Bachelor of Laws

Overview

Experience the first law degree in Victoria with an IP specialisation and the only one with 60 days of law-related professional experience placements. Learn about trade marks, patents, designs and copyright, competition law and more. Develop skills in the technologies transforming legal practice: smart legal contracts, document automation, predicative AI and advanced chatbots.

Check the Bachelor of Laws course handbook

Get a copy of our course guide

Your industry experience

All Swinburne bachelor degrees include a guaranteed Work Integrated Learning opportunity. Complete law-related professional placements at organisations in Australia or overseas. Be introduced to the practical aspects of legal practice, including legal drafting exercises, solving complex problems for industry, and advocacy exercises.

Explore Work Integrated Learning

Skills you’ll learn

Navigate the Australian legal system
Analyse legal issues and disputes
Persuasive communication
Legal research and writing
Design technologies transforming legal practice
Ethical and professional responsibility

Your career opportunities

Solicitor
Legal counsel
Lawyer
Policy adviser
Legal adviser
Human rights advocate

Key codes

CRICOS course code

085629D

VTAC Code (IFP)

3400210393

VTAC Code (CSP)

3400210391

International student visa

International students in Australia who hold student visas are required to study full-time and on campus. Courses that are taught entirely online are only available to international students studying outside Australia or those in Australia who are not on a student visa. Online courses are not available to international students in Australia who hold a student visa.

Why Swinburne?

Ranked Top 200 in Law

Times Higher Education World University Ranking by Subject 2023

80.6% of UG graduates found employment within 4 months of completing their course

The median income for graduates 1 year out is $54.5K (second highest in Melbourne / Victoria)

Sources

Dual award for future lawyers

Accelerate into your legal career.

Swinburne law students are the only students in Victoria who are eligible to be admitted to legal practice on the day they graduate.

To accelerate your learning, you’ll be able to enrol in a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice through Leo Cussen Centre for Law during the final year of your Bachelor of Laws. This dual award program provides the requisite training to practice law, cutting months off the time it takes to become a lawyer.

Learn more (Dual award for future lawyers)

Professional accreditations

Victorian Legal Admissions Board

Qualifications

One of the following:

successful completion of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or its equivalent, such as an interstate or international Year 12 qualification
completion or partial completion of an approved degree qualification.

Guaranteed Entry ATAR

80.0

Lowest ATAR to receive an offer in 2024 [after adjustment factors]

83.05

You’ll be guaranteed a place in this course if you meet or exceed the ATAR Guaranteed Entry Score, provided you meet the course prerequisites.

If your ATAR is below the guaranteed entry score, you can still be offered a place as your ATAR may be adjusted based on subject adjustments, equity schemes or other factors.

Subject adjustments:

A study score of 25 in any Business, any Humanities or any LOTE equals 2 aggregate points per study.
A study score of 30 in any Business, any Humanities or any LOTE equals 3 aggregate points per study.

Overall maximum of 12 points. Subject adjustment points are applied to the aggregate, not the ATAR.

Students admitted to the course with prior tertiary studies that satisfy part of the academic requirements of this course may be eligible for academic credit.

*Applicants without a formal qualification but with significant and relevant work experience will be considered if they can demonstrate that they can undertake the course with a reasonable prospect of success.

Successful completion of Australian Year 12, or equivalent overseas qualification.

Assess your eligibility for entry to Swinburne

Course prerequisites

VCE Units 3 and 4: a minimum study score of 25 in any English (except EAL) or 30 in English as Alternate Language (EAL) or equivalent

Admission requirements

Meeting the minimum entry requirements for the course does not guarantee an offer of a place. Check admission requirements for general information about the admission process.

Visit course handbook

English language requirements

Satisfactory completion of one of the following:

IELTS overall band of 6.5 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 6.0
Swinburne’s English for Academic Purposes (EAP 5 Advanced level) with overall 70%, all skills 65% or above
or equivalent measures available at English language requirements.

Need to undertake an English assessment for entry?

A prerequisite for many courses, the Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic) can now be done at our Hawthorn campus.

Book your Pearson Test of English

Admission requirements

Meeting the minimum entry requirements for the course does not guarantee an offer of a place. Check admission requirements for general information about the admission process.

Visit course handbook

Credit transfer

Credit is granted in recognition of previous study and/or experience and allows students to gain advanced standing towards their course. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Learn more about credit

Recognition of prior learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) allows students to gain credit (advanced standing) towards their course in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal training. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Learn more about RPL

Apply for a pathway course

Pathways allow students to progress from one qualification to another where the first course is recognised as an entry requirement and/or provides credit (advanced standing) to the second.

Learn more about pathways

How credit points work

Successful completion of the Bachelor of Laws requires students to complete units of study to the value of 400 credit points. All units of study are valued at 12.5 credit points unless otherwise stated.

Core units

Law elective units

Elective units

Work placement units

4-year bachelor degree

What your course could look like

This is the indicative sequence for Semester 1, 2025 only. You are advised to use the study plan template available via your student portal in conjunction with your course planner to plan your studies. Sequence may also vary depending on advanced standing and exemptions. The unit offering information is correct at the time of publication, however changes may occur.

Year one

100 credit points

Units of study	Unit code
Semester 1
Introduction to Australian Law and Statutory Interpretation Core unit, 12.5 credit points	LAW10010
Contract Law Core unit, 12.5 credit points	LAW10011
Torts 1 Core unit, 12.5 credit points	LAW10014
Elective Elective unit
Semester 2
Commercial Law Core unit, 12.5 credit points	LAW10013
Torts 2 Core unit, 12.5 credit points	LAW10025
Legal Writing Core unit, 12.5 credit points	LAW10026
Elective Elective unit
Professional Experience in Law 1 Placement unit	LAW10016

Want to see the full range of electives?

Learn about all the electives you can take in the course handbook.

View course handbook

Year two

100 credit points

Units of study	Unit code
Semester 1
Criminal Law and Procedure Core unit, 12.5 credit points	LAW10015
Property Law Core unit, 12.5 credit points	LAW20013
Your Law elective goes here Your Law elective goes here unit	LAWELEC01
Elective Elective unit
Semester 2
Evidence Core unit, 12.5 credit points	LAW20009
Land Law Core unit, 12.5 credit points	LAW20014
Legal Technology and Innovation Core unit, 12.5 credit points	LAW20040
Elective Elective unit
Professional Experience in Law 2 Placement unit	LAW20018

Optional professional work placement

50 or 100 credit points

Units of study	Unit code
Professional placement - Major (12 months)
Integrated Professional Placement A – Law Academic unit	LAW20021
Integrated Professional Placement B – Law Academic unit	LAW20022
Work Experience in Industry A Practical unit, 25.0 credit points	WEI20001
Work Experience in Industry B Practical unit, 25.0 credit points	WEI20002
or
Professional placement - Minor (6 months)
Integrated Professional Placement A – Law Academic unit	LAW20021
Work Experience in Industry A Practical unit, 25.0 credit points	WEI20001

Note: Students who undertake a professional placement in law do so in lieu of the Professional Experience in Law units. This option may change the course duration and the number of elective units required to complete the degree.

Year three

100 credit points

Units of study	Unit code
Semester 1
Trade Marks and Related Rights Core unit, 12.5 credit points	LAW20011
Federal and State Constitutional Law Core unit, 12.5 credit points	LAW20012
Elective Elective unit
Your Law elective goes here Your Law elective goes here unit	LAWELEC01
Semester 2
Administrative Law Core unit, 12.5 credit points	LAW20010
Copyright Core unit, 12.5 credit points	LAW20043
Elective Elective unit
Your Law elective goes here Your Law elective goes here unit	LAWELEC01
Professional Experience in Law 3 Placement unit	LAW30016

Year four

100 credit points

Units of study	Unit code
Semester 1
Patents and Designs Core unit, 12.5 credit points	LAW30011
Equity and Trusts Core unit, 12.5 credit points	LAW30012
Company Law Core unit, 12.5 credit points	LAW30013
Elective Elective unit
Semester 2
Legal Practice and Professional Conduct Core unit, 12.5 credit points	LAW30015
Civil Procedure and Alternative Dispute Resolution Core unit, 12.5 credit points	LAW30029
Elective Elective unit
Your Law elective goes here Your Law elective goes here unit	LAWELEC01

2025 fees

Yearly fee* ($AUD)

$16,992

Total fee* ($AUD)

$67,968

2025 fees

Yearly fee* ($AUD)

$43,280.00

Fees are estimates only

Published student tuition fees for 2025 unit enrolments in HE Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) and Undergraduate Full Fee Paying (FFP) are subject to change based on individual circumstances at enrolment. Fees may vary for units studied in future years, with part-time fees being proportionally lower depending on the number of units taken per semester. Enrolled students will receive reasonable notice of any fee changes before payment is due.

Fees are estimates only

The indicative course fees shown apply to international students for the relevant year, based on a standard study load per year. Fees are assessed according to actual study load each semester, with variations to study load resulting in tuition fee adjustments. These fees generally include the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) and are subject to annual review. Enrolled students will receive reasonable notice of any fee changes before payment is due.

How do I pay my fees?

HECS-HELP is a loan and discount scheme available to you if you are eligible and enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place. A HECS-HELP loan can cover all or part of your contribution amount. You can also choose to pay your fees up front.

Find out more about fees

International students need to pay tuition fees up-front by the relevant due date. You can find the due dates on your Statement of Account.

To pay your fees:

log in to My Financials
check your Australian bank account details are correct
check your Statement of Account to see how much you owe
pay using your preferred payment method.

Learn more about paying your fees

Eligibility for HECS-HELP

You are eligible for a HECS-HELP loan if you have been offered a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) for an undergraduate degree at Swinburne or a UniLink course, and you:

are an Australian citizen and doing at least one unit of your course in Australia; or
hold a permanent humanitarian visa and will be living in Australia for the duration of your course; or
hold a New Zealand Special Category visa and meet the special eligibility requirements for New Zealand citizens.

Learn more about HECS-HELP

Student services and amenities fee

This funding serves to improve the student experience at Swinburne. You may use many or just some of the services and amenities that the fee provides.

The fee shown in the capped amount for 2025.

This funding serves to improve the student experience at Swinburne. You may use many or just some of the services and amenities that the fee provides.

This amenities fee is included within your annual tuition fee listed above. The fee shown is the capped amount for 2025.

Please refer to the Student Services Amenities Fee page for more information.

SSAF fee* ($AUD)

$365

SSAF fee* ($AUD)

$365

Learn more about SSAF

Scholarships

Scholarship applications for 2025 are open. Scholarships at Swinburne are about providing opportunity, promoting equity and recognising excellence and achievement. We want you to reach your potential and achieve your life and career goals.

Our handy guide will assist you to gather documents for your application.

Learn more about scholarships

When you apply for a Swinburne course, we automatically consider you for an international scholarship of up to 20 per cent off your course fees – no separate application required! Just apply for your Swinburne course of choice and when we review your course application, we will also assess you for an international scholarship.

Learn more about scholarships

Professional placement fees

Students who participate in a six- or 12-month professional placement will be subject to an increase in total course fees.

Apply through an agent

Most international students use an education agent to help them through the application process. Swinburne has agents all over the world that can help you with your application to study. Search for a Swinburne representative in your country. If your country is not listed, please contact us.

Representatives and agents

BA-LAW

Search for agents

Apply directly

Ready to take on a new challenge and reach your academic goals? If you already know which course you want to study and understand the entry requirements, what are you waiting for? Apply online! Remember, you cannot apply direct if you have an active VTAC application.

Course code

BA-LAW

Apply directly

Course code

BA-LAW

CRICOS code

085629D

Apply directly

Apply through VTAC

International students currently studying Year 12 in Australia must apply through VTAC. VTAC is the central office that administers the application processes for places in tertiary courses, scholarships and the Special Entry Access Scheme at universities, TAFEs and independent tertiary colleges in Victoria.

VTAC is the central office that administers the application processes for places in tertiary courses, scholarships and the Special Entry Access Scheme at universities, TAFEs and independent tertiary colleges in Victoria.

VTAC Code (CSP)

3400210391

Apply through VTAC

VTAC Code (IFP)

3400210393

Apply through VTAC

Start dates

Location

Last date to apply

Start dates

Semester 2

Hawthorn

30-July-2025

04-August-2025

Start dates

Location

Start dates

Semester 2

Hawthorn

04-August-2025

Upcoming events

A Day in the Life of a Swinburne Student | Creative

08-April-2025

A Day in the Life of a Swinburne Student | STEM, Aviation & Health

09-April-2025

A Day in the Life of a Swinburne Student | Social Impact and Innovation

10-April-2025

"Swinburne started my career. The compulsory internships got me out in the world and helped me gain experience and meet people in my future profession. In the end, it was because of these internships that I got a job."

Katrina , Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Business

Overview

Entry requirements

Study structure

Fees & Scholarships

How to apply

Overview

Your industry experience

Skills you’ll learn

Your career opportunities

Key codes

International student visa

Why Swinburne?

Dual award for future lawyers

Professional accreditations

Victorian Legal Admissions Board

Guaranteed Entry ATAR

Lowest ATAR to receive an offer in 2024 [after adjustment factors]

Subject adjustments:

Admission requirements

Need to undertake an English assessment for entry?

Admission requirements

Apply for a pathway course

Year one

Want to see the full range of electives?

Year two

Optional professional work placement

Year three

Year four

Fees are estimates only

Fees are estimates only

SSAF fee* ($AUD)

SSAF fee* ($AUD)