Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Laws

5 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Australian Catholic University

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Business / Bachelor of Laws at ACU Melbourne is a five‑year double degree that blends solid commercial knowledge with professional legal training — ideal for anyone who wants to understand business and law, and use both together in a future career. You’ll gain skills in business fundamentals (like finance, marketing, and management) while also diving into core legal principles, preparing you to think like a business‑savvy lawyer or a legally aware business professional.

New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria,

Curriculum Structure

Year 1
In your first year you’ll begin with essential building blocks for both business and law. On the business side you’ll take units like Financial Literacy and Marketing Essentials, giving you a firm grasp of money matters and market thinking. At the same time, you’ll begin your legal training with units such as Foundations of Law and Legal Research and Contract Law, so you start learning how legal systems work and how to analyse agreements. In semester two, you’ll add Introduction to Australian Public Law and Commercial Law — giving a taste of how law interacts with government, commerce and everyday business — while also studying business‑management units and IT‑literacy to round out your understanding of how businesses run.

Middle Years (Years 2–3)
As you move into the middle years, you’ll deepen both strands: your business studies will branch out depending on the major you choose (for example accounting, marketing, management, HR, data analytics or others), while your law studies build on first‑year foundations with more advanced legal units. You’ll engage with increasingly complex business topics and real‑world legal issues — gaining analytical, financial and managerial skills on the business side, and legal reasoning, advocacy and case analysis skills on the law side. These years give you space to explore your strengths and begin shaping your future path, whether you lean more toward corporate law, business management or hybrid roles.

Final Years (Years 4–5)
In the final stretch of your degree you’ll consolidate your knowledge and prepare for professional life. You’ll tackle advanced law electives and business major-specific units, gaining a rounded and up‑to‑date skill set. Importantly, you’ll also gain practical exposure through embedded workplace placements and community engagement — translating what you’ve learned into real‑world experience. By graduation, you won't just have theory; you’ll have real-world understanding of law and business operations, ready to step into a professional context.

Focus Areas
Business and Commercial Law; Management and Business Strategy; Corporate/Commercial Practice; Intercultural & Global Business Awareness

Learning Outcomes
You’ll graduate with the ability to think strategically and ethically across both business and legal contexts, make informed commercial and legal decisions, understand and manage organisational dynamics, and operate confidently in professional, global workplaces.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)
This double degree is recognised by the relevant legal admission authorities (including the Victorian Legal Admissions Board), meaning you meet the academic requirements to become a practising lawyer in Australia. At the same time, the business portion equips you with industry‑relevant business skills that employers value — so whether you choose law, business or a hybrid, your degree is professionally aligned.

Reputation (Employability & Global Standing)
Graduates from ACU enjoy strong outcomes — around 95% go on to employment. ACU is recognised globally among top Catholic universities, and among the world’s top young universities, which helps make your degree respected internationally. All in all, this program is a smart choice if you want a versatile, well‑rounded qualification that opens doors in law firms, businesses, government, or international organisations.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

When you choose the Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Laws at our Melbourne campus, you’re not just signing up to study — you’re stepping into a program designed to give you real, practical skills that put you ahead in both business and legal careers. From the very first day, you’ll do more than learn theory: you’ll apply it. In your business units, you’ll dive into gamified simulations that mirror real workplace situations, helping you understand how operations, finance, marketing, and decision‑making really play out in organisations. On the law side, you’ll work with actual case studies, analyse complex legal scenarios, and sharpen your advocacy and reasoning skills — just like you would in a real law firm.

At ACU, we support this hands-on approach through dedicated work-integrated learning opportunities in both our Business School and Law School. You’ll even earn embedded Microsoft certification, building confidence with software that employers value. Along the way, you’ll grow your cross-cultural understanding and ethical awareness, preparing you for careers in international business, human rights law, or corporate compliance.

