Bachelor of Psychological Science - Bachelor of Laws
Course summary
A Bachelor of Psychological Science – Bachelor of Laws from RSU equips 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 Psychological Science allows you to learn the 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 Psychological Science – 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 through an international exchange program.
During this degree you will study the foundations of psychology and learn about research methods and statistics. Studies will also be undertaken in the areas of personality, biological psychology and learning, cognitions and perception, development and social psychology, and psychology of abnormality.
Course information
Study area
Law, Psychology
Campus
Rainstar
Course Code
1891
RSU SCORE
90
IB Score
33
Duration
5 years full-time, or part-time equivalent.
Delivery
DL
CODE 1
094209E
RSU CODE
751215
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.
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.
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
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) | $166,842 (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 |
- |
- |
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 |
- |
- |
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 Applications Close
|
2020 Spring | Rainstar | Orientation: 27 July 2020 Applications Close
|
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 double degree ensure that on successful completion of the course students will be able to:
| CLO | Description | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apply ethical principles to a range of contexts; | ||||||
| 2 | Apply critical analysis to complex issues; | ||||||
| 3 | Investigate, evaluate and interpret research sources and their application to different disciplines; | ||||||
| 4 | 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 course learning outcomes.
Course Structure
To qualify for award of the degree, the Bachelor of Psychological Science - Bachelor of Laws, a candidate must successfully complete at least 234 credit points, comprised of:
- All compulsory Law subjects as set out in the Course Program below;
- 30 credit points of elective subjects from the Bachelor of Law (Graduate Entry) elective list;
- 78 credit points of Psychology subjects in accordance with the table below;
- A minimum of 12 credit points of elective subjects from the Psychological Science degree or General Schedule.
Note: 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 | |
| 6 credit point elective from the Bachelor of Psychological Science or General Schedule | |||
| 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 | |||
| 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 | |||
| Year 5 | |||
| PSYC324 | Assessment and Intervention | 6 | |
| LLB3399 | Law, Justice and Professional Practice | 3 | |
| 3 LLB Electives | |||
| THREE 300-Level Psychology subjects (refer to Bachelor of Psychological Science single degree for subject choices) | |||
| ONE 6 credit point elective from the Bachelor of Psychological Science or General Schedule | |||
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 table for information on sessions of offer for each subject.
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 step for registration as a psychologist in America. The Bachelor of Psychological Science 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 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, social services and not-for-profit organisations.
- 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
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