Bachelor of Forensic Science Bachelor of Laws

In this combined degree, students learn to use science as a tool to enforce the law or to prepare for professional and specialist work in the world of forensic science.

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.

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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.

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Study plan

The program shown is for a full-time student who has chosen one of the forensic science majors and law options.

All options shown are law options and are to be drawn from those on offer in CBK90922.

Students wishing to study the major MAJ09443 Legal Futures and Technology need to study 76106 Technology Law, Policy and Ethics (Capstone 1) in the Autumn session of their final year and 76107 Applied Project in Law, Innovation and Technology (Capstone 2) in their final Spring session.

Please make a selection:

First year

Autumn session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Foundations of Law	70102	8
Ethics Law and Justice	70103	6
Principles of Forensic Science	65242	6
Design, Data, and Decisions	33116	6

Spring session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Forensic Statistics	35255	6
Torts	70311	8
Criminal Law and Procedure	70114	8
Forensic Imaging	65312	6

Second year

Autumn session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Contracts	70211	8
Criminalistics	65316	6
Digital Trace and Identity	65325	6
Network Fundamentals	41092	6

Spring session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Australian Constitutional Law	70616	8
Civil Practice	70104	6
Programming Fundamentals	48023	6
Evidence	70109	6

Third year

Autumn session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Introduction to Property and Commercial Law	70327	6
Cybersecurity	48730	6
Crime Scene Investigation	65342	6
Administrative Law	70617	8

Spring session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Real Property	70317	8
Equity and Trusts	70517	8
Digital and Cyber Crime	65326	6

Fourth year

Autumn session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Remedies	71116	6
Corporate Law	70417	8
Cryptography	41900	6

Spring session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Digital Forensics	48436	6
Public International Law	70108	6
Select 6 credit points of options:		6
Select 6 credit points from the following:		6
Gender and Law	76081	6
Judgment and the Rule of Law	76057	6
Animal Law and Policy in Australia	76033	6
Jurisprudence	76008	6
Wickedness and Vice	78039	6
Law and Literature	76902	6
Criminology	76012	6
Indigenous Peoples and the Law	76068	6

Fifth year

Autumn session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Select 24 credit points of options:		24

Spring session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Forensic Intelligence	65313	6
Complex Cases	65314	6
Web Monitoring and Investigations	65327	6

Honours

Students can graduate with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) if they complete subjects 76090 Research Methodology and 76040 Research Thesis within the course. The degree may be awarded with first or second class honours, which does not require an additional honours year. The rules concerning the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) can be found in undergraduate course information.

Students who meet these criteria for honours are eligible for transfer into the appropriate undergraduate honours exit course on completion of all coursework and occurs just prior to graduation.

Students who undertake the Legal Futures and Technology major and who meet the criteria for honours can choose to undertake honours as part of their degree.

The Bachelor of Forensic Science (Honours) (C09100) is available to eligible students from 2020 with an additional one year of full-time study.

First year

Autumn session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Foundations of Law	70102	8
Ethics Law and Justice	70103	6
Principles of Forensic Science	65242	6
Chemistry 1	65111	6

Spring session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Chemistry 2	65212	6
Torts	70311	8
Criminal Law and Procedure	70114	8
Forensic Imaging	65312	6

Second year

Autumn session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Contracts	70211	8
Cell Biology and Genetics	91161	6
Design, Data, and Decisions	33116	6
Analytical Chemistry 1	65306	6

Spring session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Australian Constitutional Law	70616	8
Civil Practice	70104	6
Forensic Statistics	35255	6
Evidence	70109	6

Third year

Autumn session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Introduction to Property and Commercial Law	70327	6
Crime Scene Investigation	65342	6
Criminalistics	65316	6
Administrative Law	70617	8

Spring session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Real Property	70317	8
Equity and Trusts	70517	8
Select 6 credit points of options:		6

Fourth year

Autumn session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Remedies	71116	6
Corporate Law	70417	8
Biological Criminalistics	65319	6

