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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
Course information for
2026 entry
- 2027 entry
- 2026 entry
Domestic
- Domestic
- 2027 entry
- 2026 entry
- Domestic
Offered at 2 locations
- Melbourne
- North Sydney
- Melbourne
- North Sydney
- Duration
- 5 years full-time or equivalent part-time
- VTAC code
- 1200210971
- ATAR
- 75.00 for Melbourne
- Fees (first year)*
- Start dates
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Semester 1 intake: Beginning March 2026
Applications open August 2025
Midyear (Semester 2) intake: Not offered this intake
Overview
Sustainability is a highly significant and swiftly growing field of practice in a diversity of organisations and workplaces in Australia and worldwide.
Become a lawyer who stands up for people in need and causes that matter. The Bachelor of Laws /Bachelor of Social and Environmental Sustainability is designed to produce well-rounded and articulate graduates ready for legal practice and a defender of communities and the environment. Develop a detailed understanding of the great sustainability challenges of the 21st century and how economic and social prosperity depends on a safe, healthy environment.
Broaden your knowledge and experience across multiple legal disciplines while honing your communication skills, inspiring critical thinking, and perfecting your research expertise to enhance your employability.
Students who have completed 120 credit points of law units with a grade point average of 5.75 and above may apply to complete an honours degree.
Professional experience
LAWS213 Community Legal Engagement Pro Bono supports LAWP100 Pro Bono Legal Professional Experience 1, which includes an 80-hour Pro Bono placement requirement for ACU Law students.
Community engagement
Students complete a community engagement unit LAWS213 Community Legal Engagement Pro Bono.
Accreditation
The Law degree structure and Law unit offerings have been approved by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board and the Legal Profession Admission Board (NSW).
Careers
• Governmental sustainability policy advisor (local, state or national).
• Local, national and international environmental and sustainability NGOs.
• Intergovernmental organisations, including the UN and its specialised organisations.
• Climate and environmental advocate
• State, national and international courts and tribunals.
• Corporate environmental/sustainability officer or advisor.
• Environmental lawyer (if you hold an LLB/JD).
Industry partnerships
The Thomas More Law School works with a variety of industry partners.
Course details
Course structure
To qualify for the award, a student must complete 400 cp consisting of:
Available Major(s)
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Sustainability
This major focuses on matters that concern us globally. While our communities are often bombarded with information about the environment, we are often expected to understand global environmental crises and trends without contextualisation or adequate analysis. The study of sustainability brings together skills in human geography, climate change and environmental sustainability as well as sociological skills and understandings of social sustainability. The major therefore offers evidence-based knowledge, practical research skills, skills in sociological analysis and policy processes. It will provide attractive and substantial benefits to students interested in these matters and those who enjoy studying in the social sciences. The cross-disciplinary nature of this major gives it an offering that is distinct from doing a stand-alone Sociology major or a Geography, Environment and Sustainability major. It is designed to give key knowledge and skills relevant to many different career areas that are grappling with matters to do with environmental and social sustainability including business, government and community sectors, and teachers.
Available Minor(s)
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Environmental Humanities
Environmental Humanities is a multidisciplinary sequence that studies the way society interacts with the environment. While scientists measure physical aspects of environments and environmental change, humanities scholars focus on the many ways in which people have lived sustainably - or unsustainably - over time; the battle for resources; exploitation of labour, forced labour and slavery; the economics of sustainability; policy and politics around development and sustainability; the ways writers have described and understood the natural world and its land and marine environments, cultures and peoples.
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Course map
Graduate statement
AQF framework
Exit points
Students who have met the requirements of the non-award course Certificate in Liberal Studies, Diploma in Liberal Arts OR Bachelor of Social and Environmental Sustainability can exit with that award.
Entry requirements
An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
International students need to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements as defined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
To be eligible for admission to the course, an applicant must have completed the following prerequisites at year 12 level, or equivalent:
| State | Prerequisites |
|---|---|
| New South Wales | English (Standard) (Band 3) or English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EALD) (Band 4) |
| 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 2026 Admission.
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.
English language requirements
International English Language Testing System (IELTS): Overall score: 7.0; Individual score of 6.5 in all tests
Pearson Test of English (PTE): 65 with a minimum of 58 in all four communicative skills
Test of English as a Foreign Language - Academic (TOEFL): Internet-based total of 94: minimum 24 writing, 20 speaking and listening and 19 in reading
ACU English Language Test: A (75-100%)
C1 Advanced: Overall C1 Advanced score 185, Minimum score of 176 in all tests
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.
How to apply
When To Apply
For most courses, applications for Semester 1 open in August, and applications for the midyear intake (Semester 2) open in April.
Please note that not all courses are available to start midyear. Check the course browser in April to see which options are open for Semester 2.
Some courses also accept applications for other study periods. For example, a selection of our online courses offer four intakes each year.
When applications are open for a course, you’ll see a link on the course page explaining how to apply. Ensure you select you preferred campus from the available locations at the top of the page.
For more information, visit our how to apply guide and check out our study periods.
Deferment
Deferment is available for one year. Find out more about deferment: Deferment Information.
Staff Profile
Dr Amanda Alexander
Associate Professor, Thomas More Law School
Amanda Alexander is an Associate Professor in the Thomas More Law School. She is an expert in international humanitarian law, international criminal law, legal theory and law and literature. Her research focuses on the history of the law of armed conflict and its transformation into international humanitarian law. It has been published in leading Australian and international journals, including the European Journal of International Law and the Melbourne Journal of International Law.
Amanda is an editor and Secretary at the Australian Feminist Law Journal, and co-convenor of the History and Theory of International Law Interest Group in the Australian and New Zealand Society of International Law. She was a visiting early career fellow at the Laureate Program in International law at the University of Melbourne.
Amanda was awarded her PhD from the Australian National University for her thesis on the history of the civilian in international law. She has a Master of Laws in Legal Theory and History from the University of London, which she was awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship to undertake, and a BA(Hons)/LLB from the University of New South Wales.
Dr Mark Hamilton
Senior Lecturer Thomas More Law School
Dr Mark Hamilton is a senior lecturer in both law and criminology at ACU. He is also the course coordinator for those disciplines. Having commenced at ACU in 2022, Mark has had the opportunity to teach a variety of units including introductions to criminology and criminal justice, violence, juvenile justice, foundations of law and legal research, criminal law, evidence and environmental law. His primary interest is restorative justice in the context of environmental law. He is also interested in green criminology and environmental victims. Mark has worked as a tipstaff to a judge of the Land and Environment Court of NSW, and as a solicitor in private practice.
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