Bachelor of Information Technology / Bachelor of Laws
University of Technology Sydney (UTS)
Type of institution: University/Higher Education Institution
Level: Undergraduate
CRICOS: 00099F
The primary goal of this combined degree is to prepare lawyers with an expert knowledge of IT qualifying them to work as IT professionals in a legal environment. The law component of this course provides a thorough grounding in Australian legal practice. The information technology component offers a sound education in all aspects of computing and information technology and allows students to gain a specialisation with an IT major. The information technology component adopts a practice-based approach to IT education and the course content is a mix of theory and practice. As well as gaining strong technical skills in IT, students gain skills in business analysis, problem solving, teamwork and communication. Lawyers with IT skills are in demand. Career opportunities include lawyer or policy adviser in various government departments, in-house legal counsel to an IT or software company, or specialist in areas such as intellectual property, e-commerce and privacy or internet censorship. Alternatively, graduates can work as IT professionals in legal practice, legal publishing or private law firms.
Structure
The course comprises a total of 240 credit points, allowing students to graduate with the separate degrees of Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and Bachelor of Laws. The study components for course completion are as follows. The law component is made up of 144 credit points. The IT component is made up of 96 credit points. The course duration is five years of full-time study. The law component requires attendance of 10-15 hours of lectures a week and timetable constraints require attendance at daytime and evening classes. The IT component normally requires around 12 hours attendance of lectures and seminars a week and attendance at some evening classes may be required. The Diploma in Information Technology Professional Practice includes at least nine months of paid work experience in the IT industry.
Subjects
- Law
- Information Technology
Standard entry requirements
- Applicants must have completed an Australian Year 12 qualification, Australian Qualifications Framework Diploma, or equivalent Australian or overseas qualification at the required level. The English proficiency requirement for international students or local applicants with international qualifications is: Academic IELTS: 6.5 overall with a writing score of 6.0
- Or TOEFL: paper based: 550-583 overall with TWE of 4.5, internet based: 79-93 overall with a writing score of 21
- Or AE5: Pass
- Or PTE: 58-64
- Or CAE: 176-184. Assumed knowledge includes: HSC or equivalent mathematics
- And any two units of English. Mathematics Extension 1 and English Advanced are recommended.
Recognition
The IT component qualifies for professional-level membership of the Australian Computer Society. The law component satisfies the requirements for admission to the Supreme Court of NSW as a lawyer, subject to completion of a practical legal training (PLT) program.
Study pathways
Students can graduate with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) if they complete subjects Research Methodology and Research Thesis within the course. The degree may be awarded with first or second class honours, which does not require an additional honours year. The rules concerning the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) can be found in undergraduate course information. Students interested in research and who excel in their IT studies are eligible to undertake one additional full-time year of honours study in the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Information Technology. The honours year is also available on a part-time basis over two years. Credit recognition is not normally granted in this course for study completed at a private college, except where UTS has an external articulation agreement with the college.
Further information
To practise as a lawyer in NSW, students need to successfully complete an accredited legal academic qualification (e.g. Bachelor of Laws) and an accredited course of practical legal training (PLT), which UTS offers through its PLT program. Students enrolled in this course may complete their practical legal training by undertaking a postgraduate course in PLT, such as the Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice. Students also have the option to undertake the Diploma in Information Technology Professional Practice once they have secured suitable full-time employment in the IT industry. This incorporates a minimum of nine months' full-time paid work experience with four supporting subjects at UTS. To obtain a student visa to study in Australia, international students must enrol full time and on campus. Australian student visa regulations also require international students studying on student visas to complete the course within the standard full-time duration.
