This program provides an opportunity to obtain two degrees of professional importance to the public sector, community service, business and law practice. In addition, the student has the option to work towards a research career in a variety of disciplines.

Duration/Award

The program is of five years full-time study leading to the award of the two degrees of Bachelor of Social Science and Bachelor of Laws (BSocSc LLB).

Assumed Knowledge

Students must satisfy the normal assumed knowledge requirements entry to the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, and to individual courses in that Faculty.

BSocSc

Students not wishing to proceed to the combined degree BSocSc LLB, may transfer to the BSocSc degree program with credit for all courses completed.

BSocSc Core Courses

The first three years of the program includes the Bachelor of Social Science core program totalling 48 units of credit.

Arts & Social Science Major

1. Students must also complete an approved major sequence in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. The major sequence must be taken in one of the following Schools:, Economics/Economic History, Geography, Geology, History, History and Philosophy of Science, Human Resource Management, Industrial Relations & Organisational Behaviour, International Business, Philosophy, Politics & International Relations, Psychology, Sociology & Anthropology, Spanish and Latin American Studies (History), Theatre, Film & Dance.

2. Most major sequences are made up of 42 units of credit; however some require only 36 units of credit. If a 36 unit of credit major is selected, students will be expected to make up the 6 unit of credit shortfall by completing either an additional elective approved by the Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences or by completing an additional law elective. (This will bring the total units of credit of law electives to 64)

At completion of this program, students will have attained a sound knowledge base in the fields of both Law and Social Science.

Approved Sequence of Study

Students must study Social Science courses in a sequence approved by the Faculty of Arts and Social Science and Law courses in a sequence approved by the Faculty of Law. An approved sequence can be found here:

Plan for Social Science/Law 4761

Other sequences may be approved under special circumstances.

Honours in Social Science

Students wishing to take the BSocSc program at Honours level must obtain prior approval from the relevant Schools in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and the Faculty of Law. At least one and possibly two additional years of study are required. Alternatively students may consider completing the BSocSc degree program at Honours level (4 years) and then seeking admission to the three year LLB degree program for graduates.

The Bachelor of Laws (LLB) may be awarded with the following levels of Honours:

Honours Class 1
Honours Class 2, Division 1
Honours Class 2, Division 2

The award of Honours in the LLB program is based on two requirements:

1) the Weighted Average Mark (WAM); and
2) satisfactory performance in written research.

1) Weighted average mark

In general terms, students who score a WAM in the top 10% of the graduating cohort in each semester will be eligible for the award of Honours Class 1; students with a WAM in the next 10% will be eligible for the award of Honours Class 2, Division 1; and students with a WAM in the next 10% will be eligible for the award of Honours Class 2, Division 2.
All courses taken towards the Law degree will be taken into account for written research requirements, but only those taken at UNSW Law School will count towards the WAM.

2) Satisfactory performance in written research

To demonstrate “satisfactory performance in written research” a student must complete one long substantial piece or three shorter substantial pieces of research writing in their program. In particular, a student must attain at least a credit grade either in LAWS 2423 Research Thesis (8 uoc); or (16 uoc); or in each of three (3) research papers of at least 3000 words each, taken in any three (3) courses in the LLB program.
At the time of enrolment in courses in their final semester, students who have demonstrated satisfactory performance in written research must submit an approved Honours Nomination Form to the Honours Committee detailing the basis upon which the research requirement has been met, and the course or courses in which the requisite grades were attained. If a student has not met the Honours research requirement before the end of their penultimate semester, he or she must notify the Honours committee of the LLB courses in which they propose to meet the requirement before the census date in their last semester.

Failures and Academic Misconduct

In no circumstances will a student be eligible for the award of Honours if he or she has

(a) failed more than one course in the LLB program;
(b) been found guilty of plagiarism or serious misconduct on more than one occasion.

See Program 4790 for Academic Rules relating to the Bachelor of Laws component of this combined degree program. A direct link is given below:

Bachelor of Laws 4790

For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/fees/FeesMainPage.html