Study plan

In this six year degree, candidates spend the first three years undertaking a combination of engineering and law units of study to a value of 48 credit points in each year. In the fourth year, you will take units of study offered by the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies only, completing an engineering specialisation of your choice. You may undertake the degree in any engineering stream across aerospace, chemical and biomolecular, civil, electrical, mechanical, or mechatronic engineering. The name of your stream will appear on your testamur. In the fifth year, students take a fixed curriculum, comprising units of study in a range of areas of law including administrative law, federal constitutional law, and property and commercial law. The sixth year will allow you to choose elective units of study from the Sydney Law School allowing you to specialise in a particular area of the law.

Progression rules

Candidates in a combined law program must successfully complete LAWS1006 Foundations of Law before enrolling in any other Bachelor of Laws units of study. Candidates are required to complete the Bachelor of Laws units of study in the order listed in the Sydney Law School Undergraduate Table. Except with permission of the Dean of the Sydney Law School, candidates must complete the requirements for the Bachelor of Engineering before proceeding to Year Five of the Bachelor of Laws. Students are required to attend all lectures, tutorials and performance-related activities prescribed for their units of study.

What is a major?

The Bachelor of Engineering does not have majors, but all students will complete core and elective units of study specific to their engineering specialisation.

What is an elective?

An elective is a unit of study within a degree, usually an option within a course. Electives allow more detailed study of a particular subject. Electives can be selected from the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies and the Sydney Law School. Engineering electives are often recommended within an engineering stream as they are directly related to, or build a more comprehensive understanding of content taught in core units of study within the stream. Each stream will also list acceptable alternative units of study, and free electives, providing a flexible study plan. Sydney Law School offers one of Australia's most diverse undergraduate elective programs in law. Students must complete eight elective units of study in their final year. A maximum of 42 credit points are taken from Table 1, and a minimum of 6 credit points are taken from Table 2 electives.

Course opportunities

Eligible students may apply to take part in an international exchange program for one or two semesters. Study undertaken at a partner institution is counted towards the award of the degree.

Graduate opportunities

The Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies enjoys strong professional and research links with Australian and global industry, affording unparalleled opportunities for engineering graduates. Graduates of the combined course who wish to become legal practitioners complete an accredited program of practical legal training following completion of award requirements. Our graduates are proficient in research and inquiry, and demonstrate personal and intellectual autonomy, and ethical, social and professional understanding, qualities sought after by leading employers all over the world.

Course accreditation

The Sydney Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and Sydney Juris Doctor (JD) are accredited by the Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB) and meets the academic requirements to practise law in the State of New South Wales. In relation to professional recognition and course accreditation for interstate and overseas, please see our detailed information sydney.edu.au/law/fstudent/jd/professional_recognition.shtml

Further study

After completing the Bachelor of Engineering, further study is available through the Graduate School of Engineering and Information Technologies (GSE) http://www.eng.usyd.edu.au/gse/index.shtml
The GSE provides a link between postgraduate students in the different engineering streams and offers a welcoming and supportive environment in which to undertake challenging coursework programs and research. The faculty's postgraduate coursework and research are focused on industrial applications supported by strong fundamental research programs run by internationally recognised academics. Sydney Law School is an international leader in postgraduate legal education and, in addition to the Master of Laws, offers master's degrees and graduate diplomas in 16 specialist areas. These include: taxation; business; commercial and corporate law; labour relations; health; the environment; international law; criminology and jurisprudence.

About honours

Honours is available to meritorious candidates in all streams of the Bachelor of Engineering who complete an alternative set of units of study in the final year of the course. Admission to the honours year is by permission of the academic coordinator after the completion of third year. Honours in the Bachelor of Laws is also integrated in the final year of the course and students eligible to undertake honours will enrol in two specified six credit point units of study and undertake a dissertation.

Admission requirements

Admission to this course is on the basis of a secondary school leaving qualification such as the NSW Higher School Certificate (including national and international equivalents), tertiary study or an approved preparation program. English language requirements must be met where these are not demonstrated by sufficient qualifications taught in English. Special admission pathways are open for educationally disadvantaged applicants and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Applicants are ranked by merit and offers for available places are issued according to the ranking.

If you do not obtain the ATAR cut-off into Combined Law at Sydney you may like to consider the option of transferring. You can enrol in another degree, in any subject and at any university, including Sydney, and once you near the completion of your first year, you apply through UAC for a transfer place into Combined Law.

Admission requirements for transferring students are based on your ATAR (50 per cent) and Tertiary Grade Point Average (50 per cent), or the Tertiary Grade Point Average (100%), depending which is higher. Entry to Combined Law is extremely competitive and experience shows that as a guide an ATAR above 96 and/or a Tertiary Grade Point Average at a Distinction level are necessary for a competitive application to transfer into Combined Law.

Assumed knowledge

HSC Mathematics Extension 1, Physics and Chemistry. If you attempt engineering without this prior level of knowledge you may experience difficulty, so you are strongly advised to undertake an appropriate bridging course.

Domestic students

How to apply

Applications for the University's undergraduate courses are made though the Universities Admission Centre (UAC). On-time applications for the March Semester close on the last working day of September. On-time applications for the July Semester close in May. Please note: not all courses are offered in the July semester intake.

International students

How to apply

Overseas applicants may apply (i) directly to the University's International Office, (ii) through a University overseas representative (education agent), or (iii) through the Universities Admissions Centre, for students applying on the basis of a current Australian Year 12 secondary school examination, or studying either an International Baccalaureate in Australia or a New Zealand Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) Level 3.

Domestic students

Indicative Undergraduate Student Contribution Amount

This student contribution amount for a Commonwealth Supported Place is an indication only of the fees that are payable by you in the calendar year you commence your course, commencing in 2013 for a standard annual full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). The exact student contribution that you pay will depend on the specific units of study in which you ultimately enrol. If you are a Commonwealth supported student and was enrolled in a University course before 1 January 2012 your student contribution may differ.

For further information about how to calculate your specific total student contribution, please refer to the University's Future Students' website.

Annual review

Importantly, student contribution amounts are subject to annual review by the University, and are likely to increase each year of your period of study (subject to a Commonwealth specified cap), effective at the start of each calendar year.

Additional incidental fees

For some courses there are incidental fees additional to the student contribution. Some of those fees are significant, for example, faculty-specific materials, tools, protected clothing, and equipment. For further information about these additional incidental fees, please visit the University's Future Students' website.

Potential for inaccuracy

Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to include correct and up to date information here, you are also advised to consult directly with the Student Centre for domestic students or the International Office for international students so that they can provide you with specific and up to date information about those fees.

International students

Indicative international tuition fees for undergraduate students

This international tuition fee is an indication only of the fees that are payable by you in the calendar year you commence your course, commencing in 2013, for a standard annual full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). The exact tuition fees that you pay will depend on the specific units of study in which you ultimately enrol.

For further information about how to calculate your specific total tuition fees, please refer to the University's Future Students' website.

Annual review

Importantly, tuition fees are subject to annual review, and are likely to increase each year of your period of study, effective at the start of each calendar year.

Additional incidental fees and health insurance

For some courses there are incidental fees additional to the tuition fees. Some of those fees are significant, for example, faculty-specific materials, tools, protected clothing, and equipment. For further information about these additional incidental fees, please visit the University's Future Students' website.

In addition to the fees indicated here for the course of study, International Students studying on an Australian Student Visa must have appropriate health insurance for the duration of their studies on a Student Visa through an approved provider of the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) scheme. This is a requirement of the Australian Government, unless otherwise exempted by the Government.

Potential for inaccuracy

Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to include correct and up to date information here, you are also advised to consult directly with the Student Centre for domestic students or the International Office for international students so that they can provide you with specific and up to date information about those fees.