Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of International Studies

Course summary for international students

Year	2026 course information
Award granted	Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of International Studies
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	075600M Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong)
Level	Undergraduate
VTAC codes	1400515333 - Burwood (Melbourne), International full-fee paying place
Deakin course code	D323
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7
* Students enrolled in this combined course will be required to undertake units of study at both Waurn Ponds (Geelong) and the Waterfront (Geelong).

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Build an international legal career and develop competitive skills with cross-cultural relevance in Deakin's Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of International Studies. This combined course brings together two complementary areas of study, developing your intercultural communication skills and legal expertise to prepare you for a global career.

Deakin's practical approach to study includes options such as study abroad programs and involvement with the Deakin Law Clinic, where you will conduct research, provide legal advice and observe courtroom proceedings under qualified supervision. Graduate from this accredited program with two degrees, designed to meet employer needs worldwide.

Want to take your legal career to the world stage?

Ranked the #3 law school in Victoria^*, Deakin law school provides you with a strong foundation across major areas of law, including:

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

Learn from academics who are active researchers and connected to industry, giving you access to the latest ideas, global insights and professional networks in law and international fields. You can also complement your studies by taking a study abroad opportunity such as international study tours or exchange programs. Experience first-hand foreign legal systems and learn how law is applied within these jurisdictions, as well as across borders, again giving you an edge upon graduation.

Through the Bachelor of International Studies, choose from nine majors that align with your career interests. Build an understanding of globalisation, power and capitalism, and develop practical communication and intercultural skills. You can also complement your studies with a study abroad experience or international exchange, learning how law is applied across different jurisdictions and boosting your employability. Graduate as a well-rounded thought leader with practical global knowledge and cross-cultural skills sought by employers worldwide.

^{*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. Once you complete your degree and the additional practical legal training, you will be qualified to work as a solicitor or barrister across a range of legal fields.

Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of International Studies graduates are suitable candidates for a wide range of career opportunities, including:

ASIO officer
corporate lawyer
criminal lawyer
diplomat
federal police officer
foreign affairs officer
law reform officer
law academic
legal adviser
mediator
NGO policy officer
politician
trade agreements negotiator.

Course learning outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes Bachelor of Laws (M312)	Course Learning Outcomes Bachelor of International Studies (A326)
Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities	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.	Review, analyse and apply key concepts in International Studies relating to international politics and society, globalisation and development, intercultural competency, global citizenship and professional development with reference to one or more Social Science disciplinary perspectives and appropriate theories and technical knowledge.
Communication	Communicate legal knowledge effectively to legal and non-legal audiences, both verbally and in writing.	Apply learnings from personal and professional development in diverse organizational contexts to effectively communicate cross-cultural ideas, arguments and analyses to diverse audiences using a range of different mediums.
Digital literacy	Use a range of digitally-based technologies to locate, evaluate and disseminate information.	Employ a range of digital technologies and platforms to conduct research, engage in discussion and debate, document personal and professional skills and attributes, communicate effectively with and deliver reports and presentations to a diverse range of audiences within and outside the field of International Studies.
Critical thinking	Exercise critical thinking, judgment and intellectual independence to evaluate, consolidate and synthesise knowledge relevant to legal doctrine and legal practice.	Analyse and critically evaluate conceptual and theoretical approaches to issues of international politics and society, intercultural competency, global citizenship, and professional development in the context of an increasingly complex globalised world that requires appreciation of local, national, regional and international dynamics and their interactions.
Problem solving	Apply legal reasoning and critical analysis to generate and articulate accurate and relevant responses to legal issues.	Employ initiative and creativity in conjunction with appropriate Social Science methods of research and analysis to systematically investigate and generate context-sensitive and pragmatic solutions to complex real-world problems.
Self-management	Exercise responsibility and accountability for own learning, and possess abilities to reflect on own capabilities, performance and feedback to support personal and professional development.	Exercise autonomy, responsibility, accountability and a sustained and ongoing commitment to learning and skill development in International Studies contexts including but not limited to communities of practice and scholarship.
Teamwork	Collaborate effectively in a team environment demonstrating constructive engagement and contribution to the team and the ability to draw on strengths of others.	Work and learn collaboratively and productively with others in the field of International Studies and with stakeholders from other disciplines and backgrounds to achieve shared goals.
Global citizenship	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.	Analyse and respond appropriately to issues of cultural, social and political inequity; the transferability of knowledge and skills in different geographic, knowledge and organisational contexts as a reflective scholar and practitioner, taking into consideration cultural and socio-economic diversity, social and environmental responsibility and adherence to professional and academic ethical standards.

Course rules

To complete the Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of International Studies, 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
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 units (as outlined in the Bachelor of Laws)
- 5 credit points of course elective units
16 credit points from the Bachelor of International Studies
- 6 credit points of core units
- 1 major (8 credit points)
- an approved international experience (2 credit points minimum) to be completed in the third or fourth year of the course^
course requirements for both the Bachelor of Laws (M312) and Bachelor of International Studies (A326) 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.

Notes:

(i) Students enrolled in D338 or D323 are not able to accommodate AIS331 International Internship B (4 credit points) within the 16 credit points allocated to the Bachelor of International Studies. However, AIS330 International Internship A (2 credit points) placements can be for up to 12-weeks if desired. Please contact the Unit Chair for further information.

^(ii) It is envisaged that students would complete the international experience in the third or fourth year of their course.

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:

~ The indigenous studies major sequence is offered online only.

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

Students to complete 18 credit points from the Bachelor of Laws

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.

Students to complete 6 credit points from the Bachelor of International Studies

AIS101

Intercultural Communication

AIS102

Working in International Contexts

AIR200

Global Capitalism and Power

AIS204

Gender, Globalisation and Development

AIS303

International Studies Capstone Portfolio

AIS304

International Futures

Course electives

Students must complete five of the following law elective units:

MLL215

Commercial Law

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 Law experiential/practice 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

Students must complete 2 credit points of an international experience, selected from one or more of the following:

Trimester of study at an overseas university exchange partner
International internship (AIS330, AIS331^{^}) *in-country language program (in Chinese, Indonesian or Arabic)
Approved study abroad program or approved study tour (AIS203 or other)
Approved onshore internship with an international organisation (available for AIS330 only).
2 credit points of consecutive language units other than in-country language program can be taken to achieve one credit point of the international experience requirement

Further details can be found at Work Integrated Learning.

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 overall score of 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

Bachelor of International Studies (A326)
Bachelor of Laws (M312)

Articulated courses

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) (A400)
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 requires students to complete a work integrated learning unit (Bachelor of Laws) and a 2 credit point international experience (Bachelor of International Studies).

Note:

(i) Students enrolled in D323 are not able to accommodate AIS331 International Internship B (4 credit points) within the 16 credit points allocated to the Bachelor of International Studies. However, AIS330 International Internship A (2 credit point) placements can be for up to 12-weeks if desired. Please contact the Unit Chair for further information.

(ii) It is envisaged that students would complete the international experience in the third or fourth year of their course.

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.

Placement can occur at any time, including during standard holiday breaks. Learn about key dates at Deakin.

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.

Selection adjustment

Subject adjustment

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