Graduate Certificate of Security Studies and Criminology
PostgraduateMAQ-SSC-GCE2025
Secure your career protecting others
Study national and global security issues and criminology. Delve into online terrorism and the intelligence tradecraft. Secure skills to critically apply criminal research. Make ethical and socially informed decisions about complex problems.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Applications close
- 20 July 2025
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 6 months full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 4
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
Graduate Certificate of Security Studies and Criminology
About this degree
On successful completion, you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an advanced understanding of concepts and theories in the field of security studies and criminology
- Understand and apply the leading research methods and methodologies in the field of security studies and criminology
- Develop and apply advanced critical thinking and analytical skills to explain real world security and criminology issues
- Apply ethically and socially informed judgement to the development and implementation of security and criminology policies
- Communicate disciplinary knowledge to professional and academic audiences
In studying this course you will develop an understanding of the different dimensions of security issues and criminology. All units are provided through the Department of Security Studies and Criminology and focus on synthesising the latest developments in security studies and criminology. These units of study will provide you an in-depth understanding of theoretical and practical issues at a global, regional and national level.
Recommended study pattern
Graduate Certificate of Security Studies and Criminology students must:
- Complete the compulsory requirements as indicated in the degree structure at the time of admission
Please note: It is NOT recommended to enrol in more than 2 subjects per Session.
A student who is taking an unduly long time to complete a program of study may be excluded from further enrolment. An unduly long period of time is considered to be effective enrolment longer than 4 years for Graduate Certificate.
Essential units: 10 credit points
- PICX8012 Critical Thought and Research Design
Elective units
Option set 1: 20 credit points from:
- PICX8013 History of Intelligence
- PICX8020 Advanced Terrorism Studies
- PICX8043 International Terrorism
- PICX8045 Intelligence: Theory and Practice
- PICX8060 Geopolitics and Geostrategy
- PICX8061 Transnational Security
- PICX8080 Cyber Conflict, Cyber Espionage and Information Warfare
Option set 2: 10 credit points from:
- PICX8040 Cyber Crime and Cyber Policing
- PICX8062 The Crimes of the Powerful
- PICX8088 Advanced Criminology Theory
Total credit points required: 40
Award requirements
To qualify for the award of Graduate Certificate of Security Studies and Criminology students must complete four subjects. The subjects should include the compulsory subjects as indicated in the degree structure. On completion of admission you are bound by the University Terms and Conditions and must comply with present and future By-laws, Rules, Codes, and Policies, Procedures and Schedules of Macquarie University
Students who did not commence their program in the current year are required to follow the program structure provided to them at the time of admission.
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.
Please note:
Once you have been admitted into your degree, you must enrol in at least one subject in the study term immediately following admission, and you must remain enrolled past the census date. If not, your admission will lapse and you will need to re-apply for the degree again. Deferment is not available for OUA students.
Visit Studying a degree through OUA for further information.
Students who have an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion under Macquarie University's Academic Progression Policy will not be permitted to register in Macquarie University degrees offered through OUA. Students with an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion who have enrolled in units through OUA will be withdrawn.
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative total fee $16,620
The amount shown here is 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.
This research-intensive university in north-western Sydney offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. With over 44,000 current students, Macquarie has a strong reputation for welcoming international students and embracing flexible and convenient study options, including its partnership with Open Universities Australia.
Learn more about Macquarie University.
Explore Macquarie courses.
- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 11
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 10
Entry requirements
This is a restricted degree. Subject enrolment is only available to students admitted into this degree.
AQF level 7 bachelor's qualification or recognised equivalent, or
Three years work experience in a relevant field at the appropriate level of seniority.
The required standard of English for this program is:
Academic IELTS of 6.5 overall with minimum 6.0 in each band, or equivalent.
All applicants to coursework programs at Macquarie University are required to provide evidence of proficiency in English.
For more information on accepted equivalents, please see English Language Requirements.
You may be eligible for credit against individual units in your course at Macquarie if you have additional postgraduate-level study or qualifications beyond those required for admission.
For more information see our Recognition of Prior Learning page or submit an enquiry.
Career opportunities
Graduates will be equipped to work in a range of government, non-government and private employment, including:
- Department of Defence
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Law Enforcement and Police
- Australian Border Force
- International/Regional organizations
- Think tanks and policy advising.
- Media
- International Non-Government Organisations
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
| Role | Earnings | Employment change |
|---|---|---|
| Customs Officers | $75K to $93K | N/A^ |
| Customs Officers | $75K to $93K | N/A^ |
| Detectives | $93K to $120K | N/A^ |
| Detectives | $93K to $120K | N/A^ |
| Intelligence and Policy Analysts | $93K to $120K | Up 22.6% |
| Intelligence and Policy Analysts | $93K to $120K | Up 22.6% |
| Police | $93K to $120K | Up 10.8% |
| Police | $93K to $120K | Up 10.8% |
| Policy and Planning Managers | Over $120K | Up 53.8% |
| Policy and Planning Managers | Over $120K | Up 53.8% |
| Prison Officers | $93K to $120K | Up 27.7% |
| Prison Officers | $93K to $120K | Up 27.7% |
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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.