Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Cyber Security

2024 Deakin University Handbook

Year	2024 course information
Award granted	Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Cyber Security
Deakin course code	D397
Faculty	Faculty of Business and Law
Campus	Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong)
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 2024 This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 2 2024 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	0100550 Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong)
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 Cyber Security degree will be taught at the Waurn Ponds Campus.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Protect society from the growing threat of cybercrime with Deakin's Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Cyber Security. Be ready to explore roles from either field with the benefit of a complementary skill set or use your dual expertise to become an in-demand cyber security lawyer, capable of handling the complex issues of our evolving digital world.

Professionals with cyber security risk detection and mitigation skills are needed more than ever. It's not just everyday consumers who are facing the threat of cybercrime; government and businesses need professionals who can identify risks and protect their digital operations and assets.

This combined course puts you in a position to answer the call. With an emphasis on real-world learning, you will develop advanced skills in cyber security that perfectly complement your legal knowledge and you will graduate with two degrees after just five years of full-time study.

Ready to go beyond the traditional with a sought-after skill set that will get you noticed?

Study Deakin's unique Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Cyber Security and cover all the major areas of law, including:

constitutional law
administrative law
contract law
criminal law
property law.

As well as industry-relevant areas of cyber security such as:

computer crime and digital forensics
database and information management
ethical hacking
cyber security management.

Through this broad range of units you will build a diverse set of skills, opening the door to exciting career opportunities. You could choose to be a cyber security lawyer, leaning on your deep understanding of privacy law and criminal law to better protect the rights of your clients. Or, you could be on the front line of cybercrime, using your skills in system security to set up digital barriers between businesses and cyber threats.

Gain real-world legal experience at the Deakin Law Clinic, a teaching law firm that gives you the opportunity to work with real clients under the supervision of qualified legal practitioners. Analyse complex legal problems and develop the drafting, communication and problem-solving skills required for a successful career in law. You will also get hands-on experience with our specialised cyber security software that allows you to simulate and respond to real cyber attack scenarios. By practising your skills under pressure, you will feel confident and well-prepared by the time you enter the workforce.

You will be able to leverage the extensive research, industry partnerships and state-of-the-art facilities of Deakin's Centre for Cyber Security Research and Innovation (CCSRI). With research in areas from cyber analytics and artificial intelligence to organisational security and information warfare, you will have direct access to some of the most progressive cyber security content in the world.

Indicative student workload

As a student in the Faculty of Business and Law, you can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include classes, seminars, practicals and online interaction. 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.

The Bachelor of Cyber Security is professionally accredited with the Australian Computer Society (ACS).

Career opportunities

Studying this combined course means you will be well-placed to work in the field of law and cyber security, or in roles where both disciplines intersect. You’ll graduate with the diverse skills and practical experience required to thrive in roles including:

business analyst
business manager, company administrator or consultant
corporate lawyer
cyber security consultant
national security adviser
policy adviser for government departments or authorities such as the Attorney General's Department, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission
security analyst/ cyber threat analyst
or security systems manager.

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, including:

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

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.

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, and 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.

Use the Fee estimator to see course and unit fees applicable to your course and type of place. For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.

Course Learning Outcomes

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

Course rules

To complete the Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Cyber Security, students must attain a total of 40 credit points consisting of 16 credit points from the Bachelor of Cyber Security and 24 credit points from the Bachelor of Laws. Most units (think of units as 'subjects') are equal to 1 credit point. Course requirements for both the Bachelor of Cyber Security (S334) and the Bachelor of Laws (M312) must be satisfied plus completion of the compulsory 0-credit point module, DAI001 Academic Integrity Module and unit, SIT010 Safety Induction Program. Most students choose to study 4 units per trimester, and usually undertake 2 trimesters each year.

The 16 credit points from the Bachelor of Cyber Security include:-

13 credit points of core units
2 credit points of Cyber Security capstone units
1 credit point of SIT coded elective unit
SIT010 Safety Induction Program (0 credit point compulsory unit)
STP010 Career Tools for Employability (0 credit point compulsory unit)
Level 3 - at least 4 credit points of SIT-coded units

Students undertaking this combined degree are not required to undertake SIT306 IT Placements and Industry Experience.

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

18 credit points of core units
1 credit point of WIL/practical/experiential course elective unit (as outlined in the Bachelor of Laws)
completion of DAI001 Academic Integrity Module (0-credit-point compulsory unit)
5 credit points of law elective units from a specified list