Why Study / Key Benefits

• The Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Arts combines professional legal education with a broader humanities and social-sciences education.
• Students develop legal knowledge alongside critical thinking, research, communication, conceptual understanding and creative reasoning.
• The law component covers fundamental areas including Australian law, constitutional law, contract law, criminal law, property, intellectual property, company law and dispute resolution.
• The Arts component allows students to explore social change, technology, culture, politics, globalisation, Indigenous studies, criminology, literature and related areas.
• Swinburne incorporates practical learning through legal professional experience, moot court scenarios and advocacy exercises.
• The Arts component includes collaborative projects and industry engagement focused on social change.
• Swinburne states that its law degree satisfies the academic requirements for admission to legal practice in Victoria and the Australian Federal legal systems, subject to completion of the other admission requirements, including Practical Legal Training

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The Law component consists of 20 core Law units, four Law elective units and the required professional experience.

Current core Law subjects include:

• Introduction to Australian Law and Statutory Interpretation
• Torts 1
• Criminal Law and Procedure
• Torts 2
• Legal Writing
• Contract Law 1
• Contract Law 2
• Evidence
• Administrative Law
• Trade Marks and Related Rights
• Federal and State Constitutional Law
• Property Law
• Land Law
• Legal Technology and Innovation
• Copyright
• Patents and Designs
• Equity and Trusts
• Company Law
• Legal Practice and Professional Conduct
• Civil Procedure and Alternative Dispute Resolution

The Law professional-experience component includes:

• Professional Experience in Law 1: 150 hours
• Professional Experience in Law 2: 150 hours
• Professional Experience in Law 3: 150 hours

Total: 450 professional-experience hours.

The Arts component includes four core units:

• Technology and Society
• Skills and Strategies for Social Change
• Changemakers in Action
• BA Professional Practice

Disciplines / Specialisations

The current Bachelor of Arts component provides the following majors:

• Climate and Social Justice
• Criminology and Social Change
• Ethics and Technology
• Indigenous Studies
• Literature and Creative Writing
• Perspectives on Globalisation
• Politics, Power and Technology
• Screen Studies and Popular Culture

Programme Highlights

• 4.5-year undergraduate double degree.
• Combines professional Law with Arts.
• Hawthorn campus in Melbourne.
• Two 2027 intakes: March and August.
• 450 credit points.
• 450 hours of Law professional experience.
• Eight available Arts majors.
• Legal technology and innovation is included in the core Law curriculum.
• Practical legal experience through placements, mooting and advocacy exercises.
• The Law degree satisfies the academic requirements for admission to legal practice in Victoria and the Australian Federal legal systems, subject to the remaining admission requirements.
• CRICOS course code: 119073F.

Career Outcomes

The current Swinburne course page identifies potential careers including:

• Solicitor
• Legal counsel
• Lawyer
• Community development officer
• Government relations coordinator
• Political correspondent

The Law qualification can also prepare graduates for areas such as:

• Administrative law
• Business and corporate law
• Children’s law
• Competition and consumer law
• Criminal law
• Dispute resolution
• Elder law
• Entertainment, arts and media law
• Environment and planning law
• Family law
• Human rights law
• Intellectual property
• Industrial relations
• Migration and refugee law
• Native title
• Not-for-profit and charity law.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

Current programme information includes:

• Course: Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Arts.
• CRICOS: 119073F.
• Campus: Hawthorn.
• 2027 start dates: 1 March and 2 August 2027.
• Application deadlines displayed by Swinburne: 24 February and 28 July 2027.
• Standard duration: 4.5 years.
• Standard course volume: 450 credit points.
• International Student visa holders in Australia must study full-time and on campus.
• The Law component has compulsory professional experience requirements.
• International students holding Student visas cannot undertake the professional placements listed in this course because of government regulation. This is particularly important for international applicants: the standard Law professional-experience requirement still exists, but the additional Work Integrated Learning professional-placement option has restrictions for Student visa holders.

International Student Visa Requirements

International students intending to study this programme in Australia generally require an Australian Student visa, subclass 500.

Swinburne states that the visa process should occur after accepting the offer. Students need a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), which Swinburne issues after the offer is accepted, the required university deposit is paid and applicable OSHC is organised. The CoE contains information about the course, including its cost and duration, and is required for the Student visa application.

Key requirements include:

• Valid passport.
• Swinburne Letter of Offer.
• Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).
• Evidence/documents required by the Department of Home Affairs visa checklist.
• Satisfaction of the Genuine Student requirement.
• Applicable financial-capacity evidence.
• Applicable health and character requirements.
• Compliance with Student visa conditions.