In this combined degree, students learn to use science as a tool to enforce the law or to prepare for professional and specialist work in the world of forensic science.Majoring in biology, chemistry, crime scene investigation or digital forensics, students work in world-class forensic science facilities that have been modelled on operational labs.
Simultaneously, they study the foundations of the law, including constitutional, civil, criminal, commercial, tort and ethics law, before choosing an elective path that complements their scientific interests.Soft skills, including critical thinking and problem solving, are a key component of the degree.
The Legal Futures and Technology major is also on offer in this course, offering students the chance to explore smart contracts, AI, blockchain and other technologies as they relate to future legal practice.Graduates meet the academic requirements for admission to practise law in NSW and benefit from UTS's extensive partnerships with the federal and state police services, national and international forensic institutions, and government laboratories.
The course comprises a total of 240 credit points and allows students to graduate with the separate degrees of Bachelor of Forensic Science (BForSc) and Bachelor of Laws (LLB). The study components for course completion are as follows.
The law component of 144 credit points is made up of:
-
108 credit points of compulsory core law subjects
-
30 credit points of law options, including either:
-
30 credit points of law options, or
-
30 credit points of legal futures and technology options
-
a 6-credit-point legal theory option.
The forensic science component comprises 42 credit points of core subjects and a 54-credit-point major choice taken from one of the four specified majors representing different forensic science disciplines.
Industrial training/professional practice
To practise as a lawyer in NSW, students need to successfully complete an accredited legal academic qualification (e.g. Bachelor of Laws) and an accredited course of practical legal training (PLT), which UTS offers through its PLT program.
Students enrolled in this course may complete their practical legal training by undertaking a postgraduate course in PLT, such as the Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice (C11232).
Course completion requirements
|
course
|
credit
|
|
STM91181 Core subjects (Forensic Science Law)
|
42cp
|
|
CBK91230 Major choice (Forensic Science Law)
|
54cp
|
|
STM90691 Law stream
|
144cp
|
|
Total
|
240cp
|
Course diagram
Course program
The program shown is for a full-time student who has chosen one of the forensic science majors and law options.
All options shown are law options and are to be drawn from those on offer in CBK90922.
Students wishing to study the new major MAJ09443 Legal Futures and Technology need to study 76106 Technology Law, Policy and Ethics (Capstone 1) in the Autumn session of their final year and 76107 Applied Project in Law, Innovation and Technology (Capstone 2) in their final Spring session.
Digital Forensics major, Autumn commencing, full time
Year 1
Autumn session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
70102 Foundations of Law
|
8cp
|
|
70103 Ethics Law and Justice
|
6cp
|
|
65242 Principles of Forensic Science
|
6cp
|
|
33190 Mathematical Modelling for Science
|
6cp
|
Spring session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
35255 Forensic Statistics
|
6cp
|
|
70311 Torts
|
8cp
|
|
70114 Criminal Law and Procedure
|
8cp
|
|
65312 Forensic Imaging
|
6cp
|
Year 2
Autumn session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
70211 Contracts
|
8cp
|
|
65316 Criminalistics
|
6cp
|
|
65325 Digital Trace and Identity
|
6cp
|
|
41092 Network Fundamentals
|
6cp
|
Spring session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
70616 Australian Constitutional Law
|
8cp
|
|
70104 Civil Practice
|
6cp
|
|
48023 Programming Fundamentals
|
6cp
|
|
70109 Evidence
|
6cp
|
Year 3
Autumn session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
70327 Introduction to Property and Commercial Law
|
6cp
|
|
48730 Cybersecurity
|
6cp
|
|
65342 Crime Scene Investigation
|
6cp
|
|
70617 Administrative Law
|
8cp
|
Spring session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
70317 Real Property
|
8cp
|
|
70517 Equity and Trusts
|
8cp
|
|
65326 Digital and Cyber Crime
|
6cp
|
Year 4
Autumn session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
71116 Remedies
|
6cp
|
|
70417 Corporate Law
|
8cp
|
|
41900 Cryptography
|
6cp
|
Spring session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
48436 Digital Forensics
|
6cp
|
|
70108 Public International Law
|
6cp
|
|
Select 6 credit points of options
|
6cp
|
|
Select 6 credit points from the following:
|
6cp
|
|
76081 Gender and Law
|
|
|
76057 Judgment and the Rule of Law
|
|
|