Spring session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Homicide and Human Remains Investigation	65321	6
Public International Law	70108	6
Select 6 credit points from the following:		6
Gender and Law	76081	6
Judgment and the Rule of Law	76057	6
Animal Law and Policy in Australia	76033	6
Jurisprudence	76008	6
Wickedness and Vice	78039	6
Law and Literature	76902	6
Criminology	76012	6
Indigenous Peoples and the Law	76068	6
Major Scene Investigation	65322	6

Fifth year

Autumn session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Select 24 credit points of options:		24

Spring session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Forensic Intelligence	65313	6
Complex Cases	65314	6
Advanced Imaging and Specialist Recovery	65323	6

First year

Autumn session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Foundations of Law	70102	8
Ethics Law and Justice	70103	6
Principles of Forensic Science	65242	6
Chemistry 1	65111	6

Spring session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Forensic Imaging	65312	6
Torts	70311	8
Criminal Law and Procedure	70114	8

Second year

January Session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Chemistry 2	65212	6

Autumn session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Contracts	70211	8
Crime Scene Investigation	65342	6
Design, Data, and Decisions	33116	6

Spring session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Australian Constitutional Law	70616	8
Civil Practice	70104	6
Cell Biology and Genetics	91161	6
Evidence	70109	6

Third year

Autumn session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Introduction to Property and Commercial Law	70327	6
General Microbiology	91314	6
Administrative Law	70617	8

Spring session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Real Property	70317	8
Forensic Statistics	35255	6
Equity and Trusts	70517	8
Select 6 credit points of options:		6

Fourth year

Autumn session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Remedies	71116	6
Corporate Law	70417	8
Criminalistics	65316	6

Spring session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Public International Law	70108	6
Molecular Biology	91132	6
DNA Profiling	91137	6
Select 6 credit points from the following:		6
Gender and Law	76081	6
Judgment and the Rule of Law	76057	6
Animal Law and Policy in Australia	76033	6
Jurisprudence	76008	6
Wickedness and Vice	78039	6
Law and Literature	76902	6
Criminology	76012	6
Indigenous Peoples and the Law	76068	6

Fifth year

Autumn session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Select 24 credit points of options:		24

Spring session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Forensic Intelligence	65313	6
Complex Cases	65314	6
Forensic Genotyping Technologies	65318	6
Human Anatomy and Physiology	91400	6

First year

Autumn session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Foundations of Law	70102	8
Ethics Law and Justice	70103	6
Principles of Forensic Science	65242	6
Chemistry 1	65111	6

Spring session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Forensic Imaging	65312	6
Torts	70311	8
Criminal Law and Procedure	70114	8
Chemistry 2	65212	6

Second year

Autumn session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Contracts	70211	8
Crime Scene Investigation	65342	6
Organic Chemistry 1	65202	6
Design, Data, and Decisions	33116	6

Spring session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Australian Constitutional Law	70616	8
Civil Practice	70104	6
Forensic Statistics	35255	6
Evidence	70109	6

Third year

Autumn session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Introduction to Property and Commercial Law	70327	6
Criminalistics	65316	6
Analytical Chemistry 1	65306	6
Administrative Law	70617	8

Spring session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Real Property	70317	8
Equity and Trusts	70517	8
Organic Chemistry 2	65508	6

Fourth year

Autumn session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Remedies	71116	6
Corporate Law	70417	8
Select 6 credit points of options:		6

Spring session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Analytical Chemistry 2	65409	6
Chemical Criminalistics	65544	6
Public International Law	70108	6
Select 6 credit points from the following:		6
Gender and Law	76081	6
Judgment and the Rule of Law	76057	6
Animal Law and Policy in Australia	76033	6
Jurisprudence	76008	6
Wickedness and Vice	78039	6
Law and Literature	76902	6
Criminology	76012	6
Indigenous Peoples and the Law	76068	6

Fifth year

Autumn session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Select 24 credit points of options:		24

Spring session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Forensic Intelligence	65313	6
Complex Cases	65314	6
Select 6 credit points from the following:		6
Inorganic Chemistry 1	65411	6
Human Anatomy and Physiology	91400	6

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

Course structure explained

The course comprises a total of 240 credit points and allows students to graduate with the separate degrees of Bachelor of Forensic Science (BForSc) and Bachelor of Laws (LLB). 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
30 credit points of law options, including either:
- 30 credit points of law options, or
- 30 credit points of legal futures and technology options
a 6-credit-point legal theory option.

