Bachelor of Agriculture/Bachelor of Laws

5 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of New England Armidale

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Agriculture / Bachelor of Laws at the University of New England is a unique double degree that blends scientific understanding of agriculture with a strong foundation in legal practice. It is designed for students who want to work at the intersection of food systems, land management, rural industries, and law, preparing them for diverse careers in both sectors.

This program suits students who are interested in agriculture, environmental issues, policy, and justice, and who want the flexibility to work in either technical agricultural roles or legal professions.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1:
In the first year, students are introduced to foundational concepts in both agriculture and law. You typically begin with core law subjects such as Legal Systems and Methods and Contracts Law, alongside agricultural foundations like Agricultural Systems and Soil and Plant Science. This year builds the essential academic base needed for both disciplines.

Year 2:
The second year develops deeper legal reasoning and applied agricultural knowledge. Students study subjects such as Torts Law, Constitutional Law, and intermediate agriculture units focusing on Animal Production Systems and Crop Science Principles. This stage helps students connect legal frameworks with real-world agricultural practices.

Year 3:
In Year 3, the focus shifts toward more specialised legal studies and advanced agricultural management. Law units such as Property Law and Administrative Law are typically studied, alongside agriculture-focused subjects like Farm Management Systems and Agricultural Economics. Students begin to see stronger links between law, land use, and rural industries.

Year 4:
The fourth year deepens professional readiness, especially in legal training. Students usually undertake advanced law units including Equity and Trusts and Commercial Law, while also exploring applied agricultural topics such as Sustainable Farming Systems and Agribusiness Strategy. This year strengthens analytical and decision-making skills.

Year 5:
The final year focuses on professional completion and integration of both disciplines. Students complete advanced law requirements such as Civil Procedure and Legal Practice electives, along with capstone agriculture studies or research projects. This year prepares graduates for professional accreditation pathways and industry leadership roles.

Focus Areas (string)

Agricultural science, rural policy and law, land and environmental regulation, agribusiness management, legal practice, sustainable farming systems, resource governance, and regional development.

Learning Outcomes (string)

Graduates will develop strong legal reasoning, agricultural technical expertise, policy analysis skills, and the ability to solve complex problems in rural and environmental contexts.

Professional Alignment (accreditation)

The law component aligns with Australian legal education requirements for pathways toward legal practice, while the agriculture component supports industry roles in agribusiness, farming systems, and rural consultancy.

Reputation (employability rankings)

The University of New England is recognised in global university rankings such as QS World University Rankings and is known for strong graduate outcomes in agriculture, law, and regional studies, particularly across rural and regional Australia.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At the University of New England, students in the Bachelor of Agriculture / Bachelor of Laws gain hands-on experience by combining real-world agricultural practice with practical legal training from the very beginning of the degree. Learning is strongly connected to UNE’s rural campus environment, where students can engage with farms, research facilities, and legal skills training spaces that mirror real professional settings. This blend of field-based agriculture learning and interactive law training helps students build confidence in both disciplines through applied, industry-relevant experience:

UNE SMART Farm (digital agriculture platform): Students engage with modern precision agriculture tools, data-driven farming systems, and smart technology used in real Australian agribusiness operations.
University farms & field training sites (Armidale region): Hands-on exposure to livestock systems, crop production, soil management, and sustainable farming practices in real rural environments.
Soil, plant, and animal science laboratories: Practical lab-based learning to analyse soil health, plant biology, and animal production systems using scientific testing methods.
Law Moot Court & legal skills training rooms: Students develop advocacy, argumentation, and courtroom practice skills through simulated hearings and legal problem-solving exercises.
UNE Dixson Library: Access to extensive legal databases, agricultural research journals, case law resources, and academic support tools for both disciplines.
Professional experience & legal practice units: Opportunities to build practical legal skills through structured training, including research tasks, case preparation, and industry-aligned assessments.
Industry exposure & rural field visits: Field trips and engagement with agricultural businesses, government agencies, and rural organisations across New England and regional Australia.
Digital learning platforms (UNE online systems): Use of tools like LMS platforms for collaboration, legal research, agricultural modelling, and assignment submission used in both agriculture and law studies

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Agriculture / Bachelor of Laws from the University of New England are well-prepared for careers that combine legal expertise with agricultural and rural industry knowledge. They can work across government, agribusiness, environmental policy, and legal practice, with strong opportunities in both regional and national sectors.

This dual qualification opens pathways into roles such as: agricultural policy advisor, rural lawyer, agribusiness consultant, and land and environmental compliance officer:

UNE Career Development Service: Provides one-on-one career counselling, resume building, interview preparation, and job search support tailored to law and agriculture graduates.
Work Integrated Learning (WIL): UNE integrates practical experience through placements, industry-linked projects, and professional practice units that improve employability.
Graduate employability outcomes: UNE graduates are known for strong employment outcomes in agriculture and law-related fields, particularly in regional Australia, where demand for rural legal and agricultural professionals is consistently high.
Industry connections & partnerships: Students benefit from UNE’s strong links with regional agricultural organisations, government agencies, rural law firms, and agribusiness enterprises across New South Wales and Australia.
Professional accreditation pathway: The law component supports progression toward admission as a legal practitioner in Australia, while the agriculture component aligns with industry-recognised agribusiness and rural science roles.
Regional employment advantage: UNE’s strong reputation in rural education gives graduates an advantage in regional employment markets, particularly in agriculture, land management, and rural legal services.

Further Academic Progression: After completing this double degree, students can progress into Master of Laws (LLM), Master of Agricultural Economics, Master of Environmental Law, or professional legal practice training such as Practical Legal Training (PLT) required for admission as a solicitor in Australia.