Master of Investigations

What is this course about?

CSU's Investigations program is designed to meet the educational needs and enhance the skills of experienced investigators, and to help prepare investigators for management roles.

The Master of Investigations is the only course of its kind offered at an Australian university. The course was developed with extensive industry consultation across law enforcement.

CSU's Australian Graduate School of Policing and Security is ideally positioned to provide advanced studies in this knowledge area, due to its extensive level of industry collaboration and engagement and the academic and professional profile of teaching staff.

The course is structured to facilitate maximum flexibility and completion of elective subjects as study options, enabling them to design their study program to best suit their academic and professional interests.   

Depending on your existing qualifications and career aspirations, you can choose to complete a Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Master degree.

Master of Investigations

The Master degree allows students to complete research based studies. Graduates will be able to identify current issues in the sector and use research to develop best practice policy. They will be able to critically assess current policies and evaluate new and emerging trends. The course allows students to understand existing knowledge in the field and contribute to knowledge and practice in their discipline.

Graduate Diploma of Investigations

The Graduate Diploma of Investigations enables graduates to take a professional approach to work in their field. This course is designed for students currently working or wishing to work in investigations, compliance, regulation, security and law enforcement, who have a sound level of understanding of the technical and strategic elements of investigations. It requires students to absorb and analyse a higher level of practical and theoretical knowledge.

Graduate Certificate in Investigations

This course is designed for students currently working or wishing to work in investigations, compliance, regulation, security and law enforcement, who have a sound level of understanding of the technical and strategic elements of investigations.  The course provides a theoretical and practical foundation for students to develop a best practice approach to investigations management.

Key points

• the courses provide university recognition for professional training and university accredited programs that are relevant and designed in collaboration with the industry
• an important aim of the course is the creation of a recognised, credible qualification for the professional investigator.

Academic expectations

For each 8 point subject at CSU, students should normally expect to spend between 140-160 hours engaged in the specified learning and assessment activities (such as attending lectures or residential schools, assigned readings, tutorial assistance, individual or group research/study, forum activity, workplace learning, assignments or examinations). The student workload for some subjects may vary from these norms as a result of approved course design.

Students will be assessed on the basis of completed assignments, examinations, workplace learning, or other methods as outlined in specific subject outlines.

Where applicable, students are responsible for travel and accommodation costs involved in workplace learning experiences, or attending residential schools (distance education students).

Expectations relating to academic, workplace learning, time and cost requirements for specific subjects are provided in the subject abstracts and in course materials.

Admission requirements

Applicants must:

• be currently employed in an investigation management role (can be police or private sector) and have one of the following:
  1. undergraduate degree in a relevant field, or
  2. more than five years' experience as a police designated detective with associated in-service training, or
  3. more than five years of non-police investigative experience and associated training

English language proficiency

The University has minimum requirements for English language proficiency prior to entry to our courses. Some courses also have a requirement for a higher entry or exit level of English proficiency. More information on English language requirements.

Internet access

CSU places great emphasis on services to its students. It is a leader in the provision of online services and, in particular, the use of the internet in the support of teaching, administration and communications with students.

The online environment is so integrated into all aspects of student life and the learning experience at CSU that the University now assumes that all on campus and distance education students at CSU will have ongoing access to an internet connected computer capable of communicating with CSU online systems.

Students enrolled in Information Technology subjects (i.e. with an ITC subject code) may be required to have additional hardware and/or software that is deemed essential for the completion of the learning activities in that subject.

Apply now

This course is available to commence study in

Session 1; Session 2