The forensic science component comprises 42 credit points of core subjects and a 54-credit-point major choice taken from one of the four specified majors representing different forensic science disciplines.

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
STM91181 Core subjects (Forensic Science Law)	42
CBK91230 Major choice (Forensic Science)	54
STM90691 Law stream	144
Total	240

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.

Full time, on campus

Admission 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 students

Visa 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.

Check to see if there are additional admission requirements for this course.

Additional information relating to this course, including the ATAR profile of domestic students who commenced this course in Autumn 2022, is located under UTS' admissions requirements, alongside information relating to the commencing student cohort who were enrolled in this course past the Autumn 2022 census date.
If you don't meet the admission requirements for this course, there may be alternative pathways to help you gain admission.

Inherent 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 Law Inherent (Essential) Requirements Statement.

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 - 2 students

Only for international students

For all domestic students

Only for Aboriginal Australian or Torres Strait Islander students

Prizes and awards

For Law and Science - 2 students

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

Law course guides

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

Domestic students

Before you apply

Here are a few important things for you to check out before you apply:

admission requirements for this course.
These can be found on the overview tab and there may also be additional entry requirements
required levels of English proficiency for the course you're interested in.
recognition of prior learning guidelines if you've undertaken previous study that might be credited towards your course at UTS.

How to apply

Domestic applicants can apply via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) (opens an external site)

UAC code(s): 609068 (Autumn session)

Make a note of the relevant UAC code before starting the UAC application.

Intake

Autumn Session 2025

Important dates

NOVEMBER 2024
1	Closing date for change of preferences (November Round 1)
8	UAC offers released (November Round 1)
14	Closing date for change of preferences (November Round 2)
21	UAC offers released (November Round 2)
28	Closing date for change of preferences (December Round 1)

DECEMBER 2024
5	UAC offers released (December Round 1)
18	UTS Info Day
18	Closing date for change of preferences (December Round 2)
23	UAC offers released (December Round 2)

JANUARY 2025
2	Closing date for change of preferences (January Round 1)
9	UAC offers released (January Round 1)
16	Closing date for change of preferences (January Round 2)
23	UAC offers released (January Round 2)
30	Closing date for change of preferences (February Round 1)

FEBRUARY 2025
3 - 14	Autumn session orientation
6	UAC offers released (February Round 1)
7	Closing date for change of preferences (February Round 2)
13	UAC offers released (February Round 2)
17	Autumn session commences (main calendar)
27	Closing date for change of preferences (March Round 1)

MARCH 2025
3	Last day to enrol for Autumn session
6	UAC offers released (March Round 1)
20	Autumn census date – last day to withdraw from subjects or apply for leave of absence

Need more information?

Ask UTS

Scholarships, prizes and awards

Scholarships

For Bachelor of Forensic Science Bachelor of Laws students

For Law and Science - 2 students

Only for international students

For all domestic students

Only for Aboriginal Australian or Torres Strait Islander students

Prizes and awards

For Law and Science - 2 students

International students

Before you apply

Here are a few important things for you to check out before you apply:

admission requirements for this course.
These can be found on the overview tab and there may also be additional entry requirements.
required levels of English proficiency for the course you’re interested in.
recognition of prior learning guidelines if you’ve undertaken previous study that might be credited towards your course at UTS.

You can meet an international student advisor at one of our events worldwide to ask questions and submit an application.

Important dates

Visit the UTS Handbook for full academic dates. Visit essential information for international students for the application closing dates.

How to apply

International applicants can apply to study through UTS International.

International applicants who are currently doing:

an Australian Year 12 qualification in or outside Australia
an International Baccalaureate, or
a New Zealand National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) Level 3

can apply through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) (opens external site).