Master of Justice and Criminology
Student type:
Quick facts
-
Entry score
Not applicable
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Duration
Full-time 2 years, Part-time 4 years, Reduced duration available -
Location
Melbourne City -
Fees
AU$24,960 (2022 annual)
Next intake
February, JulyEntry score
IELTS 6.5
Duration
Eligible for advanced standing, Full-time 2 yearsLocation
Melbourne City
Overview
Designed by leading academics and industry professionals, this program reflects the latest debates, issues and approaches to global, national and local justice activities and processes.
With a strong vocational focus, this program provides you with the advanced skills and knowledge to effectively perform as a justice professional in areas including:
- criminology
- management
- compliance
- investigation
- governance
- human security
This program is designed for students wishing to enter a career in the justice system, as well as for those already working in the industry who wish to update and extend their knowledge. Some courses are offered online, giving you the flexibility to design a study plan to meet your needs.
Graduates will enhance their career opportunities in the justice sector and related fields including policing, customs, corrections and the courts.
Details
RMIT offers a variety of learning and teaching approaches including:
- face-to-face and online lectures
- workshops
- tutorials
- industry-based presentations
- problem-based learning
- independent research
- reflective learning techniques
You'll also meet and study with fellow students and benefit from the support of a dedicated program leader, responsible for coaching and mentoring you through the program.
Your skills and knowledge will be assessed through a range of tasks that may include:
- report and project writing
- class presentations
- group work
- online discussion and other online activities
- case studies
- industry-based assessment
- examinations
All programs are delivered in English.
You can access the online resources through the myRMIT student portal.
Crime management is a growth area, and RMIT University sits at the cutting edge of preparing people for employment in this field.
You may be able to undertake internships and field projects, as well as design, implement and evaluate your own projects and simulated activities representing real workplace scenarios.
Workplace learning is a key part of this program. Strong links have been established with the justice sectors at federal and Victorian state level and in other states and territories, including:
- policing
- corrections
- courts administration
- customs
- legal administration
- investigations
- juvenile justice
- human services
- the Department of Justice
These industry associations are involved in this program's design, development and delivery. This involvement ensures that the program is vocationally relevant, meets the needs of graduate employers and is up-to-date with latest issues.
RMIT University is committed to providing you with an education that strongly links formal learning with professional or vocational practice.
- 2 years full-time or 4 years part-time (without advanced standing).
- 1 - 1.5 years full-time or part-time equivalent (with advanced standing).
For further information about advanced standing see the Pathways section.
The Graduate Certificate in Justice and Criminology and Graduate Diploma in Justice and Criminology are available as exit awards of this degree. Any advanced standing you receive for the masters program is not transferrable to an exit award. If you wish to exit early with one of these programs, you must have completed all courses specified in the relevant program structure.
The Master consists of 192 credit points.
Some courses are offered online, giving you the flexibility to design a study plan to meet your needs.
You'll explore the links between evidence, intelligence and practice and learn to determine the ways in which contemporary ideas and practices enable, shape and limit the application of justice in contemporary Australia.
You may be able to undertake internships and field projects as well as design, implement and evaluate your own projects and simulated activities representing real workplace scenarios.
You'll build essential knowledge of ethics and values in the justice sector, with core courses focusing on:
- program evaluation
- applied research skills
- law and justice policy
- justice management
- law
- criminal justice systems
- criminological theory.
You'll select elective courses from a range of social science streams including:
- justice studies
- psychology and human services
- global communities
- public policy and management
- human rights
- research.
Choose a program structure
| Title | Location | Duration | Plan code | CRICOS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Justice and Criminology | City Campus |
2 years full-time
4 years part-time
Reduced duration available
|
2 years full-time
|
MC223 | 079595D |
Choose a program structure
Program code: MC223
Career
Graduates of this program will be able to work as critical and reflective practitioners in a variety of professional environments within the public and criminal justice sectors, using a variety of social perspectives and disciplines to advance principles of social justice.
You will be able to demonstrate sensitivity when working in culturally and linguistically diverse environments and lead debate within organisations on criminal justice policy, process and research issues.
You'll be prepared for a career in:
- policing and prosecution
- courts management
- customs and border protection
- youth justice
- justice policy
- law enforcement and policing
- mediation
- prisons administration
- private security firms
- security management
- social research
Admissions
You must have:
- successfully completed an Australian bachelor degree (or equivalent overseas qualification)
OR - undertaken at least 5 years of work experience or professional practice in a related field.
To have your professional experience considered you must submit with your application a CV and a personal statement detailing your experience.
You must have successfully completed an Australian bachelor degree (or equivalent overseas qualification).
You may also be considered if you have at least 5 years of work experience or professional practise in a related field.
Entry requirements
To study this program you will need to complete one of the following English proficiency tests:
- IELTS (Academic): minimum overall band of 6.5 (with no individual band below 6.0)
- TOEFL (Internet Based Test - IBT): minimum overall score of 79 (with minimum of 13 in Reading, 12 in Listening, 18 in Speaking and 21 in Writing)
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) (PTE (A)): minimum score of 58 (with no communication band less than 50)
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE): minimum of 176 with no less than 169 in any component.
For detailed information on English language requirements and other proficiency tests recognised by RMIT, visit English language requirements and equivalency information.
