Bachelor of Business / Bachelor of Laws

This is a five-year double degree that pairs a Bachelor of Business with a Bachelor of Laws. You graduate with two qualifications, which matters in a market where legal and commercial skills overlap constantly. The business half gives you the accounting, economics, management and marketing fundamentals employers expect. The law half takes you through the core subjects required for legal practice in Australia, contract, torts, criminal law, property, equity, constitutional law, administrative law and civil procedure, along with electives that let you specialise.

Australian bachelor degrees are normally three years full time, and a law degree on its own is typically four or five. Combining the two into five years means you finish both without doubling your study time. The degree is structured over semesters, with each unit of study carrying a set number of credit points. You need to complete the required credit points for both awards, and the law component includes the subjects the Legal Profession Admission Board expects before you can apply for admission as a lawyer in New South Wales. Check the current course structure on the official page, because unit lists and credit point totals are updated from time to time.

Western Sydney University has strong links with the region's legal and business communities. Law students often get practical experience through community legal centres, court placements and industry projects, and the business side may offer internships or work-integrated learning units. The degree sits on the Australian Qualifications Framework at bachelor level, so it is recognised nationally and, for law, through the mutual recognition arrangements that let graduates practise in other Australian jurisdictions after admission. International students can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while studying, and may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream after graduating. Confirm your eligibility with the Department of Home Affairs.

You will build skills in legal research, statutory interpretation, advocacy, negotiation, financial analysis and strategic decision-making. The combination suits people who want to work at the intersection of law and commerce, in corporate advisory, compliance, regulation, or running their own practice with a head for business. It also works for students who are not certain they want to practise law but want the legal training alongside a broader commercial education.

• Solicitor or barrister (after completing practical legal training and admission)
• In-house legal counsel or contracts adviser
• Compliance, risk and governance officer
• Corporate adviser, analyst or consultant
• Business development or operations manager
• Policy adviser in government or the public sector
• Regulatory affairs specialist
• Entrepreneur or small business owner

Graduates work across law firms, banks and financial institutions, professional services firms, government departments and regulators, not-for-profits, and corporate legal teams. The business and legal combination is particularly valued in Sydney's professional services market.