Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Science
Blended learning – on-campus and digital learning
The Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Science offers students a course focused on commercial law with emphasis on intellectual property law. As the only double degree in Victoria with this specialisation, students learn about trade marks, patents, copyright, the prohibition of misleading or deceptive conduct and competition law. The course also provides an understanding of complex scientific information.
Students complete law-related professional experience placements and are introduced to the practical aspects of legal practice through moot court scenarios and advocacy exercises.
The combination of degrees equips students with the skills to work within the knowledge economy and information technology businesses, as patent attorneys, and in legal fields specialising in intellectual property, media, and science.
Every international student application is considered for a scholarship
Whether you’re living in Australia or overseas, you’re automatically considered for a scholarship of up to 75% off your course fees. Please check our updated entry requirements.
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Start dates
Hawthorn campus
- Semester 1 - 1 March 2021
- Semester 2 - 2 August 2021
Duration
5 Year/s
Full-time
VTAC codes
- 3400210463 (IFP)
- 3400210461 (CSP)
Faculty
Faculty of Business and Law
CRICOS code
085633G
Fees
A$35200 (annual for 2020)*
The indicative course fees shown in Course Search apply to international students for the relevant year only. They are based on a standard study load per year. However, please note that fees are assessed according to a student's study load in each semester, and variation to study load will result in an adjustment to tuition fees. All fees are subject to annual review and may be adjusted.
International students in Australia who hold student visas are required to study full-time and on campus. Courses that are taught entirely online are only available to international students studying outside Australia or those in Australia who are not on a student visa. Online courses are not available to international students in Australia who hold a student visa.
I wanted to study somewhere with smaller class sizes and not get lost in a sea of other students. Swinburne is one of a few universities that offers a law science double degree – and the focus on intellectual property and technology really captured my interest.
Stuart
Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Science
Course details
- Course structure, work integrated learning, career opportunities and professional recognition.
Course structure
Successful completion of the Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Science requires students to complete units of study to the value of 500 credit points. All units of study are valued at 12.5 credit points unless otherwise stated.
View course rules and special requirements
| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Australian Law and Statutory Interpretation | LAW10010 | 12.5 |
| Contract Law - # Priestley unit | LAW10011 | 12.5 |
| Commercial Law | LAW10013 | 12.5 |
| Torts 1 - # Priestley unit | LAW10014 | 12.5 |
| Criminal Law & Procedure - # Priestley unit | LAW10015 | 12.5 |
| Torts 2 - # Priestley unit | LAW10025 | 12.5 |
| Legal Writing | LAW10026 | 12.5 |
| Evidence - # Priestley unit | LAW20009 | 12.5 |
| Administrative Law - # Priestley unit | LAW20010 | 12.5 |
| Trade Marks and Related Rights * | LAW20011 | 12.5 |
| Federal and State Constitutional Law - # Priestley unit | LAW20012 | 12.5 |
| Property Law - # Priestley unit | LAW20013 | 12.5 |
| Land Law - # Priestley unit | LAW20014 | 12.5 |
| Copyright * | LAW20043 | 12.5 |
| Patents & Designs * | LAW30011 | 12.5 |
| Equity & Trusts * - # Priestley unit | LAW30012 | 12.5 |
| Company Law * - # Priestley unit | LAW30013 | 12.5 |
| Legal Practice & Professional Conduct * - # Priestley unit | LAW30015 | 12.5 |
| Civil Procedure and Alternative Dispute Resolution - # Priestley unit | LAW30029 | 12.5 |
*Outcome unit – completion demonstrates the attainment of course learning outcomes
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| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| Concepts in Biology | BIO10001 | 12.5 |
| Either Introduction to Chemistry | CHE10004 | 12.5 |
| or Chemistry 1 - Requires VCE Maths Methods or equivalent | CHE10001 | 12.5 |
| Either Preliminary Mathematics | MTH00007 | 12.5 |
| or Foundations of Statistics - Requires VCE Maths Methods or equivalent | STA10003 | 12.5 |
| or Digital and Data Systems - Requires VCE Maths Methods or equivalent | ENG10004 | 125 |
| Introduction to E-Science | NPS10001 | 12.5 |
| Grand Challenges in Science | NPS30003 | 12.5 |
| Either Introduction to Physics | PHY10002 | 12.5 |
| or Energy and Motion - Requires VCE Maths Methods or equivalent | PHY10001 | 12.5 |
| Communication for Scientists | NPS20005 | 12.5 |
| Research Skills in Science | NPS30002 | 12.5 |
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Placement for Bachelor of Laws
3 units (0 credit points)
| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Experience in Law 1 | LAW10016 | 0 |
| Professional Experience in Law 2 | LAW20018 | 0 |
| Professional Experience in Law 3 | LAW30016 | 0 |
+
Other studies
5 units (62.5 credit points)
Choose from a combination of the following course components to complete 62.5 credit points of other study. Students may also select elective units (12.5 credit points each).
- Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year
- Part-time study: 50 credit points/four standard units of study per year
- One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study)
- See the course planner for an example degree structure
Course learning outcomes
The Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Science provides an accredited qualification in law whilst enabling learning to be contextualised to the discipline of science. The degree also provides students with a broad, well-rounded legal education that inculcates an understanding of the role the law plays in our society and of how it can assist Australia as a trading nation. This is achieved by addressing policy and ethical issues and incorporating international perspectives in key units and discrete units dealing with international law, the law of some of Australia’s principal trading partners and professional scientific environments.
Upon successfully completing the Bachelor of Laws, the students will be able to:
- describe and demonstrate the application of the fundamental areas of Australian law and the Australian legal system and of the principles and doctrines that underpin them
- describe and demonstrate the application of ethical and professional responsibility in the practice of the law and a commitment to the pursuit of justice
- analyse and evaluate the interdisciplinary contexts in which legal issues arise and the disciplines and policy considerations that influence the content and operation of the law
- describe and compare the international legal order and the law and legal systems of Australia’s major trading partners
- critically evaluate events or factual situations, identify the legal issues to which they give rise and develop and articulate appropriate and creative responses
- undertake and critically evaluate research from a variety of sources to make judgements to solve complex legal problems with intellectual independence
- demonstrate effective and persuasive communication capabilities with legal and non-legal audiences
- communicate proficiently in professional practice to a variety of audiences, function as an effective member or leader of a diverse team and critically reflect on individual performance and professional development.
Upon successfully completing the Bachelor of Science, the students will be able to:
- demonstrate a coherent understanding of science by articulating the methods of science, explain why current scientific knowledge is both contestable and testable by further inquiry and explain the role and relevance of science in society
- exhibit depth and breadth of scientific knowledge by demonstrating well-developed knowledge in at least one science disciplinary area
- critically analyse and solve scientific problems by evaluating information from a range of sources, designing and planning an investigation, selecting and applying practical and theoretical techniques for that investigation and collecting, recording, interpreting and drawing conclusions from scientific data
- effectively communicate science by presenting information or arguments, to a range of audiences, for a range of purposes using a variety of modes
- adopt ownership of their own learning and scientific work by being independent and self-directed learners, working effectively and safely in an individual or team context, demonstrating knowledge of the regulatory framework relevant to the disciplinary area and practising ethical conduct.
Work Integrated Learning
Swinburne's Work Integrated Learning program provides opportunities to gain invaluable skills and confidence in knowing that you have what it takes to land a job in your field by graduation. You can also earn credit towards your degree. Choose from six- or 12-month professional placements, professional internships, industry-linked projects, industry study tours and accreditation placements. Find out more.
Choose a professional placement option:
12 months Six monthsDouble degrees provide the opportunity to complete a placement in your preferred field.
Professional Placement in Law
| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated Professional Placement A – Law | LAW20021 | 25 |
| Integrated Professional Placement B – Law | LAW20022 | 25 |
| Work Experience in Industry A | WEI20001 | 25 |
| Work Experience in Industry B | WEI20002 | 25 |
Professional Placement in Science
| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| Work Experience in Industry A | WEI20001 | 25 |
| Integrated Professional Placement A - Science | NPS20003 | 25 |
| Work Experience in Industry B | WEI20002 | 25 |
| Integrated Professional Placement B - Science | NPS20004 | 25 |
Double degrees provide the opportunity to complete a placement in your preferred field.
Professional Placement in Law
| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| Work Experience in Industry A | WEI20001 | 25 |
| Integrated Professional Placement A – Law | LAW20021 | 25 |
Professional Placement in Science
| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| Work Experience in Industry A | WEI20001 | 25 |
| Integrated Professional Placement A - Science | NPS20003 | 25 |
Note: Some Work Integrated Learning opportunities are not available to international students due to visa restrictions.
Career opportunities
Graduates will have the theoretical and practical knowledge required to operate effectively in diverse settings such as law firms and barristers’ chambers, professional scientific environments, not-for-profit organisations, government, small businesses, corporate organisations and as patent attorneys.
Professional recognition
The Bachelor of Laws satisfies the academic requirements for admission to practice as a lawyer in the Victorian and Australian Federal legal systems as set by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board. Please be advised that non-academic requirements must also be satisfied for admission to practice and that no law degree allows graduates to practise straight away.
Depending on the choice of major, or minor studies, graduates of the Bachelor of Science may be eligible to apply for membership of the following professional societies:
- AusBiotech
- Australian and New Zealand Industrial and Applied Mathematics
- Australian Computer Society (ACS)
- Australian Institute of Physics
- Australian Mathematical Society
- Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB)
- Australian Society for Microbiology (ASM)
- Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC)
- Environmental Health Australia
- Environmental Institute of Australia
- Genetics Society of AustralAsia (GSA)
- National Business Leaders Forum for Sustainable Development
- Professionals Australia
- Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI)
- Sustainability Practitioners Association (SPA)
Scholarships
At Swinburne scholarships are about providing opportunity, promoting equity and recognising excellence and achievement. Scholarships are available for both commencing and current students.
How to enter this course
- Entry requirements and English language requirements.
How to apply
Find out more about how to apply.
View the Course Admission Information, which includes the ATAR and Student profiles for this course. Swinburne’s general admissions information is also available here.