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Bachelor of Communication (Social and Political Sciences) Bachelor of Laws (Honours)
Note
This is an exit-only course. There is no direct admission to it. Current UTS students may be able to submit an Internal Course Transfer (Graduating) application to exit with this course. See the Course transfer page for further details.
This course is offered jointly by UTS Law and UTS Communication. It provides students with a range of professional and analytical skills grounded in sociology, social policy, politics, public history and international studies, for either legal or social science practice. It is designed for students who want to use their professional legal qualification together with social research, policy development and political advocacy.
Honours relates to the law component only and students must successfully complete both of the research subjects: 76090 Research Methodology and 76040 Research Thesis. Strong research skills are valued highly in contemporary professional practice.
The program provides full-time study for students wishing to obtain a professional legal qualification that satisfies the requirements for admission as a lawyer together with specialisation in social, cultural and communication theory and practice. Studies in social inquiry increase students' employment options in the diverse fields of social science, media and communication, as well as extending their knowledge of the broader context in which the legal system operates.
Students have the opportunity to engage in deeper study of the law by studying 76090 Research Methodology and undertaking 76040 Research Thesis. This course can be a pathway to higher degree research programs.
Course aims
The course aims to promote understanding of how communities and political systems work, along with positive and effective intervention skills.
Course fees
For relevant fee information, please choose from the following:
Local student
All students at UTS pay tuition fees to contribute towards the cost of their studies.
In 2024 all offers made to domestic undergraduate students will be for Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP), which means that the Australian government makes a substantial contribution towards the cost of your education, and you pay the balance through student contributions.
The amount you pay depends on your area of study and the number of credit points (cp) in which you enrol. At UTS 48 credit points is considered to be one Equivalent Full Time Study Load (EFTSL).
The table to the right shows the amount a student can expect to pay for one year of full-time study (1.0 EFTSL).
Students can choose to pay their student contribution upfront, or if eligible, can defer their fees through HECS-HELP.
In addition to tuition fees, students are required to pay a Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF). The purchase of textbooks and other course materials may also result in additional cost.
You can calculate your student contribution as a percentage of the amounts shown on the table. Fee rates are divided into four bands covering broad discipline areas. It is important to note that a particular subject within a course may fall within a different band.
For example, if you are enrolled in a 6-credit point Architecture subject, your contribution would be 6/48 x $9,314 = $1,164.
Student contribution amounts for 2025 commencing students
| 2025 student contribution - Area of Study | Amount for 48 cp |
|---|---|
| Law, Accounting, Administration, Economics, Commerce, Communications and Society and Culture | $16,992 |
| Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science | $13,241 |
| Allied Health, Other Health, Built Environment, Computing, Visual & Performing Arts, Professional Pathway Psychology, Professional Pathway Social Work, Engineering, Surveying, Environmental Studies, Science and Pathology | $9,314 |
| Education, Postgraduate Clinical Psychology, English, Mathematics, Statistics, Nursing or Foreign Languages and Agriculture | $4,627 |
International student
Tuition fees for international undergraduate students can be found using tuition fees search.
Tuition fees must be paid in advance each session and are subject to annual increase. Fees for future year(s) published in fees search, whilst unlikely to change, are estimates only. UTS makes every effort to provide up to date future year(s) fee estimates and to limit any changes, however, UTS reserves the right to vary fees for future year(s) at any time.
For this course, the cost per credit point for 2025 is $986. The total credit points are 240.
All international students should familiarise themselves with the following documents:
- Protocol on refund of fees for international students - contains the refund of fees information for international students.
- Tuition Protection Service - designed to ensure that students receive the tuition they have paid for
In addition to tuition fees, students may be required to pay a Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF). Textbooks and other course materials will also result in additional costs.
UTS Alumni save 10%: alumni.uts.edu.au/advantage
For further information on costs related to your study at UTS, visit the international students' fees information page.
Careers
Career options include lawyer in business or media organisations, community or public sector, as an advocate, policy maker, political activist, political adviser or social or media researcher.
Course structure
Course structure explained
The course comprises 240 credit points. The study components for course completion are as follows.
The law component of 144 credit points is made up of:
- 108 credit points of compulsory core law subjects
- a 6-credit-point legal theory option
- a 30-credit-point law option, which includes either:
- 18 credit points of law options, a 6-credit-point research methodology subject, a 6-credit-point research thesis subject, or
- a 6-credit-point technology law, policy and ethics (Capstone 1) subject, a 6-credit-point applied project in law, innovation and technology (Capstone 2) subject, a 6-credit-point research methodology subject, a 6-credit-point research thesis subject, and either: a disruptive technologies and the law subject, or a local internship.
The communication component of 96 credit points is made up of:
- 24 credit points of compulsory subjects
- 48 credit points of subjects from the Social and Political Sciences major, and
- 24 credit points of electives from cross-disciplinary subjects.
For a current listing of subjects in each course refer to the study package directory.
Industrial training/professional practice
To practise as a lawyer in NSW, students need to successfully complete an accredited legal academic qualification (e.g. Bachelor of Laws) and an accredited course of practical legal training (PLT), which UTS offers through its PLT program.
Students enrolled in this course may complete their practical legal training by undertaking a postgraduate course in PLT, such as the Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice (C11232).
Course completion requirements
| Requirement | Credit Points |
|---|---|
| STM91104 Communication core | 24 |
| MAJ09476 Social and Political Sciences | 48 |
| STM91052 Law stream (Honours) | 144 |
| CBK92067 Electives (8cp subjects) | 24 |
| Total | 240 |
Additional information
Course duration
The course is offered on a five-year, full-time basis. Students are required to attend approximately 17 hours of seminars and lectures a week, and may be required to attend evening classes for the law component.
Full time, on campusInherent requirements
Inherent requirements are academic and non-academic requirements that are essential to the successful completion of a course. For more information about inherent requirements and where prospective and current students can get assistance and advice regarding these, see the UTS Inherent requirements page.
Prospective and current students should carefully read the Inherent Requirements Statement below and consider whether they might experience challenges in successfully completing this course.
UTS will make reasonable adjustments to teaching and learning, assessment, professional experiences, course related work experience and other course activities to facilitate maximum participation by students with disabilities, carer responsibilities, and religious or cultural obligations in their courses.
For course specific information see the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Communication Inherent (Essential) Requirements Statement and the Faculty of Law Inherent (Essential) Requirements Statement.
Assumed knowledge
HSC English and computer literacy.
Year 12 adjustment factor scheme
To see a list of courses where HSC subjects provide adjustment factors, please refer to the Year 12 adjustment factors page.
Professional recognition
This course satisfies the requirements for admission to the Supreme Court of NSW as a lawyer, provided students complete a practical legal training program, such as the Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice (C11232).
Download a course guide
UTS: Handbook
See the Bachelor of Communication (Social and Political Sciences) Bachelor of Laws (Honours) in the UTS: Handbook for comprehensive course details.
Information for international students
Find out about support services, the Australian education system, accommodation and more to help you get the most out of your study at UTS.
Part of The Faculty of Law
