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Bachelor of Forensic Science Bachelor of Laws
This course is designed for those aiming to integrate scientific expertise with legal knowledge, preparing for careers in law enforcement, forensic laboratories or environmental agencies. You will gain a unique combination of a comprehensive legal education that meets the academic requirements for admission as a lawyer in NSW along with knowledge of biology, chemistry, crime scene investigation or digital forensics.
You will acquire a blend of knowledge in constitutional, civil, criminal, commercial, tort, and ethics law, alongside electives tailored to your scientific pursuits. You will develop the research, critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills that are essential for professional success. The course's teaching methods are practical and interactive, ensuring you learn through real-world scenarios and direct application of skills.
Majoring in biology, chemistry, crime scene investigation or digital forensics, students work in world-class forensic science facilities that have been modelled on operational labs. Simultaneously, they study the foundations of the law, including constitutional, civil, criminal, commercial, tort and ethics law, before choosing an elective path that complements their scientific interests.
Soft skills, including critical thinking and problem solving, are a key component of the degree. The Legal Futures and Technology major is also on offer in this course, offering students the chance to explore smart contracts, AI, blockchain and other technologies as they relate to future legal practice.
Graduates meet the academic requirements for admission to practise law in NSW and benefit from UTS's extensive partnerships with the federal and state police services, national and international forensic institutions, and government laboratories.
Innovation and Transdisciplinary program
Transdisciplinary Electives at UTS
Employers tell us the skills our graduates acquire from undertaking a Transdisciplinary Elective sets them apart from the crowd. That’s why we have embedded this program into every undergraduate degree.
All you need to do is choose the Elective that inspires you the most.
Transdisciplinary Electives integrate knowledge from multiple disciplines, allowing you to approach complex problems from a range of perspectives.
By combining methods and insights from various disciplines, transdisciplinary learning often leads to breakthrough ideas and creative innovations that may not be possible within the confines of a single discipline.
If you find yourself rapt by the world of innovation – you can pair your core degree with a Diploma in Innovation, graduating with two qualifications in the same timeframe.
In both instances, you’ll work on a real-world challenge presented by an industry partner organisation – partners who often create career pathways for our graduates.
* Excludes students concurrently enrolled in the Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation.
Study plan
To view the study plan please visit the UTS Handbook.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 positions in the police service, state and federal law enforcement agencies, government and private forensic or drug detection laboratories, customs, quarantine services, environmental protection agencies, pharmaceutical, chemical and analytical industries, DNA testing laboratories, medical diagnostic laboratories, hospitals or corporate multinationals providing forensic, medical or research services, digital forensic laboratories, scene of crime officers.
Course structure
To view the course structure please visit the UTS Handbook.Additional information
Course duration
The course duration is five years of full-time study.
The law component requires attendance of 10–15 hours of face-to-face classes a week; timetable constraints may require attendance at daytime and evening classes. The science component requires attendance of approximately 20–22 hours a week on campus.
On campus - WeeklyAdmission requirements
Admission requirements
Applicants must have completed an Australian Year 12 qualification, Australian Qualifications Framework Diploma, or equivalent Australian or overseas qualification at the required level.
The English proficiency requirement for international students or local applicants with international qualifications is: IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall with a writing score of 6.0; or TOEFL iBT: 79-93 overall with a writing score of 21; or AE5: Pass; or PTE: 58-64 with a writing score of 50; or C1A/C2P: 176-184 with a writing score of 169.
Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.
International studentsVisa requirement: To obtain a student visa to study in Australia, international students must enrol full time and on campus. Australian student visa regulations also require international students studying on student visas to complete the course within the standard full-time duration. Students can extend their courses only in exceptional circumstances.
Applicants must have completed an Australian Year 12 qualification, Australian Qualifications Framework Diploma, or equivalent Australian or overseas qualification at the required level.
Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.
Inherent requirements
Inherent requirements are academic and non-academic requirements that are essential for successfully completing a course at UTS. You can find the inherent requirements for your course via the inherent requirements directory.
