Bachelor of Biomedicine / Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

5 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Newcastle

Program Overview

This double degree combines a strong foundation in biomedical sciences with advanced legal training, preparing students for careers at the intersection of health, science, and law. It is ideal for students interested in medicine-related fields who also want to understand legal systems, regulation, and policy impacting healthcare and biotechnology.

University of Newcastle – Callaghan Campus, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia

Curriculum Structure

Year 1:
Students begin with core foundations in both science and law, including subjects such as Human Bioscience, Chemistry for Life Sciences, and Introduction to Law and Legal System. This year builds essential scientific knowledge alongside an understanding of how law operates in society, particularly in health-related contexts.

Year 2:
In the second year, learning becomes more specialised with courses like Human Physiology, Biochemistry, and Criminal Law or Contract Law. Students start connecting biomedical concepts with legal principles, developing analytical thinking across both disciplines.

Year 3:
Students move into more advanced biomedical units such as Molecular Biology and Pharmacology, alongside law subjects like Torts and Constitutional Law. This year strengthens the ability to evaluate complex scientific issues and their legal implications, especially in healthcare and regulation.

Year 4:
The focus shifts to applied and professional learning with units such as Medical Biochemistry, Advanced Physiology, and Administrative Law or Equity and Trusts. Students begin engaging with real-world legal and biomedical problems, including health regulation and ethical decision-making.

Year 5:
The final year consolidates expertise through advanced electives and professional law training units, along with biomedical research-focused study such as Biomedical Research Project and Legal Professional Practice. Students graduate with strong interdisciplinary capability across science, law, and policy.

Focus Areas: Biomedical science, health law, biotechnology regulation, medical ethics, legal practice, scientific research, healthcare policy, intellectual property in medicine.

Learning Outcomes: Graduates will be able to analyse complex biomedical and legal issues, apply scientific knowledge in regulatory and legal contexts, and develop evidence-based solutions for healthcare, research, and justice systems.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation): The Bachelor of Laws (Honours) component satisfies academic requirements for admission to legal practice in Australia (subject to Practical Legal Training), while the biomedicine component aligns with national scientific education standards and prepares students for health and research-related industries.

Reputation (Employability Rankings): The University of Newcastle is recognised for strong graduate outcomes and industry-connected teaching, with law and health sciences programs aligned to national employability and research excellence standards (QILT and Australian university benchmarking frameworks).

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in this double degree develop hands-on expertise in biomedical sciences while also building advanced legal knowledge, preparing them for careers at the intersection of health, medicine, research, and law. You gain practical experience through laboratory-based learning in biomedical science alongside real-world legal training in advocacy, research, and problem-solving. This combination ensures graduates are confident working with both scientific evidence and legal frameworks: particularly important in healthcare regulation, biomedical innovation, and health policy.

Experiential learning is built into both the biomedical and law components, giving students access to industry-standard tools, research environments, and professional practice opportunities:

Advanced Biomedical Science laboratories at the University of Newcastle for hands-on experimentation in biology, anatomy, microbiology, and molecular science
Case-based learning and moot court activities in law, helping students develop advocacy, legal reasoning, and courtroom-style argument skills
Work Integrated Learning (WIL) opportunities, including internships, industry placements, and professional engagement in health, research, and legal sectors
Biomedical research training using scientific analysis tools and laboratory instrumentation, supporting real-world research competency
Group-based scientific research projects and legal problem-solving tasks, building collaboration, communication, and analytical skills
Exposure to health and biomedical research environments, including collaboration with healthcare and research organisations
University of Newcastle Law School practical learning environment, focusing on legal research, drafting, negotiation, and dispute resolution
Access to the Auchmuty Library and specialised legal and scientific databases, supporting advanced academic research and evidence-based learning
Interdisciplinary projects combining science and law, particularly in areas such as health regulation, medical ethics, and biotechnology policy
Engagement with external health and legal institutions through professional partnerships, enhancing employability and real-world exposure

Progression & Future Opportunities

This double degree brings together biomedical science and legal training, preparing graduates to work in areas where healthcare, medical research, regulation, and law intersect. Students develop strong scientific understanding alongside advanced legal reasoning, enabling them to contribute to fields such as healthcare regulation, biomedical innovation, and public health policy. Career pathways include medical or health lawyer, biomedical research officer, regulatory affairs specialist, health policy adviser, clinical governance officer, and compliance manager in health industries: offering strong opportunities across both science and legal sectors.

Future progression and career opportunities are strengthened through the University of Newcastle’s focus on industry engagement, practical learning, and student employability support:

University of Newcastle Career and Student Development services provide personalised career counselling, resume and interview preparation, job search support, employer networking events, and graduate employment guidance
Work Integrated Learning (WIL) opportunities allow students to gain real-world experience through internships, industry placements, research projects, and professional engagement in health and legal settings
Biomedical science training includes laboratory-based learning, developing skills in research methods, experimental design, data analysis, and scientific investigation
Law program practical components develop advocacy, legal research, negotiation, compliance, and regulatory interpretation skills
Strong industry engagement with hospitals, medical research institutes, pharmaceutical companies, government health departments, and legal organisations supports real-world exposure and employability
Bachelor of Laws (Honours) meets academic requirements for admission to legal practice in Australia, subject to completion of Practical Legal Training (PLT)
Biomedical science pathway aligns with health and research sector expectations, supporting careers in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and public health systems
Graduates develop interdisciplinary expertise in science, law, ethics, regulation, and policy, highly valued in modern healthcare systems
Strong graduate outcomes across healthcare, research, legal practice, government, and regulatory industries

Employment & Salary Outcomes:

Graduate Lawyer / Health Law Specialist: approximately AUD $75,000 – $130,000+
Biomedical Research Officer / Scientist: approximately AUD $75,000 – $120,000+
Regulatory Affairs or Compliance Specialist (Health Sector): approximately AUD $90,000 – $140,000+
Health Policy Adviser / Clinical Governance Officer: approximately AUD $85,000 – $135,000+

Estimated Median Salary Range:
Graduates working across biomedical science, healthcare regulation, and legal practice typically achieve a median salary of approximately AUD $85,000 – $125,000, with strong long-term growth in specialised areas such as medical law, pharmaceutical regulation, biomedical research leadership, and public health policy.

Further Academic Progression:
After graduation, students can undertake Practical Legal Training (PLT) to qualify for admission as a solicitor in Australia. Graduates may also pursue postgraduate study such as a Master of Laws (LLM), Master of Public Health, Master of Biotechnology, Master of Biomedical Science, or research higher degrees (PhD) in law, health sciences, or biomedical research. These pathways lead to advanced careers in healthcare regulation, medical innovation, scientific leadership, and specialised legal practice in the health sector.