UTS course code: C10129
UAC code: 609070
Testamur title: Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Arts in International Studies
Abbreviation: LLB BA
Course fee: HECS (local); $8,000 per semester (international)
Total credit points: 240

Overview
Admission requirements
Attendance
Course duration
Course structure
Course diagram
Course program
Other information

Overview

The Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Arts in International Studies program is offered jointly by the Faculty of Law and the Institute for International Studies. The degree provides full-time study for students wishing to obtain a professional qualification that satisfies the basic academic requirements of the Supreme Court of NSW for admission as a legal practitioner. A single testamur of Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Arts in International Studies is awarded. The Law component may be awarded with First or Second Class Honours. The program is designed for students who wish to obtain an international perspective and expertise to enable them to work overseas, provide specialised legal services to Australian ethnic communities, and satisfy the demand in firms for legal practitioners who can act for foreign investors.

In addition to pursuing the full program of the Bachelor of Laws, students are required to follow a major – a country or region of specialisation – in the International Studies program. Students study Language and Culture for at least two years in Sydney, and this is followed by a period of study overseas.

Admission requirements

Local students are required to apply for admission through the NSW Universities Admissions Centre (UAC). For school leavers, admission is based on UAI scores. Non-current school leavers should apply through UAC in addition to sending a Personal Statement to UTS. Applications are taken from August to end of October each year. Considerations for admission as a non-current school leaver takes into account the following:

• English proficiency and written expression
• previous legal study
• tertiary study
• legal experience or related employment
• motivation and the reason for wanting to study law (and other discipline in the case of a combined or double degree)
• commitment to study law, and
• supporting material such as professional and personal references and/or letter of employer's support.

International students should contact the UTS International Office for application procedures. In addition to academic requirements, students are required to meet English language proficiency requirements.

Attendance

Each law subject is taught over one semester. Students attend 12–15 hours of lectures and seminars per week. Students may be required to attend evening classes.

Course duration

The degree normally requires five years of full-time study for completion. Students spend the fourth year of study at university overseas.

Course structure

Law component

Students complete 14 core subjects, 76600 International Legal Studies, and four elective subjects. Students then complete 24 credit points of Practical Legal Training or a further four electives.

International Studies component

The Bachelor of Arts in International Studies requires undergraduates to study a major – a region or country – over a minimum of three years. In Sydney, students study Language and Culture for at least two years, followed by a period of study overseas.

In the International Studies program, students study one of the following countries or majors: Canada (Québec), Chile, China, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Latino USA, Malaysia, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland and Thailand. There are two other majors available that permit students to pursue programs of study about and in countries where other arrangements have not already been made. The Heritage major permits students with significant prior knowledge of a particular language and culture to continue their study in countries such as Croatia, Greece, Hong Kong, Korea, Poland, Russia, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam and others. The Independent Study major is available where a language is taught in Sydney and a program of In-country Study can be arranged.

Australia and the Asia–Pacific is only available as a major to international students. International students may access one of the other majors offered provided that the country they choose as their major is able to grant them a visa to study there. This needs to be determined prior to commencing subjects within the major. If a visa cannot be granted, then it is not possible to undertake the chosen major.

Students are admitted to the International Studies program with no guarantee of entry to a specific major, although every effort is made to meet students' preferences. The Institute reserves the right to allocate places in majors according to its resources and arrangements with overseas universities.

Each major includes 32 credit points (four 8credit-point subjects) of instruction in Language and Culture; 8 credit points of study of 76600 International Legal Studies; 8 credit points of study of Contemporary Society; and 48 credit points (two semesters) of study at a university or institution of higher education in the country of the major.

There are no prior language requirements for the International Studies component of this combined degree, except for programs within the Heritage major.

Arrangements for In-country Study

Students are required to complete all appropriate subjects in their combined degree, including four consecutive semesters of study of Language and Culture before proceeding to In-country Study.

The Institute for International Studies makes arrangements for students to spend two semesters of In-country Study at an institution of higher education in the country of their major. The costs of tuition at overseas universities and of travel between Sydney and the student's place of study are paid by UTS, except in cases where a scholarship has been awarded to a student with provision for these costs. Visa fees are also paid by UTS, and students are covered by the UTS Overseas Insurance Policy. Students undertaking the Heritage or Independent Study major may be required to bear some of the tuition costs at the overseas university. During their In-country Study, students continue to be enrolled at UTS and to pay HECS for their study.

Students must pay the costs of accommodation and other living expenses during their period of In-country Study. Students should be aware that the living costs vary from country to country and that in some countries living costs are high.

The In-country Study is the key component of the International Studies program. It provides a unique opportunity for students to immerse themselves in the language and culture of another country through a learning program at a host university, through involvement in the life of the local community and through project work which is supervised by the Institute. Each student's individual study program depends on their level of language competence and the subjects and other learning experiences that are available at the host university. All students who undertake In-country Study must agree to the Institute's Conditions of Participation for In-country Study. Any study undertaken at the host university during the two semesters of In-country Study is part of the In-country Study experience. Students may not credit any subjects completed at their host university during the period of In-country Study towards the professional component of their combined degree.

Course diagram

Course program

Stage 2
70217 Criminal Law 6cp
70211 Law of Contract 8cp
976xxx Contemporary Society 8cp

Stage 4
70317 Real Property 8cp
70318 Personal Property 4cp
76xxx Elective subject 1 6cp
972xxx Language and Culture 2 8cp

Stage 6
70516 Equity and Trusts 8cp
76xxx Elective subject 2 6cp
974xxx Language and Culture 4 8cp

Stage 8
978xxx In-country Study 2 24cp

Stage 10
Practical Legal Training (PLT) 24cp
or
Four Law electives 24cp

Other information

Queries regarding the International Studies component of the course should be addressed to the Institute itself on telephone (02) 9514 1574.

Combined degree students are required to confirm, during the University enrolment period, the subjects they intend to take for the year with the Institute at 10 Quay Street, Haymarket.

For information regarding the Law component of this course contact the Faculty of Law on telephone (02) 9514 3444.