
Study criminology abroad
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Criminology degrees abroad
Criminology is the study of crime, and looks at the causes, nature, control and prevention of criminal behaviour. A big part of most criminology programs is assessing the impact of crime on society, and how social problems and issues relate to criminality and victimization.
The emphasis on the social aspects of crime mean that studying criminology abroad will give you a unique opportunity to see how different societies and cultures approach criminal behavior.

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Criminology program structure
The curriculum of a criminology program can vary depending on the country and university you study in, so it’s important to look closely at the structure content before you apply to make sure it covers what you expect.
Here are some of the topics you can expect to study during a criminology degree:
- Introduction to criminology
- Crime and society
- Criminal justice
- Controversies in criminology
- Sociology of race and ethnicity
- Criminological research
- Policing
- Criminology dissertation
Most criminology programs will be made up of core modules that you must take, and a number of optional modules that you choose, allowing you to tailor your degree to your interests.
Many criminology programs include the option to include a year abroad, which means you can increase your experience even further. An undergraduate degree in criminology will take between three and four years to complete, and a postgraduate program will be over one or two years.
Why study criminology abroad
Choosing to study criminology abroad not only means you’ll have a much wider choice of programs to choose from, but will also give you a unique perspective on the subject.
As criminology looks at criminal laws, and the relationship between crime and society, what you learn will be closely linked to the country you’re studying in. This means you’ll be able to broaden your understanding, and understand how different cultures approach issues related to crime.
Studying abroad is also a great way to meet new people, experience a new and exciting culture, improve your language skills and improve your CV. Find out more about the benefits of studying abroad here.


Where to study criminology abroad
There are a number of factors worth considering when you’re working out where to study criminology abroad:
- Work out what type of location you want to live and study in. Think about things like the culture, lifestyle and climate; do you want to live in a city with year round sun, or would you prefer a small town environment with a laid back atmosphere?
- Think about where you want to work after you graduate. Your criminology degree may focus on the criminal system and societal issues of the country you’re studying in, so you might find it easier to find a job here at the end of your program.
- If you’re more concerned about the content and reputation of the program, you can base your decision on which universities are highly ranked for criminology and cover the areas that you’re interested in.
Read our guide on how to choose where to study abroad for more help on working out which destination is right for you.
Best countries to study criminology
Best universities to study criminology
The best university to study criminology will be in a country you want to live in, and offer a program that matches your interests and career ambitions.
If you want to study a degree that includes a work placement or internship for example, make sure this is included and offered by the university program you choose.
You should also think about what the university offers outside of the classroom, including sports, societies and other social activities.
Criminology study abroad programs
You can study criminology at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. As an undergraduate you can study a BSc or BA, depending on the university you choose. There is little difference between the two, but a BA may focus more on social subjects and the BSc could be more oriented toward forensic sciences.
As a graduate you can study a master’s degree in criminology, and after this you can choose to study for a doctorate in the form of a PhD or MPhil.
Criminology undergraduate programs
Bachelor's in criminology
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Criminology and Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies - BA Simon Fraser University, Canada
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Annual tuition fee
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35,177 USD
Fee in university's local currency 47,386 CAD
- Start date
- May, September, January
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Sociology and Criminology - BA (Hons) Bournemouth University, UK
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 3 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
20,117 USD
Fee in university's local currency 16,250 GBP
- Start date
- September
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Criminology - BA (Hons) University of Windsor, Canada
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
11,185 USD
Fee in university's local currency 15,100 CAD
- Start date
- May, September, January
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Criminology (Co-Up) - BA (with placement) Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Canada
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 52 months
- Annual tuition fee
-
17,203 USD
Fee in university's local currency 23,224 CAD
- Start date
- January, May, September
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Criminology and Psychology - BCP RMIT University, Australia
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 3 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
22,326 USD
Fee in university's local currency 34,560 AUD
- Start date
- February, July
Associate in criminology
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Criminology - AA Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Canada
- Program type
- Associate
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
16,603 USD
Fee in university's local currency 22,415 CAD
- Start date
- January, May, September
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Criminology - AA Douglas College, Canada
- Program type
- Associate
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
14,491 USD
Fee in university's local currency 19,485 CAD
- Start date
- September, January
-
Criminology - AA Coast Mountain College, Canada
- Program type
- Associate
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
10,434 USD
Fee in university's local currency 14,127 CAD
- Start date
- January, September
Diploma in criminology
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Criminology - Dip Langara College, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate diploma
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
14,176 USD
Fee in university's local currency 19,138 CAD
- Start date
- January, September
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Criminology - UGDip Douglas College, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate diploma
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
14,491 USD
Fee in university's local currency 19,485 CAD
- Start date
- September, January
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Criminology - Dip Coast Mountain College, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate diploma
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
10,434 USD
Fee in university's local currency 14,127 CAD
- Start date
- January, September
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Criminology - UGDip Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate diploma
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
15,839 USD
Fee in university's local currency 21,383 CAD
- Start date
- January, May, September
Certificate in criminology
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Criminology - Cert Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate certificate
- Duration
- 1 year
- Annual tuition fee
-
16,603 USD
Fee in university's local currency 22,415 CAD
- Start date
- January, May, September
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Criminology and Corrections - Cert University of Utah, USA
- Program type
- Undergraduate certificate
- Duration
- 4 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
31,104 USD
Fee in university's local currency 31,104 USD
- Start date
- January, May, August
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Law with Criminology - Cert HE University of Essex, UK
- Program type
- Undergraduate certificate
- Duration
- 16 months
- Annual tuition fee
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7,822 USD
Fee in university's local currency 6,167 GBP
- Start date
- November, February, April, July, September
Criminology graduate programs
Master's in criminology
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Criminology - MA Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 1 year
- Annual tuition fee
-
13,525 USD
Fee in university's local currency 22,670 NZD
- Start date
- January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November
-
Social Research Methods: Criminology - MSc Teesside University, UK
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 1 year
- Annual tuition fee
-
18,650 USD
Fee in university's local currency 15,000 GBP
- Start date
- September
-
Criminology and Criminal Psychology - MSc University of Greenwich, UK
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 1 year
- Annual tuition fee
-
20,675 USD
Fee in university's local currency 16,300 GBP
- Start date
- January, September
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Criminology - MA Simon Fraser University, Canada
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
35,209 USD
Fee in university's local currency 47,429 CAD
- Start date
- September, January
-
Criminology (Distance Learning) - MSc Bath Spa University, UK
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 1 year
- Annual tuition fee
-
19,089 USD
Fee in university's local currency 15,050 GBP
- Start date
- January, February
Doctorate in criminology
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Criminology and Criminal Justice - PhD University of Nebraska Omaha, USA
- Program type
- Doctorate
- Duration
- 3 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
16,374 USD
Fee in university's local currency 16,374 USD
- Start date
- January, May, August
Diploma in criminology
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Criminology and Criminal Justice - PGDip Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand
- Program type
- Postgraduate diploma
- Duration
- 1 year
- Annual tuition fee
-
20,134 USD
Fee in university's local currency 33,746 NZD
- Start date
- February, July
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Criminology and Criminal Psychology - PGDip University of Essex, UK
- Program type
- Postgraduate diploma
- Duration
- 16 months
- Annual tuition fee
-
9,490 USD
Fee in university's local currency 7,482 GBP
- Start date
- January, April, July, October
Certificate in criminology
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Criminology and Criminal Psychology - PGCert University of Essex, UK
- Program type
- Postgraduate certificate
- Duration
- 8 months
- Annual tuition fee
-
4,745 USD
Fee in university's local currency 3,741 GBP
- Start date
- January, April, July, October

Entry requirements to study criminology abroad
The entry requirements for every criminology program will depend on the university and country you’re applying to, however there are some standard requirements to be aware of:
- Completion of secondary education in your home country, including IB Diploma
- A personal statement that outlines your interest in criminology and your future plans
- Satisfactory English language proficiency test scores
- A bachelor’s degree, usually in criminology or a related field, to study at postgraduate level
Check the requirements for your chosen program carefully before you apply, to see what grades you’ll need. The application process will also be unique to the country, university and program you’re applying to, but you can see the general study abroad application requirements here.
Future criminology careers
A criminology degree opens up a number of career paths and opportunities. Popular careers for criminology graduates include:
- Criminologist
- Police officer
- Corrections officer
- Probation officer
- Prison officer
- Social worker
- Criminal intelligence analyst
- Forensic accountant
Some of these careers may require some additional training, or a master’s level degree. It’s worth considering what career you want after you’ve graduated to better understand the type of program you should study, and what other courses you might need to take.
