ObjectivesThe Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Laws combined degree will give you a sound understanding of the context in which the law operates in the business world. The course opens up specific opportunities in business law, perhaps the most prestigious and highly rewarded area of legal practice, and one in which a sound background in both business and legal studies can be so crucial. The Bachelor of Laws component of the course provides innovative and distinctive legal education, emphasises a case study approach and has a strong practical legal skills component. Studying commerce at Deakin allows you to gain a sound foundation in key business disciplines and offers you access to an array of specialist business courses, which give you opportunities in virtually every area of business and government, in Australia and overseas. The Faculty of Business and Law is responsible for this combined course which leads to the awards of Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws.
Entry requirementsStudents must meet the requirements for entry to both the Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce. Year 12 applicants must meet the prerequisite units 3 and 4 a study score of at least 35 in English (ESL) or 30 in any other English. Admission for non-school leavers will be based on Deakin University Law School Admissions Test (DULSAT) results GPA from Bachelor level and postgraduate studies from courses undertaken during or after 1999 and VTAC Pi form.
Academic titleBachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Laws
Course descriptionProfessional recognition
Deakin’s Bachelor of Laws is designed to satisfy the university component of the requirements to become a barrister and solicitor in Victoria set by the Council of Legal Education (COLE). In addition to completing an approved LLB degree, a person seeking admission is required to work for one year as a legal trainee, or to undertake a practical legal training course.
Deakin's Bachelor of Commerce can lead to accreditation with many professional bodies, such as the Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA) Program of CPA Australia, the Australian Computer Society (ACS), the Economics Society of Australia and the Australian Marketing Institute, providing you meet the specified requirements within the course.
Details are available from Faculty Enrolment Officers, who can assist you with course planning.
Fees and charges
Equivalent Full Time Student Load (EFTSL)
EFTSL is the standard annual full time load. Eight credit points is the standard full time load for one year of study.
Commonwealth supported place (CSP)
A Commonwealth supported place is one for which the university receives some government funding. As such, students enrolled in these places are required to contribute only part of the cost of their course. To be eligible for a Commonwealth supported place you must be an Australian citizen, or a New Zealand citizen or holder of a permanent visa who will be residing in Australia for the duration of your unit/s of study. All Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens and holders of a permanent visa will receive a Student Learning Entitlement (SLE). The SLE entitles a student to the equivalent of 7 years of full time study in a Commonwealth supported place.
* The "indicative annual course fee" cited has been provided as a guide only. It has been calculated on the basis of a typical enrolment of a student undertaking the course in 2009, and reflects the cost involved in undertaking a full-time quota of units within the specified discipline.
The actual fees charged by Deakin University will depend upon the discipline from which each individual unit is chosen, and may vary from the indicative course fee cited, particularly if units are chosen from a number of disciplines.
Please note that the fees per unit/credit point may increase annually due to rises in the cost of course delivery and service.
Deakin assumes no responsibility for persons relying on "indicative course fees" to calculate the total future cost of their course.
Career opportunities
This combined course offers unequalled career opportunities. As an alternative to practising as a barrister or solicitor, you may pursue a career in business and management in a wide range of organisations, government services, industrial relations, research, public administration, diplomatic service, legal aid, the media, law reform or teaching in universities. Broad career paths based on the study of selected commerce units enable job prospects ranging from being a professional accountant, IT and systems professional, economist, financial planner, human resources manager, manager, social and economic policy developer, international trade officer and marketing assistant/manager.
Course rules
This combined course is a 40-credit-point course. Students will undertake 16 credit points in the Bachelor of Commerce and 24 credit points in the Bachelor of Laws. Course requirements for both the Bachelor of Commerce (M300) and the Bachelor of Laws (M312) must be satisfied.
The 16 credit points studied within the Bachelor of Commerce component must include the following nine core units: MAA103, MAE101, MAE102, MAF101, MMM132, MSC120, MSQ171, MMH299 and MMK277. In addition students must complete a prescribed Commerce major sequence (excluding Commercial Law) and a minimum of 4 credit points at level 3 which must be Faculty of Business and Law units course grouped to a Faculty of Business and Law undergraduate degree.
Within the 24 credit points required in the LLB, 20 credit points are core. The remaining 4 credit points must be LLB electives and in addition, students are required to complete the prescribed Professional Experience and Dispute Resolution activities in order to be eligible to graduate.
All commencing students are required to successfully complete at least one wholly online unit.
See course entry for Bachelor of Commerce (M300) or Bachelor of Laws (M312).
Admission requirements - general
Deakin University offers admission to undergraduate courses through a number of Admission categories.
In all categories of admission, selection is based primarily on academic merit as indicated by an applicant's previous academic record.
For more information on the Deakin Admissions Policy visit The Guide.
Admission requirements - specific
Students must meet the requirements for entry to both the Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce. Year 12 applicants must meet the prerequisite units 3 and 4 a study score of at least 35 in English (ESL) or 30 in any other English. Admission for non-school leavers will be based on Deakin University Law School Admissions Test (DULSAT) results GPA from Bachelor level and postgraduate studies from courses undertaken during or after 1999 and VTAC Pi form.
Advanced standing - general
The University aims to provide students with as much credit as possible for approved prior study or informal learning which exceeds the normal entrance requirements for the course and is within the constraints of the course regulations. Students are required to complete a minimum of one-third of the course at Deakin University, or four credit points, whichever is the greater. In the case of certificates, including graduate certificates, a minimum of two credit points within the course must be completed at Deakin.
You can also refer to the Advanced Standing System which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree.