Criminology Course: Admission 2024, Fees, Syllabus, Entrance Exam, Jobs and Top Colleges

Criminology Courses is an interdisciplinary field that studies Crime, Criminal Behaviour, and the Justice system. This course has gained importance due to the rising number of crimes in India. Criminologists are responsible for examining crime trends, crime figures and criminal activity to develop strategies for reducing crime in society. Criminology is a branch of Sociology and Forensic Scientists also play a major role in the field. The candidates must note that Criminology is not a course but a specialization.

Criminology courses can be pursued at undergraduate, postgraduate and doctorate levels. The duration of a Criminology course depends on the course level. Usually, Criminology UG courses are 3 years and Criminology PG Courses are 2 years. To be eligible for the UG programme, a student must have completed his 10+2 with an aggregate of 50 per cent marks. CUET, IPU CET, and CUET PG, CLAT are some of the entrance exams.

Popular colleges for Criminology degrees are Maharaja's College, University of Mysore, University of Madras, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, National Forensic Sciences University, Kristu Jayanti College, Srinivas University etc. Candidates can gain employment in a variety of other criminology specialisations such as Forensic Experts, Crime Analysts, Criminal Lawyers and Digital Forensic Analysts. Criminal scientists can find work in both public and private organisations.

Some of the top recruiting companies where criminologists are in high demand are Digital Forensics Researchers, Human Rights Agencies, Standard Chartered, Central Police, State Police, Educational Institutions, CBI, Barclays and Amazon. The average starting salary for Criminology courses in India ranges from INR 4 LPA to 12 LPA. 

Criminology Course Highlights

The table below presents some of the important details related to Criminology courses such as Criminology course duration, Criminology course entrance exams, Criminology course average fees, Criminology course average salary, Criminology course top recruiters and Criminology course top job profiles:

Why Pursue Criminology Courses?

There are several reasons why candidates prefer to study Criminology course as a main part of their course. Some of these reasons are listed below:

• The demand for Criminologists has risen with the increasing crime rate in the country as well as across the globe.
• The candidates who wish to join the Armed Forces, the Police Department and Investigation Agencies can pursue the course in order to mentally prepare themselves.
• It can also be pursued by candidates who have a genuine interest in the subject and wish to work in academia.
• Criminology courses are available in several specialisations like Law enforcement, Criminal Ethology, Criminal Justice and Cyber Law. Therefore, Lawyers can pursue this course to gain better insights into the field.
• Journalists and Crime Reporters can also study Criminology. Gaining a holistic understanding of crime and criminals from a different perspective can improve their work performance.
• The salary of an entry-level Criminologist ranges from INR 2.8 LPA to INR 6.5 LPA.

Criminology courses can be opted as a specialization in many courses. The eligibility criteria could be different for each course and course level. The colleges providing courses with criminology as a specialization determine the eligibility criteria for admission of candidates. The entrance exam conducting bodies may also prescribe some additional criteria to shortlist candidates for admission.

Candidates can find below the basic eligibility criteria that have to be fulfilled by candidates who wish to seek admission in courses with criminology as a specialization:

Note: The criminology eligibility criteria mentioned above may vary depending on the college offering the course.

The admission process for criminology courses depends on the level of course and institutions, but typically involves the following steps :

Research:

Check and find a university or college that offers criminology courses and check the eligibility criteria, fees, and number of seats available for the criminology course.

Apply:

Fill out the application form and pay the application fee. Application forms are available for a limited time, so it's best to know the details in advance.

Entrance exam:

Some colleges and Universities may conduct entrance exams for admissions or they may offer admissions on merit-basis. 

Merit list:

Selected candidates will be listed on the merit list.

Admission Process:

Candidates must attend a counselling session at the university to book their seats, submit documents, and pay fees.

There are various undergraduate-level and postgraduate-level entrance exams conducted in India for admission into Criminology courses as a specialization or subject. CUET is a national-level entrance exam for admission into UG-level courses whereas CUET PG is for the PG level. There are many other state-level and university-level entrance exams for Criminology.

Given below are some of the top entrance exams conducted in India at various course levels for admission into courses that involve the study of Criminology:

Note: The criminology course entrance exam dates and schedules may vary depending on the latest updates.

The criminology course syllabus includes topics related to the investigation of crime, gathering of evidence and their scrutiny. It also extends its study to find the root cause of crime and criminal psychology. The criminology syllabus includes both theoretical and practical subjects.

Criminology is covered at various course levels with varying approaches and intensities. However, some main subjects are included in the curriculum of courses offering criminology as a specialization. Some of which is mentioned below:

Note: The syllabus topics of Criminology courses may vary depending on the colleges offering the course.

There are a multitude of colleges in India that offer courses providing Criminology as a specialization. These colleges are located all across India in many developed and developing cities and districts. The candidates are advised to check if the college providing admission in courses offering criminology is recognized by UGC and approved by AICTE.

Top Private Colleges for Criminology

Many private colleges offer BA, BSc, MA and MSc courses with criminology as a specialization. The colleges listed below may provide some or all of the courses involved in criminology. Many candidates prefer private colleges for studying criminology as they provide these courses in various locations in India and also due to their infrastructure and placement training.

Given below are some of the top private colleges that provide courses involving the study of criminology:

Note: The average fees mentioned above may vary.

Top Government Colleges for Criminology Courses

Many candidates prefer government colleges offering courses in criminology as they have affordable fee structures and a good reputation in the job market.

Given below are some of the top government colleges that provide courses involving the study of criminology:

Note: The average fees mentioned above may vary.

There are several online criminal course certificate programmes relating to Criminal Justice, Cybersecurity and Cyber Crime. These programmes are short-term and help in enhancing the skills of the candidates. However, the candidate who wants to pursue a career-oriented course can take admission to Diploma and PG Diploma criminology courses. 

Some of the top online Criminology certificate courses that are provided by different online learning platforms are tabulated below:

To pursue a Criminology course abroad candidates have to follow the admission procedure prescribed by their preferred institute. They have to appear for the language proficiency tests Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and International English Language Testing System (IELTS) for abroad admissions. 

The total expense of the course can go up to INR 50 lakh. The most popular countries for abroad courses are the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Germany and New Zealand.

Given below are some of the colleges abroad that offer the study of Criminology at various course levels:

The candidates who have completed Diploma or UG-level courses can offering the study of Criminology can pursue further studies in the field to enhance their knowledge and job prospects. They can find employment opportunities in government and private sectors.

Criminology Job Profiles

The candidates are advised to use their knowledge of Criminology for constructive activities with ethics and integrity by pursuing jobs that either directly or indirectly contribute to the good of the larger society. Given below are some of the job profiles that can be pursued by candidates who have studied criminology as a part of the course curriculum of their degree:

Criminology Top Recruiters

Candidates who have gained expertise in the field of Criminology are sought after for various jobs in India as well as abroad. The theoretical and practical subjects of Criminology prepare a candidate with the basic knowledge required in the job market.

Given below are some of the Indian organizations that employ graduates who have studied Criminology:

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Here are the frequently asked questions of the criminology course: