Criminology courses

Criminologists study the complex intersection of crime, psychology, and social conditions. They also examine broader elements of the criminal justice system.

Criminologists work with criminals, victims, and law enforcement to better understand complex topics like youth justice, cybercrime, victimology, and policing.

Not sure if an online criminology course is what you’re after? If you’re interested in human psychology and the justice system, you could consider a career in law, sociology, psychology, or social work instead.

Criminology degrees can vary widely so it’s worth reviewing your options before you decide on a course. In general, you can expect to graduate from an online criminology course with knowledge about:

• recent developments in criminal justice
• public policy relating to criminology
• how to evaluate criminal justice ideas and concepts
• human rights and social justice
• policing impacts on marginalised communities
• sex and gender-based crimes

Can’t decide which course is right for you? Book a consultation with one of our friendly student advisors. They’ll help you decide which degree meets your goals.

Studying a criminology course online is a good fit if you’re interested in the psychology of crime, improving outcomes for victims, or helping to rehabilitate criminals.

A course in criminology through Open Universities Australia will set you up for a rewarding career that supports your community, improves the justice system and is varied enough to keep every day interesting and fresh.

With an online criminology course, you’ll have the flexibility to study wherever, whenever. Do your course readings from a hammock on the Whitsundays? Ideal. Catch up on a seminar on your lunch break at work? Easy. Work through your degree at your pace, on your terms.

There are a lot of reasons to study your course online through us.

• You can enrol without entry requirements 
  We have a unique open-door policy that makes it possible for everyone to enrol in university study, no matter their academic history. If you don’t meet the entry requirements for a degree, we’ll help you get in through single undergraduate subjects and transition into a qualification from there.
• You have total control over how you study
  Upskill without committing to a whole degree upfront. Or enrol in a full degree, but take it a subject at a time. We’ll introduce you to flexible study options you didn’t even know about, so you can fit uni around what matters to you.
• You’ll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student
  Once you enrol through us, you’ll study online with the university that provides your degree. This means that when you complete your qualification, you’ll graduate with the same degree as on-campus students.
• We’ll help you navigate the university world
  Our friendly student advisors will be your guide every step of the enrolment journey. They'll help you compare universities, choose a course, provide documentation and understand your finance options.

Entry requirements are set by the university offering the online criminology course. They depend on whether the course is offered at undergraduate or postgraduate level.

Checking the entry requirements of each course you’re interested in is a good idea, but don’t worry if you don’t meet them. You can still study criminology! Enrol in single subjects to start studying with no entry requirements. Once you’ve completed and passed the required number of subjects (usually between 2-4), you can enrol in the degree and have those subjects credited. Read our ATAR guide for more information, or book a call with a student advisor for personalised advice.

As a criminology graduate, you’ll find career opportunities in sectors like rehabilitation, mental health, social services and the public sector.

Your future job title might be:

• Criminologist
• Police officer
• Intelligence and policy analyst
• Policy and planning manager
• Prison officer
• Customs officer
• Private investigator
• Health and welfare services manager
• Case manager

Before starting an enrolment, it’s important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you’re eligible to apply. If you don’t quite meet the requirements, we may be able to help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study.

Chat with us to find out more.

Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.

When you’ve made your choice, click ‘Apply now’ on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We’ll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.

Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.

Please note that enquiries and applications for some courses are handled directly by the university. If this is the case, it will be indicated on the course listing page.  

For more information about enrolment, read our online self-service enrolling instructions. If you get stuck at any time, contact us and we’ll talk you through it.