What do you study in criminology?
Criminology examines crime and the social and institutional responses to it. Sociolegal studies examine legal phenomena through the social sciences. These fields therefore allow you to study institutions, policies and the relationships between law and society, not just criminal cases.
Two areas deserve particular attention: understanding and analysis, on the one hand, and working directly with people, on the other. Their prominence varies by curriculum. At Laval, the bachelor’s degree includes a clinical intervention placement. At Toronto, the graduate studies overview emphasizes analysis and research in criminology and sociolegal studies.
Methods matter as much as the subject itself. The University of Alberta’s field placement stream, for example, includes courses in social statistics, methodology and the administration of criminal justice in Canada. If the discipline appeals to you, also ask yourself whether you want to learn to analyse data, evaluate scholarly research or develop intervention skills.
Criminology, policing, law and forensic science: distinct pathways
Working on justice-related issues does not always involve the same training. This distinction is crucial if you already have a career in mind.
| Your goal | The distinction to remember |
|---|---|
| Understand crime and institutional responses | This is a central focus of criminology; then compare the roles of research and intervention. |
| Become a police officer | A criminology degree does not replace police recruitment and training requirements. |
| Become a lawyer | Courses dealing with law do not replace the pathway required to enter the profession. |
| Work with physical evidence and scientific analysis | Do not confuse criminology with forensic science; examine the technical skills required for your intended occupation. |
In Quebec, the police career pathway presented by the government includes, among other requirements, eligible training in police technology, basic police patrol training at the École nationale de police du Québec and Canadian citizenship. This summary is not exhaustive and does not describe the rules of every police service in Canada.
Also in Quebec, the usual pathway to becoming a lawyer involves a bachelor’s degree in law, the École du Barreau and an articling placement, subject to other regulated pathways. Finally, Toronto specifies that its graduate program in criminology and sociolegal studies provides neither forensic science training nor professional legal training. This clarification concerns that program and does not, on its own, define every Canadian curriculum.
Universities and programs
The following three universities illustrate different educational options. This selection is neither a ranking nor an exhaustive inventory. A program’s presence in a calendar does not confirm your eligibility or the requirements applicable to your intake.
Université Laval: examining the role of intervention
At Université Laval, the Baccalauréat en criminologie leads to a B.A. It comprises 90 credits, with an estimated duration of three years of full-time study. It includes a mandatory 12-credit activity combining a clinical intervention placement and an integration seminar.
This is an example worth examining if you want a program that includes intervention experience. However, you must factor placement constraints into your plans: some settings may be far away, and access is subject to specific requirements.
University of Toronto: understanding admission to the major
The University of Toronto offers, among other options, Criminology and Sociolegal Studies - Major (Arts Program) within a curriculum leading to the HBA.
Admission to this major is selective and requires 4.0 prior university credits, under Toronto’s system. The calendar also requires 2.0 credits in designated subjects and excludes applicants whose average in those courses is below 70%. Meeting this minimum does not guarantee admission: capacity is limited, and the selection threshold varies with the applicant pool and available places. Consult the major’s calendar for the list of subjects and applicable procedures.
Admission to the university therefore does not mean you have already been admitted to this major.
University of Alberta: distinguishing coursework from placements
At the University of Alberta, the Bachelor of Arts in Criminology offers Course Based and Field Placement streams.
The latter involves an additional application and selection process after admission to criminology. If field experience is your priority, ask about this second stage: admission to the degree does not guarantee access to the field placement stream.
Certificate, major or master’s degree: what does each mean for your plans?
The same word in two program titles does not mean that the programs serve the same purpose.
At Laval, the Certificat en criminologie comprises 30 credits, with an estimated duration of one year of full-time study. The university specifies that it does not provide access to the reserved title of criminologist. You should therefore not treat it as equivalent to the bachelor’s degree if you intend to enter a regulated profession.
At Toronto, the major must be understood within the structure of the complete degree, with its own admission requirements. Before comparing its size with that of a Quebec bachelor’s degree, examine the requirements of each degree rather than relying solely on the number of credits.
For further study at the graduate level, Toronto also offers Criminology and Sociolegal Studies, leading to the MA. The 2026-2027 calendar sets admission requirements specific to this level, including an appropriate prior university degree. A similarly named undergraduate program is not enough to establish automatic admission to a master’s program.
The right approach is to ask, “What exactly will this program enable me to do next in my educational or professional pathway?” rather than comparing only its duration or name.
In Quebec, a degree alone does not entitle you to use the title of criminologist
The title of criminologist is reserved in Quebec. Section 36 b) of the Professional Code requires a valid permit and entry on the roll of the Ordre professionnel des criminologues du Québec to use this title. Laval’s bachelor’s degree provides one pathway to access, but earning the degree does not replace the professional registration steps.
This distinction becomes particularly important if you plan to study elsewhere and then work in Quebec. Do not assume that a degree containing the word “criminology” provides the same rights: ask the regulator how your education would be assessed.
You must also keep three questions separate: being admitted to a program, meeting professional requirements and holding the necessary authorization to stay in Canada. A favourable answer to one does not resolve the other two. The Quebec regulations presented here should not be generalized to all of Canada.
Admission and placements: questions to ask before choosing
The Toronto and Alberta examples show why you need to distinguish initial admission from access to a selective component of the program. At Laval, constraints also concern acceptance by a placement setting: a declaration of criminal history is required, and certain circumstances may prevent access to a setting. Health requirements also apply; placements may take place outside the Québec City region.
Before applying, obtain answers specific to your previous qualification, your admission category and your intake:
- What prerequisites and proof of language proficiency are required?
- Is there a selection process after entering the university?
- Is the placement mandatory, optional or available through selection?
- What procedures, travel constraints and host-setting requirements should you anticipate?
- If your goal is the professional title, what steps will follow the degree?
These checks allow you to compare the actual opportunities offered by the pathway, beyond its title.
What career opportunities can you consider?
The Quebec government’s occupational profile describes several possible responsibilities: working with offenders or victims, providing support through the judicial process, prevention, analysing the effects of crime and designing assistance programs. These activities do not mean that all graduates automatically gain access to the same positions.
Research and analysis are another direction. Toronto presents its graduate program as relevant to research, teaching and roles requiring a critical reading of criminological or sociolegal research. This describes an educational objective, not a guarantee of employment.
Be cautious with salary figures. The Canadian Job Bank profile entitled “Criminologist” uses NOC 41409, which groups together several social science occupations. Its statistics therefore do not describe criminologists exclusively, much less the starting salaries of new graduates.
To refine your plans, compare job postings for a specific role and province. Note the qualifications, experience and any professional requirements requested, then compare them with your intended curriculum.
What budget should you plan for, based on your status?
One university’s fees do not constitute a national rate. As an example, Laval publishes the following amounts for 30 undergraduate credits in 2026-2027:
| Category in Laval’s table | Published amount in CAD |
|---|---|
| International students without an exemption | $28,232.96 |
| French or French-speaking Belgian students eligible under the agreements | $10,868.96 |
These amounts include tuition and certain university fees. The deposit is included: do not add it a second time. Rates may change without notice.
This is an institutional reference point, not a personalized quote for your program. The rate associated with the agreements is not granted indiscriminately to all French-speaking students. These international examples also do not describe tuition fees for Canadian students.
Add housing, food, insurance, personal expenses and travel or a possible move related to the placement to your calculations. To compare two institutions, use the same academic year, a comparable course load and your actual fee status. Deduct an exemption or financial aid only after your eligibility has been confirmed.
International students: distinguishing admission from a study permit
According to the IRCC instructions consulted on October 24, 2026, a study permit application requires, among other documents, a letter of acceptance and proof of financial support. A provincial or territorial attestation letter is required in most cases, subject to exceptions. In Quebec, the procedures include the Certificat d’acceptation du Québec — CAQ.
For applications submitted on or after September 1, 2026, IRCC specifies proof of living expenses of CAD 23,448 per year for one person outside Quebec, excluding tuition and transportation. This is an administrative minimum, not a guarantee of a sufficient budget in every situation. Quebec applies its own financial requirements: this amount must not be used as the threshold for plans to study at Laval.
This information is general and does not constitute individual advice. Consult the official instructions applicable when you submit your application.
To decide between several programs, start with your goal—intervention, analysis or research—then check, in turn, the degree, access to placements, professional requirements and the full cost. This alignment, more than the title alone, should guide your choice.