Program Overview

Focusing on the principles, concepts and issues that are shaping Australia’s national security and the world and exploration of corporate and commercial law and practical legal problem solving, UC’s Bachelor of Politics and International Relations/Bachelor of Laws will lay the foundations for a fascinating career and make you shine.

You’ll learn about democratically informed citizenship, contemporary issues in politics and policy, national security, the challenges of modern terrorism and contemporary regional politics in the Asia Pacific and beyond. Imagine being part of discussions about the implications of the neoliberal policy ascendency in Australia, Brexit, the Trump presidency, war, energy security and marriage equality.

UC’s qualified and experienced staff will help you make better sense of the world you live in and recognise how to meet current social and political challenges. You’ll also be encouraged to develop your advocacy abilities and legal skills while understanding their connections to the theory and history of law.

Supporting your development as a socially responsible and ethical professional will be UC’s small class sizes, state-of-the-art facilities and ties with the National Centre for Corporate Law and National Institute of Governance. You’ll also benefit from the relationships the University has forged with law firms, the public sector (a huge employer in Canberra) and non-government organisations (otherwise known as NGOs).

What’s more, you will get to apply your talents in the real world with opportunities to complete a law internship and study overseas and be able to fast-track your course during our winter term. The Bachelor of Laws allows for professional accreditation with the Supreme Court of the ACT and New South Wales.

Combine a Bachelor of Politics and International Relations and a Bachelor of Laws at UC and you will:

• Gain knowledge of the principles, concepts and issues that are shaping the world, including the challenges of modern terrorism and contemporary regional politics in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond
• Be able to apply an in-depth understanding of the historical and current systems of Australian politics and public policy, provide policy advice and develop new policies
• Develop high level theoretical and empirical analysis skills and the ability to interpret world events and issues
• Be able to choose from a range of electives across disciplines, such as sociology, economics and business
• Gain a broad theoretical and technical knowledge of the discipline of law, suitable for entering the legal profession, becoming an advocate, or undertaking related careers
• Fine-tune your ability to present ideas and opinions effectively and communicate within and across professional and cultural boundaries
• Specialise, through electives, in selected areas of law with an emphasis on commercial law
• Be able to apply your knowledge and skills to analyse and solve legal problems, undertake complex legal research tasks and reflect upon ethical issues and make suggestions for law reform.

Specialist Major: Politics and International Relations
The politics and international relations major aims to provide students with knowledge and understanding of politics, government, and national security. It explores the implications of a world divided into multiple polities. The program encompasses philosophical, political, theoretical, institutional, and practical policy and issue based concerns relating to contemporary governance and democratic citizenship. Politics is about who gets what, when and how and the deliberative processes central to domestic politics and international collective life. The program incorporates the study of human security, global governance, foreign aid, trans-national crime, national security, terrorism, counter-terrorism and cybercrime.