Our rankings
Ranked 65th globally for engineering and technology by the 2021 QS University Rankings by Subject.
Ranked 14th globally for law by the 2021 QS University Rankings by Subject.
In response to COVID-19, the University of Sydney has reviewed the availability of courses to be delivered remotely.
This course will be available for students to study remotely whilst the Australian border remains closed due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. Please note that some units of study that are not essential to completing the degree may not be available to be studied remotely.
About this course
Our Bachelor of Engineering Honours and Bachelor of Laws combined degree provides an excellent foundation for a career in law or engineering. From wi-fi to space travel, engineering and technology professionals develop innovative and sustainable solutions to society's greatest problems. Your law studies will focus on interpreting and applying the legal system and you will develop invaluable critical thinking skills and legal expertise.
In this program you can combine any of the engineering streams (Aeronautical, Biomedical, Chemical and Biomolecular, Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronic, Software and Space) with studies in law.
As part of your engineering degree you will undertake the award-winning Professional Engagement Program enabling you to change your approach to learning through self-reflection and extra-curricular activities throughout your degree.
The Bachelor of Laws (LLB) is one of the most reputable law programs in Australia, highly regarded overseas and your first step towards admissions as a legal practitioner in NSW.
Today’s law graduates need to be equipped with an agile mindset, and the ability to draw on legal and non-legal insights to solve multi-faceted problems, amidst unprecedented change, shifting client expectations and rapid technological advancements.
Focused on the modern legal environment, you will develop the complex problem solving and analytical skills required to meet the challenges of a contemporary global landscape.
You will spend your first three years undertaking a combination of engineering and law units, before completing your engineering specialisation in fourth year. In your fifth and sixth years you will complete a fixed curriculum in law before specialising in areas such as taxation, banking, criminal, environmental, family, international and humanitarian law.
Important information for students commencing in 2021
As part of our continual effort to improve our academic offering, we are making some exciting changes to the Bachelor of Engineering Honours.
What’s changing?
Taking effect Semester 1, 2021, students in the Bachelor Engineering Honours will undertake enhanced foundation studies in data and computation, and a sequence of real-world project units throughout their degree, which will enable them to apply technical knowledge in practice.
Why are we changing?
The future of work is increasingly dynamic and digital. These changes have been made in response to the rapid advancements in computational tools and the utilisation of rich data in engineering practice. They will ensure our students continue to graduate job-ready and at the forefront of engineering innovation.
What does this mean in practice?
Degree and stream names will remain unchanged, however, from 2021, specialisations will replace majors. We have created a number of new exciting specialisations to choose from. There is however, no change to the graduate outcomes or to the duration of the degree.
Depends on your qualification, citizenship status
Prospective domestic students apply through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) for a Commonwealth supported place . Refer to the UAC website for key dates. Separate scholarship deadlines apply, visit the scholarships website for details.
For other useful information, visit our How to apply page.
Current University of Sydney students applying to transfer from one bachelor's degree to another apply directly to the University. The exact process will depend on the course you are currently in and the course to which you wish to transfer. For more information visit the Change your course page.
Current students applying to transfer from a diploma to a bachelor's degree must apply through UAC.
Refer to the UAC website Separate Scholarship deadlines apply - visit the scholarships webpage
Semester 1 (February)
Visit the How to apply page. for detailed information on if you need to apply directly to the University or through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC). When you are ready to apply, select the `Apply Now' button on the right hand side of this course page.
Current University of Sydney students applying to transfer from one bachelor's degree to another apply directly to the University. The exact process will depend on the course you are currently in and the course to which you wish to transfer. For more information visit the Change your course page.
Closing dates
Direct applicants:
Semester 1 - 15 January of the commencing year.
Semester 2 - 25 June of the commencing year.
We strongly encourage international applicants to apply as early as possible to allow time for visa and travel arrangements. Separate scholarship deadlines apply - visit the scholarships website for details.
UAC Applicants: Refer to the UAC website
Semester 1 (February) and Semester 2 (August)
International students commencing in Semester 2 will not be able to start the Law component until Semester 1 of the following year.
To complete the combined Bachelor of Engineering Honours and Bachelor of Laws you must undertake 288 credit points (cp) worth of units (ie, subjects), which will take 6 years of full-time study.
A typical unit of study has a value of 6 credit points, with a maximum of 48 credit points during the first year.
