This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2026
This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 2 2026
Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
VTAC Codes
1400412291 - Waterfront (Geelong), Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS) 1400512291 - Burwood (Melbourne), Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS) 1400612291 - Online, Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS)
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition
The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7
Supplementary Information
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 Psychological Science degree will be taught at the Waurn Ponds Campus.
Study the Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Psychological Science to build a powerful dual qualification that prepares you to practise law while gaining insight to human behaviour. Over five years, you’ll develop core legal skills and explore psychological science laying the foundation for careers in law, mental health, policy and advocacy, and providing a pathway to further study if you wish to progress towards registration as a psychologist.
Deakin Law School is ranked among the top 3 in Victoria*, and we’re the #1 Victorian university for psychology undergraduate employment# with state-leading facilities and resources. This program combines rigorous legal training with applied psychology units, from tailoring your law degree through diverse electives to developing foundational counselling skills, giving you a versatile, career-ready qualification.
How can a deep understanding of people make you a more effective lawyer, and how can legal knowledge help you shape healthier communities?
Graduates with expertise in both law and psychology are in high demand, able to navigate complex societal issues and provide insight-driven solutions across legal, health, policy and community sectors. This dual skill set equips you to address challenging human and legal problems with confidence and professionalism.
The law component covers all core legal units required for professional practice while offering electives that let you tailor your studies to your interests in areas such as commercial, public or family law. You’ll gain hands-on experience through the Deakin Law Clinic, mooting, internships and other applied learning opportunities. These experiences develop your ability to analyse complex legal problems, communicate effectively and deliver practical, commercially aware advice.
In the psychology stream, you will explore human behaviour, personality and emotion, covering areas such as cognitive psychology, social behaviour, child and adolescent development, forensic psychology, psychopathology and individual differences. You’ll develop applied counselling and coaching skills through core units, giving you practical experience in understanding and supporting people.
Choose Deakin’s Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Psychological Science and build a strong foundation of practical skills, including:
- legal reasoning
- client communication
- counselling
- behavioural assessment
- applied research
This program maintains pathways to both legal practice and psychology registration, and meets the academic requirements of the Victorian Legal Admissions Board (VLAB).
You’ll graduate with the professional versatility and applied expertise to thrive across law, psychology, health, policy and community sectors, and be well-prepared to continue postgraduate study if you wish to pursue general registration as a psychologist.
*QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025 #2024 Graduate Outcomes Survey, QILT for Psychology (Undergraduate) ^SES 2024, QILT (Psychology – teaching practices, student support, facilities).
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 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.
Deakin Business School holds the prestigious and globally recognised AACSB and EQUIS accreditations, which attest to quality, academic and professional excellence, ongoing improvement, innovation and graduate employability.
The Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Psychological Science includes the 10 core units that make up an APAC-accredited three-year psychology sequence. We are currently seeking accreditation of the Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Psychological Science with the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).
Graduate from the #1 Victorian university for graduate employment ready to step into diverse roles where law and psychology intersect. Your combined expertise in legal reasoning and human behaviour will open doors to careers in:
legal practice (solicitor or barrister, after completing Practical Legal Training)
family, criminal or mental health law
policy development and advocacy
human rights and social justice organisations
government, community and regulatory roles
mediation, dispute resolution and victim support
behavioural research and court support services
You’ll also be well prepared for further psychology study, with a pathway through a fourth year and further postgraduate study that enables you to progress toward general registration as a psychologist.
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.
Course Learning Outcomes Bachelor of Psychological Science
Course Learning Outcomes Bachelor of Laws
Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
Integrate theoretical knowledge of the discipline of psychology in relation to: health, social, cognitive, methodology, neuroscience, development, and personality. Demonstrate appropriate communication, counselling, and research methods skills.
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
Communicate psychological knowledge and arguments effectively using the most appropriate means utilising clear, discipline appropriate, coherent and well developed communication skills. Demonstrate appropriate interpersonal communication and interview skills in situations appropriate to psychological practice. This includes active listening, clarifying and reflecting, effective questioning, summarising and paraphrasing, developing rapport, appropriate cultural responsiveness and empathic responding.
Communicate legal knowledge effectively to legal and non-legal audiences, both verbally and in writing.
Digital literacy
Utilise online technologies to interact with others, access research and evaluate empirical evidence; and create and disseminate psychology-relevant content.
Use a range of digitally-based technologies to locate, evaluate and disseminate information.
Critical thinking
Identify and critique the factors that contribute to the development of unhealthy mental processes and behaviours, develop arguments, reports, or commentaries based on empirical research and apply the results; to affect healthy behaviour change in; oneself or others, and; apply the skills required to affect healthy behaviour change; in oneself and in others in diverse contexts.
Exercise critical thinking, judgment and intellectual independence to evaluate, consolidate and synthesise knowledge relevant to legal doctrine and legal practice.
Problem solving
Apply knowledge of the scientific method when addressing problems related to; behaviour and mental processes; design, plan, and conduct research that addresses; these problems; and apply analytic and; statistical skills to interpret the results and; validity of research.
Apply legal reasoning and critical analysis to generate and articulate accurate and relevant responses to legal issues.
Self-management
Engage in independent learning as a; reflective practitioner to sustain personal and professional development in the changing world of the science and practice; of psychology; and manage resources; timelines and other constraints to achieve; quality and timely outcomes.
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 and communicate psychological principles and practices effectively in interdisciplinary teams to work and learn in a range of environments including; communities of practice, research and professional practice.
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
Embody the values and attitudes of the scientist-practitioner; apply ethical and professional responsibilities to local and global communities, apply knowledge and skills in culturally appropriate and inclusive ways.
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 Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Psychological Science 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
Course requirements for both the Bachelor of Laws (M312) and Bachelor of Psychological Science (H344) 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.
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.
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.
Fees and charges
Tuition fees will vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, your study load and/or unit discipline.
Your tuition fees will increase annually at the start of each calendar year. All fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD) and do not include additional costs such as textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment, mandatory checks, travel, consumables and other costs.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.
Contact Student Central for assistance in course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements. Student Central can also provide information for a wide range of services at Deakin. To help you understand the University vocabulary, please refer to our Enrolment codes and terminology page.
