Bachelor of Communication in Public Relations and Advertising Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

5 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Technology Sydney

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Communication in Public Relations and Advertising combined with the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) at UTS is a five-year double degree for students who want to combine creative communication skills with a professional legal qualification. It is an excellent choice for students interested in public relations, advertising, media strategy, corporate communication, and law—especially in industries where communication, ethics, and regulation are closely connected. Campuses: City Campus (Ultimo, Sydney), Moore Park Campus (Sydney), Botany Campus (Sydney), and Kuring-gai Campus (Sydney) – New South Wales, Australia.

You will learn how to create impactful communication campaigns, understand audience behaviour, and build a strong legal foundation that prepares you for careers across both communication and legal sectors.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1

In your first year, you build strong foundations in both communication and law through subjects such as Communication and Society, Communication and Technology, and Emergent Public Relations. These subjects introduce you to how communication shapes society while also helping you develop core legal thinking and professional communication skills.

Year 2

In year two, you begin developing more specialised strategic communication skills through subjects like Strategic Communication in Society, Creative Advertising, and Communication and Work Futures. At the same time, your law studies help you build a deeper understanding of legal systems, contracts, and core legal principles.

Year 3

In the third year, your learning becomes more practical through subjects such as Strategic Campaign Design, Branding and Reputation, and Multiplatform Storytelling, where you learn how to create and manage campaigns across different platforms. You also continue strengthening your legal analysis and case-based reasoning through advanced law studies.

Year 4

In year four, you take on more advanced communication and legal projects through subjects like Engagement in Organisations and The Agency, where you work on industry-style campaigns and real communication challenges. This year helps you connect public communication practice with legal and ethical decision-making.

Year 5

In your final year, you complete the honours component in law through Research Methodology and a Research Thesis, developing advanced research, critical thinking, and analytical skills. This final stage prepares you for professional legal practice, leadership roles, or further academic study.

Focus Areas

Public relations, advertising, strategic communication, branding, media campaigns, corporate communication, media law, legal systems, research, professional ethics

Learning Outcomes

Graduates develop strong skills in strategic communication, campaign development, legal reasoning, research, and critical analysis. You will graduate with the ability to create effective communication strategies while understanding the legal and ethical frameworks that shape professional industries.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

This program meets the academic requirements for admission to legal practice in New South Wales, subject to completing Practical Legal Training. It also provides industry-recognised preparation for careers in public relations, advertising, and corporate communication.

Reputation (Employability / Rankings)

UTS is highly regarded for both law and communication, with a strong reputation for practical learning, industry engagement, and graduate employability. Students benefit from real-world projects, professional networking opportunities, and industry-focused teaching that supports career success.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in the Bachelor of Communication in Public Relations and Advertising / Bachelor of Laws (Honours) at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) develop industry-ready skills through real campaign development, legal simulation, and hands-on communication practice in professional-grade learning environments. The program is strongly focused on applied learning, where students design PR strategies, create advertising campaigns, and analyse legal frameworks that govern media, marketing, and corporate communication. Working across UTS’s media, law, and communication facilities, students gain experience that closely mirrors real agency, corporate, and legal practice:

UTS Communication & Media Studios: Students develop advertising campaigns, PR strategies, and multimedia content using professional production and design tools.
Campaign Development Projects: Students design and execute real-world style public relations and advertising campaigns, including branding, messaging, and audience strategy.
Legal Research Platforms (LexisNexis, Westlaw, AustLII): Students build legal literacy by researching media law, advertising regulation, contract law, and intellectual property cases.
UTS Moot Courts & Legal Simulation Spaces: Students practise legal reasoning, negotiation, and advocacy through simulated legal hearings and dispute resolution exercises.
Work Integrated Learning (WIL): Students complete applied projects that connect advertising, public relations, and legal compliance in communication industries.
Agency-Style Group Projects: Students collaborate in teams to simulate PR agencies and advertising firms, managing deadlines, client briefs, and campaign execution.
Digital Marketing & Analytics Tools: Students use industry-standard platforms for media planning, audience analysis, campaign evaluation, and digital communication strategy.
UTS Law Clinics: Students may engage in supervised legal practice experiences involving communication law, consumer protection, and media regulation issues.
Internships & Industry Placements: Opportunities exist with PR agencies, advertising firms, media organisations, corporate communication departments, and government agencies.
Media Law & Ethics Training: Students analyse defamation, advertising regulation, privacy law, and ethical communication through applied case studies.
Guest Lectures & Industry Engagement: Professionals from advertising agencies, PR firms, legal practice, and corporate communication sectors contribute through workshops and seminars.
UTS Library & Digital Resources: Access to marketing databases, legal journals, communication research materials, and media archives supports interdisciplinary learning.
City Campus Industry Exposure: Located in Sydney’s CBD, students are surrounded by leading advertising agencies, media companies, courts, and corporate headquarters.
Digital Learning Platforms: UTS provides collaborative online systems for campaign development, legal research, and multimedia project submission.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Communication in Public Relations and Advertising / Bachelor of Laws (Honours) at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) are well prepared for careers that combine strategic communication, brand management, and legal expertise. This dual skill set is highly valued in advertising agencies, corporate communication teams, government, media organisations, and legal environments where regulatory and reputational issues intersect. Typical career pathways include public relations specialist, advertising executive, corporate communications adviser, media lawyer, and policy/brand strategist:

UTS Careers Service & Employability Programs: Students receive personalised career coaching, portfolio development support, CV and interview workshops, and access to employer networking events across communications and legal industries.
Graduate Employment Outcomes: According to QILT Graduate Outcomes Survey (Australia), graduates in communication and law disciplines achieve strong full-time employment outcomes, particularly in media, corporate, and professional services sectors.
Indicative Salary Outcomes: In Australia, early-career graduates typically earn around AUD $70,000–$95,000, with experienced professionals in PR, advertising, and media law progressing to AUD $110,000–$150,000+ depending on role and industry.
University–Industry Partnerships: UTS maintains strong connections with leading advertising agencies, PR firms, multinational corporations, media organisations, government departments, and legal practices, supporting internships and graduate pathways.
Professional Accreditation Value: The Bachelor of Laws (Honours) component is accredited by the Legal Profession Admission Board (NSW), meeting academic requirements for admission as a legal practitioner in Australia.
Graduation Outcomes: Graduates develop advanced skills in strategic communication, campaign management, legal reasoning, media law compliance, branding, advertising strategy, and professional legal practice.
UTS Work Integrated Learning Opportunities: Students benefit from internships, agency-style projects, law clinics, and real-world communication campaigns embedded throughout the degree.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing this dual degree, graduates can undertake Practical Legal Training (PLT) to qualify as a solicitor or barrister in Australia. They may also pursue postgraduate study such as a Master of Laws (LLM), Master of Communication, Master of Advertising, Master of Public Relations, Master of Media Practice, Master of Marketing, Master of Business Administration (MBA), or PhD research in law, communication, advertising, or media studies.