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Bachelor of Science and 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

These resolutions must also be read in conjunction with the course resolutions for the singular Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Laws.

1 Course codes

Code Course title
BPSCILAW-02 Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Laws

2 Attendance pattern

The attendance pattern for this course is full time only.

3 Streams

(1) The Bachelor of Science in this combined degree is available in the following streams:

(a) Dalyell

(2) Completion of streams is not a requirement of the Bachelor of Science. The requirements for the completion of each stream are as specified in Table A for Science or, in the case of the Dalyell stream, in Table D of the Shared Pool for Undergraduate Degrees and Part 6 of these resolutions.

4 Admission to candidature

(1) Admission to this course is available 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. 

(a) English language requirements must be met where these are not demonstrated by sufficient qualifications taught in English. 

(b) Special admission pathways are open for educationally disadvantaged applicants and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants.

(c) Applicants are ranked by merit and offers for available places are issued according to the ranking. Details of admission requirements are found in the Coursework Rule and the Coursework Policy.

(2) Admission to the Dalyell Stream requires achievement of a minimum tertiary admission rank (ATAR) set by joint agreement of all the faculties and University schools administering degrees offering the Dalyell Stream, or equivalent.

5 Cross-faculty management

(1) Students in this course will be under the general supervision of the Faculty of Science until the end of the semester in which they successfully complete requirements for the Bachelor of Science. They will then be under the general supervision of the University of Sydney Law School.

(2) The Faculty of Science and the Sydney Law School shall jointly exercise authority in any matter concerned with this course not otherwise dealt with in these resolutions.

6 Requirements for award

(1) The units of study that may be taken for the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Laws are set out in:

(a) Table A for the Bachelor of Science; and

(b) the University of Sydney Law School Undergraduate Table; and

(c) Table S from the Shared Pool for Undergraduate Degrees; and

(d) Table O of the Shared Pool for Undergraduate Degrees.

(e) For students enrolled in the Dalyell Stream, Table D of the Shared Pool for Undergraduate Degrees.

(2) To qualify for the award of the combined degree, a student must complete 240 credit points of units of study, comprising:

(a) A major (48 credit points of units of study) from Table A for the Bachelor of Science as set out in Section 7 below; and

(b) Science Degree Core: 12 credit points of units of study as set out in Table A Degree Core; and 12 credit points of 1000-level units of study as set out in Table A (excluding units present in Table A Degree Core); units used to meet the Degree Core requirement can also be used to meet the requirements for major(s) or minor(s); and 

(c)  For students not enrolled in the Dalyell Stream, a minimum of 6 credit points of units of study in the Open Learning Environment as specified in Table O.

(d) For students enrolled in the Dalyell Stream: a minimum of 12 credit points of Dalyell units of study as specified in Table D.

(e) Students previously but no longer enrolled in the Dalyell Stream who have completed at least 6 credit points of Dalyell units of study are not required to complete any units of study in the Open Learning Environment as specified in Table O.

(f) A minimum of 24 credit points of Elective units or units taken towards a program from Table A, Table S, Table O, or for students enrolled in the Dalyell Stream, Table D; and

(g) If enrolled in a stream, the requirements for the stream as specified in Table A or Table D; and

(h) 144 credit points of Law units of study as specified in the University of Sydney Law School Undergraduate Table, of which 48 credit points are Combined Law Compulsory units of study for Years 1, 2 and 3 of the combined degree and are credited towards the requirements for both the Bachelor of Science and the Bachelor of Laws.

(3) Requirements for the Bachelor of Science

To qualify for the award of the Bachelor of Science, a student must complete 144 credit points of units of study, comprising:

(a) 96 credit points of units of study specified in 6 (2) (a) – (h) above; and

(b) 48 credit points of Combined Law Compulsory subjects from years 1, 2 and 3 from the University of Sydney Law School Undergraduate Table which take the place of the minor specified in the course resolutions for the Bachelor of Science.

(4) Requirements for the Bachelor of Laws

To qualify for the award of the Bachelor of Laws, a student must complete 144 credit points of units of study taken from the Sydney Law School Undergraduate Table, comprising: 

(a) 102 credit points of Compulsory units of study as specified in the University of Sydney Law School Undergraduate Table; and

(b) 42 credit points from the Elective Unit of Study Table (undergraduate) for the University of Sydney Law School, of which a maximum of 36 credit points of units of study are taken from Part 1, Elective Units of Study, or as specified in 6-(4)-(c) below, and a minimum of 6 credit points of units of study are taken from Part 2, Jurisprudence Units of Study; and 

(c) Students may apply to take up to a maximum of 24 credit points of advanced learning Master's units of study as elective units of study.

(i) Enrolment in Master's 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.

(ii) Enrolment in Master’s units is only permitted after a student has completed 96 credit points of units of study towards the Bachelor of Laws.

(iii) Students may only enrol in Master’s units listed in the Bachelor of Laws Elective units of study Table.

7 Majors and programs

(1) Completion of a major from Table A for the Bachelor of Science is a requirement for this combined degree.

(2) Students have the option of completing a program with an embedded major from Table A for the Bachelor of Science of up to 72 credit points.

(3) The majors and programs for the Bachelor of Science are as specified in the Learning and Teaching Policy and in the degree resolutions and Table A for the Bachelor of Science.

8 Satisfactory progress

(1) Progress within a major, minor, stream, program or Honours component within the Bachelor of Science:

Enrolment and progression for each candidate for a major, minor, stream, program or Honours component is governed by progression rules specified in the relevant Table for the component.

(2) Progress within the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Laws:

Students must:

(a) Successfully complete LAWS1006 Foundations of Law before enrolling in any other Bachelor of Laws unit of study

(b) Successfully complete Bachelor of Laws units in the order listed in the Sydney Law School Undergraduate Table.

(c) Except with the permission of the Sydney Law School, successfully complete the requirements of the Bachelor of Science before proceeding to Year Four of the combined degree with the Bachelor of Laws.

(3) Progress within the Dalyell Stream:

(a) With the permission of the Dalyell coordinator, students in the Dalyell Stream may attempt units at higher levels than the usual sequence.

(b) Students must achieve a Cross-Semester Average Mark (CSAM) at a level determined by joint agreement of the Deans and Heads of School and Deans of University schools of all the faculties and University schools administering degrees offering the Dalyell Stream in each year of study or over each 48 credit point block to continue in the Dalyell Stream.

(c) Students who do not maintain a CSAM at the level determined by joint agreement of the Deans and Heads of School and Deans of University schools of all the faculties and University schools administering degrees offering the Dalyell Stream may continue in any other major, minor, program, or stream into which they were admitted, but will not remain in the Dalyell Stream.

(d) Students enrolled in the Dalyell Stream who do not satisfy requirements for the Dalyell Stream but who otherwise meet requirements for the award course in which they are enrolled will graduate from the award course without the Dalyell Stream

9 Requirements for award with Honours

(1) Honours is available to meritorious students in the Bachelor of Laws and in an area of study in the Bachelor of Science.

(2) Students who qualify to undertake the Bachelor of Science (Honours) may elect to enrol in the Honours component:

(a) by suspending candidature from the Bachelor of Laws degree for one year, with the permission of the University of Sydney Law School, and enrolling in the Bachelor of Science (Honours); or

(b) by enrolling in the Bachelor of Science (Honours) and undertaking an appended Honours component after completion of both degrees in the combined program.

(3) For students undertaking an Honours component with the Faculty of Science, admission, requirements and calculation of the Honours grade are as set out in the resolutions for the Bachelor of Science (Honours).

(4) Honours in the Bachelor of Laws is available to students who complete an alternative set of units of study in the final year of the Combined Law program. Admission, requirements and calculation of the honours grade are as set out in the resolutions for the Bachelor of Laws.

10 Award of the degrees

(1) The Bachelor of Laws is awarded in the grades of either Pass or Honours.

(2) The Bachelor of Science is awarded in the grades of either Pass or Honours. Honours in Science is taken by enrolling in the Bachelor of Science (Honours) and completing an appended Honours component.

(3) Students who attempt the Bachelor of Science (Honours) who do not meet the requirements for Honours but who meet the requirement for the pass degree, may be awarded the relevant degree or combined degree for which they fulfil requirements at pass level.

(4) Honours in the Bachelor of Laws may be awarded in First Class or Second Class in accordance with the Resolutions of the Bachelor of Laws.

11 Cross-institutional study

Cross-institutional study is available in this course subject to the terms set out in the Resolutions of the Faculty of Science during the first 144 credit points of the Combined degree and subsequently subject to the terms set out in the Resolutions of the University of Sydney Law School.

12 International mobility

(1) While undertaking the Bachelor of Science:
Until the end of the semester in which students successfully complete the requirements for the Bachelor of Science, the Faculty of Science encourages students in this course to participate in international exchange and global mobility programs as set out in the Resolutions of the Faculty of Science, provided that the progression requirements and timelines of the course Resolutions can be met.

(2) While undertaking the Bachelor of Laws:
Subsequent to successful completion of the requirements for the Bachelor of Science, students are subject to the terms set out in the Resolutions of the University of Sydney Law School.

13 Course transfer

(1) A student may withdraw from the combined degree program and elect to transfer to the Bachelor of Science by written application to the Faculty of Science, and complete the requirements in accordance with the resolutions governing that degree at the time of transfer. Candidature in the Bachelor of Laws will cease in these circumstances.

(2) With the permission of the Faculty of Science and the University of Sydney Law School, suitably qualified students may, after completing requirements for the Bachelor of Science as specified in 6 (3), defer progression to the Bachelor of Laws and undertake the Bachelor of Science (Honours) and then continue to the Bachelor of Laws.

(3) A student who has suspended enrolment in the combined degree to enrol in the Bachelor of Science (Honours) may abandon the Bachelor of Science (Honours) and return to the combined Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Laws.

14 Credit for previous study

Credit transfer is subject to the relevant provisions of the Coursework Policy and the Resolutions of the Faculty of Science and the University of Sydney Law School.

15 Transitional provisions

(1) These resolutions apply to students who commenced their candidature after 1 January 2024 

(2) Students who commenced their candidature prior to 1 January 2024 should complete the requirements in accordance with the resolutions in force at the time of their commencement.