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Study justice services abroad
An in-depth guide to studying justice services as an international student.
Criminal justice degrees abroad
A degree in criminal justice is designed to give you an understanding of crime and the criminal justice system. Most programs have a multi-discipline approach covering subjects like criminology, sociology, psychology, social policy and law.
New technologies and changing societal issues have meant that crime has evolved. As a criminal justice student, you’ll study the causes of crime, criminal behavior and how to combat crime. This knowledge will set you up for a career safeguarding the public, supporting victims, protecting the vulnerable, and helping to rehabilitate offenders.
Studying criminal justice abroad means you’ll get to see how different societies and systems approach crime. You can study criminal justice in a number of countries around the world, including the UK, US, Canada and Australia.
Criminal justice program structure
You can study criminal justice at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. As an undergraduate you can study a BSc or BA over three of four years, depending on the program and university. The two programs are usually very similar, but the BA may focus more on social subjects and the BSc could include more science-based modules.
Many universities offer criminal justice degree programs that are combined with another subject, like criminology, law or policing. In the US, you will usually study criminal justice as a major subject alongside other minor concentrations and general studies.
As a graduate, you can study a master’s degree in criminal justice over one or two years, and after this you can choose to study for a doctorate in the form of a PhD or MPhil. Postgraduate programs are often offered in specialist areas of criminal justice and usually focus on research.
Teaching on a criminal justice program will usually be made up of lectures, seminars and workshops, but will also include field trips and the chance to spend time in placements. Most programs will be made up of core modules you have to take, and several electives you can choose to tailor your degree. Some of the most common modules include:
- Crime and society
- Criminology and social policy
- Ethics and diversity in the justice system
- The legal system
- Police powers and the law
- Contemporary debates in criminology
- Youth justice
- Research skills and project
Types of criminal justice degrees
How to study justice services abroad
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Criminal justice study abroad programs
Justice services undergraduate programs
Bachelor's in justice services
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Criminal Justice/Criminology - BSc Maryville University, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
26,070 USD
Fee in university's local currency 26,070 USD
- Start date
- January, August
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Criminal Justice - BA/BSc Eastern New Mexico University, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
8,128 USD
Fee in university's local currency 8,128 USD
- Start date
- January, August
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Criminology and Criminal Justice - BA University of South Carolina, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
33,928 USD
Fee in university's local currency 33,928 USD
- Start date
- January, August
-
Criminology and Criminal Justice (Downtown Phoenix Campus) - BSc Arizona State University, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
29,834 USD
Fee in university's local currency 29,834 USD
- Start date
- January, May, August
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Criminology and Justice: Criminal Justice - BA (Hons) Ontario Tech University, Canada
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
17,266 USD
Fee in university's local currency 21,935 CAD
- Start date
- September
Associate in justice services
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Criminal Justice - AASc Elgin Community College, USA
- Program type
- Associate
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
9,510 USD
Fee in university's local currency 9,510 USD
- Start date
- January, February, June, August, September
-
Social Justice: Gender Studies for Transfer (AA-T) - AA San Jose City College, USA
- Program type
- Associate
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
8,138 USD
Fee in university's local currency 8,138 USD
- Start date
- January, August
-
Criminal Justice - ASc Trine University, USA
- Program type
- Associate
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
9,576 USD
Fee in university's local currency 9,576 USD
- Start date
- August, October, January, March, May
-
Criminal Justice, Applied - AASc Mohawk Valley Community College, USA
- Program type
- Associate
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
6,892 USD
Fee in university's local currency 6,892 USD
- Start date
- January, September
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Criminal Justice - AASc Fox Valley Technical College, USA
- Program type
- Associate
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
6,600 USD
Fee in university's local currency 6,600 USD
- Start date
- August, January
Diploma in justice services
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Criminal Justice - Dip University of the Fraser Valley, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate diploma
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
14,877 USD
Fee in university's local currency 18,900 CAD
- Start date
- January, September
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Community and Justice Services - UGDip Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate diploma
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
12,131 USD
Fee in university's local currency 15,412 CAD
- Start date
- January
Certificate in justice services
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Criminal Justice Studies - Cert Douglas College, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate certificate
- Duration
- 18 months
- Annual tuition fee
-
14,168 USD
Fee in university's local currency 18,000 CAD
- Start date
- January, May, September
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Community, Crime & Social Justice (CCSJ) - Cert Coast Mountain College, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate certificate
- Duration
- 1 year
- Annual tuition fee
-
10,071 USD
Fee in university's local currency 12,794 CAD
- Start date
- January, September
Justice services graduate programs
Master's in justice services
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Criminology and Criminal Justice (Accelerated) - MSc California State University, Long Beach, USA
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
14,604 USD
Fee in university's local currency 14,604 USD
- Start date
- August, January
-
Criminal Justice - MA Keiser University, USA
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
18,912 USD
Fee in university's local currency 18,912 USD
- Start date
- January, August
-
Criminal Justice - MA Stephen F. Austin State University, USA
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 5 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
18,564 USD
Fee in university's local currency 18,564 USD
- Start date
- January, August
-
Criminal Justice - MSc Trine University, USA
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 18 months
- Annual tuition fee
-
9,576 USD
Fee in university's local currency 9,576 USD
- Start date
- August, October, January, March, May
-
Criminal Justice - MA/MSc University of Southern Mississippi, USA
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
10,770 USD
Fee in university's local currency 10,770 USD
- Start date
- January, August
Doctorate in justice services
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Criminal Justice - PhD Texas State University, USA
- Program type
- Doctorate
- Duration
- 3 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
15,164 USD
Fee in university's local currency 15,164 USD
- Start date
- January, August
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Criminal Justice Studies - PhD University of Portsmouth, UK
- Program type
- Doctorate
- Duration
- 6 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
11,131 USD
Fee in university's local currency 8,150 GBP
- Start date
- October, February
Future criminal justice careers
After graduation, you will have the skills necessary to pursue a career in the criminal justice sector. Graduates often find work in probation, prisons, policing or social work - here are some of the most common roles criminal justice students go into:
- Community support officer
- Probation officer
- Prison officer
- Social worker
- Support worker
- Police officer
For some roles, including becoming a police officer, you may need to do additional qualifications or testing before you can apply. If you know what career you want, make sure you choose a program that will give you the skills and qualifications you’ll need.
