Information on this page is for Australian residents
Course not available to international students
ATAR:
Not required*
*Offers made in 2022. More about ATAR
Duration: 
4.5 years full time or longer for part time
Location: 
City Campus
Online Real Time
Delivery mode: 
In person
Online Real Time
Application due dates:
Applications are not being taken at this time.
Register your interest

Overview

Complete a Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Criminology at Victoria University, and establish your place as a leading lawyer, communicator and researcher.

As a top student in our Bachelor of Laws/Criminology, you have an outstanding opportunity to gain recognition for your achievements and to study, in depth, an area of your choosing through our honours program.

You will extend your knowledge of crime prevention, investigation, sentencing and security, with a challenging but very rewarding dissertation.

As an honours student, you will stand out among your peers in a competitive job market, and graduate prepared to undertake a PhD.

On graduation, you may aim to work as a lawyer in a top-tier law firm or an adviser in a community organisation. We give you the broad knowledge and professional qualifications to choose your own path.

The Bachelor of Laws satisfies the academic requirements to become an Australian Lawyer, as required by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board (VLAB). In order to become an Australian Lawyer, you'll also need to complete Practical Legal Training or an equivalent.

While studying the compulsory academic requirements to practise law, you will also become work-ready through authentic experiences with public-sector authorities such as the Magistrates’ Courts, and private law firms.

Learn to apply your law and criminology study in simulated workplace environments and tasks, including:

  • advising clients
  • resolving disputes
  • mediation
  • using principled persuasion.

You may also take part in our renowned moot program, and gain invaluable experience through our Supreme Court and County Court internship programs. We offer placement opportunities at Victoria Police, Legal Aid or Westjustice Sunshine Youth Office, among many others.

Our Queen Street law hub on our City Campus is in the heart of Melbourne's legal district.

Our dedicated law building features:

  • specialised law library
  • legal research centres including the Sir Zelman Cowen Centre
  • mooting court
  • computer labs, student lounges, study spaces and a prayer room.

You’ll gain real insight into legal practice and start building networks for your future career.

If you’d like a dynamic and fulfilling job in law, learn from the best at VU.

Our lecturers and adjunct professors include some of Australia’s most reputable legal professionals, sharing their many years of experience and knowledge. They include:

At VU you can spend part of your degree studying overseas all while gaining credits towards your course.

Immerse yourself in a new culture and learn from a new perspective, while building experiences that will help you to stand out in the competitive job market.

VU student stories – life as a Law student - Transcript

Careers

When you graduate from a Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/ Bachelor of Criminology at Victoria University, you’ll be in high demand because we’ll make sure you’re job-ready.

Your honours qualification will help you to establish your position as a top law graduate, and allow you to progress to postgraduate study and career in academia, should you choose that path.

You could work as a lawyer or in legal practice in areas including criminal law, family law, commercial law and business. Many of our graduates choose to work in community legal centres providing legal access to disadvantaged groups, and in not-for-profit organisations.

Roles in the legal field include:

  • solicitor
  • lawyer
  • policy adviser
  • legal adviser
  • human-rights advocate.

Your qualification will be widely recognised in areas including:

  • forensic work
  • police work
  • community legal settings
  • legal aid
  • security and intelligence organisations
  • paralegal work
  • youth justice
  • correctional services
  • community services.

Salaries

Use Labour Market Insights to find average salaries in Australia for various law/legal professions:

What gives VU law students the edge?

What gives VU law students the edge?

Denis Nelthorpe, CEO of WEstjustice, says VU graduates are very well-rounded.

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Course structure

To attain the awards of Bachelor of Law (Hons) / Bachelor of Criminology students will be required to complete in total 432 credit points consisting of:
-
96 credit points of First Year Core studies
-
156 credit points of Professional Core Law study
-
120 credit points of Professional Core Criminology studies
-
24 credit points of Honours units in the final year of study
- 36 credit points of Elective studies

First Year Core Units

Year 2

Year 3

12 credit points of Law Elective studies

Year 4

12 credit points of Law Elective studies

Year 5

12 credit points of Law Elective studies

Law Elective Units

We are the first Australian university to use a 'block' model of learning, where you study one unit at a time rather than juggling several at once.

Introduced in 2018, the VU Block Model has improved our student results and achievements, and has won awards for innovation and excellence. Initially for first-year students, it now applies to all students studying at our Melbourne campuses.

You'll study in short bursts, called blocks, of three 2-3 hour face-to-face teaching sessions per week.

Each block focuses on one unit (subject) and is only four weeks long, with up to four days between. Our two semesters have four blocks each, and there are optional blocks over winter and summer where you can catch up on a missed unit.

Some courses have labs and pracs too, and these are generally scheduled on the same days as teaching sessions. There are also workshops where you'll develop your study skills and prepare for your future career.

Find out more about the VU Block Model.

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Integrate conceptual and practical understandings of criminology, the Australian legal system, and fundamental areas of legal knowledge and relevant advanced specialist bodies of knowledge within the discipline of law;  
  2. Critically review, analyse, adapt and apply broad and coherent theoretical and technical knowledge of law and criminology and underlying principles and concepts in diverse contemporary local and international and comparative contexts;  
  3. Identify, articulate and respond to legal and criminological issues by critically analysing and applying information with initiative and judgement in order to both anticipate and creatively solve problems and promote justice in authentic/contemporary professional, community and global settings;  
  4. Exhibit professional accountabilities and ethical judgement, by evaluating, synthesising and adapting knowledge, skills, criminological and legal reasoning and research to make appropriate responses to legal issues that reflect the social, political and contextual factors;  
  5. Communicate a clear, coherent and independent exposition of knowledge and skills appropriate for legal and non-legal audiences, in both oral and written form;  
  6. Integrate conceptual understandings of the Australian legal system, fundamental areas of legal knowledge and relevant advanced specialist bodies of knowledge within the discipline of law and criminology, which supports lifelong learning and pathways to ongoing professional development;  
  7. Critically review, analyse, adapt and apply broad and coherent theoretical and technical knowledge of law, criminology and underlying principles and concepts in diverse contemporary local and international and comparative contexts;  
  8. Contribute effectively, with personal accountability for outcomes in a dynamic 21st century work team, working in an ethical and socially responsible manner; and,  
  9. Plan and execute a research project, professional project or piece of scholarship which demonstrates intellectual independence and contributes to the evidence base within the legal discipline.  

What's a unit?

A unit or 'subject' is the actual class you'll attend in the process of completing a course.

Most courses have a mixture of compulsory 'core' units that you need to take and optional elective units that you can choose to take based on your area of interest, expertise or experience.

Credits

Each unit is worth a set amount of study credits based on the amount of time you study. Generally, 1 credit is equal to 1 hour of study per week.

Fees & scholarships

Fee type definitions

The amount you pay for your course depends on whether you’re offered a Commonwealth supported place (CSP) or a full fee-paying place.

Students who enrol in a:

In addition to your tuition fees, you may also be charged a Student Services & Amenities Fee (SSAF).

Scholarships & assistance

Apply for a scholarship to help with your study costs.

We can help with fee assistance and advice.

Admissions

Victoria University is committed to providing a transparent admissions process. Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency.

Applicants for this course will need to have met the academic requirements and prerequisites for this course outlined below.

Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee entry into this course. Past academic performance may be considered.

Admission criteria

The minimum criteria for admission varies depending on your education background. If you’re not sure which criteria applies to you, use the help tool on this page or make an enquiry and we can assist.

Applicants with recent secondary education (within the last 2 years)

  • Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (e.g. VCE) or
  • an Australian or overseas equivalent or
  • an International Baccalaureate (IB).

Importance of ATAR for this course

ATAR+

We consider both ATAR and other criteria

NA

ATAR is not a consideration. We use other criteria

Admission criteria

Find out if you meet the admission criteria for a bachelor degree at VU.

Why is ATAR not applicable?

You will not need an ATAR score to meet the admission requirements for this course. Only the successful completion of your secondary school studies, and any additional prerequisites. Our courses and support programs are designed to prepare students from diverse cultures for success, regardless of their prior experience, ATAR, age, socioeconomic or educational background.

Special admission programs

Our special admission programs cover a range of access and equity schemes that allow applicants from participating schools or disadvantaged social, economic or cultural environments to receive additional consideration. These include:

Applicants with vocational education and training (VET/TAFE) study

This information is for people who have completed an accredited award at an Australian Registered Training Organisation.

Admission criteria

Find out if you meet the admission criteria for a bachelor degree at VU.

Special admission programs

Our special admission programs cover a range of access and equity schemes that allow applicants from participating schools or disadvantaged social, economic or cultural environments to receive additional consideration. These include:

Applicants with higher education study

This information is for people whose highest level of study since leaving secondary education is a higher education course.

Admission criteria

Students in any Bachelor of Laws may apply to transfer into the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree once they have completed a minimum 192 credit points and have attained an average mark of Distinction or above i.e. 70–100%. Applicants will be assessed on the highest grades achieved in the top 12 Law units. Successful applicants will enrol in both Advanced Research Legal Methods and Advanced Legal Research Dissertation instead of 24 credit points of law electives.

Special admission programs

Our special admission programs cover a range of access and equity schemes that allow applicants from participating schools or disadvantaged social, economic or cultural environments to receive additional consideration. These include:

Applicants with work & life experience

This information is for applicants who left secondary school more than two years ago and who have not undertaken VET or higher education study since then.

Admission criteria

Find out if you meet the admission criteria for a bachelor degree at VU.

Special admission programs

Our special admission programs cover a range of access and equity schemes that allow applicants from participating schools or disadvantaged social, economic or cultural environments to receive additional consideration. These include:

Additional information

Students are requested to discuss their application with the unit convenor and a college based or college affiliated potential supervisor. Students must have at least 2 law electives available and once enrolled must undertake both Advanced Legal Research Methods and Advanced Legal Research Dissertation.

Selection criteria assistance

Let us know which qualifications you have studied and we will help you find the admission information that most applies to you.

Which of the following qualifications have you studied, or are currently studying?

Still not sure? Make an enquiry and one of our advisors can assist.

Student profile

No student profile information available for this study period. This is a new course.

Pathways & credits

There are many ways you can start your education journey at VU. Pathways offer an easy transition between courses at different levels, so that you can start with a certificate and progress right through to postgraduate study.

Use our credit calculator to find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.

If you have completed study with another university or institution and believe you are eligible to receive credit for skills and past study, you can apply for advanced standing.

Applications for advanced standing can be made after a discussion with your course chair or academic adviser.

Credit Calculator

Find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.

CALCULATE YOUR CREDIT

How to apply

Applications for this course are not being taken at this time.

Browse our other Law & justice courses or send us an enquiry to be notified of updates relating to this course.

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Get help

At Victoria University, we aim to display accurate and complete course information online. However, we are unable to guarantee that every course change is currently displayed. You may contact the University directly on +61 3 9919 6100 to confirm the most up-to-date course fees, pathways and credit transfer, recognition of prior learning, admission and enrolment procedures, examinations and services available to our students.