Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) / Law

6 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of New South Wales

Program Overview

If you’re driven by people and purpose, the UNSW Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) / Law offers a unique six-year journey where understanding human behaviour meets the precision of legal thinking. It’s ideal for curious minds who want to stand up for others, build strong research skills, and step into careers where empathy and logic matter equally.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1: Your first year lays the groundwork for both law and psychology. You’ll get a taste of the legal world through courses like Introduction to Law & Justice, Legal Research and Writing, and core law principles such as Torts. At the same time, psychology introduces you to the mind and behaviour with courses like Psychology 1A/1B, Introduction to Psychological Applications, and Measuring Mind and Behaviour. Expect lively discussions, hands-on projects, and plenty of opportunities to discover what drives people and shapes society.

Year 2: In your second year, you’ll deepen your skills. Law courses such as Crime and the Criminal Process and Criminal Laws give you insight into how legal systems work in practice. Psychology focuses on research and understanding human development through Research Methods 2, Social and Developmental Psychology, and Learning and Physiological Psychology. This is where you start thinking like a scientist, designing experiments, and interpreting real-world data.

Years 3 & 4: These middle years let you explore your interests more deeply. Law electives might include constitutional, administrative, or international law, while psychology offers advanced units on cognition, perception, or personality. Here, you’ll start connecting theory to real life, through internships, clinics, and group projects that make your learning active and personal.

Year 5: This year balances independence with focus. You’ll choose law electives that match your passions — from human rights to commercial or property law — while upper-level psychology units challenge you to apply your knowledge to complex human issues.

Year 6: Your final year is your capstone. In psychology, this often means an honours research project, giving you the chance to design, conduct, and report on a study that matters to you. Law electives continue to expand your expertise, ensuring you graduate with depth and versatility across both fields.

Focus Areas: Human behaviour, legal reasoning, psychology research, justice, and applying learning to real-world situations.

Learning Outcomes: By the time you graduate, you’ll be able to think critically about minds and laws, communicate with clarity, conduct independent research, and make ethical decisions in a variety of professional contexts.

Professional Alignment: This double degree is designed with your future in mind. The law component meets the requirements of the Legal Profession Admission Board, while the psychology honours stream satisfies provisional registration standards, preparing you for meaningful careers in both fields.

Reputation & Employability: UNSW Law & Justice is ranked among the best in Australia and globally, and UNSW psychology is recognized nationally and internationally for excellence. Graduating from this program signals to employers that you’ve been trained at a university with true global standing.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

If you’re looking for a degree that doesn’t just teach theory but actually lets you apply psychology and law in real-world settings, the UNSW Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)/Law is designed for that. From day one, you’re immersed in an environment where learning is active — conducting major research projects with guidance from award-winning academics, choosing electives that match your interests, and engaging with hands-on, practical experiences. The program doesn’t just prepare you to pass exams; it equips you with skills and insights that employers value, all while offering flexible pathways to explore your passions. You’ll graduate not only with deep knowledge in both fields but also with a proven ability to apply it effectively:

Experiential learning opportunities in this program include:

Conducting a major research project under the mentorship of experienced academics
Participating in immersive, practical teaching sessions that simulate real-world scenarios
Access to guaranteed work placements to gain professional experience in law and psychology settings
Flexible electives that allow hands-on exploration of your specific interests within psychology and law

Progression & Future Opportunities

If you’re thinking about the UNSW Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) / Law, you’re looking at a combination that really gives you a standout edge. Graduates leave with a deep understanding of human behaviour and strong legal reasoning — skills that employers notice. Whether you’re drawn to working directly with people or shaping policy and strategy, this double degree sets you up for a wide range of careers. Typical paths our students take include clinical, forensic or organisational psychology, law or legal counsel, human resources, and even management or business consulting — all with the unique advantage of blending psychology and law.

Here’s what that could mean for you:

Support designed for your success: From day one, you’ll have access to careers guidance tailored to your needs. UNSW Law & Justice offers one-on-one counselling, a jobs board, workshops, and resources to sharpen your CV, interview skills, and professional direction. On the psychology side, UNSW Science provides dedicated support for research and career preparation. You won’t be figuring things out alone — there’s help every step of the way.

Hands-on, practical experience: These degrees are built to give you real-world experience. Legal clinics, internships, mooting competitions, exchange programs, and placements mean you’ll graduate with more than just theory — you’ll have practice you can show off on your CV.

Accredited, career-ready qualifications: The law degree meets the academic requirements for admission to legal practice in Australia, while the Psychology (Honours) satisfies the requirements for provisional registration and membership with the Australian Psychological Society. That means the time you invest in your studies has long-term professional value.

Global perspective and industry connections: You’ll have opportunities to study abroad in places like the USA, China, Switzerland, India, and more, and benefit from partnerships that support experiential learning. By graduation, you’ll have both local and international perspectives that employers value.

Pathways for further study: If you want to become a fully registered psychologist, your honours research sets you up for postgraduate study such as a Master’s or Doctorate. Law graduates often continue with the UNSW Graduate Diploma in Legal Professional Practice (PLT) — the next step toward admission as a practising solicitor or barrister. You could also explore specialised postgraduate options in areas like forensic psychology, human rights law, clinical practice, or organisational leadership. This double degree gives you a strong foundation to take your career in whichever direction you choose.