Bachelors of Journalism / Laws (Honours)

5 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Queensland

Program Overview

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.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

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:

  • UQ Journalism Studios (Media Production Facilities): Students work in professional broadcast and digital production spaces to create news packages, video reports, and multimedia journalism content.
  • Investigative Journalism Projects: Students complete real-world style reporting tasks, including long-form investigative work, interviews, and data-driven storytelling assignments.
  • Media Law & Ethics Training: Students learn how journalism interacts with defamation law, privacy law, and ethical reporting standards through applied case studies and simulations.
  • Broadcast & Digital Journalism Tools: Training includes use of professional editing software, content management systems, audio/video production tools, and digital storytelling platforms used in the media industry.
  • Moot Courts & Legal Simulation Spaces: Law students develop advocacy and legal reasoning skills through simulated court proceedings, preparing them to understand legal systems from both practitioner and media perspectives.
  • Legal Research Platforms (LexisNexis & Westlaw): Students gain professional-level legal research experience using leading Australian and international legal databases for case analysis and reporting accuracy.
  • UQ Law Library & Journalism Resources: Access to extensive legal texts, journalism archives, media research collections, and interdisciplinary academic resources supports both disciplines.
  • Group-Based News Production Projects: Students collaborate in newsroom-style teams to plan, research, produce, and present multimedia news stories under professional deadlines.
  • Internship & Industry Placement Opportunities: Through UQ’s industry connections, students may access internships with media organisations, government departments, courts, and communications agencies.
  • Guest Lectures & Media Industry Engagement: Journalists, editors, legal professionals, and policymakers regularly engage with students through seminars, workshops, and networking sessions.
  • Digital Learning & Reporting Platforms: UQ provides online systems for collaborative journalism production, legal research, and content submission aligned with modern media workflows.
  • Research & Policy Exposure: Students may engage with UQ research centres focusing on media, communication, law, and public policy, strengthening interdisciplinary understanding.

Progression & Future Opportunities

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:

  • UQ Careers & Employability Support: Students access dedicated career consultants, resume and portfolio development workshops, interview preparation, employer networking events, and journalism/media industry recruitment programs.
  • Graduate Employment Outcomes: According to Australian graduate outcomes data (QILT), law and communications graduates report strong employability, with many securing full-time roles in media, legal, and public sector fields within months of graduation.
  • University–Industry Connections: UQ maintains strong links with Australian media organisations, legal institutions, courts, government departments, and communications agencies, supporting internships and graduate pathways.
  • Professional Accreditation Value: The law component satisfies academic requirements for admission as a legal practitioner in Australia, enabling graduates to progress to Practical Legal Training (PLT).
  • Graduation Outcomes: Graduates develop skills in investigative journalism, legal analysis, ethical reporting, media production, legal research, and public communication, making them adaptable across multiple industries.
  • Industry Engagement Opportunities: Students benefit from guest lectures, newsroom collaborations, legal industry seminars, and mentoring from journalists, editors, lawyers, and policy professionals connected to UQ networks.

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.

Program Key Stats

$54,096
$17,400
$ 150
Febr Intake : 1st Nov


40 %
No

Eligibility Criteria

AAA
3.0
40.75
97

1440
33
7.0
100
98

Additional Information & Requirements

Country Requirements

Career Options

  • Journalist
  • Legal Journalist
  • Media Lawyer
  • Court Reporter
  • Policy Analyst
  • Communications Advisor
  • Corporate Lawyer
  • Human Rights Lawyer
  • Public Relations Manager
  • Editorial Director

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