Bachelor of Laws (Honours)
Course summary for international students
| Year | 2026 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Bachelor of Laws (Honours) |
| Campus | This course is only offered Online |
| Length | 1 year full-time |
| Fee paying annual fee - commencing 2026 | $46,400 for 1 yr full-time AUD |
| Level | Undergraduate |
| Deakin course code | M412 |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8 |
This course will be available to both new applicants and Deakin students currently enrolled in M312 Bachelor of Laws or combined Law degrees and who meet the entry requirements for M412. INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS – Please note that due to Australian Government regulations, student visas to enter Australia cannot be issued to students who enrol in Deakin online courses. | |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Career opportunities
- Course learning outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Admission criteria
- Academic requirements
- English language proficiency requirements
- Admissions information
- Further study
- Workload
- Participation requirements
- Mandatory student checks
Course overview
Deakin’s one-year LLB (Honours) program is your opportunity to deepen your understanding of the law through a major independent research project, supervised by an academic from Deakin Law School. Designed for high-achieving students who have completed or nearly completed a four-year Bachelor of Laws at Deakin or another Australian institution, this honours program sharpens your research capabilities, enhances your analytical thinking and strengthens your legal writing – all highly valued by employers.
You will undertake in-depth research on a legal topic of your choice, developed in consultation with your supervisor and course director, and produce a 10,000-word thesis. Whether you're looking to elevate your legal career, strengthen your professional profile or pursue further study such as a master’s or PhD, Deakin’s LLB (Honours) will help you stand out.
Looking for a pathway to research degrees and enhanced career opportunities?
Career opportunities
The Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree provides students with demonstrated skills pertaining to legal research, writing, and analysis, all of which are highly prized in legal practice, as well as in government, policy, and corporate roles. Study at the #1 Victorian university for graduate employment and gain a competitive edge as you enter the workforce.
Course learning outcomes
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|
| Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | Apply advanced legal research methodologies and legal reasoning to identify and address legal issues with reference to relevant theoretical approaches, and social, political, and global contexts. |
| Communication | Employ advanced legal writing skills to effectively communicate legal arguments and the conclusions that follow |
| Digital literacy | Utilise a variety of resources in order to formulate and execute a research strategy and plan |
| Critical thinking | Critically evaluate and synthesise legal and other relevant sources to identify and articulate a research question that is suitable for research at an advanced level, and apply high-level legal reasoning to explore such policy, theoretical and legal questions as arise. |
| Problem solving | Apply rigorous legal analysis to formulate and articulate well-reasoned and nuanced responses to the legal problem under consideration |
| Self-management | This CLO is not explicitly assessed |
| Teamwork | This CLO is not explicitly assessed |
| Global citizenship | Evaluate and compare different approaches and solutions to legal problems in Australian and international jurisdictions and incorporate consideration of ethical perspectives where appropriate |
Course rules
To complete the Bachelor of Laws (Honours), you must pass 8 credit points. This includes:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
- 4 credit points of core units
- 4 credit points of course elective units^.
Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Note:
- ^which may include 4 LLB electives selected from M312 advanced law studies (equivalent Deakin level 3 and 4 coded units, other than WIL units). Students are expected to receive RPL for these LLB electives, based on their Bachelor of Laws studies.
- Current Deakin M312 Bachelor of Laws (or combined Law courses) students who satisfy the entry requirements for the M412 Bachelor of Laws (Honours) may enrol in this course concurrently with their current Law course.
Course structure
Core units
Bachelor of Laws (Honours) core units:
| MLH401 | Legal Research Training (2cp) |
| MLH402 | Legal Research Project (2cp) |
Course electives
4 credit points of course elective units^ can be chosen from:
| MLL318 | Corporate Insolvency Law |
| MLL319 | Sentencing Law and Practice |
| MLL320 | Family Law |
| MLL329 | Financial Services Regulation |
| MLL330 | Health Law |
| MLL332 | International Arbitration |
| MLL336 | International Commercial Law |
| MLL342 | Workplace Law |
| MLL362 | Succession Law |
| MLL394 | Migration and Refugee Law and Policy |
| MLT324 | Transnational Study Tour |
| MLL406 | Taxation |
| MLL409 | Competition Law and Policy |
| MLL410 | Intellectual Property |
| MLL419 | Contemporary International Legal Challenges (Intensive) |
| MLL425 | Environmental and Climate Law |
| MLL426 | Mining and Energy Law |
| MLL444 | Privacy and Data Law |
^ As noted above, it is expected that students enrolling in this course will receive RPL for law elective subjects that they have already undertaken (and so will not have to undertake these electives when enrolled in Honours). Applications for RPL will be assessed by reference to the list of core electives below. Likewise, any students not granted RPL (or who are not granted RPL for the full four electives) will have to undertake course electives from the above list
Admission criteria
Selection is based on a holistic consideration of your academic merit, work experience, likelihood of success, availability of places, participation requirements, regulatory requirements, and individual circumstances. You will need to meet the minimum academic and English language proficiency requirements to be considered for selection, but this does not guarantee admission.
Please note, there are limited places in this course and entry is competitive. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.
Academic requirements
For Deakin students currently enrolled in the Bachelor of Laws degree (M312), or a combined Bachelor of Laws degree, to be considered for admission to this degree you will need to have completed a minimum number of credit points of MLL/MLP/MLT units, (or equivalent, as determined by the LLB (Hons) Course Director), as outlined in the following criteria:
- for students currently enrolled in the Bachelor of Laws degree (M312), 21 credit points of MLL/MLP/MLT coded units, with a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of at least 65% across these units
- for students currently enrolled in a Bachelor of Laws combined degree, 16 credit points of MLL/MLP/MLT coded units, with a WAM of at least 65% across these units
For all other applicants (not a current Deakin University student), to be considered for admission to this degree you will need to meet the following criteria:
- completion of an accredited 4 -year Bachelor of Laws at an Australian institution with a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) (or equivalent average grade indicator) of at least 65% in all law units successfully completed
All applicants:
Applications must be accompanied by a personal statement (600 words in total), which includes an overview of their proposed Honours research (300 words) and their motivation(s) for undertaking Honours (300 words).
English language proficiency requirements
To meet the English language proficiency requirements of this course, you will need to demonstrate at least one of the following:
- bachelor degree
- IELTS overall score of 7.0 (with no band score less than 6.5) in each component of test
- other evidence of English language proficiency (learn more about other ways to satisfy the requirements)
Admissions information
Learn more about Deakin courses and how we compare to other universities when it comes to the quality of our teaching and learning.
Further study
Graduates may wish to apply for further study in Higher Degrees by Research.
Course duration
Course duration
You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.
Workload
You can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include lectures, seminars, online interactions, or professional experiences for Work Integrated Learning (WIL) units. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.
Participation requirements
Units in this course may have participation requirements that include compulsory placements, work-based training, community-based learning or collaborative research training arrangements.
Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.
Mandatory student checks
Units which contain work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, working with children check or other check. These requirements will be detailed in unit guides upon enrolment.