Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) / Law

6 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of New South Wales

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) / Law at University of New South Wales is an elite six-year double degree designed for students who want to combine technical engineering expertise with legal knowledge and problem-solving skills. Campus: Kensington Campus, Sydney, Australia — the program allows students to specialise in one of UNSW’s engineering disciplines while also developing advanced legal reasoning, advocacy, research, and commercial awareness through one of Australia’s leading law schools.

This degree is ideal for students interested in innovation, infrastructure, technology, intellectual property, construction law, environmental regulation, or engineering leadership roles that require both technical and legal expertise. Students graduate with globally recognised engineering qualifications alongside a professional law degree, preparing them for careers across engineering, legal practice, policy, consulting, technology, and corporate sectors.

Curriculum Structure

First Year

In the first year, students build strong foundations in mathematics, physics, computing, and legal studies while learning how engineering and law intersect in real-world industries. Courses such as DESN1000 Introduction to Engineering Design and Innovation, introductory Mathematics and Physics courses, alongside Foundations of Law, help students develop analytical thinking, design skills, and legal reasoning abilities. Students also begin collaborative engineering problem-solving projects and legal research exercises.

Second Year

Second-year study introduces more specialised engineering content while expanding students’ legal understanding through core law subjects. Depending on the chosen engineering specialisation, students may study areas such as Mechanics, Electrical Fundamentals, or Computing for Engineers, while law courses including Contracts, Torts, and Criminal Law strengthen legal analysis and case interpretation skills. The year focuses heavily on technical problem-solving, teamwork, and communication.

Third Year

By third year, students deepen their expertise within their engineering discipline while engaging with more complex legal systems and regulatory frameworks. Engineering students undertake advanced technical courses linked to their chosen field, such as Fluid Mechanics, Software Engineering Fundamentals, or Structural Analysis, while law studies expand into Administrative Law, Constitutional Law, and Equity and Trusts. Students also begin exploring how engineering innovation is shaped by regulation, compliance, and ethics.

Fourth Year

Fourth year combines advanced engineering applications with practical legal education and interdisciplinary learning. Students participate in project-based engineering coursework and may undertake embedded industry training while studying law subjects such as Corporations Law, Evidence, and Private International Law. Engineering studies become increasingly research-driven and design-focused, preparing students for professional engineering practice and legal-commercial environments.

Fifth Year

In the fifth year, students undertake higher-level engineering and law electives aligned with their career interests. Engineering students work on specialised technical projects and advanced discipline electives while law students may explore areas such as Intellectual Property Law, Environmental Law, or Construction Law. Students also benefit from experiential learning opportunities including internships, legal clinics, group design projects, and international study experiences.

Sixth Year

The final year focuses on professional preparation, leadership, and advanced research. Engineering students complete embedded Honours research and major thesis projects while continuing industry-connected design work, and law students refine advocacy, negotiation, and legal drafting skills through advanced electives and clinical learning. By graduation, students possess a rare combination of technical engineering capability and professional legal expertise suited to leadership positions across multiple industries.

Focus areas

Engineering design and innovation, civil engineering, software engineering, renewable energy engineering, robotics and mechatronics, construction law, intellectual property law, environmental regulation, constitutional law, contracts, risk management, infrastructure systems, engineering ethics, technology law, and legal research.

Learning outcomes

Graduates develop advanced technical engineering knowledge together with legal reasoning, advocacy, analytical thinking, project management, research capability, communication, and ethical decision-making skills. Students learn to solve complex engineering challenges while understanding legal frameworks, compliance requirements, regulatory systems, and commercial risk in professional environments.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

The Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) component is fully accredited by Engineers Australia at the Professional Engineer level and recognised internationally through the Washington Accord. The Law component is accredited by the Legal Profession Admission Board and satisfies the academic requirements for admission to legal practice in Australia, subject to completion of Practical Legal Training (PLT).

Reputation (employability rankings)

UNSW Engineering is recognised as one of Australia’s leading engineering faculties, while UNSW Law & Justice is ranked #1 in Sydney and #13 globally for Law & Legal Studies employer reputation (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026). The university is also widely recognised for graduate employability, industry partnerships, hands-on learning, and innovation-focused education across engineering and law disciplines.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) / Law at the University of New South Wales gain extensive practical experience through a combination of engineering laboratories, industry projects, legal clinics, design studios, and professional placements. The double degree is designed to help students apply both technical engineering knowledge and legal reasoning to real-world challenges, giving them exposure to innovation, infrastructure, technology regulation, intellectual property, and commercial problem-solving from the beginning of the program.

UNSW’s strong industry integration means students regularly work in collaborative project environments, advanced research facilities, and practical legal training settings that mirror professional engineering and legal workplaces:

ChallENG Program : Engineering students participate in UNSW’s ChallENG Program, which connects students with industry, humanitarian, and entrepreneurial projects. Students work in multidisciplinary teams to solve real engineering and social impact challenges.
Industrial Training Requirement : Engineering students complete a minimum of 60 days of approved industrial training, gaining hands-on experience with engineering companies, infrastructure organisations, government agencies, and technology firms before graduation.
Maker Spaces & Design Studios : UNSW Engineering provides access to the Maker Games Space, prototype workshops, and engineering design studios equipped with 3D printers, laser cutters, robotics equipment, and fabrication tools used for collaborative engineering projects and innovation development.
Specialised Engineering Laboratories : Depending on the chosen engineering specialisation, students may work in advanced laboratories such as renewable energy labs, structural engineering laboratories, robotics and mechatronics facilities, telecommunications labs, water research laboratories, or software engineering research environments.
Capstone Engineering Projects : Students undertake large-scale Honours and capstone design projects where they solve real engineering problems provided by industry partners. These projects strengthen teamwork, leadership, technical design, and project management skills.
Digital Engineering Software : Students gain experience using industry-standard engineering and computational tools such as MATLAB, AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Python, CAD modelling systems, circuit simulation software, and programming platforms relevant to their engineering discipline.
Kingsford Legal Centre : Law students gain practical legal training through the Kingsford Legal Centre, where they work with practising solicitors on real legal matters involving client interviews, legal research, case preparation, and community legal support.
Moot Courts & Advocacy Training : Students develop courtroom advocacy, negotiation, and legal drafting skills through mooting competitions, simulated court hearings, and legal advocacy exercises hosted by UNSW Law & Justice and the UNSW Law Society.
Law Libraries & Legal Research Databases : Students have access to UNSW Law Library collections, legal databases, collaborative study spaces, and digital legal research tools used for case analysis, statutory interpretation, and legal writing.
Research Institutes & Innovation Centres : Students benefit from UNSW’s major research centres and institutes, including facilities connected to renewable energy, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, cyber security, infrastructure systems, and technology law research.
Entrepreneurship & Innovation Opportunities : UNSW’s entrepreneurship ecosystem allows engineering and law students to participate in startup incubators, innovation competitions, and commercialisation programs that support technology and legal innovation projects.
Collaborative Group Projects : Throughout the degree, students complete interdisciplinary group assignments combining engineering problem-solving with legal and ethical analysis, helping them understand how technical innovation interacts with regulation, compliance, and risk management.
Professional Networking & Industry Events : Students regularly engage with engineering firms, law firms, government agencies, and corporate partners through networking events, employer showcases, mentoring programs, and professional society activities organised across both faculties.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) / Law at the University of New South Wales are highly sought after because they combine advanced technical engineering expertise with professional legal knowledge and commercial problem-solving skills. This rare interdisciplinary qualification prepares students for leadership roles across engineering, infrastructure, technology, intellectual property, construction, consulting, government, and legal sectors. Typical career pathways include engineering consultant, patent attorney, construction lawyer, technology lawyer, project engineer, compliance manager, infrastructure adviser, and corporate legal consultant.

UNSW further enhances graduate employability through industry engagement, professional training, and strong employer connections across both engineering and law disciplines:

Dedicated Career Services : UNSW Engineering and UNSW Law & Justice provide specialised career development programs including résumé workshops, clerkship preparation, internship guidance, networking sessions, mentoring, employer panels, and one-on-one career coaching tailored to engineering and law students.
Industrial Training & Professional Experience : Engineering students complete a mandatory minimum of 60 days of industrial training with industry organisations, allowing students to gain workplace experience before graduation in engineering firms, infrastructure companies, consulting agencies, and technology organisations.
Strong Industry Partnerships : UNSW collaborates with leading employers and organisations including Google, Microsoft, Siemens, Atlassian, Aurecon, Arup, Transport for NSW, and major engineering and legal firms. These partnerships support internships, research projects, graduate recruitment, innovation programs, and industry-led learning opportunities.
Graduate Employability Reputation : UNSW has repeatedly been recognised as one of Australia’s most employable universities by the Australian Financial Review, reflecting strong graduate employment outcomes and employer satisfaction.
Global Engineering Recognition : The Engineering (Honours) degree is accredited by Engineers Australia and internationally recognised through the Washington Accord, allowing graduates to pursue engineering careers globally across multiple countries and industries.
Professional Legal Qualification : The Law component satisfies the academic requirements for admission to legal practice in Australia, subject to completion of Practical Legal Training (PLT). This provides graduates with long-term flexibility to work in both legal and engineering-related sectors.
Median Graduate Salary : According to recent Australian graduate outcomes data, UNSW Engineering and Law graduates report strong full-time employment rates and competitive graduate salaries, with median salaries commonly ranging between approximately AUD $80,000–$95,000 depending on the engineering specialisation and employment sector.
Research & Innovation Exposure : Students benefit from exposure to cutting-edge research and innovation through UNSW institutes connected to artificial intelligence, renewable energy, infrastructure systems, robotics, cybersecurity, and advanced manufacturing, helping graduates remain competitive in rapidly evolving industries.
Graduation Outcomes : Graduates leave the program with practical engineering project experience, legal research capability, technical problem-solving expertise, teamwork skills, commercial awareness, and professional communication abilities developed through industry projects, legal clinics, internships, and honours research.
Long-Term Career Flexibility : The combination of engineering and law creates opportunities across intellectual property law, infrastructure development, environmental regulation, corporate governance, technology commercialisation, construction disputes, engineering consultancy, and executive leadership roles.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing this double degree, graduates may continue into advanced professional or research qualifications such as a Master of Laws (LLM), Master of Engineering, Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Construction Law, or specialised postgraduate programs in artificial intelligence, renewable energy, infrastructure systems, intellectual property law, environmental law, or technology governance. High-achieving graduates may also pursue research-focused degrees including a PhD in Engineering, Law, Robotics, Sustainable Infrastructure, or Technology Policy, leading to careers in academia, innovation leadership, advanced engineering research, or government advisory positions.