5 Years On Campus Bachelors Program
The Bachelors of Journalism / Laws (Honours) at The University of Queensland is a five-year dual degree that combines professional journalism training with comprehensive legal education, preparing students to work at the intersection of media, law, politics, and public communication. It is ideal for students who want to become skilled storytellers, investigative reporters, media professionals, or legal practitioners with strong expertise in law, ethics, and public interest reporting. Campuses: St Lucia (Brisbane), Gatton, Herston, and Dutton Park – Queensland, Australia.
Curriculum Structure
Year 1
In the first year, students build foundational skills in both journalism and law, focusing on communication, writing, and critical analysis. Journalism courses such as News Reporting, Media and Society, and Introduction to Journalism Practice are paired with law foundations like Law, Society and Justice and Legal Research and Writing, helping students understand how media and legal systems interact.
Year 2
The second year develops core reporting and legal reasoning skills in more structured contexts. Students study Broadcast Journalism, Media Law and Ethics, and Investigative Reporting Techniques, alongside legal subjects such as Contract Law and Constitutional Law, strengthening their ability to report accurately within legal and ethical boundaries.
Year 3
In the third year, students move into advanced journalism practice and deeper legal studies. Journalism courses such as Digital Journalism, Feature Writing, and Multimedia Storytelling are combined with legal subjects including Criminal Law, Torts, and Property Law, allowing students to analyse real-world legal issues through media reporting.
Year 4
The fourth year focuses on professional-level journalism production and advanced legal electives. Students engage in Investigative Journalism Projects, Media Production Studios, and Public Affairs Reporting, while law studies include Administrative Law and Corporate Law, preparing students for complex reporting in legal, political, and corporate environments.
Year 5
In the final year, students complete honours-level legal training alongside advanced journalism projects. Law electives such as International Law, Equity and Trusts, and Dispute Resolution are paired with a journalism capstone or major investigative project, developing high-level research, storytelling, and legal analytical skills.
Focus Areas
Investigative Journalism, Media Law, Broadcast Journalism, Digital Media, Public Affairs Reporting, Legal Ethics, Criminal Law, Corporate Law, Political Communication, Multimedia Storytelling, International Law
Learning Outcomes
Develop advanced journalism and legal reasoning skills, produce ethical and accurate media content, understand media regulation and legal systems, apply investigative reporting techniques, communicate complex issues clearly, and prepare for professional careers in journalism, media, law, and public communication.
Professional Alignment (Accreditation)
The law component meets the academic requirements for admission as a legal practitioner in Australia through the Legal Practitioners Admissions Board. The journalism component aligns with industry standards in Australian media practice, supported by professional training in investigative reporting, media production, and communication ethics.
Reputation (Employability Rankings)
The University of Queensland is ranked among the world’s top universities for Law and Communication & Media Studies in the QS World University Rankings. UQ Journalism graduates are recognised for strong employability in Australian and international media industries, while UQ Law maintains a leading national reputation for graduate outcomes and professional training.
experience by combining newsroom-style media production with real legal training environments. The program is designed to mirror professional practice, where students develop investigative reporting skills, legal research capability, and ethical decision-making using industry-standard tools, studios, and legal learning spaces across UQ’s journalism and law facilities. This practical focus ensures graduates can confidently operate in both media organisations and legal or policy environments:
Graduates of the Bachelors of Journalism / Laws (Honours) at The University of Queensland are well positioned for careers that combine strong legal knowledge with advanced media, communication, and investigative reporting skills. Many graduates move into roles where law and journalism intersect, working across media organisations, legal communications, government, policy, and advocacy sectors. Typical career pathways include journalists, legal correspondents, media lawyers, communications advisers, and policy analysts:
Median Salary: Journalists – AUD $75,000 | Media Lawyers – AUD $105,000 | Communications Officers – AUD $85,000 | Policy Analysts – AUD $100,000 (Australia industry averages).
Further Academic Progression:
After completing this dual degree, graduates may pursue Practical Legal Training (PLT) to qualify as a solicitor or barrister in Australia. They can also continue into postgraduate study such as a Master of Journalism, Master of Laws (LLM), Master of Communication, Master of International Relations, or research degrees (PhD) in law, media studies, journalism, or public policy, depending on their career direction.



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