Bachelor of Psychological Science - Bachelor of Laws

5 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Wollongong

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Psychological Science – Bachelor of Laws at the University of Wollongong combines a deep understanding of human behaviour with a strong foundation in legal knowledge, preparing students for careers in law, justice, policy, and behavioural science. Campus location: UOW Wollongong Campus, New South Wales, Australia. This program suits students who are interested in both people-focused science and legal systems, particularly those aiming for careers in criminal law, forensic contexts, policy development, or legal advocacy.

Curriculum structure

Year 1

In the first year, students build core foundations in both psychology and law, developing essential academic and analytical skills. Law studies typically introduce Legal Institutions, Contracts Law, and Criminal Law, while psychology begins with Introduction to Psychology, Biological Psychology, and Research Methods in Psychology, helping students understand both legal reasoning and human behaviour.

Year 2

In the second year, students begin to deepen their understanding of legal systems and psychological theory. Law subjects such as Torts, Public Law, and Constitutional Law are combined with psychology units like Cognitive Processes, Social Psychology, and Psychological Statistics, strengthening both legal analysis and scientific research skills.

Year 3

In Year 3, students move into more advanced legal and psychological study with increasing focus on applied understanding. Law units such as Property Law, Equity and Trusts, and Administrative Law are paired with psychology subjects like Developmental Psychology and Personality Psychology, allowing students to explore human behaviour across legal and social contexts.

Year 4

In the fourth year, students engage in advanced legal training and applied psychology coursework. Legal studies may include Evidence, Commercial Law, and Jurisprudence, while psychology includes advanced electives and research-focused subjects, along with project-based learning and applied behavioural analysis.

Year 5

In the final year, students focus on professional readiness and specialised electives across both disciplines. Law students complete advanced subjects and practical legal training-style learning such as Civil Procedure and capstone legal studies, while psychology studies include advanced electives and research projects that integrate behavioural science with legal applications.

Focus areas (in a string):

Criminal law, forensic psychology, human behaviour, legal advocacy, cognitive psychology, constitutional law, public policy, research methods, social justice, legal ethics, behavioural analysis

Learning outcomes (in a string):

Graduates develop strong legal reasoning, psychological analysis skills, research capability, ethical decision-making, advocacy skills, and an understanding of human behaviour within legal systems, preparing them for interdisciplinary professional roles.

Professional alignment (accreditation):

The Bachelor of Laws component satisfies academic requirements for admission to legal practice in Australia when combined with Practical Legal Training (PLT), while the psychological science component provides a strong foundation for further accredited psychology training pathways depending on postgraduate progression.

Reputation (employability rankings):

The University of Wollongong is recognised globally for strong graduate employability outcomes and industry-connected teaching (QS World University Rankings and Times Higher Education rankings). UOW Law and Psychology programs are known for practical learning, strong industry engagement, and high graduate employability across legal and behavioural science sectors.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At the University of Wollongong, the Bachelor of Psychological Science - Bachelor of Laws is built around hands-on, practice-based learning that helps students develop both legal expertise and a deep understanding of human behaviour. Students study at the UOW Wollongong Campus, New South Wales, Australia, where they benefit from purpose-built law learning environments, psychology teaching spaces, and access to industry-standard research and legal tools. Throughout the degree, students gain real-world experience through legal training, psychological research participation, and industry-linked learning designed to prepare them for professional practice in both law and psychology.

Students actively apply their knowledge through structured practical activities, research-based learning, and professional skill development supported by UOW facilities and industry connections:

UOW Law Moot Court and advocacy training spaces: Students develop courtroom skills through simulated trials, legal argumentation exercises, and advocacy competitions that replicate real legal proceedings.
Psychology teaching and research laboratories: Students engage in experimental learning using cognitive, behavioural, and perception-based psychology labs where they participate in and conduct scientific studies on human behaviour.
Work Integrated Learning (WIL) opportunities: The program includes practical learning experiences that connect students with legal, community, and behavioural science settings through placements, projects, and industry-based learning tasks.
Legal research tools and databases via UOW Library: Students access professional legal databases such as Westlaw AU and Lexis Advance, supporting case law research, statutory interpretation, and academic legal writing.
Psychology research participation and experiments: Students take part in supervised psychological studies and research projects that build understanding of experimental design, data analysis, and ethical research practice.
Group-based legal and psychological projects: Students complete collaborative assignments involving legal problem-solving, behavioural case analysis, and interdisciplinary research tasks that mirror real professional teamwork environments.
UOW Library and academic support services: Students benefit from extensive legal and psychological science collections, academic journals, research databases, study spaces, and dedicated learning support resources.
Industry engagement and guest learning sessions: Legal professionals, psychologists, and researchers contribute to seminars, workshops, and mentoring sessions that connect academic learning with real-world practice.
Professional skills development workshops: Students build competencies in communication, critical thinking, ethical decision-making, research methods, negotiation, and client interaction across both disciplines.

Progression & Future Opportunities

This combined degree prepares graduates for careers that bridge human behaviour, mental health understanding, and legal practice, giving them a strong advantage in both justice and human services sectors. Students graduate with advanced skills in legal reasoning, psychological analysis, communication, and ethical decision-making, making them highly suitable for roles that require both legal expertise and an understanding of human behaviour. Typical career pathways include Lawyer, Legal Consultant, Forensic Psychologist (pathway dependent), Policy Advisor, Criminal Justice Officer, and Human Services Case Manager.

The University of Wollongong supports strong graduate outcomes through practical learning, industry engagement, and career development services, including:

UOW Careers and Employability Services: Students receive personalised career support, resume and interview workshops, employer networking events, internship guidance, and graduate job search assistance tailored to law and psychological science pathways.
Integrated legal and psychological skill development: Students build expertise in legal systems, human behaviour, cognitive psychology, research methods, advocacy, and ethical reasoning—skills highly valued in justice, health, and government sectors.
Industry partnerships and professional exposure: UOW maintains strong connections with legal professionals, courts, government agencies, and community organisations, supporting networking, mentoring, and real-world engagement opportunities.
Practical learning experiences: Students participate in mooting, legal research projects, psychology labs, behavioural research tasks, and applied case studies that strengthen workplace readiness.
Long-term accreditation value: The law component meets academic requirements for admission to legal practice in Australia when followed by Practical Legal Training (PLT). The psychology component provides a strong foundation for further accredited psychology training pathways depending on progression and postgraduate study.
Graduate employment outcomes: Graduates pursue careers across legal practice, criminal justice, forensic and behavioural services, policy development, counselling support roles (further training may apply), government advisory, and community services.
Employment and salary outcomes: Graduates entering legal, psychology-related, and public sector roles in Australia typically earn starting salaries in the range of approximately AUD $70,000–$100,000 per year (median range), with long-term progression into higher-paying specialist legal, forensic, and policy roles.
Strong interdisciplinary career demand: Employers increasingly value professionals who understand both legal frameworks and psychological behaviour, particularly in areas such as criminal law, family law, mediation, rehabilitation, and policy development.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the Bachelor of Psychological Science - Bachelor of Laws, graduates may pursue Practical Legal Training (PLT) such as the Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice to qualify for legal admission in Australia. Students may also continue into postgraduate psychology pathways (including honours and accredited training routes depending on eligibility), or pursue a Master of Laws (LLM), Master of Psychology (where eligible), criminology, public policy, or social science research degrees. This combined qualification also provides a strong foundation for advanced research degrees such as a PhD in Law, Psychology, or interdisciplinary justice studies.