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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
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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Community Criminal Justice - BA (Hons)/BA Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Canada
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
17,099 USD
Fee in university's local currency 21,383 CAD
- Start date
- January, September, May
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Criminal Justice - BSc Indiana Wesleyan University, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
28,184 USD
Fee in university's local currency 28,184 USD
- Start date
- September
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Criminal Justice - BSc Midway University, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
24,500 USD
Fee in university's local currency 24,500 USD
- Start date
- August, January
-
Criminal Justice - BA Felician University, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
33,750 USD
Fee in university's local currency 33,750 USD
- Start date
- September, January
-
Criminal Justice - BA Monmouth University, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
37,438 USD
Fee in university's local currency 37,438 USD
- Start date
- September, January
Associate in justice services
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Criminal Justice - ASc Southwestern Oregon Community College, USA
- Program type
- Associate
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
10,791 USD
Fee in university's local currency 10,791 USD
- Start date
- September, June, March, January
-
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
- September, August, June, February, January
-
Criminal Justice - ASc 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
- September, January
-
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
-
Criminal Justice - AA Moraine Valley Community College, USA
- Program type
- Associate
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
9,408 USD
Fee in university's local currency 9,408 USD
- Start date
- January, August, June
Diploma in justice services
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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
-
12,324 USD
Fee in university's local currency 15,412 CAD
- Start date
- January
-
Criminal and Social Justice (Vernon Campus) - Dip Okanagan College, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate diploma
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
11,547 USD
Fee in university's local currency 14,440 CAD
- Start date
- January, September
-
Criminal Justice - Dip University of the Fraser Valley, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate diploma
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
15,113 USD
Fee in university's local currency 18,900 CAD
- Start date
- September, January
Certificate in justice services
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Community, Crime & Social Justice (CCSJ) - Cert Coast Mountain College, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate certificate
- Duration
- 1 year
- Annual tuition fee
-
10,231 USD
Fee in university's local currency 12,794 CAD
- Start date
- September, January
-
Criminal Justice Studies - Cert Douglas College, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate certificate
- Duration
- 18 months
- Annual tuition fee
-
14,394 USD
Fee in university's local currency 18,000 CAD
- Start date
- September, May, January
Justice services graduate programs
Master's in justice services
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Communication and Social Justice - MA University of Windsor, Canada
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
14,869 USD
Fee in university's local currency 18,594 CAD
- Start date
- September, January
-
Comparative Criminology and Criminal Justice - MA Maynooth University, Ireland
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 1 year
- Annual tuition fee
-
17,973 USD
Fee in university's local currency 15,000 EUR
- Start date
- September
-
Criminal Justice - MCJ National University, USA
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
15,912 USD
Fee in university's local currency 15,912 USD
- Start date
- June, December, November, October, September, August, July
-
Criminal Justice - MSc California State University, Sacramento, USA
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
15,800 USD
Fee in university's local currency 15,800 USD
- Start date
- January
-
Criminal Justice - MA Monmouth University, USA
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
22,000 USD
Fee in university's local currency 22,000 USD
- Start date
- September, January
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
-
Professional Doctorate in Criminal Justice - ProfDoc University of Portsmouth, UK
- Program type
- Doctorate
- Duration
- 4 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
10,726 USD
Fee in university's local currency 7,750 GBP
- Start date
- October
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.