In the fourth year, you will complete your engineering steam by taking only units of study offered by the Faculty of Engineering, including the Honours thesis. Your detailed course structure will depend on which stream of engineering you select:
Upon completion of your engineering units, you will complete the remaining nine law core units in your fifth and sixth year as well as seven electives which will allow you to specialise in a particular area of the law.
All engineering streams include mandatory completion of the Professional Engagement Program (PEP) - see Work Component section.
Mandatory work component = 200 hours.
The work component must be completed as part of the award requirements and is undertaken as part of the Professional Engagement Program (PEP).
Professional Engagement Program (PEP)
The program requires completion of 600 hours of professional engagement experiences integrated continuously throughout the degree. It is designed to allow students to contextualise their learning, enhance their own professional development, and build the foundations of a strong professional engineering career. The professional engagement activities are spread over 3 flexible stages. This involves
| Year | Sem | Unit of study | |||
| The Professional Engagement Program (PEP) is embedded throughout each semester of the degree for the first four years. | |||||
| 1 | 1 | Mathematics | Engineering Project | Computing | Foundations of Law |
| 2 | Mathematics | Engineering Stream unit | Engineering Stream unit | Torts | |
| Legal Research 1 (0 credit points) | |||||
| 2 | 1 | Engineering Stream unit | Engineering Stream unit | Contracts | Civil and Criminal Procedure |
| 2 | Engineering Stream unit | Engineering Stream unit | Engineering Stream unit | Criminal Law | |
| 3 | 1 | Engineering Project | Engineering Stream unit | Engineering Stream unit | Public International Law |
| 2 | Engineering Stream unit | Engineering Stream unit | Torts and Contracts II | Public Law | |
| 4 | 1 | Thesis | Engineering Stream unit | Engineering Stream unit | Engineering Stream unit |
| 2 | Thesis | Engineering Stream unit | Engineering Stream unit | Engineering Stream unit | |
| 5 | 1 | Administrative Law | Federal Constitutional Law | Introduction to Property and Commercial Law | The Legal Profession |
| 2 | Corporations Law | Equity | Evidence | Real Property | |
| 6 | 1 | Private International Law A | Law elective unit | Law elective unit | Law elective unit |
| 2 | Law elective unit | Law elective unit | Law elective unit | Law elective unit | |
HSC Mathematics Extension 1, Physics and Chemistry. If you attempt engineering without this prior level of knowledge you may experience difficulty, so you are strongly advised to undertake an appropriate bridging course.
This course has an integrated Honours program, with all students undertaking an Engineering research thesis in the final year.
Admission this course is on the basis of the following criteria:
Admission pathways are open to domestic applicants on the basis of equity or other adjustment factors, including for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants. For details, visit admission pathways.
This course has a mathematics course prerequisite. For details on the prerequisite, and how it applies to you, visit: Mathematics course prerequisites.
For more information about the University’s credit policy, please see the Credit for Previous Studies page.
You can apply to transfer into the Combined Bachelor of Engineering Honours/Bachelor of Laws after your first year of tertiary study. You will be assessed on either your tertiary or secondary grades, whichever is higher. If you have not studied at tertiary level for at least one year full-time in the same degree, you will be assessed according to your secondary qualifications only. If you are unsuccessful in a transfer application at the end of the first year you can reapply after the second year. The credit transfer policies of the Law School and its partner faculties are used when determining the amount of credit for previous studies. However, it is not possible to complete Combined Law within five years if you transfer after more than one year of university study.
Consider completing your first degree and then applying for the Juris Doctor. This graduate entry degree includes study of all required areas of knowledge to practice law in NSW. Find out more.
The Faculty of Engineering offers one-year exchange programs with partner universities in Europe, Asia and North America.
In addition to your Professional Engagement Program (PEP) commitments, there are opportunities to join a diverse range of engineering and law student societies and engage in outreach activities, industry placements and competitions throughout your degree.
Graduates of the combined course who wish to become legal practitioners complete an accredited program of practical legal training following completion of award requirements.
Dalyell Scholars
If you are eligible for entry into this degree then it is very likely you will also be invited to join the Dalyell Scholars program.
This course is accredited by Engineers Australia and by other major professional engineering institutions. Our graduates are also recognised internationally through the Washington Accord of the International Engineering Alliance.
Our Bachelor of Laws (LLB) is accredited by the Legal Profession Admission Board and meets the academic requirements for practising law in New South Wales. For professional recognition and course accreditation for interstate and overseas, please see detailed information under professional recognition here.