Here’s how you’ll get practical experience:

Industry placements and internships – through ACU’s Work-Integrated Learning program, you’ll complete around 105 hours of professional placement in your chosen business specialisation.
Community engagement and pro bono work – you’ll contribute 35–80 hours on the business side with not-for-profits and community projects, and participate in pro bono legal work supporting vulnerable or marginalised communities.
Simulations and practical assessments – business challenges are recreated through simulations, while law units offer mooting competitions, case analyses, and simulated legal tasks to sharpen your critical thinking and advocacy.
Global exposure – from optional international study tours and a Global Virtual Classroom to studying at one of ACU’s overseas campuses, you’ll gain intercultural experience and global perspectives.
Industry-linked projects and research – ACU partners with corporate, government, and non-profit organisations so you can work on consulting or research-style projects as part of your degree.

By blending academic learning with real-world tasks, ethical community work, and international experiences, this double degree ensures that when you graduate, you’re not just leaving with a diploma — you’re ready to make a meaningful impact in professional roles.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Laws at Australian Catholic University (ACU) equips graduates with a powerful combination of legal expertise and commercial knowledge, preparing them to navigate complex business and regulatory environments. Graduates develop skills in legal analysis, business strategy, governance, negotiation, and decision-making, making them highly attractive to employers across both the legal and corporate sectors. Typical career outcomes include Solicitor, Corporate Lawyer, Compliance Manager, Business Consultant, and Policy Adviser.

This strong career foundation is supported by a range of professional advantages:

Excellent Graduate Employment Outcomes – ACU reports that 95% of graduates are employed, reflecting the university's strong emphasis on career readiness, practical learning, and industry engagement.
Career Development Services – Students have access to ACU's dedicated career support services, including career consultations, employability workshops, networking events, resume and interview coaching, internship guidance, mentoring opportunities, and graduate recruitment support.
Industry Partnerships and Professional Networks – ACU Law maintains partnerships with organisations including AED Legal, JobWatch, Knowmore Legal Service, Refugee Legal, Peninsula Community Legal Centre, Western Sydney Community Legal Centre, Justice Reform Initiative, and Young Workers Centre, providing valuable opportunities for industry engagement and professional experience.
Practical Pro Bono Experience – Law students complete 80 hours of pro bono legal experience, allowing them to apply their legal knowledge in real-world settings while developing professional skills and contributing to community-focused legal initiatives.
Professional Accreditation – The Bachelor of Laws component is accredited and recognised by legal admission authorities in New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria, satisfying the academic requirements necessary for admission to legal practice after completing Practical Legal Training (PLT).
Business and Commercial Career Opportunities – The combination of business and law prepares graduates for careers in corporate governance, commercial law, financial services, risk management, consulting, entrepreneurship, regulatory compliance, public administration, and corporate leadership.
Graduate Salary Prospects – Graduates entering legal, business, and corporate professions typically earn between AUD $75,000 and $110,000 per year, depending on their role, industry, and location. Earnings often increase significantly with professional accreditation, management responsibilities, and industry experience.
Strong Long-Term Employability – Graduates benefit from a versatile skill set that combines legal expertise with commercial awareness, enabling them to pursue opportunities across multiple industries and adapt to evolving workforce demands.
Transferable Professional Skills – Students graduate with advanced capabilities in legal reasoning, strategic decision-making, negotiation, communication, leadership, compliance management, problem-solving, and business analysis.

Further Academic Progression:

After completing the Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Laws, graduates can undertake Practical Legal Training (PLT) to qualify for admission as a legal practitioner in Australia. Those wishing to specialise further may pursue a Master of Laws (LLM) in areas such as commercial law, corporate law, international business law, taxation law, or dispute resolution. The Business component also provides pathways into postgraduate qualifications such as a Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Management, Master of Finance, or specialised master's programs in governance, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Graduates interested in research, policy development, or academic careers may continue into Master by Research or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programs, creating opportunities for senior leadership, consultancy, legal scholarship, and executive management roles across the public and private sectors.