Key facts
1 year full-time or part-time equivalent
Key dates
Direct applications to Deakin for Trimester 1 2025 close 16 February 2025
Current Deakin Students
To access your official course details for the year you started your degree, please visit the handbook
Course overview
Deakin’s one-year LLB (Honours) program is an opportunity to conduct in-depth research into an area of the law that interests you, under expert supervision from a member of Deakin Law School. Available to high achieving students who have completed a four-year Bachelor of Laws at Deakin or another Australian institution, Deakin’s LLB (Honours) allows you to improve your research skills, hone your analytical abilities and develop the quality of your writing – all skills that are highly valued by employers.
Looking for a pathway to research degrees and enhanced career opportunities?
In Deakin’s LLB (Honours) you will undertake rigorous research on a specific topic, chosen with the assistance of your supervisor and the course director, and write a 10,000-word thesis. Completing an LLB (Honours) can help propel your legal career as you’ll have evidence of your capacity to research and write at a high level. Alternatively, you may choose to apply for further study such as Master’s degree or a PhD. Whatever path you choose, an LLB (Honours) at Deakin will prepare you for an exceptional career.
Read MoreCourse information
- Award granted
- Bachelor of Laws (Honours)
- Year
2025 course information
- Deakin code
- M412
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition
The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8
Course structure
To complete the Bachelor of Laws (Honours), students must attain a total of 8 credit points, plus completion of the compulsory 0-credit point module, DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin.
Students are required to complete 8 credit points of study. This will comprise:
- 4 credit points of core units (two legal research training and application units).
- 4 credit points of course elective units ^.
^ which may include 4 LLB electives selected from M312 advanced law studies (equivalent Deakin level 3 and 4 coded units, other than WIL units). Students are expected to receive RPL for these LLB electives, based on their Bachelor of Laws studies.
Please note:
Current Deakin M312 Bachelor of Laws (or combined Law courses) students who satisfy the entry requirements for the M412 Bachelor of Laws (Honours) may enrol in this course concurrently with their current Law course.
Core Units
Bachelor of Laws (Honours) core units:
Course electives
4 credit points of course elective units^ can be chosen from:
^ As noted above, it is expected that students enrolling in this course will receive RPL for law elective subjects that they have already undertaken (and so will not have to undertake these electives when enrolled in Honours). Applications for RPL will be assessed by reference to the list of core electives below. Likewise, any students not granted RPL (or who are not granted RPL for the full four electives) will have to undertake course electives from the above list
Intakes by location
The availability of a course varies across locations and intakes. This means that a course offered in Trimester 1 may not be offered in the same location for Trimester 2 or 3. Check each intake for up-to-date information on when and where you can commence your studies.
Trimester 1 - March
- Start date: March
- Available at:
- Online
Trimester 2 - July
- Start date: July
- Available at:
- Online
This course will be available to both new applicants and Deakin students currently enrolled in M312 Bachelor of Laws or combined Law degrees and who meet the entry requirements for M412.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS - International students should note that, due to visa regulations, this course can only be undertaken while living outside Australia.
Deakin splits the academic year into three terms, known as trimesters. Most students usually undertake two trimesters each year (March-June, July-November).
Course duration
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing placements.
Mandatory student checks
Units which contain work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, working with children check or other check. These requirements will be detailed in unit guides upon enrolment.
Workload
You can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include lectures, seminars, online interactions, or professional experiences for Work Integrated Learning (WIL) units. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.
Participation requirements
Units in this course may have participation requirements that include compulsory placements, work-based training, community-based learning or collaborative research training arrangements.
Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.
Entry requirements
Selection is based on a holistic consideration of your academic merit, work experience, likelihood of success, availability of places, participation requirements, regulatory requirements, and individual circumstances. You will need to meet the minimum academic and English language proficiency requirements to be considered for selection, but this does not guarantee admission.
Please note, there are limited places in this course and entry is competitive. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.
Academic requirements
For Deakin students currently enrolled in the Bachelor of Laws degree (M312), or a combined Bachelor of Laws degree, to be considered for admission to this degree you will need to have completed a minimum number of credit points of MLL/MLP/MLT units, (or equivalent, as determined by the LLB (Hons) Course Director), as outlined in the following criteria:
- for students currently enrolled in the Bachelor of Laws degree (M312), 21 credit points of MLL/MLP/MLT coded units, with a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of at least 65% across these units.
