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The University of Notre Dame Australia

  • 2% international / 98% domestic

Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Arts (Politics & Journalism)

  • Bachelor

Whether you are a budding politician looking to change Australian law or a passionate journalist who wants to report on our country's latest legal developments, understanding the law is valuable.

Key details

Degree Type
Bachelor
Duration
5.25 years full-time
Study Mode
In person

About this course

School of Law & Business

Whether you are a budding politician looking to change Australian law or a passionate journalist who wants to report on our country's latest legal developments, understanding the law is valuable. The University of Notre Dame Australia's Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Arts (Politics & Journalism) is an exciting double degree that covers the legal knowledge necessary to excel as a lawyer and an introduction to current affairs, world politics and journalism. Contact us today to start your learning journey.

Entry requirements

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Entry requirements WA

Academic requirements for this program are outlined below. In addition, to be eligible for admission, all applicants need to satisfy the Minimum University Admission Requirements outlined. These include those relating to minimum age and English Language Proficiency. We also consider your application more broadly - your non-academic achievements (such as any previous leadership roles, volunteering, work, church and/or community involvement) as well as personal qualities - your aspirations and interests and your capacity to complete your chosen program. See Individual Factors for further details regarding this.

Applicants with recent Secondary Education

  • Indicative ATAR/Selection Rank* of 85

OR

  • International Baccalaureate (IB) score of 32

*Selection Ranks include ATAR plus Adjustment Factors.

Applicants with Higher Education Study

  • Successful completion of at least 4 subjects at an undergraduate level or higher*, with an average grade of 65% or higher

*Applicants who have successfully completed subjects at another University, which are relevant to the selected program of study, may be eligible for credit (Advanced Standing).

Note: Tertiary Preparation Programs are not accepted for entry.

Applicants with Vocational Education and Training (VET) study

  • Successful completion of AQF Diploma or higher from an accredited provider such as TAFE or a Registered Training Organisation (RTO)

Applicants with Work and Life Experience

Applicants who left secondary education more than two years previously and who have not undertaken VET or higher education study since may be considered for direct entry. This includes applicants who have completed Steiner, Montessori or home school curriculums. To qualify, applicants must be 20 years of age as at 1 March in the year of intake and meet one or more of the following:

  • Applicants who have completed at least two years of relevant work experience may be considered for direct entry. Applicants must provide evidence of their work experience, including duties undertaken and years of experience, and they must demonstrate that they have the academic capability to undertake undergraduate studies. The Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) may be required.

OR

  • Completion of STAT with scores of at least 160 in the Multiple Choice section and 160 in the Written English section.

OR

  • Completion of two Year 12 WACE, HSC or equivalent exams, with a result equivalent to the Indicative ATAR/Selection Rank listed under Secondary Education section above.

*STAT results must have been obtained within the last three calendar years in order to be considered (e.g. for 2024 admission, STAT results obtained in 2023, 2022 or 2021 can be considered).

Please note: all applicants must be of school leaving age or older to apply.

Entry requirements NSW

Academic requirements for this program are outlined below. In addition, to be eligible for admission, all applicants need to satisfy the Minimum University Admission Requirements outlined. These include those relating to minimum age and English Language Proficiency. We also consider your application more broadly - your non-academic achievements (such as any previous leadership roles, volunteering, work, church and/or community involvement) as well as personal qualities - your aspirations and interests and your capacity to complete your chosen program. See Individual Factors for further details regarding this.

Applicants with recent Secondary Education

  • Indicative ATAR/Selection Rank*

OR

  • International Baccalaureate (IB) score

*Selection Ranks include ATAR plus Adjustment Factors.

Applicants with Higher Education Study

  • Successful completion of 4 subjects at an undergraduate level or higher* with an average grade of 65% or higher.

*Applicants who have successfully completed subjects at another University, which are relevant to the selected program of study, may be eligible for credit (Advanced Standing).

Note: Tertiary Preparation Programs are not accepted for entry.

Applicants with Vocational Education and Training (VET) study

  • Successful completion of AQF Diploma or higher in a relevant discipline from an accredited provider such as TAFE or a Registered Training Organisation (RTO)

Applicants with Work and Life Experience

Applicants who left secondary education more than two years previously and who have not undertaken VET or higher education study since may be considered for direct entry. This includes applicants who have completed Steiner, Montessori or home school curriculums. To qualify, applicants must be 20 years of age as at 1 March in the year of intake and meet one or more of the following:

  • Applicants who have completed at least two years of relevant work experience may be considered for direct entry. Applicants must provide evidence of their work experience, including duties undertaken and years of experience, and they must demonstrate that they have the academic capability to undertake undergraduate studies. The Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) may be required.

OR

  • Completion of STAT with scores of at least 160 in the Multiple Choice section and 160 in the Written English section.

OR

  • Completion of two Year 12 WACE, HSC or equivalent exams, with a result equivalent to the Indicative ATAR/Selection Rank listed under Secondary Education section above.

*STAT results must have been obtained within the last three calendar years in order to be considered (e.g. for 2024 admission, STAT results obtained in 2023, 2022 or 2021 can be considered).

Please note: all applicants must be of school leaving age or older to apply.

Academic requirements for this program are outlined below. In addition, to be eligible for admission, all applicants need to satisfy the Minimum University Admission Requirements outlined. These include those relating to minimum age and English Language Proficiency. We also consider your application more broadly - your non-academic achievements (such as any previous leadership roles, volunteering, work, church and/or community involvement) as well as personal qualities - your aspirations and interests and your capacity to complete your chosen program. See Individual Factors for further details regarding this.

Applicants with recent Secondary Education

  • Indicative ATAR/Selection Rank* of 85

OR

  • International Baccalaureate (IB) score of 32

*Selection Ranks include ATAR plus Adjustment Factors.

Applicants with Higher Education Study

  • Successful completion of at least 4 subjects at an undergraduate level or higher*, with an average grade of 65% or higher

*Applicants who have successfully completed subjects at another University, which are relevant to the selected program of study, may be eligible for credit (Advanced Standing).

Note: Tertiary Preparation Programs are not accepted for entry.

Applicants with Vocational Education and Training (VET) study

  • Successful completion of AQF Diploma or higher from an accredited provider such as TAFE or a Registered Training Organisation (RTO)

Applicants with Work and Life Experience

Applicants who left secondary education more than two years previously and who have not undertaken VET or higher education study since may be considered for direct entry. This includes applicants who have completed Steiner, Montessori or home school curriculums. To qualify, applicants must be 20 years of age as at 1 March in the year of intake and meet one or more of the following:

  • Applicants who have completed at least two years of relevant work experience may be considered for direct entry. Applicants must provide evidence of their work experience, including duties undertaken and years of experience, and they must demonstrate that they have the academic capability to undertake undergraduate studies. The Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) may be required.

OR

  • Completion of STAT with scores of at least 160 in the Multiple Choice section and 160 in the Written English section.

OR

  • Completion of two Year 12 WACE, HSC or equivalent exams, with a result equivalent to the Indicative ATAR/Selection Rank listed under Secondary Education section above.

*STAT results must have been obtained within the last three calendar years in order to be considered (e.g. for 2024 admission, STAT results obtained in 2023, 2022 or 2021 can be considered).

Please note: all applicants must be of school leaving age or older to apply.

Entry requirements NSW

Academic requirements for this program are outlined below. In addition, to be eligible for admission, all applicants need to satisfy the Minimum University Admission Requirements outlined. These include those relating to minimum age and English Language Proficiency. We also consider your application more broadly - your non-academic achievements (such as any previous leadership roles, volunteering, work, church and/or community involvement) as well as personal qualities - your aspirations and interests and your capacity to complete your chosen program. See Individual Factors for further details regarding this.

Applicants with recent Secondary Education

  • Indicative ATAR/Selection Rank*

OR

  • International Baccalaureate (IB) score

*Selection Ranks include ATAR plus Adjustment Factors.

Applicants with Higher Education Study

  • Successful completion of 4 subjects at an undergraduate level or higher* with an average grade of 65% or higher.

*Applicants who have successfully completed subjects at another University, which are relevant to the selected program of study, may be eligible for credit (Advanced Standing).

Note: Tertiary Preparation Programs are not accepted for entry.

Applicants with Vocational Education and Training (VET) study

  • Successful completion of AQF Diploma or higher in a relevant discipline from an accredited provider such as TAFE or a Registered Training Organisation (RTO)

Applicants with Work and Life Experience

Applicants who left secondary education more than two years previously and who have not undertaken VET or higher education study since may be considered for direct entry. This includes applicants who have completed Steiner, Montessori or home school curriculums. To qualify, applicants must be 20 years of age as at 1 March in the year of intake and meet one or more of the following:

  • Applicants who have completed at least two years of relevant work experience may be considered for direct entry. Applicants must provide evidence of their work experience, including duties undertaken and years of experience, and they must demonstrate that they have the academic capability to undertake undergraduate studies. The Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) may be required.

OR

  • Completion of STAT with scores of at least 160 in the Multiple Choice section and 160 in the Written English section.

OR

  • Completion of two Year 12 WACE, HSC or equivalent exams, with a result equivalent to the Indicative ATAR/Selection Rank listed under Secondary Education section above.

*STAT results must have been obtained within the last three calendar years in order to be considered (e.g. for 2024 admission, STAT results obtained in 2023, 2022 or 2021 can be considered).

Please note: all applicants must be of school leaving age or older to apply.

Study locations

Sydney

Fremantle

What you will learn

This double degree in Law and Politics & Journalism is your gateway to many rewarding careers in law, politics, or journalism. Many lawyers pursue political careers, but studying the law also equips you to become a policy adviser in state or Federal Government. In addition, our Bachelor of Laws degree is an accredited degree for admission to legal practice. It covers underlying legal and ethical principles and explains how they are applied in legal practice.

Being part of the School of Law is an enriching and enjoyable experience. As a student, you will be in a small class (for the last few years, our average class size has been 31 students) and have access to academics outside of class. Inspired by the caring Catholic ethos which runs through the School of Law, academics are committed to quality teaching and providing excellent pastoral care to each student. The University aims to give students every opportunity to fulfil their potential as a student and be inspired to go out into the community and make a difference.

The Notre Dame Law degree has a particular focus on the basic building blocks of the law (the so-called "Priestley" subjects) and on developing practical skills such as public speaking, advocacy, alternative dispute resolution and commercial practice skills. Through our mentoring and internship programs, students have many opportunities to experience the law in practice. All your lecturers have substantial experience in legal practice (either as solicitors, Canon law or environmental law experts, barristers or judges). This allows each student to learn the Principles of law and how they apply in legal practice.

Career pathways

Graduates of this program can follow diverse career paths in the private and public sectors; Career opportunities range from Solicitor, barrister, judge's associate, and research assistant in the fields of law, politics or journalism.

Course structure

Year One

  • Legal Research and Writing
  • Legal Process and Statutory Interpretation
  • Introduction to World Politics
  • Introduction to Journalism
  • Legal History
  • Politics, Democracy and Governance in Australia
  • Journalism: Theory and Practice

Year Two

  • Criminal Law A
  • Contract Law A
  • Torts A
  • Setting the Agenda: The Media and Politics
  • Criminal Law B
  • Contract Law B
  • Torts B
  • Media and Society
  • One Journalism Elective

Year Three

  • Property Law A
  • Property Law B
  • Two Journalism Electives
  • Three Politics Electives

Year Four

  • Advocacy
  • Constitutional Law
  • Equity
  • Corporations and Partnerships
  • Evidence
  • Administrative Law
  • Trusts
  • Law Elective One

Year Five

  • Remedies
  • Civil Procedure
  • Legal Philosophy
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Commercial Practice & Ethics
  • Law Elective Two
  • Law Elective Three
  • Law Elective Four

Law Electives*

  • Advanced Administrative Law
  • Advanced Civil Procedure
  • Advanced Constitutional Law
  • Advanced Evidence
  • Advanced Research Project (i.e. Honours research - two courses)
  • Bioethics and the Law
  • Advanced Taxation Law
  • Commercial Drafting
  • Commercial Law
  • Construction and Building Contract Law
  • Contemporary Legal Issues
  • Directed Research Project
  • Employee Relations Law
  • Entertainment Law
  • Environmental Law
  • Family Law
  • Health Law
  • Human Rights Law
  • Insolvency
  • Intellectual Property Law
  • Canon Law (i.e. Church Law)
  • Law in Context (Externships) - involves work experience
  • Law Review (i.e. the University's legal journal)
  • Mining and Petroleum Law
  • Occupational Safety and Health Law
  • Introduction to Australian Taxation Law
  • Succession
  • Competition and Consumer Law
  • Trial Advocacy
  • Indigenous Law
  • Law & Religion

*Available law electives are subject to change and may vary depending on your campus and year of study. Please check with your school for the current electives on offer.

Politics & Journalism Electives

  • Politics, Democracy and Governance in Australia
  • Introduction to World Politics
  • Setting the Agenda: The Media & Politics
  • Introduction to Journalism
  • Journalism: Theory and Practice
  • Media and Society
  • Australian Foreign Policy
  • Comparing Political Systems
  • Strategy, Security & Diplomacy
  • Media Ethics and Law
  • Journalism for TV & Video
  • Interactive Media
  • Radio

Core Curriculum

  • CORE I: Foundations of Wisdom
  • CORE II: Elective
    • Electives in philosophy and\or theology
    • Professional embedded electives that integrate studies in a profession with philosophy and\or theology
    • An option to undertake a pilgrimage embedded in the study of the philosophy and theology of pilgrimage, e.g., World Youth Day
    • An option to undertake a course that integrates philosophy & theology with community service and charity work
    • An option to undertake an elective in philosophy, theology, and the liberal arts contained within an international experience

More information regarding courses can be found at the course descriptions pages Fremantle Sydney.

Full details of the program requirements are contained in the Program Requirements.

Graduate outcomes

Graduate satisfaction and employment outcomes for Humanities, Culture & Social Sciences courses at The University of Notre Dame Australia.
87.9%
Overall satisfaction
90.9%
Skill scale
85.5%
Teaching scale
65.3%
Employed full-time
$62.6k
Average salary