Bachelor of Criminology & Criminal Justice/Psychology (Honours)

5 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of New South Wales

Program Overview

Program Overview:
The Bachelor of Criminology & Criminal Justice / Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) at UNSW is a unique five‑year double degree designed for curious, compassionate students who want to understand people, society, and the systems that shape them. You’ll explore why people think and behave the way they do, while gaining a strong grasp of crime, justice, and social policy — equipping you to make a real difference in communities, mental health support, and beyond.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1: You’ll get to grips with the building blocks of both criminology and psychology. Through units like Criminology Foundations, Introductory Psychology, and Social Sciences, you’ll start thinking like both a social researcher and a psychologist. Lively tutorials and real-world discussions will help you begin spotting patterns in crime and human behaviour, and understand how the mind shapes everyday decisions.

Year 2: This is when your learning becomes hands-on. You’ll dive into units like Youth Justice and Policy, Cognitive Psychology, and Research Methods, analysing real cases and seeing how theory connects to practice. It’s a year for building confidence in research, exploring how justice and mental wellbeing intersect, and starting to shape your own perspective on these complex issues.

Year 3: Here, you’ll deepen your knowledge across both degrees. Units such as Violence and Victimisation, Psychology of Mental Health, and applied criminology electives let you bring together what you’ve learned so far. You can start tailoring your studies to your passions — whether that’s rehabilitation, community safety, or supporting mental health — while preparing for advanced work in your final years.

Year 4: Psychology moves into honours-level study, with advanced courses in research design, ethical practice, and special topics like Cognitive Neuroscience. At the same time, your criminology electives and project work challenge you to think critically about justice systems and social policy. This is your year to stretch your analytical skills and start shaping your own academic voice.

Year 5: In your final year, you’ll complete a substantial honours thesis in psychology, guided by expert mentors, and wrap up your criminology electives. By graduation, you won’t just have knowledge — you’ll have real-world skills in research, policy analysis, and applied practice, ready for the workforce or further professional training.

Focus Areas: Understanding human behaviour, social justice systems, research design, mental health, and policy impact.

Learning Outcomes: You’ll graduate with strong analytical skills, the ability to interpret behaviour and justice data, confidence in research methods, and practical insight into supporting individuals, communities, and systems.

Professional Alignment: The program includes an accredited Bachelor of Psychology (Honours), meeting the minimum requirements for provisional psychology registration in Australia — a vital step if you aim to pursue a professional psychology career.

Reputation & Employability: UNSW is a global top‑20 university. Criminology is ranked #1 in Australia, psychology is recognised among the best in the world, and UNSW graduates are consistently celebrated for their employability. This means your degree will open doors both in Australia and internationally.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

If you’re the kind of person who learns best by doing, not just sitting in lectures, this double degree at UNSW is designed with you in mind. Right from the start, you’ll be stepping out of the classroom—meeting real people, seeing justice systems in action, and applying psychology and criminology tools in real-world settings. This program doesn’t just give you knowledge; it gives you experience that employers actually value. You’ll see how theory connects to practice at every stage of your journey.

Here’s how you’ll get hands-on throughout the program:

Work Integrated Learning (WIL) placements with mental health organisations and criminal justice agencies, where you’ll contribute to real projects and develop professional skills.
Visits to courts, prisons, and other justice system settings, so you can watch how legal and correctional processes work in real life.
Field experiences as part of your criminology coursework, getting firsthand insight into the environments you’ll work in.
A year-long research project in Psychology Honours, where you’ll dig deep into understanding behaviour and mental processes.
Interactions with professionals and practitioners through guest talks and structured case studies, giving you a front-row seat to real-world expertise.
Opportunities to grow your network via Law & Justice clubs, societies, and UNSW’s careers services, connecting you with peers and industry contacts.

These experiences are all designed to help you step confidently into careers in corrections, policy, mental health support, research, counselling, and more—already familiar with the environments you’ll be working in.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduating from the UNSW Bachelor of Criminology & Criminal Justice/Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) opens doors to a range of meaningful careers where you can make a real difference. Many graduates step into roles such as criminal analyst, forensic psychologist, policy advisor, or social researcher, equipped to understand human behavior and justice systems at a deep level.

Here’s what this means for you:

UNSW Career Services: You’ll have access to dedicated career coaching, industry networking events, and internship programs that connect you directly with organisations in law enforcement, mental health, and policy sectors.
Employment outcomes: Graduates from UNSW Law & Justice and Psychology programs are highly regarded, giving you a competitive edge in the job market.
Industry partnerships: The program is informed by strong collaborations with criminal justice agencies, community organisations, and research centres, helping you gain real-world insights and professional connections.
Accreditation value: Your Psychology (Honours) component meets the requirements for eligibility for provisional registration as a psychologist in Australia, ensuring your qualification is recognized professionally.
Graduation outcomes: Completing this double degree equips you with a rare combination of skills in both human behavior and justice systems, preparing you for impactful roles in government, research, or community services.

Further Academic Progression:
After finishing this double degree, you can continue into advanced studies such as a Master of Psychology, forensic psychology specialisations, or postgraduate research programs. UNSW also provides pathways into law, criminology research, or specialised social policy degrees, allowing you to deepen your expertise or pivot into a new professional direction while building on the strong foundation you’ve gained.