Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics

2025 Deakin University Handbook

Year	2025 course information
Award granted	Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics
Deakin course code	D334
Faculty	Faculty of Business and Law
Campus	Offered at Burwood (Melbourne)
Online	Yes
Duration	5 years full-time or part-time equivalent
Course Map - enrolment planning tool	This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2025. Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
CRICOS course code	115517D Burwood (Melbourne)
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Complement an industry-leading legal education at one of Australia’s top law schools* with an in-depth understanding of how power, incentives and ethics influence real-world decisions by studying Deakin's Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics. Your knowledge of political systems, economic ways of thinking, and ethical and moral principles, alongside a solid foundation of legal skills from Deakin Law School, will open up a range of exciting career opportunities.

Tackle the global problems experienced by business, government and society with your understanding of political issues ranging from inequality to environmental sustainability and beyond. Develop specialised knowledge of how law, business, government and consumers shape society and graduate with a unique, practical skill set to enact change.

Want to start your career in law with enhanced knowledge and skills?

Graduate with real-world experience for a professional edge. In the law stream, you can work with clients on real cases under the supervision of qualified solicitors at the Deakin Law Clinic – our community legal service that offers free legal advice. In the politics, philosophy and economics stream, you can augment your understanding of how societies govern and determine values with practical experiences – including internships, volunteer placements and study tours. Through both streams, there’s the opportunity to collaborate on team-based industry and community projects, and to take part in our global experiential learning programs.

The law is influenced by many social, economic, environmental and political factors. A combined Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics course gives you the knowledge and skills to understand these factors, along with the skills to use this knowledge in a professional context.

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.

With an emphasis on developing analytical thinking and problem-solving skills, this unique course will teach you to address complex legal issues experienced in areas including, but not limited to:

environment
climate change
sustainability
population
ageing
health/mental health
international trade
economic strategy
the economic and institutional drivers of inequality, poverty and conflict.

This combined course gives you the opportunity to complement your studies in law with a focus on two streams chosen from the disciplines of:

philosophy
politics and policy studies
economic policy.

Learning from leading academics and researchers, these streams of study allow space for deep and creative thinking while building tangible skills that enable you to make an impact on society.

You will understand the nature of public decision-making, explore resource management issues, and get the skills to analyse business problems in line with social justice. This course balances the big picture view of public problems while developing your professional and work skills.

Graduate ready to pursue roles in the public or private sector with the added knowledge, expertise and practical skills to succeed in a range of areas involving government policy, strategy, consulting or business management.

*Shanghai Ranking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2022

Indicative student 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.

Professional recognition

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

A person seeking admission in a jurisdiction outside Australia will likely be required to satisfy additional requirements. Please consult the relevant jurisdiction’s legal admissions authority to confirm the required academic requirements, including any restrictions on online study or distance education.

Career opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics have the qualifications and experience to work in a wide range of career areas, including:

business
community legal centre consulting
diplomacy
economics
education (a law academic or legal studies teacher)
government lawyer or policy advisor
industrial relations
in-house lawyer for businesses and corporations, including start-up companies
international relations
media/journalism
police prosecutor
private legal practice
policy analysis
politics
research.

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 as a solicitor or barrister in all legal fields.

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.

Alternative exits

Bachelor of Laws (M312)
Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics (A336)

Course Learning Outcomes

Please refer to the Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) of each of the single degrees.

Course rules

To complete the Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics students must pass 40 credit points and meet the following course rules to be eligible to graduate:

DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first study period
16 credit points from the Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics
- 7 credit points of core units
- 2 discipline streams (4 credit points each), as described under course Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics (A336)
- 1 credit point from the Employability Sequence
- a minimum of 4 credit points at level 3
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
Course requirements for both the Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics and Bachelor of Laws must be satisfied

Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements. See the enrolment codes and terminology to help make sense of the University’s vocabulary.

Course structure

Compulsory 0-credit point unit (to be completed in first trimester of study):-

DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit)

The 24 credit points from the Bachelor of Laws (M312) include:-

18 credit points of core units
1 credit point of WIL/practical/experiential course elective unit (as outlined in the Bachelor of Laws)
5 credit points of law elective units from a specified list

The 16 credit points from the Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics (A336) include:-

7 credit points of core units
2 discipline streams (4 credit points each), as described under course Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics (A336)
1 credit point from the Employability Sequence
A minimum of 4 credit points at level 3

Work experience

This course provides students the opportunity to complete one or more work-integrated learning units.
More Information: WIL Programs

Course duration

Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing placements.

Further information

Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.

Contact Student Central

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, and their study discipline or your study load.

Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.

Estimate your fees

For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.