ATAR and selection ranks
To find out further information regarding ATAR and selection ranks from previous applicants who received an offer to this course, please visit our Admissions Stats Tool
Assumed knowledge
English proficiency; Mathematics; and Science.
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.
Scholarships and prizes
Scholarships
For Bachelor of Forensic Science Bachelor of Laws students
For Law and Science and Mathematics students
- Advanced Battery Technology
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Quantum Biotechnology
- ARC Linkage Project in digital-twin driven prognostics for the mining industry
- Crescent Leadership Scholarship
- Ericsson Technology Scholarship
- Global Exchange Scholarship
- International Research Training Program Scholarship (IRTP)
- Mentoring of Women in Engineering and IT Scholarship
- RACE for 2030 CRC Industry PhD Scholarship
- Rosemary Johnston HDR Scholarship
- Ross Milbourne Elite Athlete Scholarship
- Scape Accommodation Scholarship
- Telstra Enterprise Certitude Scholarship
- Thrive: Next Generation Graduates - PhD – Social Science and Policy
- UTS Diploma to Degree Pathway Scholarship
- UTS Diploma to Degree Scholarship for High School Graduates
- UTS Housing Resident Networker Scholarship
- UTS Scholarship for European Undergraduate Students
- UTS Undergraduate Tuition Fee Scholarship
- UTS-Vietnam Government Project 89 PhD Scholarship
- Wikipedia and Australian history and events
Only for international students
- Australia Awards Scholarships (Australian Government Scholarships)
- Diploma to Degree Scholarship
- Scholarship for Gaokao Students from People’s Republic of China
- Undergraduate Academic Excellence International Scholarship
- UTS Academic Excellence International Scholarship
- UTS Academic Merit International Scholarship
- UTS Academic Merit International Scholarship – South Asia
- UTS Chinese Undergraduate Tuition Fee Scholarship
- UTS College to UTS Pathways Scholarship
- UTS Diploma to Degree Pathway Scholarship (China)
- UTS GCE A Level and International Baccalaureate (IB) Scholarship
- UTS Humanitarian Scholarship
- UTS MACC Undergraduate Scholarship
- UTS Study Abroad Excellence Scholarship
- UTS Vice-Chancellor’s International Undergraduate Scholarship
For all domestic students
- Elite Athlete Program
- Endeavour Cheung Kong Student Exchange Program Scholarships
- Equal Access Scholarship (Institution Equity Scholarship)
- Law Dean’s Scholarship
- Lawrence Vidoni Memorial Scholarship
- New Colombo Plan Mobility Program
- New Colombo Plan Scholarships Program
- Ross Milbourne Research Scholarship in Economics
- Science Dean's Scholarship
- Science Dean’s Scholarship for Women
- Tertiary Access Payment (TAP)
- The Gradwell Brungs Scholarship
- The Wanago Access Scholarship for Young Women
- UTS Science High Achiever’s Scholarship
- Vice-Chancellor's Merit Scholarship
- Vice-Chancellor's Outstanding Achievement Scholarship
Only for Aboriginal Australian or Torres Strait Islander students
- Bruce and Carol Kendall Undergraduate Memorial Scholarship
- Indigenous Education Costs Scholarship
- Indigenous Relocation and Accommodation Scholarship
- Jumbunna Accommodation Scholarship
- Jumbunna Commencement Scholarship
- Jumbunna Honours Scholarship
- LEVO Indigenous Technology Scholarship
- Science Indigenous Scholarship
- The GO Foundation Indigenous Scholarship
- Transgrid Indigenous Scholarship for Engineering and Information Technology
- UTS Council Indigenous Scholarship
Prizes and awards
For Law and Science and Mathematics students
- Agilent Technologies Prize for Most Competent Analytical Chemist
- AJ Park Prize
- Alan Chappel Engineering Innovation Prize
- Allens Prize
- Ashurst Litigation Prize
- Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association Prize
- Australian Institute of Physics Prize