- for students currently enrolled in a Bachelor of Laws combined degree, 16 credit points of MLL/MLP/MLT coded units, with a WAM of at least 65% across these units.
For all other applicants (not a current Deakin University student), to be considered for admission to this degree you will need to meet the following criteria:
- completion of an accredited 4 -year Bachelor of Laws at an Australian institution with a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) (or equivalent average grade indicator) of at least 65% in all law units successfully completed.
All applicants:
Applications must be accompanied by a personal statement (600 words in total), which includes an overview of their proposed Honours research (300 words) and their motivation(s) for undertaking Honours (300 words).
English language proficiency requirements
To meet the English language proficiency requirements of this course, you will need to demonstrate at least one of the following:
- bachelor degree
- IELTS overall score of 7.0 (with no band score less than 6.5) in each component of test
- other evidence of English language proficiency (learn more about other ways to satisfy the requirements)
Admissions information
Learn more about Deakin courses and how we compare to other universities when it comes to the quality of our teaching and learning.
Recognition of prior learning
The University aims to provide students with as much credit as possible for approved prior study or informal learning which exceeds the normal entrance requirements for the course and is within the constraints of the course regulations. Students are required to complete a minimum of one-third of the course at Deakin University, or four credit points, whichever is the greater. In the case of certificates, including graduate certificates, a minimum of two credit points within the course must be completed at Deakin.
You can also refer to the recognition of prior learning (RPL) system which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree and how to apply for credit.
All applications are considered by the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) Course Director. As part of this process, the Course Director will also assess each application for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
Fees and scholarships
Fee information
Learn more about fees.
The tuition fees you pay will depend on the units you choose, as each unit has its own cost. The 'Estimated tuition fee' is provided as a guide only and represents the typical first-year tuition fees for students enrolled in this course. The cost will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the time it takes to complete your course and any approved Recognition of prior learning you have.
Each unit you enrol in has a credit point value. The 'Estimated tuition fee' is calculated by adding together 8 credit points of a typical combination of units for this course. Eight credit points is used as it represents a typical full-time enrolment load for a year. You can find the credit point value of each unit under the Unit Description by searching for the unit in the handbook.
Learn more about fees and available payment options on our Current students fees website.
Scholarship options
A Deakin scholarship could help you pay for your course fees, living costs and study materials. If you've got something special to offer Deakin - or maybe you just need a bit of extra support - we've got a scholarship opportunity for you. Search or browse through our scholarships
Apply now
To apply, create an account in the Deakin Application Portal, enter your personal details and education experience, upload supporting documents and submit. Need help? Play this video, or contact one of our friendly future student advisers on 1800 693 888 or submit an online enquiry.
Pathways
Further study options
Graduates may wish to apply for further study in Higher Degrees by Research.
Contact information
Our friendly advisers are available to speak to you one-on-one about your study options, support services and how we can help you further your career.
- Call us: 1800 693 888 Monday – Friday, 9am–5pm
- Live Chat: Monday - Friday
- Submit an online enquiry
- Help hub find common and trending questions and answers
Careers
Career outcomes
The Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree provides students with demonstrated skills pertaining to legal research, writing and analysis, all of which are highly prized in legal practice, as well as in government, policy, and corporate roles.
Course learning outcomes
Deakin's graduate learning outcomes describe the knowledge and capabilities graduates can demonstrate at the completion of their course. These outcomes mean that regardless of the Deakin course you undertake, you can rest assured your degree will teach you the skills and professional attributes that employers value. They'll set you up to learn and work effectively in the future.
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|
| Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | Apply advanced legal research methodologies and legal reasoning to identify and address legal issues with reference to relevant social, political and global contexts and theoretical approaches as appropriate |
| Communication | Employ advanced legal writing skills to effectively communicate legal arguments and the conclusions that follow |
| Digital literacy | Utilise a variety of resources in order to formulate and execute a research strategy and plan |
| Critical thinking | Critically evaluate and synthesise legal and other relevant sources to identify and articulate a legal problem that is suitable for research at an advanced level, and apply high-level legal reasoning to explore such policy, theoretical and legal questions as arise |
| Problem solving | Apply rigorous legal analysis to formulate and articulate well-reasoned and nuanced responses to the legal problem under consideration |
| Self-management | This CLO is not explicitly assessed |
| Teamwork | This CLO is not explicitly assessed |
| Global citizenship | Evaluate and compare different approaches and solutions to legal problems in Australian and international jurisdictions and incorporate consideration of ethical perspectives where appropriate |