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Bachelor of Philosophy/Bachelor of Laws
Course information for - 2025 entry
Offered at 3 locations
- Duration
- 5 years full-time or equivalent part-time
- CRICOS Code
- 099393D
- IELTS
- 7.0 overall Score (Individual Score of 6.5 in all tests)
- Fees (first year)*
- $32000
- Start dates
- February 2026, July 2026, February 2027, July 2027
Overview
The Bachelor of Philosophy/Bachelor of Laws has been designed to produce graduates who are well-trained in legal theory and practice, knowledgeable in philosophical and ethical issues related to the law, and skilled in textual analysis, argumentation and communication. As a graduate, you can aspire to a range of professional careers in an increasingly global environment.
While undertaking your legal studies, you will also be undertaking core and elective studies in various areas of philosophy, such as ethics, epistemology (theory of knowledge), jurisprudence (philosophy of law), theories of human nature, social and political philosophy, logic, and the history of philosophy. In this way, you will develop keen insight into the broader context within which the law operates, an enhanced awareness of the complexities of legal theory and practice, as well as the kinds of analytical skills needed in contemporary legal practice contexts. Should you wish to do so, there is also provision within the flexible program to undertake studies in other areas of the humanities.
Students who have completed 120 credit points of law units with a grade point average of 5.75 and above may apply to complete an honours degree.
Professional experience
You will complete 80 hours pro bono experience (after your first year).
Work placement
The pro bono program provides practical work-place based experience in a community context and provides you with firsthand experience of the legal system while allowing you to contribute to the common good.
Professional recognition
This degree has been approved by accreditation authorities as a prerequisite for admission to legal practice in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria, and is recognised for the purposes of admission in other Australian states and territories.
Careers
Completing a Bachelor of Philosophy / Bachelor of Laws is excellent preparation for pursuing a career in areas such as:
- private legal practice as a solicitor or barrister
- legal officer in the public sector (for example in federal or state government departments and publicly funded organisations as diverse as national regulatory bodies, universities or public broadcasters)
- in-house counsel to a wide range of organisations from corporations to trade unions
- education
- government administration
- media and communications
- public and policy development
- commerce and industry
- specialist legal practice in various other fields such as cultural institutions; community and charitable organisations; creative industries; tourism.
Course details
Course structure
To complete the Bachelor of Philosophy/Bachelor of Laws, a student must complete 400 credit points (cp).
Course map
Graduate statement
AQF framework
Entry requirements
An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
To be eligible for admission to the course, an applicant must have completed the following prerequisites at year 12 level, or equivalent:
| State | Prerequisites |
|---|---|
| NSW | English (Standard) (Band 3) or English as an Additional Language (EAL) (Band 4) |
| QLD | English (Units 3 & 4, C) |
| VIC | Units 3 and 4 – a study score of at least 30 in English as an Additional Language (EAL) or 25 in any other English. |
International students need to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements as defined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2025 Admission. Refer to your relevant Tertiary Admission Centre website for future years' entry requirements.
View transparency admission information
International applicants
Applicants whose first language is not English must have either:
- Successfully completed at least two full-time years of study in secondary or higher education where the medium of study was English; or
- Demonstrated their English proficiency, as set out below:
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Overall Score 7.0, Individual Score of 6.5 in all tests.
- Test of English as a Foreign Language - Academic (TOEFL) from an Internet-based total of 94, achieve a minimum of 24 in writing, 20 in speaking and listening, 19 in reading.
Adjustment factors
If you’re currently completing Year 12 you may be eligible for adjustment factors that can boost your rank and help you get into your desired course.
Adjustment factors may be applied to your TAC application if you study particular subjects, attend schools geographically close to our campuses or in certain regional areas, apply as an elite athlete or performer or meet certain other criteria.
Inherent requirement
There are essential components of a course or unit that demonstrate the capabilities, knowledge and skills to achieve the core learning outcomes of that course or unit. You will need to be able to meet these inherent requirements to complete your course.
Learn more about inherent requirements for your course and how they affect you
Pathways
Pathways into course for international applicants
If you don’t currently meet the direct entry requirements for admission to your chosen program, don’t worry. Our range of pathway programs can help you build the language proficiency, academic skills and confidence you need to succeed.
Find out more about English language programs
Further study
A student who has completed at least 120 cp of LAWS units of the degree with a grade point average (GPA) of at least 5.75 may be eligible for Admission to the Bachelor (Honours degree).
An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
A student who achieves an Honours at a minimum level of Second Class Division A (Distinction average) may be eligible for Admission to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
Meeting the eligibility requirements for admission is not in itself a guarantee of admission. The candidate’s potential to undertake research, the quality and feasibility of the research proposal, the availability of appropriate supervision and the referee’s reports will all be taken into consideration. Please refer to the Higher Degree Research Regulations.
A candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy must comply with the Higher Degree Research Regulations.
Fees
Course costs
- Unit fee: $4000
- Average first year fee: $32000
- Estimate total cost: $160000
The tuition fees quoted above are for commencing students in the current year who undertake a normal full-time load. The Unit Fee is based on a 10cp unit. Fees are reviewed annually.
Tuition fees for continuing students may increase by up to 3 percent each year for the minimum duration of the course as provided on your electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCOE). Students who continue to study beyond the minimum duration will have the relevant annual commencing rate applied to their fees for subsequent study periods.
Payment options
You should be able to concentrate on getting good marks instead of worrying about how you’ll pay your fees. We have a number of options that can help you ease the financial burden, including government assistance, scholarships and income support.
Scholarships
You could be eligible for one of the hundreds of scholarships we award each year to help students from across the university with the cost of studying, accommodation or overseas study opportunities. Some of our scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit, but these aren’t just for the academically gifted; ACU also recognises excellence in community engagement and leadership. We also offer a range of scholarships for those who may be struggling financially or who have faced other barriers to accessing education.
How to apply
International applicants
Deferment
Yes. See Defer your offer.
Students with a Student Visa will need to complete the program in minimum duration, study at least one subject on-campus each semester and must not undertake more than 33% of the program online.
Staff Profile
Dr Stewart Braun
Senior Lecturer (Philosophy), School of Philosophy
Dr Stewart Braun is the National Head of School for Philosophy. Prior to arriving at ACU in 2013, he obtained his PhD in Philosophy from the University of Virginia and his MAR in Philosophical Theology from Yale University. He specialises in social and political philosophy along with normative ethics. In those areas, he focuses most fundamentally on distributive and productive justice, as well as the nature of virtue and its role in social organisation. He is the co-editor of Virtue’s Reasons: New Essays on Virtue, Character, and Reasons (Routledge, 2017) and is currently drafting a book manuscript exploring the normative implications of workplace democracy.
Dr M Ehteshamul Bari
Senior Lecturer, Thomas More Law School
Dr M Ehteshamul Bari is a Senior Lecturer in Law & the Higher Degree Research Coordinator in the Thomas More Law School at the Australian Catholic University (ACU). He served as the Acting Deputy Dean of the Thomas More Law School at ACU from November 2020 to January 2021. Prior to joining ACU, Dr Bari held full time academic positions at Macquarie University, at Deakin University where he was also the Director of Deakin JD Program, and at the University of New England. He did his PhD in Law from Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia in 2015 on an International Macquarie University Research Excellence Scholarship.
Dr Bari's primary research expertise lies in the areas of constitutional law, human rights law, Asian law and public international law and he has published extensively in these areas in highly regarded scholarly outlets.