Bachelor of Security Studies and Bachelor of Laws

5 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Macquarie University

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Security Studies and Bachelor of Laws at Macquarie University is an interdisciplinary double degree that combines legal education with specialist knowledge in security, international relations, and global risk. Delivered at the Wallumattagal Campus (North Ryde), it is designed for students interested in careers in law, intelligence, defence, cybersecurity policy, diplomacy, or national and international security.

Curriculum structure

First Year

In the first year, students build foundational knowledge in both law and security studies, learning how legal systems operate alongside global security issues. Core law units such as Foundations of Law and Contracts are studied alongside Introduction to Security Studies and Global Politics and Security, helping students understand legal reasoning and international security dynamics from the beginning.

Second Year

In the second year, students deepen their understanding of core legal areas while expanding security knowledge. Law units such as Criminal Law, Torts, and Constitutional Law are combined with security-focused subjects like Security in the Asia-Pacific and Terrorism and Political Violence, enabling students to analyse threats and legal responses in global contexts.

Third Year

The third year focuses on more advanced legal study including Property Law, Administrative Law, and Equity, alongside security units such as Cybersecurity and National Security and Intelligence and Strategic Studies. Students begin applying legal reasoning and security analysis to complex real-world challenges involving law, governance, and international relations.

Fourth Year

In the fourth year, students engage with higher-level legal subjects such as Corporations Law, Evidence, and Jurisprudence, while security studies electives explore defence policy, global conflict, and strategic risk management. This year strengthens analytical thinking across both legal frameworks and security environments.

Fifth Year

The final year integrates advanced law and security electives, allowing students to specialise in areas such as cybersecurity law, counter-terrorism policy, or international security governance. Students complete capstone legal and security research projects that prepare them for professional or postgraduate pathways in law, government, or intelligence sectors.

Focus areas

Criminal law, constitutional law, international security, cybersecurity, terrorism studies, intelligence analysis, global politics, defence policy, administrative law, corporate law, risk analysis, legal ethics, international relations

Learning outcomes

Develop advanced legal reasoning and security analysis skills, understand global security threats and legal frameworks, conduct interdisciplinary research, communicate effectively in professional environments, demonstrate ethical and strategic thinking, and apply law and security knowledge to real-world policy and justice challenges.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

The law component satisfies the academic requirements for admission to legal practice in Australia, subject to completion of Practical Legal Training (PLT). The security studies component prepares graduates for roles in government, defence, intelligence, policy, and international organisations, depending on further qualifications and career pathways.

Reputation (employability rankings)

Macquarie University is internationally recognised for strong graduate employability and interdisciplinary teaching. It is consistently ranked in global systems such as the QS World University Rankings, with strong subject performance in Law & Legal Studies and Politics & International Studies.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Experiential learning in the Bachelor of Security Studies and Bachelor of Laws at Macquarie University is designed to help students move beyond theory by working directly with real-world legal, political, and security-focused challenges. You develop practical skills in legal reasoning, policy analysis, and security assessment through applied coursework, interactive simulations, and research-driven learning at the Wallumattagal Campus (North Ryde). The program also connects students with professional tools and environments used in law, intelligence, policy, and national security contexts, ensuring strong workplace readiness:

PACE (Professional and Community Engagement): Macquarie’s flagship program allows students to work on real projects with government bodies, policy organisations, and industry partners, applying both legal and security studies knowledge in practical settings.
Macquarie Law Moot Court Program: Students develop advocacy, negotiation, and legal argument skills through simulated court proceedings and structured dispute-resolution exercises.
Security Studies Simulation & Case Analysis: Students engage in scenario-based learning involving national security, intelligence analysis, cyber threats, and policy response planning.
Specialist Research Resources: Access to Macquarie University Library’s extensive legal databases, security policy journals, and international relations research collections.
Digital Legal Research Tools: Training in professional legal research platforms used for case law, legislation tracking, and policy analysis relevant to law and security fields.
Policy and Security Workshops: Interactive sessions with case studies on terrorism, cybersecurity, intelligence operations, and global security challenges.
Industry and Government Engagement: Guest lectures and networking opportunities with legal professionals, policy experts, and security specialists from government and international organisations.
Collaborative Group Projects: Team-based assignments where students analyse legal and security issues, develop policy responses, and present strategic recommendations.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Security Studies and Bachelor of Laws at Macquarie University are prepared for careers at the intersection of national security, law, intelligence, and public policy. This unique combination opens pathways into roles where legal expertise and security analysis are both essential, including work in government agencies, defence, intelligence organisations, and international policy bodies.

Typical career outcomes include roles such as security analyst, intelligence officer, policy adviser, legal consultant in government, and compliance or risk specialist in national security contexts.

Progression into professional careers is strongly supported through Macquarie’s career ecosystem and industry-connected learning environment:

Macquarie University PACE Program (Professional and Community Engagement): Provides structured opportunities to work on real-world projects with government departments, policy organisations, and industry partners, applying legal and security knowledge in practice.
Career and Employment Services: Offers personalised career coaching, internship support, resume and interview preparation, employer networking events, and access to graduate recruitment opportunities across law, government, and security sectors.
Industry and Government Connections: Strong engagement with public sector organisations and policy-focused institutions supports exposure to real-world security, legal, and regulatory environments.
Long-term Accreditation Value: The law component satisfies academic requirements for admission to legal practice in Australia (subject to completion of Practical Legal Training), while the security studies component supports pathways into government, intelligence, defence, and policy careers.
Graduation Outcomes: Students graduate with strong analytical, legal, and strategic thinking skills that are highly valued in national security, law enforcement, regulatory compliance, and policy development roles.
Employment & Salary Outlook (Indicative): There is no single fixed “median salary” published specifically for this combined degree. However, in Australia, early-career law graduates typically earn around AUD $65,000–$90,000 per year, while roles in security, intelligence, and policy analysis often range from AUD $70,000–$110,000+, depending on agency, clearance level, and experience (based on national graduate and industry benchmarks such as QILT and public sector salary bands).

Further Academic Progression:
After completing this double degree, graduates may pursue Practical Legal Training (PLT) to qualify for admission as a legal practitioner in Australia. They may also continue into postgraduate study such as a Master of Laws (LLM), Master of International Security Studies, Master of Security and Strategic Studies, or research pathways (Honours, MPhil, or PhD) in law, security studies, international relations, or public policy to specialise further in government or global security careers.