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95% graduates employed
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Top 10 Catholic universities globally
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Top 40 young universities worldwide
Bachelor of Human Rights/Bachelor of Laws
Course information for - 2025 entry
Domestic
- Domestic
- International
- Domestic
- International
Offered at 4 locations
- Brisbane
- Melbourne
- North Sydney
- Strathfield
- Brisbane
- Melbourne
- North Sydney
- Strathfield
- Duration
- 5 years full-time or equivalent part-time
- QTAC code
- 112081
- ATAR
- 75.00 for Brisbane
- Fees (first year)*
- Start dates
-
Semester 1 intake: Beginning February 2025Applications open August 2024Midyear (Semester 2) intake: Beginning July 2025Applications open April 2025
Overview
Human rights advocacy has never been more important. It’s a rapidly growing field across the world and involves aspects of law, criminal justice, history, philosophy and politics.
Studying a Bachelor of Human Rights/Bachelor of Laws will prepare you for a rewarding legal career in human rights both in Australia and globally.
Your strong commitment to social justice is at the heart of this double degree. Like you, we believe in standing up for people in need and issues that matter. We want you to see life through the eyes of others and be inspired to become the leading human rights lawyers and advocates of the 21st century. As a central part of your studies, you will gain essential skills in critical thinking, writing, analysis and debating – skills in high demand from employers.
Our law degree fulfills the academic requirements for admission to the legal profession in Australia.
You can also study the Bachelor of Human Rights or the Bachelor of Human Rights/Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice.
Work placement
Pro bono placements are undertaken from the second year of law studies. You’ll engage in practical, law related activities, especially on behalf of those who are the most marginalised and disadvantaged in our community. These placements will provide valuable experience in the practical operation of the law. Through community engagement you’ll have the opportunity to reflect upon the capacity of the law to respond to social justice issues involving those who are marginalised and disadvantaged as well as in law reform. You’ll benefit from, develop and reflect upon the values of collaboration, equality, mutual respect and commitment to justice in an ethically-based profession.
Volunteer experience
The pro bono program provides practical, work-place based experience in a community context.
Professional recognition
This degree has been approved by accreditation authorities as a prerequisite for admission to legal practice in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria, and is recognised for the purposes of admission in other Australian states and territories.
Careers
Our graduates can pursue careers in:
- the legal profession
- advocacy: domestic and International advocacy, humanitarian services, disaster relief, policy development, volunteer co-ordination
- social services: human services provision, public health, economic development, policy development
- government administration
- industry regulation
- communications: foreign news reporting/correspondence, investigative journalism, research
- politics
- NGOs, both domestic and international
- academia
- diplomacy
Course details
Course structure
To complete the Bachelor of Human Rights/Bachelor of Laws, a student must complete 400 credit points (cp).
Course map
Graduate statement
AQF framework
Entry requirements
An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
International applicants must also meet the English Language Proficiency requirements as defined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
| State | Prerequisites |
|---|---|
| New South Wales | English (Standard) (Band 3) or English as an Additional Language (EAL) (Band 4) |
| Queensland | English (Units 3 & 4, C) |
| Victoria | Units 3 and 4 – a study score of at least 30 in English as an Additional Language (EAL) or 25 in any other English. |
Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2025 Admission.
Applicants with recent secondary education
You’ll need to meet the minimum entry requirements and subject prerequisites for your chosen course.
If your school result was affected by circumstances outside of your control, such as financial hardship, illness, disability or a challenging home environment, you may qualify for an access scheme. You can apply through your TAC as part of your application process.
Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study
You’ll need to meet the minimum entry requirements and subject prerequisites for your chosen course.
For current year 12 students
If you’re a current Year 12 applicant you can be given a selection rank separate from, and in addition to, your ATAR if you’ve completed a competency-based and graded AQF Certificate III or above.
For non-school leavers
If you’ve completed, or are completing a competency-based AQF Certificate IV or AQF diploma you will be assigned a selection rank by your local Tertiary Admission Centre (TAC). This is an entry score based on your individual qualifications and achievements.
ACU has partnerships with TAFE and many private education providers. If you have completed a qualification with one of these partners or with ACU College, you may be eligible for guaranteed entry and/or credit into a related ACU degree. Please apply through your local TAC and then submit a credit application for your previous study.
Applicants with higher education study
You will need to meet the minimum entry requirements and subject prerequisites for your chosen course.
