Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws

Course summary for international students

Year	2026 course information
Award granted	Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws
Campus	Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong), Online
Length	5 years full-time
Fee paying annual fee - commencing 2026	$46,400 for 1 yr full-time AUD
CRICOS code	015206G Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong)
Level	Undergraduate
VTAC codes	1400514013 - Burwood (Melbourne), International full-fee paying place
Deakin course code	D312
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7
Students and Applicants to Geelong Waterfront Campus Travel between campuses will be required to complete this combined degree. The Bachelor of Laws degree will be taught at Waterfront campus and the Bachelor of Arts degree will be taught at the Waurn Ponds Campus.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Graduating with two versatile degrees sets you up for a career without limitations. Combine an industry-leading legal education with thought-provoking investigative learning when you study Deakin's Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws. Study everything from tort law to commercial law at Deakin Law School, while exploring a complementary specialisation, from areas including criminology, sociology, politics and policy studies and media studies, through your arts degree.

The real-world experience you gain throughout your degree will prepare you for roles across a wide range of fields. In the law stream, you can work on real cases alongside established legal professionals at the Deakin Law Clinic. In the arts stream, you will develop industry-relevant skills on work-integrated learning projects and, depending on your major, you may choose to undertake a study abroad experience.

Ready to develop transferable skills to enhance your career prospects in law?

The law is influenced by many social, economic, environmental and political factors. A combined Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws course gives you the knowledge and skills to understand these factors and work in areas where they may be relevant.

Deakin Law School provides a strong foundation in all major areas of law, including:

contract law
criminal law and procedure
torts
property law
equity and trusts
constitutional law
administrative law.

Ranked the #3 law school in Victoria^*, Deakin offers a robust legal education and practical skills through our renowned programs at the Deakin Community Law Clinic, industry placements and internships. You can also undertake opportunities to study abroad through exchange programs and university partnerships to further enhance your contextual understanding. Explore the latest industry concepts, legal practice and approaches in units taught by active researchers and legal professionals. Benefit from their existing connections and insights and gain that all-important competitive edge to stand out to your future employers.

Deakin’s Bachelor of Arts allows you to explore meaningful ideas that matter to you, preparing you to make a positive impact on the world around you. Complement your legal studies and design your own learning by combining specific majors and minors – from international relations to journalism. Or choose to pursue your interests with specialisation options from design thinking and performing arts, strategic advertising and history to sport journalism and web design.

Our hands-on experiential learning gives you the critical skills to make an impact and curate a future career you love.

^{*AFR BOSS Best Business Schools 2024}

Professional recognition

Deakin's Bachelor of Laws is designed to satisfy the academic qualifications necessary for admission to the legal profession. In Victoria these have been set by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board (VLAB). In addition to satisfying the academic qualifications, a person seeking admission to the legal profession in Victoria is required to have satisfactorily completed certain practical legal training requirements and must be considered a fit and proper person to be admitted to the legal profession.

Requirements for admission in jurisdictions outside Australia vary. Please check the relevant jurisdiction’s legal admissions authority to confirm the required academic qualifications criteria, including any restrictions on online study or distance education.

Fees and charges

The tuition fees you pay are determined by the course you are enrolled in. The 'Estimated tuition fee' is provided as a guide only and represents the typical first-year tuition fees for students enrolled in this course. The cost will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the length of your course and any approved Recognition of prior learning you have.

Each unit you enrol in has a credit point value. The 'Estimated tuition fee' is calculated by adding together eight credit points of a typical combination of units for this course. Eight credit points is used as it represents a typical full-time enrolment load for a year.

You can find the credit point value of each unit under the Unit Description by searching for the unit in the handbook.

Learn more about international student fees.

Career opportunities

Graduate from the #1 Victorian university for graduate employment and step confidently into your career. Obtaining a law degree is your first step to entering the legal profession. Upon completion of your degree and the additional practical legal training, you will be qualified to work in such legal fields as:

commercial law
criminal law
family law
public international and human rights law
personal injury law
refugee law.

With the complementary arts degree, your studies will open you up careers in areas such as:

advertising
business and management consulting
communications, media, publishing, public relations, and journalism
community organisations and not-for-profits
criminal justice
education and government
galleries, libraries, archives, and museums (GLAM)
human rights
performing and visual arts
policy development
politics
research.

Course learning outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes Bachelor of Arts (A310)	Course Learning Outcomes Bachelor of Laws (M312)
Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities	Critically analyse and synthesise a broad and coherent body of knowledge in one or more Arts disciplines, and apply specialised conceptual understanding to professional practice and/or scholarship.	Demonstrate an understanding of the Australian legal system and the fundamental areas of knowledge required for legal practice as situated within international contexts and the broader contexts within which legal issues arise.
Communication	Articulate complex ideas using oral, written and digital communication skills and create professional and/or scholarly materials that effectively impart knowledge and research findings to diverse audiences.	Communicate legal knowledge effectively to legal and non-legal audiences, both verbally and in writing.
Digital literacy	Critically evaluate the effectiveness and ethical implications of digital technologies and apply them responsibly in the creation of research and analysis that is both authentic and accountable.	Use a range of digitally-based technologies to locate, evaluate and disseminate information.
Critical thinking	Analyse, synthesise and evaluate, complex and wide-ranging knowledge and information to create logical judgements and informed perspectives in a range of professional and academic contexts.	Exercise critical thinking, judgment and intellectual independence to evaluate, consolidate and synthesise knowledge relevant to legal doctrine and legal practice.
Problem solving	Integrate cognitive, methodological, and creative skills to generate and communicate innovative approaches to unpredictable and complex problems.	Apply legal reasoning and critical analysis to generate and articulate accurate and relevant responses to legal issues.
Self-management	Plan and execute actions with a high level of responsibility, accountability, and independence, while maintaining a consistent commitment to continuous learning in professional and scholarly contexts.	Exercise responsibility and accountability for own learning, and possess abilities to reflect on own capabilities, performance and feedback to support personal and professional development.
Teamwork	Collaborate effectively and contribute constructively to team objectives with colleagues, other professionals, and members of the wider community in diverse professional and scholarly contexts.	Collaborate effectively in a team environment demonstrating constructive engagement and contribution to the team and the ability to draw on strengths of others.
Global citizenship	Apply culturally responsive, critically reflective and embodied self-knowledge in decolonial practice and diversity principles, to engage ethically with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples as well as diverse communities and cultures, within professional and/or scholarly contexts.	Reflect on the ethical and professional behaviours and responsibilities of legal professionals and demonstrate an understanding of the impact that different social, ethical, global or environmental perspectives have on exercising legal practice in the community.

Course rules

To complete the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws, you must pass 40 credit points. This includes:

DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
16 credit points from the Bachelor of Arts
- 1 major (8 credit points)
- a minimum of 4 credit points of Faculty of Arts units at level 3
- The remaining credit point(s) may be used to undertake the Employability sequence, or additional elective units chosen from the Bachelor of Arts which may comprise of a minor sequence
24 credit points from the Bachelor of Laws
- 18 credit points of core units
- 1 credit point of Work Integrated Learning (WIL) or practical course elective unit
- 5 credit points of course elective units
course requirements for both the Bachelor of Arts (A300) and Bachelor of Laws (M312) must be satisfied.

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.

Majors

Students must complete 1 Bachelor of Arts major sequence chosen from the below list.

Refer to the details of each major sequence for availability

animation (Minor)
anthropology (Major and Minor)
arabic (Major and Minor)
chinese (Major and Minor)
criminology (Major and Minor)
design thinking (Minor)
digital cultures (Major and Minor)
education (Major and Minor)
english - children's literature (Major and Minor)
english - creative writing (Major and Minor)
english - literature (Major and Minor)
film and television studies (Major and Minor)
gender and sexuality studies (Major and Minor)
global challenges (Minor)
history (Major and Minor)
indigenous studies (Major and Minor)
indonesian (Major and Minor)
international relations (Major and Minor)
media and communication (Major and Minor)
media studies (Major and Minor)
middle east studies (Major and Minor)
performing arts (Major and Minor)
philosophy (Major and Minor)
politics and policy studies (Major and Minor)
public relations studies (Major and Minor)
religious studies (Major and Minor)
social media (Major and Minor)
sociology (Major and Minor)
spanish (Major and Minor)
sport and society (Minor)
sport journalism (Major and Minor)
strategic advertising (Major and Minor)
UX design (Minor) *
visual arts and photography (Major and Minor)
visual communication design (Major and Minor)
web design (Minor)

* UX refers to User Experience

Course structure

Compulsory 0-credit point module

To be completed in the first trimester of study:-

DAI001

Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin

Core units

MLL110

Legal Research and Statutory Interpretation

MLL113

Resolving Disputes and Legal Communication

MLP114

Criminal Law

MLP117

Misleading Conduct and Economic Torts

Contract A

Torts

Criminal Procedure

Contract B

Legal Practice and Ethics

Constitutional Law

Land Law

Property

Corporate Law

Evidence

Civil Procedure and Dispute Resolution

MLP405

Equity and Trusts

MLP424

Administrative Law

MLL427

Advanced Legal Problem Solving and Persuasion ^(Capstone)

Note: MLP code denotes Priestley units, which teach the academic areas of knowledge prescribed for admission to legal practice.

Course electives

Students must complete 5 Law electives from the following list

MLL215

Commercial Law

MLL224

Advanced Statutory Interpretation

MLL225

Personal Injuries Compensation Schemes

MLL228

Alternative Dispute Resolution: Principles and Practice

International Law

Business Tax Law

Human Rights Law

Corporate Insolvency Law

MLL319

Sentencing Law and Practice

MLI320/MLL320

Family Law ^*

MLL329

Financial Services Regulation

MLL330

Health Law

MLL332

International Arbitration

MLL336

International Commercial Law

MLL338

Legal Professional Practice

MLL339

Corporate Governance and Sustainability

MLL342

Workplace Law

MLL351

Community Legal Internship

MLL362

Succession Law

MLL364

Animal 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)

MLL420

Deakin Law Clinic

MLL425

Environmental and Climate Law

MLL426

Mining and Energy Law

MLL444

Privacy and Data Law

MLL460

Mooting and Advocacy

^*MLI code denotes optional residential version of the unit.

^MLT324 does not count as one of the WIL/Practical course elective units (listed above) required for the Bachelor of Laws.

Note:

Not all units will be offered every year.
The Law School might from time to time develop new units to strengthen the law elective list.

WIL|Practical course elective units

Students must complete one of the following experiential/practice units as one of their Law Elective units:

MLL338

Legal Professional Practice

MLL351

Community Legal Internship

MLL420

Deakin Law Clinic

MLL460

Mooting and Advocacy

Further details can be found at WIL Opportunities for law students

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.

A combination of qualifications and experience may be deemed equivalent to minimum academic requirements.

If you don't meet the academic entry requirements as outlined in the tabs below, or haven't completed Year 12, or don't hold any relevant qualifications, the STAT (Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test) Multiple Choice (MC) may be an option for you to meet course entry requirements.

Academic requirements

Academic requirements - Current or recent secondary education

If you're currently studying Year 12, or completed Year 12 in the last two years, you will need to meet all the following criteria to be considered for admission to this degree:

Year 12 prerequisite subjects

Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 30 in English EAL (English as an Additional Language) or at least 25 in English other than EAL

ATAR

Senior Secondary Certificate of Education with an unadjusted ATAR of at least 50 or equivalent.

