Bachelor of Communication in Social and Political Sciences Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

5 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Technology Sydney

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Communication (Social and Political Sciences) / Bachelor of Laws (Honours) at University of Technology Sydney is a great choice if you want to understand how society works—and have the legal skills to actually shape it. It’s especially suited for students who care about politics, justice, or public policy and want to combine clear communication with real legal influence.

Curriculum structure

Year 1:
You’ll ease into both sides of the degree, building a solid foundation. Subjects like Communication and Society and Self and Society help you understand how people, media, and ideas connect, while Foundations of Law and Legal Method and Research introduce you to legal thinking and how the system works. It’s a balanced start that builds both awareness and core skills.

Year 2:
Things start to get more interesting as the two areas begin to connect. You’ll study Political Ideas and Change alongside law subjects like Torts and Contracts, giving you insight into how laws affect everyday life and social systems. At the same time, your ability to argue, analyse, and research becomes much sharper.

Year 3:
Now you’re diving deeper into real-world issues. With subjects like Global Economies and Histories of the Present, you’ll explore how global and historical forces shape today’s political landscape, while Criminal Law and Procedure and Public International Law expand your legal understanding. You’ll start seeing clearly how law and communication work together in shaping policy and society.

Year 4:
At this stage, you’re thinking and working more like a professional. You’ll take on subjects such as Policy and Advocacy and Investigating Urban Change, alongside advanced law units like Equity and Trusts and Administrative Law. This is where you really refine your ability to interpret laws, influence policy, and communicate complex ideas clearly.

Year 5:
Your final year pulls everything together. You’ll complete advanced law electives and the Law Honours component, giving you the chance to explore an area of interest in depth. Alongside this, the Professional Placement lets you gain real experience in legal, policy, or communication settings—so you graduate with both knowledge and confidence.

Focus areas

Law, communication, public policy, politics, advocacy, global issues

Learning outcomes

Strong legal reasoning, policy analysis, advanced research skills, persuasive communication, critical thinking, and the ability to connect legal systems with real social issues

Professional alignment (accreditation)

The law component meets the academic requirements needed to pursue admission as a lawyer in NSW, combined with practical, industry-focused experience

Reputation (employability rankings)

University of Technology Sydney is consistently ranked among the top universities in Australia for communication and media studies (QS Rankings), and its law program is well known for producing job-ready graduates with strong employability outcomes

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

What really makes the Bachelor of Communication (Social and Political Sciences) / Bachelor of Laws (Honours) at University of Technology Sydney stand out is how practical it feels throughout the entire degree. You’re not just studying law or politics in isolation—you’re constantly applying what you learn through real cases, policy issues, and communication challenges. With access to professional legal training spaces, media facilities, and strong industry connections, you’re building skills that feel directly connected to your future career.

Here’s how that hands-on experience comes together during your studies:

Professional Placement: In your communication stream, you’ll complete a placement where you work with real organisations on policy, advocacy, or communication projects—this is where everything starts to feel “real”
Moot courts (legal training): You’ll practise arguing cases in simulated courtrooms, building confidence in public speaking, legal reasoning, and advocacy
Real-world projects & case studies: Many subjects are built around current social and political issues, so you’re constantly applying theory to real situations
Legal industry exposure: You’ll have opportunities to connect with legal professionals, firms, and community legal centres, and even explore pathways like clerkships
Legal Futures & Technology option: You can explore how technology is changing the legal world, giving you an edge in a rapidly evolving field
Collaborative group work: A big part of the course involves working in teams—developing legal arguments, policy ideas, or communication strategies, just like you would in a real job
Media & production facilities: Access to studios and digital labs where you can create communication content to support campaigns, research, or advocacy work
UTS Library & research spaces: Modern, well-equipped spaces that support both legal research and social science projects
Sydney location advantage: Being in Sydney means you’re close to courts, government organisations, NGOs, and media companies—making networking and experience much easier to build

Progression & Future Opportunities

By the time you graduate from the Bachelor of Communication (Social and Political Sciences) / Bachelor of Laws (Honours) at University of Technology Sydney, you’re coming out with a really rare combination—legal expertise plus the ability to understand and communicate complex social and political issues. That opens up a lot of directions, whether you see yourself in a courtroom, shaping public policy, or working behind the scenes in government or media. Many graduates step into roles like lawyer, policy advisor, political consultant, or communications/legal advisor, where they can influence both decisions and public opinion.

And what makes this pathway even stronger is the support and opportunities UTS builds around you:

UTS Careers Service: You’ll get ongoing support with things like CV writing, interview prep, and networking events—so you’re not left figuring out your career on your own
Strong graduate outcomes: UTS consistently reports high employment rates for its graduates, with competitive starting salaries (often around AUD $65K–$70K depending on the role and sector)
Real industry connections: Through placements, projects, and partnerships, you’ll engage with organisations across government, legal practice, and the non-profit sector—sometimes leading directly to job opportunities
Recognised law qualification: Your law degree meets the academic requirements to become a lawyer in NSW (with further practical legal training), giving you a clear and respected career pathway
Job-ready skill set: You graduate with practical experience, a portfolio of work, and the confidence to step into professional roles from day one
Flexible career paths: Whether you choose law, policy, media, or advocacy, this degree keeps your options wide open across multiple industries

Further Academic Progression:

If you decide to take things further, this degree sets you up really well for postgraduate study. Many students go on to a Master of Laws (LLM), public policy, or advanced communication programs at University of Technology Sydney or other leading universities. You can also complete Practical Legal Training (PLT) to qualify as a lawyer, or move into research and academic pathways thanks to the honours component built into your degree.