If you have completed at least two units of AQF-recognised study at bachelor level or above, we’ll assign you with a new selection rank that reflects your study level, duration, and grade point average.
If your prior study or relevant work experience has provided you with knowledge, skills or experience aligned with the learning outcomes of units in your new course, you may be eligible to gain credit for study or have your prior learning recognised. This means you may be able to complete your ACU course in a shorter timeframe.
You can use our credit search tool to see what you might be eligible for. For more information about credit and recognition of prior learning at ACU, follow the link below.
Applicants with work and life experience
You’ll need to meet the minimum entry requirements and subject prerequisites for your chosen course.
If you have no formal education qualifications you may be eligible for a selection rank based on your work, life or service experience.
If you’ve been in paid employment, relevant to the course you’re applying for, for a minimum of six months full-time (or equivalent), this work may be assessed for your selection rank.
If you’re 21 years or older you can sit the Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) through your local TAC.
You can apply for an ACU bridging course. Our bridging courses allow you to transition back into studying and can give you a head start on the relevant undergraduate degree.
If you have served in the defence force, your rank and time in service may contribute to your selection rank.
Adjustment factors
If you’re currently completing Year 12 you may be eligible for adjustment factors that can boost your rank and help you get into your desired course.
Adjustment factors may be applied to your TAC application if you study particular subjects, attend schools geographically close to our campuses or in certain regional areas, apply as an elite athlete or performer or meet certain other criteria.
Inherent requirement
There are essential components of a course or unit that demonstrate the capabilities, knowledge and skills to achieve the core learning outcomes of that course or unit. You will need to be able to meet these inherent requirements to complete your course.
Learn more about inherent requirements for your course and how they affect you
Fees
Course costs
*This is an indicative first-year fee based on the tuition fee rates for a full-time student, using unit enrolment data from domestic students who studied the course in the previous year.
A student’s annual fee will vary depending on factors including:
- Number of units studied per year
- Choice of major or specialisation
- Elective units
The University reviews fees annually.
You can view current course costs and domestic tuition fee rates by unit.
Payment options
You should be able to concentrate on getting good marks instead of worrying about how you’ll pay your fees. We have a number of options that can help you ease the financial burden, including government assistance, scholarships and income support.
Scholarships
You could be eligible for one of the hundreds of scholarships we award each year to help students from across the university with the cost of studying, accommodation or overseas study opportunities. Some of our scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit, but these aren’t just for the academically gifted; ACU also recognises excellence in community engagement and leadership. We also offer a range of scholarships for those who may be struggling financially or who have faced other barriers to accessing education.
Staff Profile
Dr Bill Swannie
Lecturer, Thomas More Law School
Bill Swannie is a Lecturer at the Thomas More Law School. His areas of expertise include human rights law, anti-discrimination law, legal theory, media law and international law. He has taught at Victorian law schools since 2013.
Previously, Dr Swannie was Principal Lawyer at a community legal centre, associate to a Vice President of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, and a government lawyer.
Dr Swannie has received several awards for teaching including a citation for programs that enhance student learning. His research is published in leading Australian law journals.
Dr Swannie is a member of the editorial board of the Alternative Law Journal, a member of the Australian Discrimination Law Experts Group, and on the management committee for the Law and Society Association of Australian and New Zealand. He is a member of the Wellness for Law network and has a particular interest in student wellbeing.
Dr Sevda Clarke
Lecturer, Thomas More Law School
Dr Sevda Clark is a human rights lawyer, policy analyst and Lecturer at the Thomas More Law School where she teaches International Law, Administrative Law and Constitutional Law She is admitted in the Supreme Court of NSW.
Before joining the Law School, Clark worked as a legal policy analyst at the Attorney-General’s Department. She was also a Principal Research Officer for the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights at the Department of the Senate, Parliament House Canberra.
As Doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Oslo, she advised governments and non-governmental organisations on the normative development and implementation of human rights law at the international and domestic levels. She acted as Expert advisor to the United Nations during the drafting of the Third Optional Protocol the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a Communications Procedure and represented the National Institute for Human Rights in Norway at the Working Group sessions in Geneva, making oral and written submissions on the development of the treaty.
Clark serves as a Member of the Advisory Board, Human Rights Education Review and an Editorial Board Member of the Australian Feminist Law Journal.
Clark holds a Doctor of Philosophy and a Master of International Human Rights Law from the University of Oslo, Norway. She also holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts (Hons English Literature) from the University of Sydney.