Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Biomedicine

The Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Biomedicine at La Trobe University in Melbourne is a distinctive double degree designed for students who wish to build expertise at the intersection of law and life sciences. Spanning 5.5 years of full-time study, this program integrates the foundational and advanced components of both legal and biomedical disciplines, with a particular emphasis on the growing fields of health law, ethics, and biotechnological innovation.

Australian bachelor honours degrees such as this operate on the AQF and typically require completion of specified units of study across several semesters, accumulating prescribed credit points to graduate. In this combined program, students complete core and elective units in both law and biomedicine, ensuring thorough grounding in legal principles, statutory interpretation, biomedical science, and medical ethics. The Honours component in law may culminate in a research thesis or capstone project, fostering high-level research and analytical skills.

Practical experience is highly valued, with opportunities for work-integrated learning, mooting, or placements in legal and biomedical settings, crucial for students seeking careers in health policy, technology regulation, or medical litigation. The distinctive dual focus prepares graduates with critical thinking, legal analysis, research, scientific literacy, and communication skills. This degree suits motivated students interested in both the legal and health sciences, ready to address contemporary social issues where these fields converge.

The course is offered in Melbourne, taking advantage of the city's vibrant legal, health, and biomedical research sectors, and strong links with professional networks. International applicants are required to demonstrate English proficiency consistent with Australian standards for law and health courses. Students should confirm the detail of units, professional pathways, and course structure on the official page.

• Solicitor or barrister (upon completion of additional admission requirements)
• Legal consultant in healthcare, biotechnology, or government sectors
• Policy advisor specialising in health or bioethics
• Compliance or regulatory officer for pharmaceutical and medical technology industries
• Researcher or advocate for health law reform
• Roles in universities, hospitals, medical research institutes, and governmental agencies

Graduates may be eligible for post-study work rights under the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), and may work up to 48 hours per fortnight while studying in Australia.