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: 
5 years full time or longer for part time
Location: 
City Campus
Footscray Park
Delivery mode: 
In person
Application due dates:
Applications are not being taken at this time.
Register your interest

Overview

The Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Arts will equip you with knowledge and skills across two disciplines, allowing you to determine your own individual career path.

This course is designed for students of the Bachelor of Law/Bachelor of Arts who have shown strong academic ability in law.

During this course you’ll study the compulsory academic requirements to practise law, as well as areas of the law which interest you. We make sure you’re work-ready through authentic experiences with public-sector authorities such as the Magistrates’ Courts, and private law firms. When you graduate you'll have the academic requirements in law required to practise law; on completion of the Practical Legal Training requirements you can apply to be admitted to practise law in Australia.

You'll also have the skill, knowledge and professional acumen across a range of Arts specialisations, which will enable you to choose from professions outside of the legal sector, including roles in corporate, government, community and non-government organisations.

An honours degree in law demonstrates high academic achievement, and can be completed in the same timeframe as a Bachelor of Law/Bachelor of Arts.

VU’s Learning Hubs are welcoming spaces where you can improve your study and employability skills.

Our students can attend Learning Hubs at one of five VU campuses.

We offer maths, writing, careers and English-language advice, and show you effective ways to study and manage your time.

Our programs include:

  • workshops
  • drop-in sessions
  • peer mentoring
  • maths and writing resources
  • resume and career guidance.

We also have accessibility support services and counselling services available for all students.

 

Our campus libraries have photocopying, computing and printing facilities as well as electronic and print resources.

You'll also have access to a rich collection of online resources at any time of the day or night, including:

  • databases
  • e-learning content for courses
  • student email
  • student software packages
  • social networking tools.

On campus, we make sure that all of our students have access to digital resources. We offer:

We offer valuable opportunities to network and learn through industry partnerships, and international collaborations with exchange partners.

Our partnerships with Magistrates’ Courts and community legal services let you apply your legal knowledge while you study. Our arts degree extends those opportunities to local councils and the Parliament of Victoria, as well as media organisations.

Some of our major clients, partners and industry associations:

  • ABC
  • Department of Justice, Victoria
  • Law Institute of Victoria
  • Magistrates’ Courts of Victoria
  • Migration Institute of Australia
  • Penguin Books
  • Stary Norton Halphen Lawyers
  • SBS
  • St Vincent de Paul.

In choosing your arts major, you get the exciting opportunity to set up your future career in an area that holds your interest and meets your personal goals.

As well as studying the necessary areas of the law to practise in Australia, you can choose a range of subjects – from Indigenous studies to gender studies, political science to sociology.

Our lecturers and research staff are all experts in their fields. We provide additional guidance from adjunct professors – honorary staff who hold positions in the legal and arts communities.

VU’s adjunct professors 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.

Our law courses are delivered in the heart of Melbourne's legal district, at 295 Queen Street.

This dedicated law campus features:

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

Careers in law and the arts

Your double degree will give you the skills and qualifications to practise law in your chosen area. For example, you could work in the copyright law in the media, or community law specialising in Indigenous, Vietnamese or family issues.

Other job pathways include:

  • lawyer
  • media professional
  • creative arts administrator
  • public servant and policy worker
  • community sector professional
  • strategic communicator
  • manager
  • professional writer.

Salaries

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

Lucky in law

Lucky in law

Meghann Clark’s law degree has taken her all over the world – and given her a great career head start at home.

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Course structure

To attain the Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Arts students will be required to complete 480 credit points consisting of:

- 96 credit points of First Year Core Law units

- 132 credit points of Professional Core Law units
- 36 credit points of Law Elective studies
- 24 credit points of Law Honours studies
- 96 credit points of Arts Major studies 1
AND

- 96 credit points of Arts Major studies 2
OR

- 2 x 48 credit points of Arts Minor studies

- Note: Students are required to complete only one pair of capstone units in their degree (either ACX3005 Graduating Project 1 & ACX3006 Graduating Project 2 or ACX3007 Studio Project 1 & ACX3008 Studio Project 2). Students should select the capstone units offered for their preferred major and then replace the capstone units in the second major with 2 Level three units from a related Discipline major.

To be awarded a Bachelor of Laws with Honours:
Students who enrolled in the Bachelor of Laws prior to 31 Dec 2014 may apply to undertake the unit Advanced Legal Research Dissertation in their later years in this degree based on the aggregate of points attributed to the top two thirds of units so listed shall then be calculated and a grade point average determined. Students will be further assessed on an outline of a proposed thesis topic and availability of a college based or college affiliated supervisor. Students will be awarded a Bachelor of Laws with Honours (Class H1, H2A, H2B or H3) based on their aggregate of points and overall mark in Advanced Legal Research Dissertation.

To be awarded a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (For students enrolled post 1 January 2015):Students in any Bachelor of Laws course may apply to transfer into any Bachelor of Laws (Honours) course if the selection criteria is met.

First Year

Year 2

12 credit points of Law Elective studies

36 credit points of Arts Major studies 1

Year 3

12 credit points of Law Elective studies

60 credit points of Arts Major 1

Year 4

60 credit points of Arts Major studies 2

Or

60 credit points of Arts Minor studies 1 and Arts Minor studies 2

Year 5

12 credit points of Law Elective studies

36 credit points of Arts Major studies 2

Or

36 credit points of Arts Minor studies 1 and Arts Minor studies 2

Law Elective Units

Majors

Minors

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 understandings of the Australian legal system, fundamental areas of legal knowledge and relevant specialist bodies of knowledge within the disciplines of law and humanities.  
  2. Review, analyse, adapt and apply broad and coherent theoretical and technical knowledge of law and Arts specialisation areas and underlying principles and concepts in diverse contemporary local and international comparative contexts,  
  3. Identify, articulate and respond to legal issues by 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 judgment, by evaluating, synthesising and adapting knowledge, skills, legal reasoning and research to make appropriate responses to legal issues that reflect the legal, 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. Reflect on personal learning and skills in relation to career goals and implement effective, creative strategies to promote lifelong learning and pathways to further learning including a commitment to ongoing professional development.  
  7. Apply personal and interpersonal competencies including organisational and collaborative skills, necessary to operate in the immensely divergent and complex global and Australian cultures.  

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

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 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 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 top 12 Law units. Students will be further assessed on an outline of a proposed thesis topic and availability of a college based or college affiliated supervisor. Successful applicants will enrol in both Advanced Research Legal Methods and Advanced Legal Research Dissertation instead of 24 credit points of law electives.

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.