Criminal Law
UndergraduateUNE-LAW1612019
Course information for 2019 intake View information for 2025 course intake
Break into criminal law as you cover burden of proof, identification of actus reus and mens rea, relevant statute and case law. Learn to interpret legislation, identify elements of the offence, and ultimately give persuasive legal arguments.
Enrolments for this course are closed, but you may have other options to start studying now. Book a consultation to learn more.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- Subject may require attendance
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- -
- Loan available
- FEE-HELP available
Criminal Law
About this subject
Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
- demonstrate a detailed knowledge of the relevant statute and case law relating to criminal law; possess the skill of interpreting legislation; and use autonomy and personal responsibility to identify from that legislation the elements of the offence involved;
- demonstrate a broad and coherent understanding of the nature and scope of the principles of criminal law eg, burden of proof, identification of actus reus and mens rea and general defences, and be competent in applying those principles to any given fact situation;
- use initiative and professional judgement to critically analyse, synthesise, and consolidate the principles of criminal law to provide persuasive legal arguments and solutions to fact based problems and client scenarios; and
- demonstrate ethical and sustainable responsibilities in personal behaviour and communication skills, relating to criminal Law.
- Topics are available to enrolled students in the unit Moodle site.
This unit introduces students to the substantive criminal law. After completing this unit, students will have the skills to identify the essential elements of an offence and apply the general principles of the criminal law.
Online Quiz: 500 words (approx). Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) LO: 1-3
Written Assessment: 2000 words (approx). Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) LO: 1-4
Open Book Examination: There is a supervised exam at the end of the teaching period in which you are enrolled. The exam will either be paper-based and offered at an established exam venue or online with supervision via webcam and screen sharing technology. This exam is coordinated by UNE Exams Unit. Exam Length: 2 hours 15 minutes. Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) LO: 1-4
For more information about UNE examinations please go to: http://www.une.edu.au/current-students/my-course/examinations
UNE manages supervised exams associated with your UNE subjects.
Prior to census date, UNE releases exam timetables. They’ll email important exam information directly to your UNE email address.- Written Assessment (40%)
- Online Quiz (10%)
- Open Book Examination (50%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
The University of New England is the only Australian public university to be awarded the maximum 5 stars for Overall Experience by the Good Universities Guide, 13 years in a row. UNE has delivered distance education since 1955—that’s longer than any other Australian university. Perhaps that’s why students continue to rate UNE so highly for student satisfaction and teaching quality. With over 170 degrees offered online, and more than 22,000 students, UNE is an expert in online education.
Learn more about UNE.
Explore UNE courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 36
Entry requirements
Prior study
You must either have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject, or currently be enrolled in the following subject(s) in a prior study period; or enrol in the following subject(s) to study prior to this subject:
Please note that your enrolment in this subject is conditional on successful completion of these prerequisite subject(s). If you study the prerequisite subject(s) in the study period immediately prior to studying this subject, your result for the prerequisite subject(s) will not be finalised prior to the close of enrolment. In this situation, should you not complete your prerequisite subject(s) successfully you should not continue with your enrolment in this subject. If you are currently enrolled in the prerequisite subject(s) and believe you may not complete these all successfully, it is your responsibility to reschedule your study of this subject to give you time to re-attempt the prerequisite subject(s).
Additional requirements
- Equipment requirements - Headphones or speakers (required to listen to lecture and other media) Headset, including microphone (highly recommended) Webcam (may be required for participation in virtual classrooms and/or media presentations)
- Other requirements -
It is essential for students to have reliable internet access in order to participate in and complete their units.
UNE's minimum requirements for all students in relation to the hardware and software a student requires to support their learning are found at: http://www.une.edu.au/current-students/support/it-services/hardware
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
Single subject FAQs
What’s a single subject?
Single subjects are the individual components that make up a degree. With Open Universities Australia, you’re able to study many of them as stand-alone subjects, including postgraduate single subjects, without having to commit to a degree.
Each of your subjects will be held over the course of a study term, and they’ll usually require 10 to 12 hours of study each week. Subjects are identified by a title and a code, for example, Developmental Psychology, PSY20007.
How can I use single subjects to get into a full degree?
First, find the degree that you would like to study on our website.
If that degree allows entry via undergraduate subjects, there will be information about this under the Entry Requirements section. You will find a list of 2-4 open enrolment subjects you need to successfully complete to qualify for admission into that qualification.
Once you pass those subjects, you will satisfy the academic requirements for the degree, and you can apply for entry.
Our student advisors are here to help you take that next step, so don’t hesitate to reach out when you’re ready! We’ve also made it easier to figure out the right way to get started on our pathways page.
Can anyone help me choose a subject?
Our student advisors are more than happy to help you plan your online study. Get in touch with an advisor by:
How do I pay for my subjects?
You can pay up front with your credit card, or you may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government depending on your citizenship status and where you’ll live during your studies.
For more information about how to pay for your studies visit our fees page or contact a student advisor.
How do I enrol?
When you’ve made your choice, click ‘Enrol 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.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to us and we’ll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.
When is the cut-off date for enrolling?
Close of enrolment times vary between universities and subjects. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting key dates.