Program Overview

Our Postgraduate Qualifying Program is a 5-unit course taught over one trimester. It has been designed as a pathway to a master’s degree for international students who don’t meet the entry requirements for a master’s degree.

This course is suited to you if you:

• don't have the desired results to gain entry to your chosen master’s degree
• need to adapt to the academic requirements in the master’s degree studies
• need additional English language support

After successful completion of this program, you will be able to commence your postgraduate degree studies with confidence at Murdoch University, which has achieved a QS Stars five-star rating.

Course Structure
You will need to complete five units in one trimester. These units are designed to develop your learning techniques, bridge gaps in your unit knowledge, and prepare you for your master’s studies at the University. You can start the program in any trimester during the year. You may extend your program period if you fail a unit and need to re-enrol.

• Academic English - This unit is aimed at providing students from a range of educational backgrounds and cultures with the academic language skills necessary to successfully study at a postgraduate level. These skills will be developed through real-world contexts to specifically prepare students for their postgraduate units. It equips students whose first language is not English with the necessary skills to successfully engage in group work, become more effective communicators when collaborating with others, and gain confidence in building productive relationships.
• Study and Research Skills - This unit aims to develop many of the written and oral presentation skills that students need in preparation for postgraduate study. This unit will develop generic writing and thinking skills that will equip students for success in any tertiary learning environment. Skills include how to begin writing assignments; how to give writing a strong structure; and how to improve the clarity and power of what is written through appropriate word choices.
• Critical Thinking Skills - This unit aims to enable students to develop the critical and analytical thinking skills essential for studying at postgraduate level. Students will learn to critically engage with academic reading material to examine and evaluate the argument of others. Students will learn to identify the difference between critical analysis and description and be able to better formulate an argument effectively in their own writing. Students will participate in interactive workshops to develop confidence in their ability to apply critical thinking strategies. Students will analyse differing viewpoints, challenge the views of others and clearly communicate their own position.
• Quantitative Studies - This unit aims to introduce students to the important quantitative skills that provide a sound understanding in mathematics and statistics that are used in postgraduate study. The principles of data analysis and quantitative techniques will discuss sampling, representations of data, measures of central tendency and dispersion, distributions, correlation, and regression.
• Intercultural Studies - This unit will provide students with an understanding of how to interact, participate and communicate effectively in Australia. Emphasis will be placed on providing students with opportunities to understand their own culture, develop meaningful and empathic understandings of other cultures (with reference to Australia) and how they relate to each other. This unit will also develop knowledge, understanding and intercultural communication skills that will enable students to participate effectively in a range of personal and professional contexts.

Leading to: Master of Criminology
This course will provide you with the skills to understand the fundamental matters of criminology. Whether you have graduated with a degree in criminology or from another discipline area, you will gain in-depth knowledge and skills to analyse contemporary issues challenging today’s criminal justice system. This course also has the option of completing a thesis, giving you the opportunity to specialise in an area of criminology you're passionate about whilst demonstrating your readiness for PhD studies.

As a criminology professional, you will need multidisciplinary and applied skills to investigate complex and evolving issues. You will gain an understanding of criminal behaviour and investigate complex crimes such as cybercrimes and terrorism. You will understand developing criminal justice issues, including how criminal law and evidence responds to new crimes, particularly in the business environment.

If you have industry experience, a graduate certificate or graduate diploma, you can use this to obtain an advanced standing into the Master of Criminology, so you can gain your qualification quicker. 

3 reasons to study a Master of Criminology at Murdoch

1. Murdoch is the only university in Western Australia to offer this unique course.
2. Study the latest developments in criminology theory with critical thinking skills in the context of domestic and international policing.
3. Learn from leading academics who have significant real-world experience to ensure that your learning is at the forefront of professional practice. Some of our academics have worked in prisons treating criminal behaviour, as senior personnel in the Australian Federal Police and with the FBI and other foreign authorities.

Develop your skills

• Gain advanced knowledge of criminological issues, concepts and theories in a range of contexts.
• Develop applied methods to meet practitioner and real-world demands.
• Apply specialist discipline knowledge in practical contexts and gain effective communication skills for the workplace.
• Apply interdisciplinary and intercultural perspective to criminological issues.
• Build professional development skills through optional units in business, research and work placements.