- Australian Insurance Law Association Prize
- Australian Society for Parasitology Prize
- Australian Steel Institute (ASI) Undergraduate Design Award
- Banking Law Prize
- Best Capstone Poster Prize
- Biotechnology Prize
- Blackstone Waterhouse Prize
- China Books Prize
- City of Sydney Law Society Practical Legal Training Award
- Clyde & Co Prize
- Colin Field Prize
- CommBank & Telstra UTS Best Venture Prize
- Competition Law Prize
- CSL (Commonwealth Serum Laboratories) Prize
- CSL Transfusion Science Essay / Debate Prize
- Dame Mary Gilmore Memorial Prize in Journalism
- David & Catherine Barker Mooting Prize
- David Toolan Memorial Prize
- Dean's Merit List for Academic Excellence (Business)
- Dean’s Capstone Presentation Prize
- Des Thompson Memorial Prize
- Dominic Cheng Memorial Award for Aquatic Ecology
- dwp Design Excellence Prize
- Engineering Undergraduate Achievement Prize
- Ernst & Young Prize
- Fragar Prize in Environmental Planning and Development Law
- Gareth Ivory Memorial Prize in Journalism
- George J Haggarty Civil Engineering Prize
- Guy Morrison Prize for Excellence
- Harmers Workplace Lawyers Prize for Employment Law
- Harmers Workplace Lawyers Prize for Labour Law
- Helio Supply Co. Prize
- Henry Davis York Prize
- Henry Davis York Prize
- Industrial Relations Society of NSW Prize for Excellence in Industrial Relations Undergraduate Study
- Information Technology Undergraduate Achievement Prize
- Jack Kaganer Prize
- King & Wood Mallesons Award
- King Living Foundation 1st Year Achievement Prize
- Lance Jolly Prize
- Law Partners Personal Injury Lawyers Prize
- Law Society of New South Wales Prize
- Legal Futures & Technology Major Law Prize
- Loctite Australia Prize
- M Y Ali Prize in Anatomical Pathology
- Materials Australia Prize
- Maurice Blackburn Prize
- Michael Whitbread Prize
- MinterEllison Prize
- Narelle Smith Memorial Prize
- New South Wales Bar Association Prize
- New South Wales Police Force Prize
- Norton Rose Fulbright Prize
- Nuplex Prize in Polymer Technology
- Peter Egri Memorial Prize
- Philippa Williams Ethics and Justice Prize
- R F G MacMillan Award
- Refugee Law and Practice Prize
- Robert Greenwood QC Memorial Prize
- Robert K Murphy Chemistry Prize
- Robert K Murphy Research Project Prize
- Royal Australian Chemical Institute Undergraduate Prize for Academic Excellence in Analytical Chemistry
- Sam Huxham Memorial Prize
- Shimadzu Outstanding Chemist Prize
- SIEMENS ‘CONTROL SYSTEMS’ PRIZE
- Sir Owen Dixon Chambers Prize
- Stanton Coalstad Prize
- Teachers Mutual Bank Rural Student Placement Prize
- The Carla Zampatti Foundation Design Award
- The Hon Michael Kirby – Voiceless Prize for Animal Law
- The Hon. Helen Sham-Ho Law Undergraduate Prize
- The Lawrie Fitzgerald Memorial Prize in Innovation and Creativity
- The Sanjin Mujic Memorial Award
- The Toby’s Estate Closed Loop Design Prize
- The Victor E Shalala Memorial Achievement Award
- Thomson Reuters Prize for Advanced Commercial Law
- Thomson Reuters Prize for Media Law
- Trevor Buchner Design Prize
- UTS Anthology Writing Prize
- UTS Insearch International Student Prize in Accounting
- UTS Insearch International Student Prize in Business
- UTS Insearch International Student Prize in International Business
- Veronica Pike Prize
- Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation Regional Journalism Prize
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 (PLT) program, such as the Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice (C11232).
Graduates of the Bachelor of Forensic Science are eligible for membership of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute and the Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society.
Download a course guide
UTS: Handbook
See the Bachelor of Forensic Science Bachelor of Laws 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
