Bachelor of Criminology & Criminal Justice/Psychological Science

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of New South Wales

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Criminology & Criminal Justice / Bachelor of Psychological Science at UNSW is all about understanding people and society — how we think, behave, and change, and how our communities respond to crime and justice. It’s ideal for curious, compassionate minds who want to explore human behaviour while gaining real-world skills in research, empathy, policy, and social impact. Graduates leave ready to step into careers in mental health, criminal justice, community advocacy, or policy design.

Curriculum Structure:
In first year, you’ll build your foundation. You might dive into Criminology: An Introduction and Introduction to Criminal Justice, exploring how justice systems work and why people commit crime. On the psychology side, you’ll start with Psychology A, Psychology B, and Measuring Mind and Behaviour, learning to link people’s experiences to broader social patterns. Expect plenty of discussion, hands-on thinking, and case studies that make the ideas come alive.

By second year, your studies get deeper and more applied. In criminology, units like Explaining Crime and Social Research and Society teach you how to gather and interpret data, while psychology courses such as Social and Developmental Psychology and Perception and Cognition help you explore how minds grow and interact. This is where the two fields start to really “talk” to each other — combining research skills with real-world examples.

Third year brings more specialised learning. You might tackle Criminology in Practice or electives like Cybercrime and Technology-Facilitated Harms or Violence and Victimisation. Psychology adds Assessment, Personality and Psychopathology, and Research Methods 3 to your toolkit. Here, you start thinking like a professional — questioning assumptions, running projects, and seeing how theory translates into community, policy, media, and therapeutic contexts.

In fourth year, everything comes together. You can pick advanced electives that match your interests, like Psychology and Law, Health Psychology, or industry-focused placements. You’ll polish your skills with higher-level research and criminology units that make your degree uniquely yours, preparing you to think like both a scientist and a social advocate.

Focus Areas: Human behaviour, criminal justice systems, psychological research, social policy, applied criminology

Learning Outcomes: You’ll learn to think critically and compassionately about people and society, analyse data and behaviour, design evidence‑informed solutions, communicate confidently, and act ethically in professional settings.

Professional Alignment: The psychology portion follows the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) sequence, giving you a strong, recognised foundation that can count toward future professional training if you continue toward a psychology career.

Reputation & Employability: UNSW is one of the world’s top 20 universities, and the Law & Justice faculty behind criminology is ranked #1 in Australia and #12 globally for law and legal studies. UNSW graduates are consistently among the most employable in the country, thanks to a mix of academic depth, practical insight, and real-world experience.

If you want a degree that’s meaningful, challenging, and practical — one that explores people, society, and justice while building skills employers value — this double degree offers both heart and purpose.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

When you think about this double degree, it’s not just about sitting in lectures and reading textbooks — it’s about doing. From the very start, you’re connecting what you learn with real professional contexts. You’ll build solid foundations in human behaviour and the justice system, and then you get to test those ideas outside the classroom. Whether it’s through hands-on placements, working on real-world case studies, or meeting people already working in the field, you’ll see exactly how your learning applies in practice. You’ll also pick up research skills and policy know-how that employers value, while exploring contemporary issues like juvenile justice, victimisation, and community safety — all in settings that make it real. By the time you graduate, you won’t just be ready for a career, you’ll have the confidence of having already experienced it firsthand.

Here’s what that experiential learning looks like in this program:

Internships and work placements let you gain real professional experience, guided by practitioners in psychology and the justice sector.
Criminology Work Integrated Learning Placement electives can place you with criminal justice agencies, community organisations, or not-for-profits so you can apply your skills in real settings.
Case studies built into your coursework let you tackle the kinds of challenges you’ll face in professional roles.
Visits to courts, prisons, and justice agencies give you the chance to see theory come to life.
Guest presenters and professionals bring their lived experience and current practice straight into your learning environment.
Applied social research and policy projects let you practice the research and analysis skills you’ll use in careers across psychology, community services, and criminal justice.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Here’s the honest, student‑to‑student take:

Graduates from UNSW’s Bachelor of Criminology & Criminal Justice / Bachelor of Psychological Science leave with a solid foundation for work that really matters — whether it’s understanding people and behaviour, shaping safer communities, or helping create smarter policies. Because this double degree blends psychology with criminology, your skills aren’t just specialised — they’re versatile and highly valued in the real world. People who graduate often step into roles like community justice officer, policy analyst, behavioural science specialist, or research assistant in both the public and private sectors.

Here’s what this means for you:

From day one, UNSW’s careers services have your back. You’ll get access to job boards, resume and interview support, networking events, and workshops — all designed to keep you connected with employers and ready for work when you graduate.

This degree isn’t just about theory — it has a hands-on focus. Through internships, work placements, and real-world projects, you’ll gain experience that employers actually care about.

UNSW graduates are consistently ranked among Australia’s most employable, and median salaries are strong compared with other Group of Eight universities. So, right from the start, you’re in a strong position for the job market.

You’ll also benefit from UNSW’s industry links and partnerships, including connections with criminal justice agencies, community organisations, and research centres. These connections help with placements and can even open doors to careers after graduation.

The degree is designed so you build both analytical psychology skills and practical criminal justice knowledge — that combination gives you options in areas like mental health, policy, social research, rehabilitation services, and beyond.

Thinking beyond your bachelor’s:

Finishing this double degree doesn’t limit you to jumping straight into work. UNSW has clear pathways if you want to keep studying. Many students go on to Honours in Psychology or Criminology, which sharpens research skills and is essential if you want postgraduate research or professional psychology training. You could also explore specialised master’s programs in areas like clinical or organisational psychology, criminology, justice studies, or policy and social research. UNSW supports these pathways, giving you the flexibility to shape a career in practice, research, or leadership.