Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Psychological Studies

VU course code: ABCY | CRICOS: 095830J | Level of study: Undergraduate
3 years full time or longer for part time
Hybrid, In person
Footscray Park
29 April 2024
21 April 2024
Overview

Overview

Prepare for a fascinating career in the justice system or community welfare, with VU's Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Psychological Studies.

You'll gain a strong understanding of the factors that contribute to criminal behaviour. You'll also learn about the legal, political and community responses to social dislocation and disorder.

Our expert lecturers deliver a clear overview of:

  • criminal justice systems
  • ethics
  • crime investigation
  • law and governance.

Your psychology studies will give you insight into the factors that underpin human behaviour and development.

You'll graduate equipped with analytical and problem-solving skills needed for roles in criminal justice, police and welfare systems.

Entry requirements

When assessing your application, we consider your educational achievements and work experience, as well as your skills and personal attributes (where relevant).

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’.

You may also be eligible for course ‘credits’, where you are granted a unit or units towards your qualification for equivalent previous study or work experience, so you can graduate sooner.

ATAR requirements

No minimum ATAR required

This course does not have a minimum ATAR requirement for entry. Read the entry criteria for this course below.

Why ATAR is not applicable

You do not need an ATAR score to apply for this course. Instead, you need to have successfully completed secondary school and to meet any requirements outlined below. Our courses and support programs are designed to prepare students from diverse cultures for success, regardless of their ATAR, age, education or socioeconomic background.

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 Criminal Justice and Psychological Studiesstudents will be required to complete 288 credit points in total consisting of the following:

  • 264 credit points of Core studies units including 24 credit points of Capstone Studies.
  • 24 credit points of Psychology Elective studies as required by APAC accreditation.

Units

Fees & Scholarships

University fees vary, depending on how much the government contributes towards course costs (if anything).

Read below to find out about the fee ‘type’, the estimated yearly tuition costs for this course, and the financial support on offer (including our generous scholarship program).

Commonwealth supported place

A Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) is subsidised by the government, reducing it to the amount listed here. Australian citizens, permanent residents and New Zealand citizens will qualify for a CSP place. If your course is not Commonwealth supported, or you don't qualify, you'll pay full fees.

Learn more about Commonwealth Supported Places

10% discount for alumni

If you’ve previously completed a qualification with us, and you’re paying full fees for this course, you may be eligible for a 10% discount.

Find out how

Fees

Scholarships

CAREERS

Graduate ready for a career in these rewarding areas:

  • justice sector (for example, victim support officer, investigator)
  • health and community services (for example, child protection worker)
  • policy development and related services.

Further study

After graduation, you may choose one of these paths towards a psychology career, or a senior role in justice or welfare:

  • apply for Honours in Psychology, then pursue postgraduate studies in such fields as Forensic and Clinical Psychology
  • undertake postgraduate studies in Criminal Justice/Criminology
  • pursue further professional training in the justice or welfare sectors.

Salaries & job prospects

Find information for relevant jobs on the government job-data site, Labour Market Insights:

Volunteer opportunities

Victoria's Department of Justice has a number of volunteer opportunities for people who want to help in Victoria's court, legal and prison systems.

Accreditation

The Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Psychological Studies is accredited by the Australian Psychological Accreditation Council (APAC). APAC is an independent, not-for-profit, quality and standards organisation.

VU Stories

Anna-Lena Reiber
Combining psychology, justice & community welfare
Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Psychological Studies
"VU offered me plenty of opportunities to gather real-life experience through placements, seminars and interaction with lecturers who were actively working in the industry."
Anna-Lena's story