This program combines the professional LLB program with the large number of majors offered within the Faculty of Science. The Science programs provide opportunities for students to prepare themselves for careers in research, technology, science, mathematics and education, or areas of management or public policy which involve the use of science or mathematics.

Major Sequence

(i) Students may select any major from those offered by the Faculty of Science, or a major in COMPUTER SCIENCE which is administered by the School of Computer Science and Engineering.

(ii) Students should discuss their choice of major with the Science Student Centre prior to enrolment.

(iii) For the majority of majors students are required to complete only 2 law courses in Year 1. For the PSYCHOLOGY major students are required to complete 5. (See separate entry.)

Duration/Award

The program is a five year full-time combined program leading to the award of the two degrees of Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Laws (BSc LLB).

Assumed Knowledge

Students must satisfy the normal assumed knowledge requirements for entry to the Faculty of Science and to individual courses in that Faculty.

BSc

The degree of Bachelor of Science is not awarded until the completion of the full five year program, but students unable to complete the full program may apply for advanced standing in the Bachelor of Science degree.

Science Courses

Students must complete a minimum of 84 units of credit, including the requirements of one of the majors outlined in Table A in the Science section of the Handbook or a major in Computer Science. In all cases students must include 24 to 36 units of credit of Level 1 courses.

Law or Science Elective

In addition to the prescribed units of credit of law courses and science courses there is the option to complete 6 units of credit of either law or science electives. Students can satisfy this requirement by completing either a law elective (6 units of credit) or an elective approved by the Faculty of Science (6 units of credit).

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

Approved Sequence of Study

Students must study Science courses in a sequence approved by the Faculty of Science and Law courses in a sequence approved by the Faculty of Law. A typical structure of a combined Science/Law program is set out below. Subject to timetable restrictions, the full range of Science majors are normally available to Law students.

An approved sequence can be found here:

Plan for Science/Law 4770

Requirements for Science majors can be found here:

Requirements for Science Majors

Students enrolled in combined law degrees (with exception to Jurisprudence/Law) are not required to complete general education courses.

Honours in Science

Students wishing to complete the BSc degree program at Honours level must obtain prior approval from the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Law. A standard Honours program in Science requires an additional year of study. Students cannot commence their Honours program until they have completed the requirements for their combined degree program. Alternatively students may consider completing a BSc degree program at Honours level (4 years) and then seek admission to the three year Juris Doctor degree program for graduates.

The Bachelor of Laws (LLB) will 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 Law 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 LAWS2423 Research Thesis (8 uoc) or (16 uoc); or LAWS3423 Research Thesis (6 uoc) or (12 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.

For Academic Rules relating to the Bachelor of Laws component of this combined degree program, please refer to progam 4790. Although 4790 program is no longer on offer, all combined law students enrolled in the LLB will need to comply with the rules stated here. 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