Academic requirements - Higher education study

If you have undertaken higher education studies after secondary schooling, you will need to meet the following to be considered for admission to this degree:

successful completion of at least four credit points in an equivalent (AQF Level 7) bachelor degree with a minimum WAM of 60 or equivalent

Academic requirements - VET study

This course does not accept VET study for entry, please check for alternative entry requirements or visit the pathways finder for alternate pathways into this course.

Academic requirements - Work and life experience

This course does not accept work, volunteer and/or life experience for entry. Please check for alternative entry requirements or visit the pathways finder for alternate pathways into this course.

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:

Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) English Units 3 and 4: Study score greater than 30 in English as an Additional Language (EAL) or greater than 25 in any other English
IELTS 7.0 (with no band score less than 6.5) or equivalent
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. We're also committed to admissions transparency. Read about our first intake of 2026 students (PDF, 879KB) – their average ATARs, whether they had any previous higher education experience and more.

Not sure if you can get into Deakin? Discover the different entry pathways we offer and study options available to you, no matter your ATAR or education history.

Credit for prior learning - general

If you have completed previous studies which you believe may reduce the number of units you have to complete at Deakin, indicate in the appropriate section on your application that you wish to be considered for Recognition of prior learning. You will need to provide a certified copy of your previous course details so your credit can be determined. If you are eligible, your offer letter will then contain information about your Recognition of prior learning.

Your Recognition of prior learning is formally approved prior to your enrolment at Deakin during the Enrolment and Orientation Program. You must bring original documents relating to your previous study so that this approval can occur.

The University aims to provide students with as much credit as possible for approved prior study or informal learning which exceeds the normal entrance requirements for the course and is within the constraints of the course regulations. Students are required to complete a minimum of one-third of the course at Deakin University, or four credit points, whichever is the greater. In the case of certificates, including graduate certificates, a minimum of two credit points within the course must be completed at Deakin.

For accreditation purposes, the University normally only considers RPL for core Deakin Bachelor of Laws units, or core Juris Doctor units, on the basis of previous law study that has taken place within five years of the anticipated commencement [Note 1] of the degree at Deakin. Please note that RPL requests for any law unit core to the degree undertaken more than 5 years ago is assessed on a case-by-case basis by the Deakin Law School.
RPL for any non-core (elective) units will be determined via normal RPL policy rules; however, if the unit would be more than 5 years old at the student's anticipated course commencement date, then the decision needs to be made within the Law School (in order to ensure the currency of the learning that is being recognised)

[Note 1] Note that the date taken is commencement of studies at Deakin, not the date of the RPL Application

You can also refer to the recognition of prior learning (RPL) system which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree and how to apply for credit.

Alternative exits

Associate Degree of Arts (A250)
Bachelor of Arts (A310)
Bachelor of Laws (M312)
Diploma of Arts (A215)

Articulated courses

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) (A400)
Bachelor of Communication and Creative Arts (Honours) (A450)
Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (M412)

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.

Work experience

This course provides students the opportunity to complete one or more work integrated learning units.

Explore Business and Law WIL opportunities.

International Students:

This course includes Work Integrated Learning (WIL) formally registered as part of the course on the CRICOS register. The total work integrated learning hours will differ depending on the WIL unit you choose. For more information about WIL hours, please check the unit information in the handbook or the unit guide.

For information about how WIL units may impact student visa holder work rights, please visit Home Affairs. See 8105 Work limitation.

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.

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.

Selection adjustment

Subject adjustment

A study score of 35 in English other than EAL, any History, Legal Studies, Politics equals 3 aggregate points per study. A study score of 30 in English other than EAL, any History, any LOTE, Legal Studies, Politics equals 2 aggregate points per study. Overall maximum of 12 points.

Access and equity

Equity schemes and scholarships, formerly known as Special Entry Access Schemes (SEAS), enable Deakin to consider any disadvantaged circumstances you may have experienced and how these have impacted your studies. Equity schemes help us identify whether you are from an under-represented group when making selection decisions for certain courses. It's important to note that participation in an equity scheme does not exempt you from meeting the standard course entry requirements. Learn more about Deakin's equity schemes and scholarships.