Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Criminology

VU course code:LHCRCRICOS:107822FLevel of study:Undergraduate

Duration

4.5 years

Delivery mode

In person, Online Real Time

Fees

Tuition: per semester AU$16,900

Location

City Campus, Online Real Time

Applications closed

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

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’.

If you've completed a qualification where English was the primary language of instruction, you may be eligible for an exemption of English-language requirements.

In some cases, there may be additional entry requirements.

Learn more about entry requirements for international students.

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

After you are accepted into your course, you will need to enrol in your course units.

During enrolment, use your course delivery plan to understand the structure and requirements of your course.

Fees & scholarships

As an international student at Victoria University, you will be required to pay your tuition fees up front each semester.

There may be additional materials fees throughout your studies, depending on your chosen course, as well as an administrative fee as part of your course.

Victoria University is proud to support our international scholarship recipients and sponsored students.

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: