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Bachelor of Laws

Course resolutions

The course resolutions detailed in this page apply to all courses included in the table below under section 1 (course codes).

These resolutions must be read in conjunction with applicable University By-laws, Rules and policies including (but not limited to) the University of Sydney (Coursework) Rule 2014 (the 'Coursework Rule'), the Coursework Policy 2021 (the 'Coursework Policy'), the Learning and Teaching Policy 2019, the Resolutions of the Faculty, University of Sydney (Student Academic Appeals) Rule 2021, the Academic Integrity Policy 2022 and the Academic Integrity Procedures 2022. Current versions of all policies are available from the Policy
Register: http://www.sydney.edu.au/policies

1 Course codes

Code Course title
BGLAWLAW-01 Bachelor of Laws

2 Attendance pattern

The attendance pattern for this course is full time only.

3 Admission to candidature

Admission to this course is available through a combined degree program only. The degrees combined with the Bachelor of Laws are:

(a) Bachelor of Arts

(b) Bachelor of Commerce

(c) Bachelor of Economics

(d) Bachelor of Engineering

(e) Bachelor of Science

4 Requirements for the pass degree

(1) The units of study that may be taken for the course are set out in the Sydney Law School Undergraduate Table.

(2) To qualify for the award of the pass degree, a candidate must successfully complete 144 credit points taken from the Sydney Law School Undergraduate Table, comprising:

(a) 102 credit points of core units of study (including specified units of study worth 0 credit points); and

(b) 42 credit points of elective units of study, of which a maximum of 36 credit points are taken from Part 1 and a minimum of 6 credit points are taken from Part 2.

(3) Students may apply to take up to a maximum of 24 credit points of LAWS6000/JURS6000 units of study as elective units of study.

(a) enrolment in LAWS6000/JURS6000 units of study will be subject to availability and any unit pre-requisites or assumed knowledge, which may include relevant industry experience or prior specialist study.

(b) enrolment in LAWS6000/JURS6000 units is only permitted after a candidate has completed 96 credit points towards the Bachelor of Laws.

(c) students may only enrol in LAWS6000/JURS6000 units listed in the Bachelor of Laws Elective units of study Table.

(4) A candidate may substitute one core unit of study with one elective unit of study in each semester of their penultimate year. Where such a replacement has occurred, a candidate must enrol in the deferred core unit(s) in their final year of the program. A candidate may not enrol in more than two electives in total in their penultimate year.

5 Requirements for the Honours degree

(1) Honours in the Bachelor of Laws is available to meritorious students who complete an alternative set of units of study in the final year of the program. Admission requires a minimum WAM of at least 75 in core Law units of study completed to that point, with the exception of the unit of study Foundations of Law. Results in elective units will not be included in the WAM. Places in the Honours program are limited by available resources and entry is competitive. A higher WAM may be necessary for entry in any given year.

(2) To qualify for the award of the Honours degree, a candidate must successfully complete 144 credit points taken from the Sydney Law School Undergraduate Table, comprising:

(a) 102 credit points of core units of study (including specified units of study worth 0 credit points); and

(b) 30 credit points of elective units of study, of which a maximum of 24 credit points are taken from Part 1 and a minimum of 6 credit points are taken from Part 2; and

(c) 12 credit points of Honours dissertation units of study.

(3) Students may apply to take up to a maximum of 24 credit points of LAWS6000/JURS6000 units of study as elective units of study.

(a) enrolment in LAWS6000/JURS6000 units of study will be subject to availability and any unit pre-requisites or assumed knowledge, which may include relevant industry experience or prior specialist study.

(b) enrolment in LAWS6000/JURS6000 units is only permitted after a candidate has completed 96 credit points towards the Bachelor of Laws.

(c) students may only enrol in LAWS6000/JURS6000 units listed in the Bachelor of Laws Elective units of study Table.

(4) The award of Honours also requires the completion of the combined degree in the standard minimum full time duration for that combined program. The grade of Honours will be determined by the candidate's Honours WAM (HWAM).

(5) The HWAM is calculated from a minimum of 96 credit points of Law units of study, including all core and elective units of study undertaken at the University of Sydney, with the exception of the unit of study Foundations of Law. The Honours units carry a weighting of two while all other units carry a weighting of one.

6 Award of the degree

(1) The Bachelor of Laws is awarded in the grades of either Pass or Honours. The Honours degree is awarded in either First Class or Second Class, according to the Coursework Policy. Third Class will not be awarded.

(2) Candidates in the Honours program who do not meet the requirements of the award of Honours, but who in all other respects have satisfied the requirements for the degree, will be awarded the pass degree.

(3) Each semester Pass and Honours graduands will be ranked together by WAM to determine a graduation merit ranking. This ranking is not recorded on testamurs or transcripts.

7 University medal

A candidate who qualifies for first class honours may be awarded a University medal. The medal is awarded at the discretion of the School Board on the recommendation of the School Honours Committee to the highest achieving candidate(s) whose work is of outstanding merit.

8 Cross-institutional study

In addition to the provisions for cross-institutional study described in the resolutions of the University of Sydney Law School, cross-institutional study is only available under the following terms:

(a) Candidates are not permitted to undertake any coreunit or Part 2 elective (Jurisprudence) on a cross-institutional basis;

(b) Candidates must have completed a minimum of 48 credit points towards the Bachelor of Laws before undertaking any cross-institutional study;

(c) Candidates can receive a maximum of 24 credit point for cross-institutional study;

(d) Candidates must satisfy the usual progression rules and maximum enrolment requirements;

(e) The proposed cross-institutional unit must be offered within another Bachelor of Laws or Juris Doctor or Master of Laws program at a law school approved by Sydney Law School;

(f) Candidates who apply in their penultimate year cannot enrol in more than 12 credit points of cross-institutional study in that year;

(g) Candidates who apply in their penultimate year cannot enrol in a cross-institutional unit that is offered within a Masters of Laws program;

(h) Candidates must complete 96 credit points of the Bachelor of Laws at the University of Sydney Law School, and therefore eligibility for cross-institutional study depends on the amount of credit for previous study and international exchange.

(2) Cross-institutional study is regarded as a form of credit for the purposes of 10 below.

(3) The resolutions on cross-institutional study apply to study on exchange or study abroad that is undertaken during the final year of the degree.

9 Suspension, discontinuation and lapse of candidature

(1) Candidates are entitled to suspend their law candidature in accordance with Section 57 of the Coursework Policy.

(2) Further suspension must be approved by the Associate Dean and will only be approved in cases of serious illness or misadventure.

10 Credit

(1) The following credit provisions apply to the Bachelor of Laws only. Credit for non-law units is covered by the resolutions for the degree combined with the Bachelor of Laws.

(2) Candidates must complete 96 credit points at the University of Sydney Law School. A candidate may be granted a maximum of 48 credit points towards the requirements of the Bachelor of Laws.

(3) These credit provisions apply to credit for previous study, cross-institutional study and units of study undertaken on international exchange. Credit is available on the following terms;

(a) Specific credit will only be granted for equivalent core units of study undertaken as part of a Bachelor of Laws degree at an approved Australian law school.

(b) A maximum of 24 credit points of non-specific credit may be granted for elective units (excluding the Jurisprudence requirement) undertaken as part of a Bachelor of Laws degree or equivalent award course at a law school approved by Sydney Law School.

(c) A candidate may be granted credit for law units of study which have similar assessment and workload requirements to units offered by the School.

(d) A candidate may not be granted credit for units of study:

(i) for which the result is Terminating Pass, Conceded Pass or equivalent; or

(ii) which have been relied upon to qualify for the award of another degree or qualification.

11 Transitional provisions

(1) These resolutions apply to candidates who commenced their candidature on or after 1 January 2021 and students who commenced their candidature prior to 1 January 2021 who elect to proceed under these resolutions.

(2) All students who commenced their candidature prior to 1 January 2021 may complete the requirements in accordance with the resolutions in force at the time of their commencement, with the exception of Clause 6(1) which will apply to all continuing students for 1 January 2023