Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Criminology

VU course code: LHCR | CRICOS: 107822F | Level of study: Undergraduate

ATAR

Not required

Duration

4.5 years full time or longer for part time

Delivery mode

In person, Online Real Time

Location

City Campus, Online Real Time

Applications closed

Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Criminology recognises high achieving students

Overview

Complete a Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Criminology at Victoria University, and establish your place as a leading lawyer, communicator and researcher.

As a top student in our Bachelor of Laws/Criminology, you have an outstanding opportunity to gain recognition for your achievements and to study, in depth, an area of your choosing through our honours program.

You will extend your knowledge of crime prevention, investigation, sentencing and security, with a challenging but very rewarding dissertation.

As an honours student, you will stand out among your peers in a competitive job market, and graduate prepared to undertake a PhD.

On graduation, you may aim to work as a lawyer in a top-tier law firm or an adviser in a community organisation. We give you the broad knowledge and professional qualifications to choose your own path.

The Bachelor of Laws satisfies the academic requirements to become an Australian Lawyer, as required by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board (VLAB). In order to become an Australian Lawyer, you'll also need to complete Practical Legal Training or an equivalent.

: On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Integrate conceptual and practical understandings of criminology, the Australian legal system, and fundamental areas of legal knowledge and relevant advanced specialist bodies of knowledge within the discipline of law;

Critically review, analyse, adapt and apply broad and coherent theoretical and technical knowledge of law and criminology and underlying principles and concepts in diverse contemporary local and international and comparative contexts;

Identify, articulate and respond to legal and criminological issues by critically analysing and applying information with initiative and judgement in order to both anticipate and creatively solve problems and promote justice in authentic/contemporary professional, community and global settings;

Exhibit professional accountabilities and ethical judgement, by evaluating, synthesising and adapting knowledge, skills, criminological and legal reasoning and research to make appropriate responses to legal issues that reflect the social, political and contextual factors;

Communicate a clear, coherent and independent exposition of knowledge and skills appropriate for legal and non-legal audiences, in both oral and written form;

Integrate conceptual understandings of the Australian legal system, fundamental areas of legal knowledge and relevant advanced specialist bodies of knowledge within the discipline of law and criminology, which supports lifelong learning and pathways to ongoing professional development;

Critically review, analyse, adapt and apply broad and coherent theoretical and technical knowledge of law, criminology and underlying principles and concepts in diverse contemporary local and international and comparative contexts;

Contribute effectively, with personal accountability for outcomes in a dynamic 21st century work team, working in an ethical and socially responsible manner; and,

Plan and execute a research project, professional project or piece of scholarship which demonstrates intellectual independence and contributes to the evidence base within the legal discipline.
: While studying the compulsory academic requirements to practise law, you will also become work-ready through authentic experiences with public-sector authorities such as the Magistrates’ Courts, and private law firms.

Learn to apply your law and criminology study in simulated workplace environments and tasks, including:

advising clients

resolving disputes

mediation

using principled persuasion.
You may also take part in our renowned moot program, and gain invaluable experience through our Supreme Court and County Court internship programs. We offer placement opportunities at Victoria Police, Legal Aid or Westjustice Sunshine Youth Office, among many others.
: If you’d like a dynamic and fulfilling job in law, learn from the best at VU.

Our lecturers and adjunct professors include some of Australia’s most reputable legal professionals, sharing their many years of experience and knowledge. They include:

the Hon. Justice Chris Maxwell QC

Professor Robert Richter QC

criminal law specialist, Robert Stary

Victorian Chief Magistrate, Ian Gray

retired High Court Judge, the Hon. Michael Kirby.
: Our Queen Street law hub on our City Campus is in the heart of Melbourne's legal district.

Our dedicated law building features:

specialised law library

legal research centres including the Sir Zelman Cowen Centre

mooting court

computer labs, student lounges, study spaces and a prayer room.
You’ll gain real insight into legal practice and start building networks for your future career.

Entry requirements

When assessing your application, we consider your educational achievements and work experience, as well as your skills and personal attributes (where relevant).

Applicants for this course will need to meet the entry criteria outlined below. If you don’t meet the entry criteria, you may be able to gain entry by first completing a related course or unit(s). We call this a ‘pathway’.

You may also be eligible for course ‘credits’, where you are granted a unit or units towards your qualification for equivalent previous study or work experience, so you can graduate sooner.

ATAR requirements

No minimum ATAR required

This course does not have a minimum ATAR requirement for entry. Read the entry criteria for this course below.

Why ATAR is not applicable

You do not need an ATAR score to apply for this course. Instead, you need to have successfully completed secondary school and to meet any requirements outlined below. Our courses and support programs are designed to prepare students from diverse cultures for success, regardless of their ATAR, age, education or socioeconomic background.

Entry criteria

Minimum entry criteria include:

English-language requirements
academic requirements.

Your work and life experience will also be considered.

To find specific entry requirements for this course, please select the section below that is most relevant to you.

Meeting the minimum entry criteria does not guarantee entry into this course.

: This information is relevant if, in the 2 years prior to studying with us, you have completed (or will complete) one of the following:

Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (e.g. VCE)

an Australian or overseas equivalent to VCE

an International Baccalaureate (IB).

Admission criteria

N/A
: This information is relevant if you have completed an accredited award (such as a certificate or diploma) at an Australian Registered Training Organisation (usually a TAFE, polytechnic or other registered VET institute).

Admission criteria

N/A
: This information is relevant if you’ve previously completed all or part of a university or other higher-education course.

Admission criteria

Students in any Bachelor of Laws may apply to transfer into the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree once they have completed a minimum 192 credit points and have attained an average mark of Distinction or above i.e. 70–100%. Applicants will be assessed on the highest grades achieved in the top 12 Law units. Successful applicants will enrol in both Advanced Research Legal Methods and Advanced Legal Research Dissertation instead of 24 credit points of law electives.
: This information is relevant if you left secondary school more than two years ago and haven’t studied since.

Admission criteria

N/A

Special entry programs

Special admission programs

If you are from a disadvantaged or underrepresented social, economic or cultural background, you may be eligible for one of our special admission programs. These programs are designed to help you access education more easily.

Learn more about special admission programs

VU Guaranteed

If you’re currently in Year 11 or 12, our exclusive VU Guaranteed program offers a guaranteed place in a university or TAFE course, before your final Year 12 exams.

Learn more about VU Guaranteed

Additional information

Students are requested to discuss their application with the unit convenor and a college based or college affiliated potential supervisor. Students must have at least 2 law electives available and once enrolled must undertake both Advanced Legal Research Methods and Advanced Legal Research Dissertation.

Credit & Entry pathways into this course

Victoria University is committed to providing a transparent admissions process. Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency. Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee entry into this course. Past academic performance may be considered.

Course Structure

To attain the awards of Bachelor of Law (Hons) / Bachelor of Criminology students will be required to complete in total 432 credit points consisting of:

96 credit points of First Year Core studies
156 credit points of Professional Core Law study
120 credit points of Professional Core Criminology studies
24 credit points of Honours units in the final year of study
36 credit points of Elective studies

Units

Fees & Scholarships

University fees vary, depending on how much the government contributes towards course costs (if anything).

Read below to find out about the fee ‘type’, the estimated yearly tuition costs for this course, and the financial support on offer (including our generous scholarship program).

Commonwealth supported place

A Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) is subsidised by the government, reducing it to the amount listed here. Australian citizens, permanent residents and New Zealand citizens will qualify for a CSP place. If your course is not Commonwealth supported, or you don't qualify, you'll pay full fees.

Learn more about Commonwealth Supported Places

Fees

Scholarships

CAREERS

When you graduate from a Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/ Bachelor of Criminology at Victoria University, you’ll be in high demand because we’ll make sure you’re job-ready.

Your honours qualification will help you to establish your position as a top law graduate, and allow you to progress to postgraduate study and career in academia, should you choose that path.

You could work as a lawyer or in legal practice in areas including criminal law, family law, commercial law and business. Many of our graduates choose to work in community legal centres providing legal access to disadvantaged groups, and in not-for-profit organisations.

Roles in the legal field include: