Society. The coursework begins to explore how crime is regulated and how legal principles are applied in real cases, while criminology subjects examine social causes of crime and criminal justice responses. Students also start developing analytical skills in case law interpretation and crime data evaluation.

Year 3:
The third year deepens legal expertise and criminological understanding through subjects such as Constitutional Law, Penology and Corrections, and Evidence and Criminal Justice. Students engage more critically with legal frameworks, correctional systems, and criminal justice policy, while gaining practical insights into how law is applied in courts and institutions. Research-based learning and case analysis become central at this stage.

Year 4:
In Year 4, students undertake advanced legal and criminology units including Administrative Law, Advanced Criminal Law, and Cybercrime and Digital Justice. This year emphasizes specialised legal knowledge and contemporary issues in crime, including technology-driven crime and justice system reforms. Students refine their advocacy, legal interpretation, and policy analysis skills through complex case studies and applied learning.

Year 5:
The final year focuses on professional preparation through units such as Legal Practice and Ethics, Criminal Justice Capstone, and Research Project in Law or Criminology. Students consolidate their learning through practical legal training, independent research, and real-world problem solving in justice-related contexts. This year prepares graduates for entry into legal practice pathways or advanced criminology careers.

Focus Areas: Law, Criminal Justice, Criminology, Legal Systems, Crime Analysis, Public Policy

Learning Outcomes: Graduates will develop strong legal reasoning, advanced understanding of criminal behaviour, research capability, and the ability to apply legal and criminological knowledge in professional justice environments.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation): The law component aligns with Australian legal education requirements, supporting pathways toward legal practice admission in Australia.

Reputation (Employability Rankings): University of New England is recognised for strong graduate outcomes in law and social sciences, with positive employment performance in national higher education reporting frameworks.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in the Bachelor of Criminology / Bachelor of Laws at the University of New England develop practical, career-ready skills through a strong blend of legal training, criminology analysis, and real-world legal problem solving. Learning goes far beyond lectures, with students actively engaging in moot court simulations, legal research tasks, and criminology case analysis that mirror real justice system environments. You also gain hands-on experience with professional legal databases, collaborative case work, and applied justice projects that build confidence for both court and policy settings:

Moot Court & courtroom simulation: Practice legal argumentation, advocacy skills, and courtroom procedure in structured moot court environments that replicate real legal proceedings.
Legal research tools & databases: Training in industry-standard platforms such as legal case databases and research systems used in professional legal practice (e.g., legislation and case law analysis tools).
Clinical legal learning opportunities: Exposure to practical legal work through supervised legal service environments and client-focused problem solving activities.
Criminology fieldwork & justice studies: Apply criminological theory through case studies, justice system analysis, and community-based research projects.
Group-based case projects: Collaborative assignments that simulate real legal teams working on criminal law, evidence evaluation, and justice policy issues.
UNE Library & digital learning resources: Access to extensive legal collections, criminology research databases, and digital learning platforms supporting advanced independent study.
Internship and professional exposure opportunities: Structured pathways to gain experience with justice-related organisations, supporting career readiness in law and criminology fields.
Research and learning environments on campus: Use of dedicated law and justice learning spaces designed to support advocacy training, legal reasoning, and applied criminology study.

Together, these experiences ensure students graduate with strong practical capability, not just theoretical knowledge, making them highly prepared for careers in law, justice, and public safety sectors.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Criminology / Bachelor of Laws at University of New England develop a strong blend of legal expertise and criminal justice insight, preparing them for impactful careers in law, policing, corrections, and policy. This double degree equips you to understand crime from both a legal and behavioural perspective, making you highly valuable in justice-focused professions. Typical career paths include: Criminal Lawyer, Police Prosecutor, Intelligence Analyst, and Criminal Justice Policy Advisor.

This program is designed to build strong employability outcomes through structured academic support and real-world engagement:

University employability services: UNE’s Careers and Employability Service supports students with career planning, resume development, interview preparation, and access to internship and work-integrated learning opportunities across legal and justice sectors.
Employment outcomes & salary insights: Graduates entering law and criminal justice roles in Australia typically earn median salary ranges of approximately AUD $70,000 – $130,000, with higher earnings available in legal practice, prosecution, and senior government or policy roles.
University–industry partnerships: Strong links with regional legal practices, courts, policing bodies, correctional services, and government agencies provide students with practical exposure and placement opportunities throughout their degree.
Long-term accreditation value: The Bachelor of Laws component supports progression toward legal practice qualifications in Australia, while criminology expertise enhances long-term career flexibility across justice, security, and policy sectors.
Graduation outcomes: Students graduate with advanced legal reasoning, criminological analysis, research skills, and the ability to critically evaluate crime, justice systems, and public policy frameworks.

Further Academic Progression:
Graduates can continue into a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (GDLP) to qualify for admission as a legal practitioner, or pursue advanced study such as a Master of Laws (LLM), Master of Criminology, Master of Criminal Justice, or research pathways including Honours extension and PhD programs. These pathways open opportunities in specialist legal practice, advanced criminal justice roles, academia, and national policy development.