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The University of Notre Dame Australia

  • 2% international / 98% domestic

Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Philosophy

  • Bachelor

If you want to study law with a deeper understanding of humankind, The University of Notre Dame Australia, combined Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Philosophy, is the ideal double degree. Unique to Notre Dame, the degree is completed over 5.25 years of full-time study or part-time equivalent.

Key details

Degree Type
Bachelor
Duration
5.25 years full-time
Course Code
3532, 095686A
Study Mode
In person

About this course

School of Law & Business

If you want to study law with a deeper understanding of humankind, The University of Notre Dame Australia, combined Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Philosophy, is the ideal double degree. Unique to Notre Dame, the degree is completed over 5.25 years of full-time study or part-time equivalent. By combining these two disciplines, graduates develop the skills to think creatively and communicate convincingly. As a result, our graduates choose to follow a range of careers in law, journalism, politics, business and academia. Contact us today to find out more about this unique degree program.

Entry requirements

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 80

OR

  • International Baccalaureate (IB) score of 29

*Selection Ranks include ATAR plus Adjustment Factors.

Applicants with Higher Education

  • Successful completion of at least 4 subjects at an undergraduate level or higher*, with mid-credit average.

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:

  • In exceptional circumstances, applicants who have significant 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 150 in the Multiple Choice section and 150 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).

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

  • Prescribed ATAR/Selection Rank*

OR

  • Equivalent International Baccalaureate (IB) score

*Selection Ranks include ATAR plus Adjustment Factors.

Applicants with Higher Education

  • Successful completion of 4 subjects at an undergraduate level or higher*, with mid-credit average.

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:

  • In exceptional circumstances, applicants who have significant 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).

Study locations

Sydney

Fremantle

What you will learn

Are you considering studying for a Bachelor of Philosophy degree in conjunction with the Bachelor of Laws degree? The University of Notre Dame Australia is among the only universities in Australia which offers this double degree. Students taking this degree combination will develop the ability to consider issues using two of the most advanced forms of thinking and analysis in Western civilisation: law and philosophy. This combination equips students with an array of skills they can draw upon to resolve problems for themselves and their clients.

The Bachelor of Laws degree is accredited for admission to legal practice. It combines excellent coverage of underlying legal and ethical principles with an explanation of how they are applied in legal practice.

However, as a student of the School of Philosophy, you will encounter the works of great minds such as Aquinas, Socrates and Plato. In doing so, you will be encouraged to reflect deeply and critically on the fundamental questions of existence, as well as question your preconceptions of ethics and morality. As a result, graduates from the School of Philosophy can analyse and evaluate arguments about our current political, religious, and ethical systems - all valuable skills for a lawyer.

Similarly, the training you receive in the legal component of your degree will further develop your analytical mindset. Considered to be a degree of methodology rather than one solely of content, a Bachelor of Laws from Notre Dame teaches students to consider new approaches to problem-solving and analysis. By participating in lively debate and the free exchange of ideas in intimate class settings, you will develop mastery of public speaking, advocacy, research, and dispute resolution.

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 law.

Course structure

Year One

  • Legal Research & Writing
  • Legal History
  • Legal Process & Statutory Interpretation
  • Three Philosophy Electives

Year Two

  • Criminal Law A
  • Contract Law A
  • Torts A
  • Torts B
  • Criminal Law B
  • Contract Law B
  • Four Philosophy Subjects

Year Three

  • Property Law A
  • Property Law B
  • Five Philosophy Electives

Year Four

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

Year Five

  • Remedies
  • Civil Procedure
  • Public International Law
  • Legal Philosophy
  • Commercial Practice & Ethics
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Two Law Electives

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
  • Indigenous Law
  • Insolvency
  • Intellectual Property Law
  • International Dispute Resolution
  • Canon Law (i.e. Church Law)
  • Law and Religion
  • Law in Context (Externships) - involves work experience
  • Mining and Petroleum Law
  • Occupational Safety and Health Law
  • Introduction to Australian Taxation Law
  • Succession
  • Competition and Consumer Law
  • Trial Advocacy

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

*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.

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

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

Please note: the availability of these courses is indicative only and may be subject to change.