Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice
Undergraduate
GRF-CJR-DEG 2026Course information for 2026 intake
Challenge injustice and shape safer communities
Study crime and justice from every angle. You’ll explore why crime happens, how society responds, and how policy shapes outcomes. Build research and critical thinking skills. Graduate ready for careers in policing, corrections, prevention, and beyond.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Applications close
- 22 Feb 2026,
- 26 Apr 2026,
- 21 June 2026,
- 23 Aug 2026,
- 25 Oct 2026,
- 20 Dec 2026
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 3 years full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 8
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
- CSP available
- Yes
Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice
About this degree
Graduates of the Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice will have a broad and coherent body of knowledge in the fields of criminology and criminal justice, including an in-depth understanding of various theoretical frameworks underpinning the study of criminal behaviour, victimisation and criminal justice responses to crime and crime prevention.
Graduates of the Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice will be able to:
- Analyse legal frameworks, institutional roles, and the operation of the criminal justice system to address current and emerging issues across diverse contexts.
- Apply criminological theories and empirical research to explain crime patterns and inform evidence-based prevention strategies.
- Evaluate how power, oppression, inequality, and intersectionality shape justice outcomes, influence law reform, and impact social policy, particularly for diverse and marginalised groups.
- Demonstrate ethical and professional conduct through reflective practice, inclusive communication, and the ability to collaborate and lead effectively across diverse justice contexts.
- Design and conduct research in criminology and criminal justice using appropriate methods, data analysis techniques, and professional reporting standards.
- Independently apply evidence and critical thinking to solve complex criminological problems, exercise professional judgment, and contribute to ethical and effective justice practices.
Griffith University’s Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, offered through Open Universities Australia, is a broad-based social science degree examining crime, the criminal justice system and related social issues. All the specialised knowledge and skills necessary for a career in the highly demanding criminal justice system are taught in this degree. This degree focuses on the causes of crime and society's response to crime. It will give you a well-rounded perspective on the various arms of the justice system and the relationships between them. You will graduate with a professional qualification in the field of Criminology and Criminal Justice.
Recommended study pattern
Students must complete all eight subjects in the following order:
- CCJ121 Foundations of CCJ - 30CP
- CCJ122 Law, Police, Courts & Corrections - 30CP
- CCJ231 Research Methods, Data Analysis and Evaluation - 30CP
- CCJ232 Criminological Theories and Crime Prevention - 30CP
- CCJ233 Justice and Diverse Populations - 30CP
- CCJ341 High Impact Crimes - 30CP
- CCJ342 Working with Offenders - 30CP
- CCJ343 CCJ in Practice: Evidence, Innovation and Impact - 30CP
Opportunity to start or continue studying at the beginning of every month (12 teaching blocks in a calendar year).
Students choose their own progression model:
- Complete in 2-months in ‘speed’ progression
- Complete in 3-months in ‘standard’ progression
- Complete in 4-months in ‘steady’ progression
- Possible 5th month for P/T or extra time through UNF or extensions
New student intake will occur six times per year:
- Dynamically dated Study Session 1 (February 2026)
- Dynamically dated Study Session 1 (April 2026)
- Dynamically dated Study Session 1 (June 2026)
- Dynamically dated Study Session 2 (August 2026)
- Dynamically dated Study Session 2 (October 2026)
- Dynamically dated Study Session 3 (December 2026)
NOTE: Subjects must be completed in sequence and cannot be completed out of sequence.
Award requirements
The degree will normally be of three years duration for full-time students. Students will have 8 years to accumulate subjects towards the degree. To obtain this degree, students must pass all 8 subjects.
Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.
This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.
Transition arrangements are changes that occur when courses are updated or phased out. This happens regularly as part of continuous improvement. It may affect you if you are currently enrolled in this course, or if you plan to use credit from previous study towards it.
2026 Changes
This program has undergone a major change.
The revised 240CP Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice (1713) offered through OUA is now delivered through asynchronous teaching periods.
Information for students in the old Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice (1384)
The School of Criminology and Criminal Justice (CCJ) will transition its delivery model from four Study Periods to three Study Sessions per year, beginning in Study Session 1, 2026.
This new structure aligns with Griffith’s trimester calendar, and OUA students will be taught alongside Griffith students using the same course sites and online classes through to Study Session 3, 2028, when the current 1384 program will be discontinued.
All students, whether commencing or continuing, and regardless of CSP or non-award status, will be able to enrol in subjects through to Study Session 3, 2028. However, transitional support will only be offered to students who were enrolled in the 1384 program prior to the introduction of the new program (early 2026). These students will be notified via email from the BCCJ OUA Program Director.
