Bachelor of Arts (Psychology)/Bachelor of Laws

This double degree at Western Sydney University brings together two fields that are genuinely useful to each other. You study the science of human behaviour, how people think, feel and act, alongside the law that governs them. It runs 5.5 years full time, which is longer than either degree on its own because you are completing the requirements of both.

What you actually study

The psychology side covers the core areas you would expect: developmental psychology, social psychology, cognition, neuroscience, personality, research methods and statistics. The law side takes you through the Australian legal system, contracts, torts, criminal law, constitutional law, property, equity and procedure. Later years bring electives, and you will typically complete a substantial research project or thesis in psychology and a capstone unit in law. The two halves are not bolted together, units in forensic psychology, mental health law and criminal responsibility show where they meet.

Structure follows the standard Australian pattern. Each year is split into semesters, and you enrol in units of study worth credit points. You need a set number of credit points to graduate, split across the two awards. Some units run over a full year rather than a single semester. Law schools in Australia also build in practical legal training elements and placement opportunities, and psychology programmes usually include research participation and supervised project work. Confirm the exact unit list and credit point rules on the official Western Sydney University page.

Skills you come out with

You learn to read a statute and a research paper with the same critical eye. You learn to design a study, run the statistics, and argue a case from evidence. You learn legal research, drafting, negotiation and advocacy, and you learn how psychological assessment and behavioural evidence are used in courts, tribunals and policy settings. Writing clearly for different audiences, a judge, a client, a journal, is a skill you will use constantly.

Who this suits

This degree suits someone who wants to work at the intersection of law and human behaviour, or who wants to keep both doors open. If you are interested in criminal justice, family law, mental health tribunals, human rights, coronial work or legal policy, the combination is directly relevant. It also suits students who want a law degree but are not certain they want to practise as a solicitor or barrister. Be aware that a psychology major in a double degree does not automatically make you a registered psychologist, that requires an accredited sequence plus further study, so check the accreditation status of the psychology component with the university. For law, you should confirm whether the degree satisfies the academic requirements for admission as a legal practitioner in your state or territory.

International students should note the English requirement. Law sits in the higher band, so expect IELTS Academic 7.0–7.5 overall rather than the 6.0–6.5 used for many other courses. TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and the university's own English programmes are accepted as equivalents, and the Department of Home Affairs sets a separate threshold for the Student visa. While studying, a student visa allows 48 hours of work per fortnight. After graduating, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may be available, depending on your circumstances. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 108410G. Check the official page for current details.

• Solicitor or barrister, after completing the required practical legal training and admission process
• Legal officer or policy adviser in government departments and statutory bodies
• Graduate roles in community legal centres and legal aid commissions
• Human resources, industrial relations and workplace investigations
• Behavioural science and research assistant roles in universities and policy institutes
• Roles in corrective services, youth justice and crime prevention
• Compliance, investigations and regulatory affairs in banking, insurance and the public sector
• Support work in mental health services, disability services and family support organisations
• Further study toward registration as a psychologist, which requires an accredited sequence and postgraduate training

Australian employers in these areas include law firms, the courts, state and federal government agencies, legal aid and community legal centres, insurers, banks, hospitals and community health services, and universities. Note that registration as a psychologist and admission as a lawyer each have their own requirements beyond the degree, so confirm the pathways with the relevant body and with Western Sydney University.