Graduate Certificate in Justice and Criminology

Graduate Certificate in Justice and Criminology

POSTGRADUATE

Gain new skills in the field of justice and criminology, and explore this exciting, challenging and essential field.

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Student type:
Learning mode:
On campus
Entry score:

Not applicable

Duration:
Full-time 6 months
Part-time 1 year
Fees:

AU$14,400 (2025 total)

Next intake:
February, July
Location:
Melbourne City
Learning mode:
On campus
Entry score:

See admissions

Duration:
Full-time 6 months
Fees:

AU$18,720 (2025 total)

Next intake:
February, July
Location:
Melbourne City

Overview

Designed by leading academics and industry professionals, the Graduate Certificate in Justice and Criminology reflects the latest debates, issues and approaches to global, national and local justice activities and processes.

With a strong vocational focus, this certificate 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

Why choose the Graduate Certificate in Justice and Criminology at RMIT?

Industry input

Benefit from justice sector involvement in design, development and delivery, ensuring continued relevance.

Industry experience

Students can undertake internships and field projects and simulated activities representing real workplace scenarios.

Career-focused

Upskill with an education that strongly links formal learning with professional or vocational practice.

This graduate certificate 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 subjects 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

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Learning and teaching

RMIT offers a variety of learning and teaching approaches including:

  • face-to-face and online lectures
  • workshops
  • tutorials
  • problem-based learning
  • independent research
  • reflective learning techniques.

Assessment methods

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
  • examinations.

Learning at RMIT

The types of classes you have will depend on the course you’re studying. Classes are offered in various formats designed to provide meaningful engagement with staff, industry and peers and provide for access and use of spaces where learning can be applied and active, including an array of specialised equipment.

Most RMIT courses do not include passive large-scale classes such as lectures, instead the content traditionally provided in lectures is made available online. This may be in the form of readings, videos or other on-demand learning materials. This content will also support the basis of interactive learning that takes place in on-campus classes.

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 certificate. 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 certificate's design, development and delivery. This involvement ensures that the curriculum is vocationally relevant, meets the needs of graduate employers and is up-to-date with latest issues.

Full-time students can expect 12 contact hours per week (either face to face or online), plus a recommended minimum 24 hours of independent study commitment per week.

The knowledge and skills you will acquire throughout this degree and how they can be applied in your career are described in the learning outcomes.

To successfully complete this graduate certificate, you will undertake four core subjects:

  • Criminal Justice Systems
  • Foundations of Law
  • Introduction to Criminology 
  • Policy Making OR an elective subject from the Justice discipline*

*offered to mid-year entry students. 

Course structure

Choose a plan below to find out more about the subjects you will study and the course structure.

Graduate Certificate in Justice and Criminology
Program code: GC195
Title
Location
Duration
Plan code
CRICOS
Graduate Certificate in Justice and Criminology
City Campus
0.5 years full-time or part-time equivalent
GC195
107041B
Location
City Campus
Duration
0.5 years full-time or part-time equivalent
Plan code
GC195
CRICOS
107041B
View plan
Graduate Certificate in Justice and Criminology
City Campus
0.5 years full-time
GC195
107041B
Location
City Campus
Duration
0.5 years full-time
Plan code
GC195
CRICOS
107041B
View plan

Note: International student visa holders can only study full-time.

Career

Graduates of the Graduate Certificate in Justice and Criminology will be prepared to work as practitioners in a variety of professional environments within the public and criminal justice sectors that include:

  • policing and prosecution
  • courts management customs and border protection
  • youth justice
  • justice policy
  • law enforcement and policing
  • prisons administration
  • security management
  • community safety.

Alternatively, you may be interested in pursuing further study with the Master of Justice and Criminology.

Entry requirements and admissions

You need to satisfy all of the following entry requirements to be considered for entry into this degree.

You must have:

  • Successfully completed an Australian bachelor degree (or equivalent overseas qualification), or
  • Significant (minimum 5-years) work experience or professional practice.

To have your professional experience considered you must submit with your application a CV and a personal statement detailing your experience.

*If your qualification was completed more than 10 years ago you will need to provide evidence of ongoing professional work and/or professional development in the same discipline as the program for which you are seeking entry to be granted credit.

There are no prerequisite subjects required for entry into this qualification.

A selection task is not required for entry into this qualification.

You must meet the University's minimum English language requirements to be eligible for a place in this program.

You need to satisfy all of the following requirements to be considered for entry into this degree.

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.

There are no prerequisite subjects required for entry into this qualification.

Statement and CV: If you are applying on the basis of work experience, you must provide a CV and direct applicant statement detailing your experience.

To study this course 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 at RMIT University Pathways (RMIT UP).

Pathways

You can gain entry to this graduate certificate from a range of RMIT undergraduate programs, if you meet the entry requirements.

Credit, recognition of prior learning, professional experience and accreditation from a professional body can reduce your study load by acknowledging your earlier, relevant experience.

Credit and exemptions will be assessed consistent with the principles of the RMIT Credit Policy.

Upon successful completion of this program, you can continue your studies in MC223 Master of Justice and Criminology, subject to the program's entrance requirements and receive 48 credit points of advanced standing into the master program.

You can gain entry into this degree from a range of RMIT undergraduate programs.

Credit

Credit may reduce the duration of your study by acknowledging your earlier, relevant study experience.

When you are submitting an application, please indicate that you want to be considered for credit and provide detailed course syllabus (also known as course outline), outlining volume of learning, course content and weekly topics, learning objectives/outcomes, assessment types and their weightings, and reference to the learning resources such as prescribed textbooks and recommended readings.

Credit and exemptions will be assessed consistent with the principles of the RMIT Credit Policy.

Upon successful completion of this program, you can continue your studies in MC223 Master of Justice and Criminology, subject to the program's entrance requirements and receive 48 credit points of advanced standing into the master program.

Fees

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2025 indicative fees

  • Full-fee places: AU$14,400* (2025 total).

Additional expenses

  • Student services and amenities fee (SSAF): AU$365 maximum fee for 2025*.
  • 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.

Paying your fees and applying for 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.

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 2025 is $365.

You may also be required to purchase other items related to your course, including field trips, textbooks and equipment. These additional fees and expenses vary from course to course.

FEE-HELP loans

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.

SA-HELP Loans

You may be eligible to apply to defer payment of the Student services and amenities fee (SSAF) through the SA-HELP loan scheme. If you use SA-HELP, the amount will be added to your accumulated HELP debt.

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.

RMIT awards more than 2000 scholarships every year to recognise academic achievement and assist students from a variety of backgrounds.

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In addition to tuition fees you also need to pay for:

You also need to account for your living expenses. Estimate the cost of living in Melbourne.

Student services and amenities fee (SSAF)

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 2025 is $365. 

Find out more details about how fees are calculated and the expected annual increase.

Applying for refunds

Find information on how to apply for a refund as a continuing international student.

RMIT awards more than 2000 scholarships every year to recognise academic achievement and assist students from a variety of backgrounds.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Looking for answers or more general information?

Use our Frequently Asked Questions to learn about the application process and its equity access schemes, find out how to accept or defer your offer or request a leave of absence, discover information about your fees, refunds and scholarships, and explore the various student support and advocacy services, as well as how to find out more about your preferred program, and more.

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

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aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.

More information