The University of New South Wales

go to UNSW home page

Handbook Home

PRINT THIS PAGE
Commerce/Law - 4733

Program Summary

 
Faculty: Faculty of Law
 
   
 
Campus: Kensington Campus
 
 
Career: Undergraduate
 
 
Typical Duration: 5 Years
 
 
Typical UOC Per Semester: 24
 
 
Min UOC Per Semester: 3
 
 
Max UOC Per Semester: 27
 
 
Min UOC For Award: 240
 
 
Award(s):
 
 
Bachelor of Commerce (Major)
 
 
Bachelor of Laws (Major)
 
  

Program Description

The Bachelor of Laws degree may be combined with a Bachelor of Commerce specialising in Accounting, Actuarial Studies, Business Economics, Business Strategy and Economic Management, Financial Economics, Finance, Human Resource Management, Information Systems, International Business, Management or Marketing.

This program provides an opportunity to obtain two degrees of professional importance to business, administration and commercial law practice.

Duration/Award
The program is a five year full-time combined program leading to the award of the two degrees of Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws (BCom/LLB).

Distinction
The BCom degree may be awarded with Distinction where a student has achieved a weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 75% in the UNSW courses completed as part of that degree.

Transferring Majors (Plans)
Students must nominate a major (plan code) at enrolment. Subsequent transfers to another major may be possible subject to the approval of both Faculties.

Graduation
Candidates enrolled in the combined degree programs may be awarded the degree of BCom after the completion of specified requirements. Full details are given in the 'Rules Relating to the Award of Degrees'.

Approved Sequence of Study
Students must study commerce courses in a sequence approved by the Australian School of Business and law courses in a sequence approved by the Faculty of Law. Approved sequences for each combined program are given below; other sequences may be approved under special circumstances.

Program Objectives and Learning Outcomes

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

On successful completion of the BCom component, students will have the ability to:
  • demonstrate business knowledge and apply that knowledge in business problems
  • demonstrate critical thinking and problem solving skills
  • present complex issues in coherent written statements and oral presentations
  • demonstrate understanding of disciplinary issues in a local or global context
  • demonstrate understanding of the principles of working collaboratively in teams
  • understand the social and ethical dimensions in their chosen disciplinary areas

Program Structure

Total Unit Requirements
  • Law compulsory courses - 92 UOC
  • Law elective courses - 64 UOC
  • Approved Commerce courses - 84 UOC (including first year compulsory core courses)
  • Total 240 UOC
The single major requirement for the BCom is 48 UOC.

Approved Sequence of Study

Plan LAWSA14733 provides a standard outline of the sequence of law courses in Years 1-5 of the combined Commerce/Law specialisations.

Plan for Commerce/Law 4733

Please refer to the relevant plan entry for Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) major requirements:

ACCTA14733 Accounting
ACTLB14733 Actuarial Studies
ECONF14733 Business Economics
ECONI14733 Business Strategy & Economic Mgmt
ECONJ14733 Financial Economics
FINSA14733 Finance
MGMTH14733 Human Resources Management
INFSA14733 Information Systems
IBUSA14733 International Business
MGMTA14733 Management
MARKA14733 Marketing

General Education Requirements

Students enrolled in combined law degrees (with exception to Jurisprudence/Law) are not required to complete general education courses. However, if a student wished to graduate with their BCom degree after 3 years, they are required to complete 12 UOC of General Education from Faculties other than Law and Business as well as the required law and commerce courses for years 1-3.

Honours

Honours in Commerce

The BCom degree is available with Honours. This requires an extra year of study between Years 3 and 4. Students interested in studying at Honours Level should refer to the relevant Honours plan record for entry requirements.

Students undertaking the combined Bachelor of Commerce at Honours level may be awarded the degree of Bachelor of Commerce at Honours level once they have completed the Honours year and the requirements of the first three years of the combined Bachelor of Commerce at Honours Level.

Rules for the award of Honours in the Bachelor of Laws

Award of Honours
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.

Academic Rules

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

Rules Relating To The Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Laws Program and the Bachelor of Economics/Bachelor of Law Program

Rules relating to the award of the degree of Bachelor of Commerce:

Please refer to the Program Structure for the academic requirements relating to this program. Rules relating to the award of the degree of Bachelor of Commerce shall apply wherever relevant. Students are advised to consult the Academic Rules for further information.

Candidates for the combined Commerce/Law degree program may be awarded the degree of BCom when they have completed the requirements for the award of the first three years of the combined Bachelor of Commerce/ Bachelor of Laws program - as set out in the program outline - and subject to satisfactory completion of 12 UOC of General Education requirements for the single pass degree.

Fees

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

Area(s) of Specialisation

URL for this page:

© The University of New South Wales (CRICOS Provider No.: 00098G), 2004-2011. The information contained in this Handbook is indicative only. While every effort is made to keep this information up-to-date, the University reserves the right to discontinue or vary arrangements, programs and courses at any time without notice and at its discretion. While the University will try to avoid or minimise any inconvenience, changes may also be made to programs, courses and staff after enrolment. The University may also set limits on the number of students in a course.