Bachelor of Medical Science / Bachelor of Laws
University of Technology Sydney (UTS)
Type of institution: University/Higher Education Institution
Level: Undergraduate
CRICOS: 00099F
The law is of special importance in many areas of medical science, including medical and health practice, medical and biological research and industrial and commercial enterprise. The Bachelor of Medical Science Bachelor of Laws is offered jointly by UTS: Law and UTS: Science. The program provides full-time study for students wishing to obtain a professional legal qualification that satisfies the academic requirements only for admission as a lawyer together with specialisation in medical science. The course addresses the increasing need for medical science expertise among lawyers. Graduates develop critical and analytical skills inherent to an understanding of the complex links between medical science and the law, thus increasing their employment opportunities and career choices. Career options include lawyer in areas where a strong background in human biology, medical diagnostics, neuroscience or pharmacology is valued; manager, officer or researcher in private or public health administration.
Structure
- The course comprises a total of 240 credit points and allows students to graduate with the separate degrees of Bachelor of Medical Science (BMedSc) and Bachelor of Laws (LLB). The study components for course completion are as follows. The law component of 144 credit points is made up of: 108 credit points of compulsory core law subjects
- 30 credit points of law options
- and 6 credit points of legal theory options. The medical science component comprises 96 credit points of core medical science subjects. The course duration is five years of full-time study. Students who undertake the Bachelor of Medical Science (Honours) complete the course in six years of full-time study. The law component requires attendance at 10-15 hours of lectures a week and timetable constraints may require attendance at daytime and evening classes. The science component requires attendance of approximately 10 hours a week at the University.
Subjects
- Medical science
- Law
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: English proficiency
- Mathematics
- And two science subjects.
Recognition
This course satisfies the requirements for admission to the Supreme Court of NSW as a lawyer, provided students complete a practical legal training program, such as the Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice.
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 who meet these criteria for honours are eligible for transfer into the appropriate undergraduate honours exit course on completion of all coursework. This transfer is managed by the Haymarket Student Centre and occurs just prior to graduation. The Bachelor of Medical Science (Honours) requires an additional year of study and is designed to introduce students to research work in medical science. It allows eligible students to continue with postgraduate studies if desired and enhances their employment prospects.
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. Visa requirement: 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. Students can extend their courses only in exceptional circumstances.
