Program Overview

Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Criminology

The Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Criminology is a five-year undergraduate degree that combines the study of law and criminology. This course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the legal system and the social, cultural, and political contexts in which crime occurs.

Overview

The Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Criminology is a multi-modal course that offers a combination of face-to-face, online, and online asynchronous subjects. The course is available at the Melbourne (Bundoora) and Bendigo campuses.

Key Facts

• Award: Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Criminology
• VTAC code: (CSP)
• Start dates: Semester 1 (March 2026), Semester 2 (July 2026)
• Duration: 5 years full-time or part-time equivalent
• Learning mode: Multi-Modal
• Scholarships: Available
• Prerequisite: English (Please refer to admission requirements for details)
• Fees: Estimated cost per year if studying full-time $17,320 (CSP) per 120 credit points

About the Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Criminology

This course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the legal system and the social, cultural, and political contexts in which crime occurs. Students will develop a powerful skillset in dispute resolution, evidence, and criminal procedure, contract law, company law, and public law. They will also explore principles in crime prevention and policy and how social factors intersect with the criminal justice system.

Course Structure

To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Criminology, students must complete a total of 600 credit points across 5 years. The course structure includes:

• Core subjects
• Elective subjects
• Core choice subjects
• Capstone subjects

Core Subjects

Core subjects are required subjects in the course. Students need to complete these subjects to attain their degree. Some of the core subjects include:

• Dispute Resolution
• From Prisons to Detention Centres
• Law and (Dis)order
• Legal Institutions and Methods
• Principles of Criminal Law
• Principles of Public Law
• Understanding Crime

Elective Subjects

A range of standalone elective subjects is available in this course. Some electives are recommended for the course, but students may also be able to choose from a range of University-wide electives or electives from other interest areas or disciplines.

Core Choice Subjects

Core choice subjects are one or more subject groups that students need to select in their course. Core choice subjects may be specific to the course, major, minor, specialisation, or other learning requirements.

Capstone Subjects

Capstone subjects are required subjects in the course or major that help students integrate and apply the knowledge and skills they gain to solve real-world problems. Capstone subjects are often taken towards the end of the course.

Career Outcomes

The Bachelor of Laws (Honours) course includes the subjects required by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board (VLAB) to meet the requirements for admission to the legal profession in Victoria. After graduation, students could work across a range of sectors, including in legal practice, the community sector, government, and corrections. Possible roles include:

• Barrister or solicitor
• Criminologist or crime analyst
• Criminal justice policy maker
• In-house counsel
• Police prosecutor
• Intelligence officer or analyst
• Court officer, registrar, or paralegal

Professional Recognition

The Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Criminology course includes the subjects required by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board to meet the academic requirements for admission to the legal profession in Victoria as an Australian lawyer.

Fees and Scholarships

The estimated fees displayed for this course are an indicative guide only. Estimated fees are based on the typical study pattern in the first year of this course for a full-time student (120 credit points). The fees students pay will depend on the subjects they choose to study, as each subject has its own cost.

How to Apply

If students are applying for multiple courses, they will need to apply through VTAC or UAC (Semester 1 only). If they are applying for one course, they may be able to apply directly to La Trobe. Students can apply directly to La Trobe for Diplomas, Bachelor degrees, Graduate Certificates, Graduate Diplomas, and Master by coursework degrees, Honours years, and transfers.