Bachelor of Science / Bachelor of Laws
University of Technology Sydney (UTS)
Type of institution: University/Higher Education Institution
Level: Undergraduate
CRICOS: 00099F
The Bachelor of Science Bachelor of Laws is offered jointly by UTS: Law and UTS: Science. The law is of special importance in many areas of science, including research, industrial and commercial enterprise. 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 a science specialisation. The course addresses the increasing need for scientific expertise among lawyers. Graduates develop critical and analytical skills necessary when making decisions as they understand the complex links between science and law, increasing their employment prospects and career opportunities in both fields. Career options include positions in the law (in areas where strong scientific backgrounds are valued, such as conservation and resource management), climate change advisory roles, defence technologies, environmental pollution regulation, finance, human health, industrial and occupational health and safety, pharmaceutical and biotechnological research and development, and scientific patents.
Structure
- The course comprises a total of 240 credit points and allows students to graduate with the separate degrees of Bachelor of Science (BSc) 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 science component comprises 96 credit points of core science subjects taken from one of 10 specified majors representing different science disciplines. The course duration is five years of full-time study. For students who undertake the Bachelor of Science (Honours) the course duration is 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
- Applied chemistry
- Applied physics
- Biomedical science
- Biotechnology
- Environmental biology
- Environmental forensics
- Law
- Marine biology
- Mathematics
- Nanotechnology
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.
Recognition
This course satisfies the requirements for admission to the Supreme Court of NSW as a lawyer, provided students undertake the optional PLT component. Depending on the science specialisation and subjects chosen, graduates may be eligible for admission to the relevant scientific professional organisation.
Study pathways
Students can transfer to the Bachelor of Science or the Bachelor of Law if they wish to graduate early. Otherwise they have to complete both components. Students can graduate with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) if they complete subjects Research Methodology and Research Thesis within the course. The Bachelor of Science (Honours) is available as an additional year to meritorious students across the available disciplines.
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.
