Bachelor of Criminology

VU course code: LBCR | CRICOS: 102415F | Level of study: Undergraduate

Duration

3 years

Delivery mode

In person

Fees

Tuition: per semester AU$15,600

Location

City Campus

All start dates

A young man looks up in awe at a colonial prison building

Overview

Turn your curiosity about crime into a meaningful career with a Bachelor of Criminology at Victoria University (VU).

In our Bachelor of Criminology, you’ll develop the knowledge and practical skills needed to critically examine crime, justice, and the operation of the criminal justice system. You’ll explore why people commit crime by examining the social, political, cultural, psychological, and economic factors that influence offending behaviour.

Through practical learning and real-world case studies, you’ll gain experience identifying crime-related problems and developing evidence-based policy reform recommendations to create meaningful change.

You’ll study specialist criminology subjects alongside law and justice-focused units, including:

crime and inequality
policing and offending
victimology
digital criminology
transnational and international crime
early intervention and crime prevention
corporate crime
environmental crime
justice policy and reform.

: On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Integrate conceptual understanding of criminology research, theory and practice with advanced specialist bodies of knowledge such as law and criminology;

Exhibit expertise and professional judgement in the application of criminological concepts to issues of law, security and justice in contemporary society;

Adapt theoretical knowledge applicable to the discipline by critically analysing and applying information with initiative and judgement in order to both anticipate and creatively solve problems and promote justice in authentic/contemporary professional, community settings; (including those that require cross-disciplinary knowledge and skills)

Communicate effectively to present clear and coherent independent expositions of knowledge and ideas to a variety of audiences;

Demonstrate personal and interpersonal competencies including organisational and collaborative skills necessary to operate within successfully in a team;

Exemplify professional ethics and accountabilities in their practice and a commit to ongoing professional development;
: Take advantage of VU’s criminology staff members’ strong ties to the Department of Justice, Victorian Police Department, Applied Security Science Partnership and many more.
Both your criminology and law studies have a strong focus on practical learning, covering case studies and real-world scenarios.
As a Bachelor of Criminology student, you also have the opportunity to participate in Department of Justice volunteer opportunities in Victoria’s legal and prison systems.
: In the third year of your criminology degree, you’ll apply all the skills and knowledge you’ve developed to a significant research project, known as a ‘capstone’ unit.
Working in small teams, you’ll collaborate on a research project relating to real cases and scenarios. At present, the final research project will focus on public opinions on bail within Victorian and Australia more broadly. You’ll collect, analyse and interpret data and write a final report – practising your skills and preparing to enter the workforce.

Entry requirements

Applicants for this course will need to meet the entry criteria outlined below. If you don’t meet the entry criteria, you may be able to gain entry by first completing a related course or unit(s). We call this a ‘pathway’.

If you've completed a qualification where English was the primary language of instruction, you may be eligible for an exemption of English-language requirements.

In some cases, there may be additional entry requirements.

Learn more about entry requirements for international students.

Entry criteria

Credit & Entry pathways into this course

Victoria University is committed to providing a transparent admissions process. Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency. Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee entry into this course. Past academic performance may be considered.

Course structure

To attain the Bachelor of Criminology students will be required to complete 288 credit points consisting of:

96 credit points of First Year Core Studies
96 credit points of Professional Core Studies

96 credit points of Minor Studies

Units

Choose two relevant minor areas of study

After you are accepted into your course, you will need to enrol in your course units.

During enrolment, use your course delivery plan to understand the structure and requirements of your course.

Fees & scholarships

As an international student at Victoria University, you will be required to pay your tuition fees up front each semester.

There may be additional materials fees throughout your studies, depending on your chosen course, as well as an administrative fee as part of your course.

Victoria University is proud to support our international scholarship recipients and sponsored students.

Save up to 30% off your fees!

The VU Block Model® International Scholarship offers eligible international students up to 30% off tuition fees for their entire first year of study. Study well and you’ll have the chance to increase or extend the scholarship for the whole duration of your course.

Find out more

Fees

Scholarships

Careers

Demand for criminology graduates continues to rise across justice, policy, corrections, policing and community sectors. You’ll graduate with the critical thinking, analytical, research and communication skills needed to make a genuine impact across a wide range of careers.

Work with offenders and within justice systems in law enforcement, justice institutions and community corrections facilities. For example:

working in early intervention with at-risk youth to prevent offending and reoffending
designing and delivering programs for rehabilitating offenders
supporting individuals transitioning from custody back into the community.

Policy, research and justice reform, including working in government and research bodies such as justice departments, crime statistics agencies, or victims of crime services.

Victim support services and advocacy, such as supporting victim-survivors through court processes, safety planning and advocacy or working in domestic and family violence services.

Start dates

Melbourne

On campus – Melbourne City Campus

Course starts 27 July 2026

Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information on this page, please note that dates are subject to change. Some courses may close early due to an earlier start date or there being limited places available.