This program combines the professional LLB program with a major in Computer Science offered within the School of Computer Science, Faculty of Engineering.

Duration/Award

The program is a five year full-time combined program leading to the award of the two degrees of Bachelor of Science (Computer Science) and Bachelor of Laws (BSc LLB).

BSc

The degree of Bachelor of Science (Computer Science) is not awarded until the completion of the full five year program, but students unable to complete the full program may apply for advanced standing in the Bachelor of Science degree 3978.

Science Courses

Students must complete a minimum of 84 units of credit, including the requirements of the Computer Science major and the optional double major in computing.

Law or Science Elective

In addition to the prescribed units of credit of law courses and science courses there is the option to complete 6 units of credit of either law or science electives. Students can satisfy this requirement by completing either a law elective (6UOC) or an elective approved by the School of Computer Science and Engineering (6UOC).

At the completion of this program, students will have obtained a sound knowledge base in the disciplines of both Computer Science and Law.

Approved Sequence of Study

Students must study Law courses in a sequence approved by the Faculty of Law. All Science courses may be taken in a sequence determined by pre-requisite and timetable constraints. Please consult the School of Computer Science and Engineering if assistance on course selection is required.

An approved sequence can be found here:

Plan for Computer Science/Law 3984

General Education Requirements

Students enrolled in the combined Computer Science/Law degree are not required to complete general education courses.

Honours in Science

Students wishing to complete the BSc (Computer Science) degree program at Honours level must obtain prior approval from the School of Computer Science and Engineering. A standard Honours program in Computer Science requires an additional year of study. Further information regarding honours can be found on the plan page for this program.

The Bachelor of Laws (LLB) will be awarded with the following levels of Honours:

Honours Class 1
Honours Class 2, Division 1
Honours Class 2, Division 2

The award of Honours in the LLB program is based on two requirements:

1) the Weighted Average Mark (WAM); and
2) satisfactory performance in written research.

1) Weighted average mark

In general terms, students who score a Law WAM in the top 10% of the graduating cohort in each semester will be eligible for the award of Honours Class 1; students with a WAM in the next 10% will be eligible for the award of Honours Class 2, Division 1; and students with a WAM in the next 10% will be eligible for the award of Honours Class 2, Division 2.
All courses taken towards the Law degree will be taken into account for written research requirements, but only those taken at UNSW Law School will count towards the WAM.

2) Satisfactory performance in written research

To demonstrate “satisfactory performance in written research” a student must complete one long substantial piece or three shorter substantial pieces of research writing in their program. In particular, a student must attain at least a credit grade either in LAWS2423 Research Thesis (8 uoc) or (16 uoc); or LAWS3423 Research Thesis (6 uoc) or (12 uoc); or in each of three (3) research papers of at least 3000 words each, taken in any three (3) courses in the LLB program.
At the time of enrolment in courses in their final semester, students who have demonstrated satisfactory performance in written research must submit an approved Honours Nomination Form to the Honours Committee detailing the basis upon which the research requirement has been met, and the course or courses in which the requisite grades were attained. If a student has not met the Honours research requirement before the end of their penultimate semester, he or she must notify the Honours committee of the LLB courses in which they propose to meet the requirement before the census date in their last semester.

Failures and Academic Misconduct

In no circumstances will a student be eligible for the award of Honours if he or she has

(a) failed more than one course in the LLB program;
(b) been found guilty of plagiarism or serious misconduct on more than one occasion.

For Academic Rules relating to the Bachelor of Laws component of this combined degree program, please refer to progam 4790. Although 4790 program is no longer on offer, all combined law students enrolled in the LLB will need to comply with the rules stated here. A direct link is given below:

Bachelor of Laws 4790

Academic Rules relating to the Bachelor of Science (Computer Science) component of this combined degree program are outlined in the COMPA13984 plan page of this handbook.

Plan for Science (Computer Science)/Law 3984

For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/fees/FeesMainPage.html