Please refer to the below for more information:
2025 Griffith Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice pre 2026 transition arrangements
Communication and Support
Due to the staggered rollout of the new 240CP program - 120CP available from January to June 2026, and the final 120CP available before December 2026 - students will be contacted at multiple points:
- August to December 2025: All students who have completed 120CP or fewer in the BCCJ OUA program over the past 10 years will be contacted. They will receive information about the new program, credit transfer options, the shift to 3 Study Sessions, and the opportunity to complete the current program before its conclusion in Study Session 3, 2028. The Program Director will provide tailored advice to students wishing to transition, including how existing 10CP courses map to the new 30CP block structure.
- January to June 2026: A second round of communications will be sent to any student who has undertaken a BCCJ OUA 10CP CCJ course in the past 10 years but has not yet transitioned. This communication will mirror the August–December 2025 outreach, reinforcing credit transfer options and available support.
- 2027 and 2028: At the start of each Study Session, the Program Director will email all currently enrolled students with updated information, reiterating that while transition support is only available to students enrolled in the 1384 program prior to 2026, there are options available to potentially transfer existing credit into the new BCCJ OUA asynchronous program.
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative first year fee
$16,500
Indicative total fee $49,500
The amounts shown here are indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.
Fees may vary depending on:
- the subjects you choose
- credit from previous work experience
- your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.
To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.
With a network of campuses spanning three cities in South East Queensland, Griffith University is committed to progressive multidisciplinary teaching and research and a valuable online provider with Open Universities Australia. Already attracting students from over one hundred countries, Griffith's dedication to academic excellence is available across Australia through OUA.
Learn more about Griffith University.
Explore Griffith courses.
- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 18
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 21
Entry requirements
Student must have completed at least 1x 30CP OUA undergraduate module, with a minimum GPA of 4.0, completed in the last 12 months at the time of application for admission.
Please Note: The Program Director will provide tailored advice to students wishing to transition, including how existing 10CP subjects map to the new 30CP block structure.
More in-depth information regarding Griffith entry requirements can be found at the below website: Institution Listing - QTAC
Students may be able to receive credit for previous studies conducted at other institutions. Please contact the Griffith (OUA) Services at Griffith prior to registering in any subjects through Open Universities Australia.
A prospective student who has previously completed or partially completed a degree, may be eligible for a CSP and may also be eligible for credit transfer. For more information, please visit the following website:
Career opportunities
The Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice is a professional qualification. It equips students with the knowledge and skills required to gain employment in the criminal justice system.
Graduates of this degree will have the skills and knowledge required for employment in criminal justice areas such as policing, corrections, justice, security, regulatory law enforcement, crime prevention and customs in both private enterprise and government departments.
Degree FAQs
How long does it take to finish an online degree?
That's up to you! Because we let you choose when to study online, you can actually pick up and pause study when it suits you. Many universities have a set time you need to complete your degree within. For some this is up to 10 years, and for others there is no limit.
There are some degrees that are stricter about when you can take breaks, and about how many years you can take to complete your degree. Please always check with your uni what the limits are.
As a general guide, Commonwealth supported place students have 10 years to finish their undergraduate degree through OUA, However, if you're studying with Griffith University, there's a limit of 8 years to complete your studies. If you want to take a break that lasts more than two study terms, you'll need to apply for a leave of absence. You can apply for a leave of absence for up to 12 months, as long as you complete your studies within the maximum time allowed for your degree.
If you're studying with Macquarie University, with the exception of certain degrees, there's no limit to how long you can take. But, please check with Macquarie Student Administration to be sure.
If you're studying with the University of Adelaide, you have up to 9 years to complete your undergraduate degree and graduate.
If you're studying with La Trobe University and want to take a break of minimum 1 study term, you must apply for leave of absence to avoid being inadvertently withdrawn from your degree.
Through OUA, you can study all year round, so it's possible to fast-track and finish up sooner than studying at a traditional uni would allow. That said, you need to spend around 12 hours a week on each undergraduate subject you do, so taking on extra work to finish ahead of time can be challenging.
How can I pay for my studies?
You may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government, depending on your citizenship status and where you'll be living during your studies. You can also pay upfront with your credit card.
Payment options are explained in Fees, and you can contact a student advisor for more information.
How does studying through Open Universities Australia work?
You might find learning through OUA a little different to how you've studied in the past. It can take time to develop the skills you need for independent online study.
We connect you with subjects and degrees that are taught by leading Australian universities. You can complete single subjects, or follow a degree structure to work towards a specific qualification. Subjects are offered in several study terms throughout the year, so you can choose to study part-time or full-time, continuously or with breaks.
We help you find the subjects or degree that's right for you, and we handle your enrolment in uni and some administration. Your uni sends you your study materials and deals with all academic matters. They're also in charge of your assessment and graduation. If you go on to complete a degree, you'll graduate from the uni offering your degree, for example, RMIT University or Griffith University.
How do I know if I‘m eligible to apply for a course?
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 can help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study. Contact us to find out more.
When is my cut-off date for enrolment?
Our close of enrolment times vary. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting Key dates.
Why should I study online through Open Universities Australia?
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.
How do I enrol?
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.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to a student advisor and we'll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.