Our rankings
We're ranked 14th globally for law and legal studies by the 2021 QS University Rankings by Subject.
Our graduates are ranked 1st in Australia and 4th globally for employability by the 2020 QS Graduate Employability Rankings.
In response to COVID-19, the University of Sydney has reviewed the availability of courses to be delivered remotely for students commencing their studies in Semester 1, 2021.
This course will be available to study remotely for students commencing in Semester 1, 2021. Please note that some units of study that are not essential to completing the degree may not be available to be studied remotely.
Note: The University intends to offer as many units of study as possible in a remote as well as face-to-face learning method of delivery in Semester 1, 2021 and subject to ongoing border closures and public health orders impacting attendance on campus, in Semester 2, 2021. However, some units of study and courses require students to study in-person at the relevant University of Sydney campus/es and host locations for placements and will not be available remotely.
About this course
Many industries need professionals who can understand and translate complex science. With a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Laws, you will graduate with two degrees and a suite of specialist skills that will allow you to carve out a niche in the legal sector, with opportunities across patents, intellectual property and forensics.
As a science student at Sydney, you will be taught by dedicated scientific thinkers, including members of the Australian Academy of Science, Australian Research Council Fellows, winners of prestigious prizes such as the Prime Minister's Prizes for Science and the Eureka Prizes which reward excellence in research and innovation, leadership, and science engagement. You will study in world-class facilities, including the multimillion-dollar Sydney Nanoscience Hub and the Charles Perkins Centre, which is dedicated to research into diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease.
With over 40 majors, programs and streams to choose from and a flexible degree plan, the three-year Bachelor of Science allows you to find your own path. In your first year, you'll gain essential knowledge in the fundamental sciences with broad subjects. Your second and third years will be for specialising in your chosen stream, program, majors and minors, with the option to take elective subjects from other faculties.
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 complete the equivalent of the first year of the LLB over the course of your three year science degree. In the fourth year, you will undertake the remaining compulsory law units of study followed by elective units in the fifth year.
For your Bachelor of Science major, you can select your subjects from those offered by our academic schools:
You are required to choose one major from the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Laws options below. There are no majors available in Law. The course structure and Units of Study for Law are as follows: The course structure for Law: First year: Foundations of law, legal research I, torts. Second year: Civil and criminal procedure, contracts, criminal law. Third year: Torts and contracts II, legal research II, public international law, public law. Fourth year: Administrative law, corporations law, equity, evidence, federal constitutional law, introduction to property and commercial law, real property and the legal profession. Final year: Private international law A and seven elective units of study.
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 for details.
Semester 1 (March)
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). If you are a direct applicant, when you are ready to apply select the `Apply’ button on this course page.
Closing dates
Direct applicants:
Semester 1 - 31 January of the commencing year.
Semester 2 - 30 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 webpage for details.
UAC Applicants: Refer to the UAC website
Semester 1 (March) 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.
In this five year degree, you will spend the first three years undertaking a combination of Science and Law units of study, to the value of 48 credit points in each year, and complete a science major in the subject area of your choice. You will also undertake 12 cp of mathematics degree core units and 12cp of Open Learning Environment units. Upon completion of your Science degree you will complete the remaining nine Law core units in your fourth and fifth year as well as seven electives which will allow you to specialise in a particular area of the law.
Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Laws
| Year | Sem | Unit of study | |||
| 1 | Maths Maths Science major Science major Foundations of Law Torts Legal Research I Science elective Science elective |
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| 2 | Science major Science major Civil and Criminal Procedure Contracts Criminal Law OLE OLE Science elective Science elective |
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| 3 | Science major Science major Science major Science major Science major Public International Law Torts and Contracts II Public Law Legal Research II |
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| 4 | Introduction to Property and Commercial Law Administrative Law Federal Constitutional Law The Legal Profession Corporations Law Equity Evidence Real Property |
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| 5 | Private International Law A Jurisprudence elective Law elective Law elective Law elective Law elective Law elective Law elective |
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Mathematics or HSC Mathematics Extension 1. All students undertake some study in mathematics.
Admission to 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.
Transfer
You can apply to transfer into the Combined Bachelor of Science/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.
For more information about the University’s credit policy, please see the Credit for Previous Studies page.
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.
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.
If you wish to practise law, you will need to complete an accredited program of practical legal training after completing your degree.
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