Don't meet the English language test scores? Complete an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Advanced Plus Certificate at RMIT English Worldwide.
NDIS Worker Screening Check*
You may be required to apply for, and receive an acceptable NDIS Worker Screening Check prior to undertaking professional placement with an NDIS provider as part of this program.
*All relevant screening and compliance check fees are the responsibility of the student.
NDIS Worker Screening Check*
Applicants may be required to apply for, and receive an acceptable NDIS Worker Screening Check prior to undertaking professional placement with an NDIS provider as part of this program.
*All relevant screening and compliance check fees are the responsibility of the student.
Pathways
If you have successfully completed one of the following qualifications majoring in justice studies, criminology, criminal justice, legal studies, law or criminal psychology you may be eligible for advanced standing as follows:
Qualification level |
Advanced standing |
Remaining program duration |
Bachelor degree |
48 credit points (equivalent to one semester full time study) |
144 credit points (equivalent to three semesters full time study) |
Bachelor honours degree |
96 credit points (equivalent to two semesters full time study) |
96 credit points (equivalent to two semesters full time study) |
Graduate certificate |
48 credit points (equivalent to one semester full time study) |
144 credit points (equivalent to three semesters full time study) |
Graduate diploma |
96 credit points (equivalent to two semesters full time study) |
96 credit points (equivalent to two semesters full time study) |
Credit
Applicants with a bachelor honours degree, graduate certificate, graduate diploma or masters degree qualification majoring in a different discipline may also be eligible for credit transfer of up to 48 credit points (equivalent to one semester full-time study).
You may be eligible for advanced standing up to a maximum of 2 semesters (equivalent to 96 credits points). Eligibility for advanced standing is based on your previous studies and is assessed on a case by case basis.
Learn more about eligibility for credit transfer and recognition of prior learning.
Coming from a partner institution?
RMIT has pathway arrangements with many partner institutions around the world.
If your institution has a pathway arrangement with RMIT you may be able to receive credit and reduce the time it will take to complete your preferred RMIT program.
Find out if your institution has a pathway arrangement with RMIT
If you have qualifications from an institution that is not an RMIT partner, credit into your RMIT program will be assessed on a case by case basis.
Fees
2022 indicative fees
Full-fee places: AU$24,960.
Additional expenses
- Student services and amenities fee (SSAF): AU$315 maximum fee for 2022.
- Other items related to your program, including field trips, textbooks and equipment.
Annual fee adjustment
Amounts quoted are indicative fees per annum, and are based on a standard year of full-time study (96 credit points). A proportionate fee applies for more or less than the full-time study load.
Fees are adjusted on an annual basis and these fees should only be used as a guide.
Defer your payment
This program is offered on a full-fee paying basis only. If you are offered a place, you will need to pay the full tuition costs of your program. However, eligible students (such as Australian citizens or holders of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa) may apply to defer payment of some or all of their tuition fees via the Commonwealth Government’s FEE-HELP loan scheme.
Learn more about fees for postgraduate study.
Payments and refunds
For information on how to pay your fees or how to apply for a refund, please see Paying your fees and applying for refunds.
Eligible students (such as Australian citizens or holders of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa) may apply to defer payment of some or all of their tuition fees via the Commonwealth Government’s FEE-HELP loan scheme.
How does a HELP loan work?
If your FEE-HELP and/or SA-HELP loan application is successful, the Australian Government will pay RMIT, on your behalf, up to 100% of your fees. This amount will become part of your accumulated HELP debt.
You only start repaying your accumulated HELP debt to the Australian Government once you earn above the minimum income threshold for repayment, which is set each year by the Australian Government (this also applies if you are still studying). The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will calculate your compulsory repayment for the year and include this on your income tax notice.
For more information about loan repayment options see Commonwealth assistance (HELP loans) or Study Assist.
This program is approved for income support.
You may be eligible for student income support payments from the Commonwealth Government if you are undertaking a graduate certificate, graduate diploma or an approved professionally oriented masters by coursework program. For more information see Income support for Masters students.
If you are enrolled in an eligible program you will also need to satisfy all other student payment eligibility requirements. You can contact Centrelink or Services Australia for further information about student income support entitlements, your eligibility and how to apply.
In addition to tuition fees, you will be charged an annual student services and amenities fee (SSAF), which is used to maintain and enhance services and amenities that improve your experience as an RMIT student.
The SSAF is calculated based on your enrolment load and the maximum fee for 2022 is $315.
For more information about calculating your actual SSAF see Paying SSAF.
You may also be required to purchase other items related to your program, including field trips, textbooks and equipment. These additional fees and expenses vary from program to program.
The annual tuition fee for 2022 is AU$33,600.
The total indicative tuition fee for 2022 commencement is AU$69,120.
In addition to tuition fees you also need to pay for:
- Student services and amenities fee (SSAF) in each calendar year.
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) - Student visa holders must have cover for the total duration of their visa.
- Some programs incur additional expenses.
You also need to account for your living expenses. Estimate the cost of living in Melbourne.
Applying for refunds
For information on how to apply for a refund as a continuing international student, please see Refunds.
Looking for answers or more general infomation?
For frequently asked questions or how to find more information regarding applications and enrolments, fees, student support services, university policies and more, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions.