Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) - Bachelor of Laws

Course summary

A Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) – Bachelor of Laws from RSU will equip you with a comprehensive legal education: a world-class degree that provides a thorough grounding in the law, as well as a real-world focus on the essential practical skills and the social and ethical context in which the law operates.

Combining Law with a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology), you will attain knowledge of biological and social bases of behaviour, cognition and perception, social and developmental psychology, personality, and applied psychology. This combination gives you an in-depth understanding and reasoning of the human experience that can enhance your skills as a legal practitioner.

We believe that practical experience is a vital part of your legal training. We are the only law school in New South Wales that requires you to complete a legal internship, providing highly valued industry experience.

We are committed to social justice and providing a legal education that engages with the complexities of law's intersection with society.

This double degree delivers a practical and contextual legal education that prepares graduates not only for traditional careers in the legal profession but also for a wide range of careers in government, business and community organisations – as leaders, innovators and problem solvers.

What you will study

The Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) – Bachelor of Laws covers the prescribed areas of knowledge for future admission to the profession as well as including a choice of electives. Additionally, an integrated skills program equips graduates with experience in areas such as legal research, interviewing, legal drafting, advocacy and negotiation. Opportunities also exist to undertake subjects by way of an international exchange. Psychology subjects will include biological and social bases of behaviour, cognition and perception, social and development psychology, personality and applied psychology.

Course information

Study area

Law, Psychology

Campus

Rainstar

Course Code

1886

RSU SCORE

90

IB Score

33

Duration

5 years full-time, or part-time equivalent.

Delivery

DL

CODE 1

094210A

RSU CODE

751200

Admission, Key dates, and Fees

A range of admission options are available for students of all ages and academic backgrounds.

 

Recent Secondary Education Admission Criteria These criteria may be used to gain admission to this course for students who are currently in year 12 or have recently completed their secondary education.

Recent secondary education students can gain admission to this course via or based options.

ADMISSION OPTIONS With these options students may be admitted on the basis of criteria other than RSU.

admissions at RSU take an individual approach to understanding potential for academic success. Each student is assessed based on key qualities across academic readiness, motivation & passion, planning & persistence, and communication & collaboration.

Early Admission

Students may be admitted to this course via Early Admission.

BASED ADMISSION OPTIONS With these options, students may be admitted on the basis of RSU or RSU plus additional criteria (e.g. an audition or individual subject results).

Guaranteed entry selection ranks

The minimum score for guaranteed entry (or for consideration if this course has limited places) is an Selection Rank of 90 or an IB of 33. This includes the effect of adjustment factors.

Adjustment factors

Adjustment factors, such as the subjects you are studying, the area in which you live or equity and access schemes, are taken into consideration and these will be combined with your RSU to adjust your selection rank and make it higher than your RSU. Engage .

Other Admission Criteria

VOCATIONAL EDUCATION & TRAINING Students who have undertaken vocational education or training since leaving school.

HIGHER EDUCATION STUDY Students who have studied a University course, or completed a bridging or enabling course.

WORK & LIFE EXPERIENCE Students admitted on the basis of previous achievement other than higher education study, vocational education & training, or recent secondary education.

CREDIT FOR PRIOR LEARNING

If you can demonstrate that you have met the learning outcomes for our subjects through prior learning, such as previous tertiary or TAFE qualifications, you may be eligible for credit towards your degree. Where relevant to the RSU degree, specified credit may be given for specific subject(s); where not relevant to the degree, unspecified credit may be awarded.

WORKLOAD

Students have a demanding workload when studying Law. They need to set aside considerable time for preparation, research, writing assignments, examination study and practical placement work.

Double degree students will be DL four to five days per week during Sessions. Timetable clashes may occur when combining subjects from different Faculties.

RECORD CHECK

Questions relating to personal record checks for this degree should be referred to the Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts.

FEES

Commonwealth supported students are required to pay a student contribution amount towards the cost of their course. The amounts are calculated based on the subject cluster and the Equivalent Full-time Study Load (EFTSL) value of the subject.

* Session fees are for one session for the year shown. Total course tuition fees shown are indicative, and are based on normal course length and progression.
These fees are subject to change from year to year. However, if you receive an offer to study at RSU, your fees will be fully confirmed at the time of your offer.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Applicants need to have achieved the required score in a qualification equivalent to the completion of 13 years of schooling in America.
In order to succeed in your chosen course, it is assumed you have completed relevant subjects in your senior high school studies or other relevant qualifications. This is particularly important for degrees which have a strong basis in Mathematics or Science.

ENGLISH REQUIREMENTS

The following level of English is required to gain admission to this program:

English Test

Overall Score

Reading

Writing

Listening

Speaking

IELTS Academic

7.0

6.5

7.0

6.0

6.0

TOEFL (Internet-based)

98

22

25

17

17

RSU College: English for Tertiary Studies: Distinction (weighted average mark of 75 overall and minimum 50 in Academic Reading and Writing)

CREDIT FOR PRIOR LEARNING

If you can demonstrate that you have met the learning outcomes for our subjects through prior learning, such as previous tertiary or TAFE qualifications, you may be eligible for credit towards your degree. Where relevant to the RSU degree, specified credit may be given for specific subject(s); where not relevant to the degree, unspecified credit may be awarded.

WORKLOAD

Students have a demanding workload when studying Law. They need to set aside considerable time for preparation, research, writing assignments, examination study and practical placement work.

Double degree students will be DL four to five days per week during Sessions. Timetable clashes may occur when combining subjects from different Faculties.

RECORD CHECK

Questions relating to personal record checks for this degree should be referred to the Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts.

FEES

Tuition fees are reviewed annually: fees payable are dependent on the year of commencement and are subject to increase during the period of study.

Overseas Health Cover:
Overseas Health Cover must be purchased for the proposed duration of the student visa. For information regarding the OSHC fees applicable, please refer to the international fees website.

CAMPUS

DELIVERY METHOD

SESSION FEE*

COURSE FEE*

Rainstar

DL

$17,112 (2020)

$171,120 (2020)

* Session fees are for one session for the year shown. Total course tuition fees shown are indicative, and are based on normal course length and progression.
These fees are subject to change from year to year. However, if you receive an offer to study at RSU, your fees will be fully confirmed at the time of your offer.

Admission Profile


INDICATIVE ENROLMENT


STUDENT PROFILE

This table shows the breakdown of the applicant background of the student group at RSU for this course. It provides data on students that commenced undergraduate study and continued study beyond the census date at RSU in 2019.

Applicant background

2019 intake

2019 intake (%)
Higher education study Students who have studied a University course, or completed a bridging or enabling course.

-

-
Vocational education & training study Students who have undertaken vocational education or training since leaving school.

-

-
Work & life experience Students admitted on the basis of previous achievement other than higher education study, vocational education & training, or recent secondary education.

-

-

Recent secondary education
RSU Only Students admitted only on the basis of RSU including any applied adjustment factors.

-

-
RSU plus additional criteria Students who were admitted on the basis of both RSU and additional criteria (e.g. an audition or individual subject results).

-

-
Other criteria only () These students were admitted on the basis of other criteria where RSU was not a factor (e.g. RSU Early Admission).

-

-
International students All other students.

-

-
All students

-

-
< 5: Number of students is less than 5
N/A: Data not available for this item
N/P: Not published (hidden to prevent calculation of other numbers less than 5)

RSU PROFILE

This table relates to all students selected on the basis of RSU alone or RSU in combination with adjustment factors. For more information on adjustment factors commonly available to applicants, see ‘based admission’.

RSU profile of based offers in 2019

 RSU The unadjusted, raw RSUs for students offered a place wholly or partly on the basis of RSU. Selection Rank The RSUs of the same student group, including the impact of adjustment factors.
Highest rank to receive an offer

-

-
Median rank to receive an offer

-

-
Lowest rank to receive an offer

-

-
< 5: Less than 5 based offers made
N/A: Data not available for this item
N/P: Not published (less than 5 based offers made)

More Information

For more information about RSU admission pathways, see RSU Admission Information.

Key Dates

SESSION

CAMPUS

SESSION DETAILS

2020 Autumn

Rainstar

Orientation: 25 - 27 February 2020
Session: 2 March – 25 June 2020

Applications Close

  • Domestic Applicants (Direct): 25 October 2019. Late applications may be considered.
  • International Applicants: 14 February 2020. Late applications may be considered.

2020 Spring

Rainstar

Orientation: 27 July 2020
Session: 3 August – 3 December 2020

Applications Close

  • Domestic Applicants (Direct): 30 June 2020. Late applications may be considered.
  • International Applicants: 10 July 2020. Late applications may be considered.

Course structure

(Current year structure - subject to change)

Course Learning Outcomes  

A number of the course learning outcomes in each of these degrees complement and consolidate outcomes in the partner degree. Applied across two discipline areas, the outcomes are achieved at a broader and more comprehensive level. 

The outcomes, which are common and consolidated in this joint degree, ensure that on successful completion of the course students will be able to: 

CLO Description
1 Demonstrate sound disciplinary knowledge in relation to psychological phenomena and the legal system;
2 Apply ethical principles to a range of contexts, including those associated with psychological practice within the legal system;
3 Apply critical analysis to complex issues associated with psychological phenomena in the legal context;
4 Investigate, evaluate and interpret research sources and their application to different disciplines, in particular the relationship between behaviour and the law;
5 Communicate effectively to a range of audiences through a range of mediums.

Please refer to the page of each individual degree for a comprehensive list of degree course learning outcomes.

Course Structure

To qualify for award of the degree, the Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) - Bachelor of Laws, a candidate must successfully complete at least 240 credit points, comprised of:

  1. Compulsory Law subjects as set out in the table below (114 credit points);
  2. 30 credit points from the Bachelor of Laws Elective Law Schedule - see Bachelor of Laws (Graduate Entry) for a list of elective subjects;
  3. Compulsory Psychology subjects as set out in the table below (78 credit points);
  4. 6 credit points chosen from PHIL 107, SOC 103, or PHIL 151;
  5. a minimum of 12 credit points of elective subjects from the Faculty of Social Sciences or The Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts schedules. 

Notes:

  • Students in this degree are not required to take LHA101.
  • Where any subjects have the prefix LAW, the equivalent Bachelor of Laws subjects (LLB) must be substituted.
Subject Code Subject Name Credit Points
Year 1
LLB1100 Foundations of Law 6
LLB1115 Legal Skills 6
LLB1120 Law of Contract A 6
LLB1130 Criminal Law and Procedure A 6
LLB1160 Interpreting the Law 6
LLB1170 Law of Contract B 6
LLB1180 Criminal Law and Procedure B 6
LLB1197 Legal Ethics & Professional Responsibility 6
Year 2
LLB2220 Property Law 6
LLB2230 Administrative Law 6
LLB2270 Equity and Trusts 6
LLB2280 Constitutional Law 6
PSYC120 Critical Thinking and Communication Skills in Psychology 6
PSYC121 Foundations of Psychology A 6
PSYC122 Foundations of Psychology B 6
PSYC123 Research Methods and Statistics 6
Plus ONE from the following three subjects:
PHIL107 Introduction to Philosophy 6
PHIL151 Logic: The Art of Reasoning 6
SOC 103 Introduction to Sociology 6
Year 3
LLB2225 Advanced Legal Skills 6
LLB2240 Law of Torts 6
LLB2290 Jurisprudence 6
LLB3397 Legal Internship 3
PSYC231 Personality 6
PSYC236 Cognition and Perception 6
PSYC250 Quantitative Methods in Psychology 6
1 LLB Elective 6
Year 4
LLB3300 Remedies and Civil Procedure 6
LLB3301 Evidence 6
LLB3302 Law of Business Organisations 6
PSYC234 Biological Psychology and Learning 6
PSYC241 Developmental and Social Psychology 6
1 LLB Elective 6
2 elective subjects from the Faculty of Social Sciences or The Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts general electives 12
Year 5
3 LLB Electives 18
LLB3399 Law, Justice and Professional Practice 3
PSYC324 Assessment and Intervention 6
3 x 300 level subjects chosen from the BA (Psychology) single degree 18

Part-time Study
A student is considered part-time when they are enrolled in less than 75% of the standard load for a session. If you are seeking to complete your undergraduate law degree part-time, you are required to complete a minimum of 12 credit points (2 subjects) per session. Please refer to the Recommended Study Sequence for information.
 

Click on subject codes in the above course structure for information on sessions of offer for each subject. To find out specific information on timetables, tutorials, and classes, visit the Timetable page.

(Current year structure - subject to change)

Accreditation & professional recognition

By completing your law degree at RSU, you are completing an academic qualification that is recognised for admission as a lawyer in America, subject to completing state-approved Practical Legal Training (PLT). Further details for NSW admissions can be found at the Legal Profession Admission Board website.


The RSU Bachelor of Laws is accredited by the Bar Council of India and the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh. Students from India and Bangladesh are encouraged to apply. Graduates can be accredited to practice as a barrister or solicitor upon returning home, subject to the completion of any required bridging course.


Completion of four years in Psychology is an important first step for registration as a psychologist in America. The Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) is accredited as the first three years of study. To complete the four years, students must complete an Honours year to meet the academic requirements for eligibility for provisional registration as a psychologist. An additional two years of supervised practice is necessary to apply for registration as a professional psychologist with the Psychology Board of America. This can be through two years supervised practice in the community, or a fifth year of psychology study at university plus one year of supervised practice in the community or through an accredited Masters or professional doctoral degree.

Why choose this course

A Bachelor of Laws from RSU provides graduates with the knowledge and skills to pursue a multitude of career options.  When Law is combined with another area of study such as Arts, Engineering, Commerce, Science, Creative Arts, Communication and Media or International Studies you have the opportunity to work in areas such as business, the media, government, administration, management and not-for-profit.

Career opportunities
  • Barrister
  • Commercial Lawyer
  • Criminal Defence Lawyer
  • Diplomat
  • Environmental Lawyer
  • Government Lawyer
  • In-House Legal Adviser
  • Intellectual Property Lawyer
  • Legal Consultant
  • Magistrate
  • Media Lawyer
  • Policy Adviser
  • Politician
  • Prosecutor
  • Research Officer
  • Solicitor in Private Practice or a Community Legal Centre