Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (2830)
This is an archived copy of the 2022-2023 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit https://hbook.westernsydney.edu.au.
Approved Abbreviation: BA/LLB(Hons)
Western Sydney University Program Code: 2830
AQF Level: 8
CRICOS code: 108409M
This program applies to students who commenced in 2022 or later.
This program is designed for high achieving law students in the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws program who wish to undertake an extended level of study and research in Law. An honours degree indicates academic excellence in a professional context and, as an Australian Qualifications Framework Level 8 qualification, students may also have direct entry into postgraduate programs including Masters and Doctor of Philosophy programs.
There is no direct entry into the Honours program. Entry is by application only following completion of at least 160 credit points of Law study and by meeting specified criteria (see Admission details). As an embedded honours program, students are not required to undertake an additional period of study. Further details regarding the honours program and its requirements are available at: Honours in Law and School of Law Honours Guidelines.
The Bachelor of Laws (Honours) program satisfies the academic degree requirements for admission to practice as an Australian lawyer. Students will engage in collaborative face-to-face problem and case-based learning, will be supported by online learning materials, and will participate in authentic assessment to develop knowledge and skills. The program provides students with a broad progressive legal education with a strong practical orientation to the law. Students develop skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, research, communication, collaboration, self-management, and ethical and professional awareness and judgement. Students will have the opportunity to develop skills in legal advocacy, negotiation, and legal technology and extend their professional and learning experiences through work integrated learning, clinical placement and international exchange engagements.
Study Mode
Five years full-time or ten years part-time. Law subjects are available at Campbelltown and Parramatta campuses. Arts subjects are available at various campuses (mainly Parramatta, Bankstown and Penrith), depending on the subjects chosen.
Graduates from the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) program are eligible to apply to the Legal Profession Admission Board for admission to legal practice in NSW after undertaking prescribed practical legal training.
Inherent Requirements
There are inherent requirements for this program that you must meet in order to complete your program and graduate. Make sure you read and understand the requirements for this program online.
Western Sydney University seeks to enhance student learning experiences by enabling students to engage in the culture, expectations and practices of their profession or discipline. This program includes a placement or other community-based unpaid practical experience.
There is an optional work component available in this program. Please contact the Program Advisor listed above for information.
International students should be aware that if an elective is a requirement of the program but the work itself was not registered with CRICOS, students can still complete these electives but it would be counted towards the work limitation. For more details, refer to the 'Work Integrated Learning (WIL) for international students' website.
This program is designed for students in the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws program who wish to undertake an Honours program.
Students must meet all of the following criteria for admission:
Completion of at least 160 credit points of law study (or 140 credit points if two Summer subjects are undertaken);
Demonstration of the likelihood of graduating with an Honours Weighted Average Mark (HWAM) of at least 70 at the time of graduation; or an Admission Average Mark (AAM) of at least 70 at the time of admission to the Honours program. Refer to https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/schools/sol/honours for details
Demonstration of satisfactory academic writing skills
Availability of a principal supervisor
Special Requirements
Students enrolling in these subjects may need to have a National Police Certificate and consent or prohibited employment declarations as they may be conducting their placement in circumstances where they work with minors. This would be managed on an as needs basis:
LAWS 3025 Law, Culture and Entrepreneurial Innovation in India
LAWS 3078 Legal, Economic and Social Transformation in Taiwan
Program Structure
Qualification for a double degree in law requires the successful completion of 400 credit points including the subjects listed in the recommended sequences for the relevant double degree programs.
Students are eligible to graduate in the associated degree at the end of three years of full-time study, only when they have completed all non-law subjects plus the eight law subjects specified in the study sequence as being in the first three years of the relevant double degree.
Students enrolled in the 2830 Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws (Honours) will only be eligible to graduate from their Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree upon completion of the entire 400 credit point course. Students enrolled in this course who wish to graduate with a standalone law degree prior to completion of the entire Bachelor of Arts component must transfer to course 2829 Bachelor of Laws (Non Graduate Entry) (Honours) which requires the completion of 320 credit points (inclusive of 80 credit points of non-LLB study).
Students must complete 240 credit points of Law subjects comprising:
160 credit points of specified core subjects to meet Priestly 11 accreditation requirements;
10 credit points Research Training Component (LAWS 4016 Legal Research and Methodology)
20 credit points Research Component (LAWS 4011 Law Honours Dissertation)
50 credit points of LLB alternate subjects.
Arts Subjects
For details of the relevant Arts subjects, majors and sub-majors, refer to the current listing of Bachelor of Arts, program code 1706.
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws (Honours) students are required to complete four Level 1 Bachelor of Arts core subjects plus one of the eight subject majors and one of the four sub-majors in the Arts degree (16 subjects, including the four level 1 Arts core subjects) together with the LLB key program (24 subjects). The double degree combination therefore consists of 40 subjects with no additional flexible subjects or choice beyond that already included within the separate Arts and Law programs.
Students must complete the four Level 1 (40 credit points) of Bachelor of Arts (BA) core subjects:
Please note that the availability of Bachelor of Laws Alternate Subjects may vary from year to year. New subjects may become available and some others discontinued. The School will publish information on which subjects are available in a session.
Equivalent Subjects
The subjects listed below count towards completion of the program for students who may have passed subjects in the list in 2022 or earlier.
JUST 4001 Clinical Legal Placement, replaced by LAWS 4017 Access to Justice Clinic
