USD
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 justice services degrees
How to study justice services abroad
-
University & program search
Find the right program for you and your career aspirations -
Application guidance
We'll get you to the right place to start your application -
Visa & travel advice
Get help after application, all the way to your first day at university
Our team of advisors is ready to support you at every step of your study abroad journey.
Our services are 100% free for students like you because we're funded by universities.
Criminal justice study abroad programs
Justice services undergraduate programs
Bachelor's in justice services
-
Criminal Justice - BA Brescia University College, Canada
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
28,692 USD
Fee in university's local currency 35,929 CAD
- Start date
- January, May, September
-
Community Criminal Justice - BA/BA (Hons) Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Canada
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
17,076 USD
Fee in university's local currency 21,383 CAD
- Start date
- January, May, September
-
Criminal Justice - BSc RMIT University, Australia
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 3 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
20,500 USD
Fee in university's local currency 27,840 AUD
- Start date
- February, July
-
Criminal Justice - Scholars Track - BSc University of Central Florida, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
22,478 USD
Fee in university's local currency 22,478 USD
- Start date
- January, May, August
-
Criminal Justice - BSc University of Nebraska at Kearney, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
14,900 USD
Fee in university's local currency 14,900 USD
- Start date
- January, September
Associate in justice services
-
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
-
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 - 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
- January, September
-
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, January, March, June
-
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
Diploma in justice services
-
Community and Justice Services - UGDip Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate diploma
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
12,308 USD
Fee in university's local currency 15,412 CAD
- Start date
- January
-
Criminal and Social Justice - UGDip College of the Rockies, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate diploma
- Duration
- 20 months
- Annual tuition fee
-
10,941 USD
Fee in university's local currency 13,700 CAD
- Start date
- January, May, September
-
Criminal and Social Justice (Vernon Campus) - Dip Okanagan College, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate diploma
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
11,532 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
-
15,093 USD
Fee in university's local currency 18,900 CAD
- Start date
- January, September
Certificate in justice services
-
Community, Crime & Social Justice - Cert Coast Mountain College, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate certificate
- Duration
- 1 year
- Annual tuition fee
-
10,828 USD
Fee in university's local currency 13,559 CAD
- Start date
- January, September
-
Criminal and Social Justice - Cert College of the Rockies, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate certificate
- Duration
- 10 months
- Annual tuition fee
-
10,941 USD
Fee in university's local currency 13,700 CAD
- Start date
- September
-
Criminal Justice - Cert College of the Desert, USA
- Program type
- Undergraduate certificate
- Duration
- 1 year
- Annual tuition fee
-
7,368 USD
Fee in university's local currency 7,368 USD
- Start date
- August, January
-
Criminal Justice Studies - Cert Douglas College, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate certificate
- Duration
- 18 months
- Annual tuition fee
-
14,375 USD
Fee in university's local currency 18,000 CAD
- Start date
- January, May, September
Justice services graduate programs
Master's in justice services
-
Communication and Social Justice - MA University of Windsor, Canada
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
14,849 USD
Fee in university's local currency 18,594 CAD
- Start date
- January, September
-
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
- January, 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
- January, April, July, September
-
Criminal Justice - MSc Southeast Missouri State University, USA
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
9,990 USD
Fee in university's local currency 9,990 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
Doctorate in justice services
-
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
-
Professional Doctorate in Criminal Justice - ProfDoc University of Portsmouth, UK
- Program type
- Doctorate
- Duration
- 4 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
10,781 USD
Fee in university's local currency 7,750 GBP
- Start date
- October
Diploma in justice services
-
Criminology and Criminal Justice - PGDip Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand
- Program type
- Postgraduate diploma
- Duration
- 1 year
- Annual tuition fee
-
23,464 USD
Fee in university's local currency 33,746 NZD
- Start date
- January
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.
