Bachelor of Social Sciences / Law

5 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of New South Wales

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Social Sciences / Law at University of New South Wales is a five-year double degree that combines professional legal education with a deep understanding of society, politics, culture, and human behaviour. Campus: Kensington Campus, Sydney, Australia — the program is ideal for students who want to explore how law interacts with social systems while developing strong analytical, research, advocacy, and policy-making skills through one of Australia’s leading law schools.

This degree suits students interested in law, public policy, international relations, sociology, politics, media, development studies, or social justice careers. Students study core legal subjects alongside social science disciplines, gaining interdisciplinary knowledge that prepares them for careers in law, government, diplomacy, advocacy, policy analysis, media, consulting, and international organisations.

Curriculum Structure

First Year

In the first year, students build foundational knowledge in both legal studies and the social sciences while developing research, communication, and critical thinking skills. Courses such as Foundations of Law, Introduction to Politics and International Relations, and Understanding Society introduce students to legal systems, social institutions, and political structures while encouraging interdisciplinary analysis of contemporary global issues. Students also begin learning legal research and academic writing techniques essential for later study.

Second Year

Second-year study deepens students’ understanding of legal frameworks and social theory through a combination of core law and social science subjects. Students may study courses such as Contracts, Torts, and Criminal Law alongside subjects in sociology, political science, criminology, or international relations that examine inequality, governance, public policy, and social change. The year focuses heavily on analytical reasoning, policy interpretation, and evidence-based argument development.

Third Year

By third year, students begin engaging with more advanced legal concepts while specialising further within their chosen social science areas. Law subjects including Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, and Equity and Trusts strengthen students’ understanding of legal institutions and judicial systems, while social science electives allow exploration of themes such as human rights, global politics, migration, social research, or media and culture. Students also undertake collaborative research and presentation-based projects.

Fourth Year

Fourth year combines advanced legal education with applied social science learning and interdisciplinary analysis. Students study law courses such as Corporations Law, Evidence, and Private International Law while undertaking higher-level social science electives connected to policy, governance, conflict studies, social justice, or international development. Practical learning opportunities, policy analysis exercises, and research-focused coursework help students connect theory with real-world social and legal challenges.

Fifth Year

The final year allows students to tailor the degree toward their personal and professional interests through advanced law and social science electives. Students may explore areas such as Human Rights Law, Environmental Law, International Law, or specialised social science research topics while refining advocacy, legal writing, negotiation, and policy evaluation skills. By graduation, students possess a strong combination of legal expertise and interdisciplinary social analysis suited to leadership roles across public, private, and international sectors.

Focus areas

Law and justice, public policy, sociology, politics and international relations, governance, human rights, social research, international development, media and culture, inequality and social change, constitutional law, global studies, advocacy, and legal analysis.

Learning outcomes

Graduates develop advanced legal reasoning, policy analysis, communication, research, advocacy, negotiation, and interdisciplinary problem-solving skills. Students learn to critically evaluate social and legal systems, interpret legislation and policy, conduct independent research, and address complex global and societal challenges using both legal and social science perspectives.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

The Law component of the degree 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). The social sciences component provides strong preparation for policy, governance, research, diplomacy, advocacy, and international sector careers.

Reputation (employability rankings)

UNSW Law & Justice is ranked among the world’s leading law schools and recognised for strong graduate employability and employer reputation. UNSW is consistently recognised for producing highly employable graduates through industry engagement, practical learning, research excellence, and global academic reputation across law, politics, and social sciences.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in the Bachelor of Social Sciences / Law at the University of New South Wales gain practical experience through legal clinics, policy-focused research projects, community engagement, interdisciplinary group work, and real-world social analysis activities. The program combines professional legal training with applied social science learning, allowing students to investigate contemporary social issues, develop evidence-based policy solutions, and build advocacy and communication skills through interactive learning environments across UNSW’s Law & Justice faculty.

UNSW’s experiential learning approach ensures students graduate with strong legal, analytical, research, and professional capabilities developed through hands-on opportunities, industry-connected projects, and specialised facilities:

Kingsford Legal Centre : Law students can participate in clinical legal education through the Kingsford Legal Centre, where they work with real clients under solicitor supervision. Students assist with legal interviews, case preparation, drafting legal documents, and community legal outreach while developing practical advocacy and client communication skills.
Moot Courts & Advocacy Programs : Students strengthen oral advocacy, legal reasoning, negotiation, and public speaking abilities through mooting competitions, simulated court hearings, and legal advocacy exercises hosted by the UNSW Law Society and Law & Justice faculty.
Policy & Social Research Projects : Social Sciences students participate in collaborative research assignments and policy analysis projects examining issues such as social inequality, governance, migration, international relations, public policy, and human rights. Many subjects integrate group presentations and applied research case studies connected to current global challenges.
Research Institutes & Centres : Students benefit from exposure to leading UNSW research institutes including the Centre for Criminology, Law and Justice, Australian Human Rights Institute, Social Policy Research Centre, and Gendered Violence Research Network, giving students opportunities to engage with contemporary policy and social justice research.
Community & Industry Engagement : The degree encourages engagement with NGOs, government departments, advocacy organisations, and public policy initiatives through internships, volunteering opportunities, and community-focused projects connected to legal and social policy issues.
Legal Research Databases & Digital Resources : Students access professional legal research tools and databases used in legal practice and policy work, including LexisNexis, Westlaw, HeinOnline, and digital law library collections that support legal writing, case analysis, and policy research.
Collaborative Group Projects : Many social sciences and law subjects incorporate teamwork, research collaboration, presentations, and case-study analysis to simulate real workplace environments in legal practice, government policy, diplomacy, and consulting sectors.
UNSW Law Library & Learning Spaces : Students have access to specialised law libraries, social sciences collections, collaborative study areas, multimedia learning spaces, and research support facilities designed for interdisciplinary learning and academic research.
Global Learning Opportunities : Students may participate in international exchange programs, global social justice initiatives, Model United Nations activities, and overseas study experiences that strengthen intercultural communication and global policy understanding.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Social Sciences / Law at the University of New South Wales develop a powerful combination of legal expertise, policy analysis, communication, and social research skills that prepare them for careers across law, government, international affairs, advocacy, and public policy. The interdisciplinary nature of the degree allows graduates to understand complex legal and social challenges from multiple perspectives, making them highly adaptable in both public and private sector environments. Typical career pathways include solicitor, policy adviser, human rights advocate, diplomat, legal consultant, social researcher, government analyst, and international development professional.

UNSW strengthens graduate employability through professional training, career development support, industry engagement, and practical legal learning opportunities:

Dedicated Career Support Services : UNSW Law & Justice provides specialised employability programs including career mentoring, clerkship preparation workshops, résumé and interview coaching, networking events, and employer engagement sessions specifically designed for law and social sciences students.
Legal Clinics & Professional Experience : Through the Kingsford Legal Centre and experiential learning initiatives, students gain practical legal experience working with real clients and community legal matters under professional supervision, helping graduates enter the workforce with applied legal skills.
Strong Graduate Employability Reputation : UNSW is consistently recognised among Australia’s leading universities for graduate employability and employer reputation, with strong outcomes in law, politics, public policy, and social sciences disciplines.
Median Graduate Salary : According to Australian graduate outcomes data for Law and Society & Culture graduates, median full-time salaries for recent graduates commonly range between approximately AUD $75,000–$85,000 depending on sector, role, and professional pathway.
Government & Industry Connections : Students benefit from UNSW’s connections with government departments, legal organisations, NGOs, international agencies, community advocacy groups, and policy institutes that support internships, research opportunities, and graduate recruitment pathways.
Research & Policy Networks : The program is supported by research centres including the Australian Human Rights Institute, Social Policy Research Centre, and Centre for Criminology, Law and Justice, allowing students to engage with contemporary legal and social policy research connected to real-world issues.
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 professional recognition and flexibility across legal careers nationally and internationally.
Global Career Opportunities : The combination of legal training and social sciences knowledge prepares graduates for careers in diplomacy, international development, policy consulting, public administration, humanitarian organisations, journalism, and international relations alongside traditional legal professions.
Graduation Outcomes : Graduates leave the program with advanced legal research abilities, advocacy skills, policy analysis expertise, intercultural communication capability, and critical thinking skills developed through interdisciplinary coursework, legal clinics, collaborative projects, and research activities.
Long-Term Career Flexibility : The broad interdisciplinary nature of the degree enables graduates to transition across multiple sectors throughout their careers, including law firms, government agencies, international organisations, think tanks, consulting firms, media organisations, and social advocacy groups.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing this double degree, graduates may continue into postgraduate qualifications such as a Master of Laws (LLM), Master of Public Policy, Master of International Relations, Master of Social Research, Master of Human Rights, or specialised postgraduate studies in diplomacy, governance, environmental law, international law, or development studies. High-achieving graduates may also pursue research-focused programs including Honours or PhD studies in Law, Political Science, Sociology, Public Policy, International Relations, or Social Research, leading to careers in academia, advanced policy analysis, diplomacy, or senior government advisory roles.