Send me a PDF copyHighlights
- Study your way with the option to complete your degree 100% online, on campus or from a regional university hub.
- Apply your knowledge through community engagement, internships and industry-connected projects.
- Investigate crime and justice issues with ethical rigour, developing strong skills in research, critical analysis and responsible storytelling.
- Create informed, accountable content for realworld audiences, communicating complex justice issues with care, accuracy and social responsibility.
Highlights
- Apply your knowledge through community engagement, internships and industry-connected projects.
- Investigate crime and justice issues with ethical rigour, developing strong skills in research, critical analysis and responsible storytelling.
- Create informed, accountable content for realworld audiences, communicating complex justice issues with care, accuracy and social responsibility.
Why choose this course?
Crime and justice stories play a powerful role in shaping public understanding, influencing policy and affecting communities. In this major, you’ll explore how crime, justice and media intersect, and how stories about these issues are constructed, interpreted and communicated in contemporary society.
You’ll learn how to investigate complex social issues with care and responsibility, developing strong skills in research, critical analysis and ethical storytelling. From analysing media representations of crime to producing investigative and creative nonfiction content, you’ll build the capacity to work with sensitive information in ways that prioritise accuracy, accountability and social impact.
Through applied projects and interdisciplinary learning, you’ll develop the confidence to communicate justicerelated issues clearly and responsibly across digital and written formats.
This major is perfect for you if you’re interested in justice, media and social research, and want to contribute to informed public conversations that support ethical understanding and positive social outcomes.
Real-world learning
Your learning sits at the intersection of criminology, journalism and storytelling. You’ll work with real cases, ethical frameworks and contemporary media formats, while learning alongside students training in journalism and criminology.
The projects you will work on will help you understand the responsibilities involved in researching and communicating sensitive issues.
You’ll also take part in two community engagement units. In your first year, you’ll work with local organisations to understand community needs and opportunities. Later, you’ll apply your skills in a professional setting through a work integrated learning internship, gaining valuable experience in content creation and distribution.
These experiences are designed to help you graduate with practical skills, creative confidence and a strong understanding of how your work can investigate social issues with care.
Explore this course
This major equips you with the skills to critically analyse evidence, narratives and media representations, and learn how stories about crime and justice shape public understanding, policy and community outcomes.
You’ll apply research, analytical writing and storytelling skills to realworld contexts that require sensitivity and accountability. Through creative nonfiction, digital storytelling and reflective analysis, you’ll learn how to work responsibly with sensitive material, challenge misinformation and contribute to informed public conversations about justice, crime and social harm.
You’ll study:
- Ethical investigation and research methods
- Crime, justice and media representation
- Creative nonfiction and digital storytelling
- Misinformation and digital ethics
- Analytical and reflective writing
With careful curation of your complimentary studies, you can tailor your degree to suit your career goals, whether that’s in content advisory, crime investigations or media production roles.
Double degrees
Combine your Bachelor of Arts major with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and graduate with two qualifications in just 5.5 years. This option is ideal if you want to pair your disciplinary expertise with legal knowledge to expand your career opportunities across policy, advocacy and governance.
Careers and outcomes
Graduates from this major are prepared for diverse roles across government, industry, NGOs and community organisations. You’ll be prepared for careers in digital content creation, media production, publishing, social media strategy, community engagement and social research.
Possible careers
- Advocacy campaigner
- Community documentary maker
- Crime and justice writer
- Digital content producer
- Digital ethics lead
- Investigative storyteller
- Justice communications advisor
- Media and engagement officer
- Podcast host
- Social research assistant
In order to complete this course you must complete a total of 288 credit points.
Six core units: 72 credit points
Crime and the Media Major: 96 credit points
QUT You: 24 credit points
Complementary studies 96 credit points chosen from:
- one 96 credit point second major; OR
- one 84 credit point second major and 12 credit points of unit options (electives); OR
- one 72 credit point second major and 24 credit points of unit options (electives); OR
- two 48 credit point minors; OR
- one 48 credit point minor and 48 credit points of unit options (electives)
In order to complete this course you must complete a total of 288 credit points.
Six core units: 72 credit points
Crime and the Media Major: 96 credit points
QUT You: 24 credit points
Complementary studies 96 credit points chosen from:
- one 96 credit point second major; OR
- one 84 credit point second major and 12 credit points of unit options (electives); OR
- one 72 credit point second major and 24 credit points of unit options (electives); OR
- two 48 credit point minors; OR
- one 48 credit point minor and 48 credit points of unit options (electives)
As this is a new course, the threshold will be available mid-January 2027.
- Course code
- BA01
- QTAC code
- 441012
-
- Online
- Kelvin Grove
-
- Kelvin Grove
- 3 years full-time
- 6 years part-time
- 3 years full-time
- February and July
- February and July
Assumed knowledge
Before you start this course, we assume you have sound knowledge of the subject/s listed below. If you don't have the subject knowledge, you can still apply for the course but we strongly encourage you to undertake bridging studies to gain the knowledge:
- English, or Literature, or English and Literature Extension, or English as an Additional Language (Units 3 & 4, C)
Deferment
You can defer your offer and postpone the start of your course for one year.
Select the country where you completed your studies to see a guide to the grades you need to apply for this course.
If your country or qualification is not listed, you can still apply for this course and we will assess your eligibility.
I completed secondary school in Australia
Minimum English language requirements
Select the country where you completed your studies to see a guide on meeting QUT’s English language requirements.
Your scores and prior qualifications in English-speaking countries are considered. Approved English-speaking countries are Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, United States of America and Wales.
If your country or qualification is not listed, you can still apply for this course and we will assess your eligibility.
We accept English language proficiency scores from the following tests undertaken in a secure test centre. Tests must be taken no more than 2 years prior to the QUT course commencement.
| English Test | Overall | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic / One Skill Retake | 6.5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
|
Cambridge C1 Advanced
You must share your results with QUT through the Candidate Results Online website. |
176 | 169 | 169 | 169 | 169 |
| PTE Academic | 58 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| TOEFL iBT Australia Test (120 scale) | 79 | 16 | 16 | 21 | 18 |
Don't have the English language score you need? We can help!
We offer English language programs to improve your English and help you gain entry to this course.
When you apply for this course, we will recommend which English course you should enrol in.
Your actual fees may vary depending on which units you choose. We review fees annually, and they may be subject to increases.
2027 fees
2027: Fee available from October
2027 fees
2027: Fee available from July
HECS-HELP: loans to help you pay for your course fees
You may not have to pay anything upfront if you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan.
You can apply for scholarships to help you with study and living costs.
International Merit Scholarship
A high achievement scholarship for future international undergraduate and postgraduate students.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Academic performance
International Talent Scholarship
A new scholarship for 2026 that covers tuition fees, with eligibility based on your prior academic achievements.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Academic performance
Updates about this course
The Bachelor of Arts (Crime and the Media) is available from 2027
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