76033 Animal Law and Policy in Australia
|
|
|
76008 Jurisprudence
|
|
|
78039 Wickedness and Vice
|
|
|
76902 Law and Literature
|
|
|
76012 Criminology
|
|
|
76092 Advanced Property
|
|
|
76068 Indigenous Peoples and the Law
|
|
Year 5
Autumn session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
Select 24 credit points of options
|
24cp
|
Spring session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
65313 Forensic Intelligence
|
6cp
|
|
65314 Complex Cases
|
6cp
|
|
65327 Web Monitoring and Investigations
|
6cp
|
CSI major, Autumn commencing, full time
Year 1
Autumn session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
70102 Foundations of Law
|
8cp
|
|
70103 Ethics Law and Justice
|
6cp
|
|
65242 Principles of Forensic Science
|
6cp
|
|
65111 Chemistry 1
|
6cp
|
Spring session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
65212 Chemistry 2
|
6cp
|
|
70311 Torts
|
8cp
|
|
70114 Criminal Law and Procedure
|
8cp
|
|
65312 Forensic Imaging
|
6cp
|
Year 2
Autumn session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
70211 Contracts
|
8cp
|
|
91161 Cell Biology and Genetics
|
6cp
|
|
33190 Mathematical Modelling for Science
|
6cp
|
|
68041 Physical Aspects of Nature
|
6cp
|
Spring session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
70616 Australian Constitutional Law
|
8cp
|
|
70104 Civil Practice
|
6cp
|
|
35255 Forensic Statistics
|
6cp
|
|
70109 Evidence
|
6cp
|
Year 3
Autumn session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
70327 Introduction to Property and Commercial Law
|
6cp
|
|
65202 Organic Chemistry 1
|
6cp
|
|
65316 Criminalistics
|
6cp
|
|
70617 Administrative Law
|
8cp
|
Spring session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
70317 Real Property
|
8cp
|
|
70517 Equity and Trusts
|
8cp
|
|
Select 6 credit points of options
|
6cp
|
Year 4
Autumn session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
71116 Remedies
|
6cp
|
|
70417 Corporate Law
|
8cp
|
|
65342 Crime Scene Investigation
|
6cp
|
Spring session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
91138 Investigation of Human Remains
|
6cp
|
|
70108 Public International Law
|
6cp
|
|
Select 6 credit points from the following:
|
6cp
|
|
65544 Chemical Criminalistics
|
|
|
65644 Fire and Explosion Investigation
|
|
|
65321 Homicide Investigation
|
|
|
65322 Major Scene Investigation
|
|
|
Select 6 credit points from the following:
|
6cp
|
|
76081 Gender and Law
|
|
|
76057 Judgment and the Rule of Law
|
|
|
76033 Animal Law and Policy in Australia
|
|
|
76008 Jurisprudence
|
|
|
78039 Wickedness and Vice
|
|
|
76902 Law and Literature
|
|
|
76012 Criminology
|
|
|
76092 Advanced Property
|
|
|
76068 Indigenous Peoples and the Law
|
|
Year 5
Autumn session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
Select 24 credit points of options
|
24cp
|
Spring session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
65313 Forensic Intelligence
|
6cp
|
|
65314 Complex Cases
|
6cp
|
|
65323 Advanced Imaging and Specialist Recovery
|
6cp
|
Biology major, Autumn commencing, full time
Year 1
Autumn session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
70102 Foundations of Law
|
8cp
|
|
70103 Ethics Law and Justice
|
6cp
|
|
65242 Principles of Forensic Science
|
6cp
|
|
65111 Chemistry 1
|
6cp
|
Spring session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
65312 Forensic Imaging
|
6cp
|
|
70311 Torts
|
8cp
|
|
70114 Criminal Law and Procedure
|
8cp
|
Summer session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
65212 Chemistry 2
|
6cp
|
Year 2
Autumn session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
70211 Contracts
|
8cp
|
|
65342 Crime Scene Investigation
|
6cp
|
|
33190 Mathematical Modelling for Science
|
6cp
|
Spring session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
70616 Australian Constitutional Law
|
8cp
|
|
70104 Civil Practice
|
6cp
|
|
91161 Cell Biology and Genetics
|
6cp
|
|
70109 Evidence
|
6cp
|
Year 3
Autumn session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
70327 Introduction to Property and Commercial Law
|
6cp
|
|
91314 General Microbiology
|
6cp
|
|
70617 Administrative Law
|
8cp
|
Spring session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
70317 Real Property
|
8cp
|
|
35255 Forensic Statistics
|
6cp
|
|
70517 Equity and Trusts
|
8cp
|
|
Select 6 credit points of options
|
6cp
|
Year 4
Autumn session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
71116 Remedies
|
6cp
|
|
70417 Corporate Law
|
8cp
|
|
65316 Criminalistics
|
6cp
|
Spring session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
70108 Public International Law
|
6cp
|
|
91132 Molecular Biology 1
|
6cp
|
|
91137 DNA Profiling
|
6cp
|
|
Select 6 credit points from the following:
|
6cp
|
|
76081 Gender and Law
|
|
|
76057 Judgment and the Rule of Law
|
|
|
76033 Animal Law and Policy in Australia
|
|
|
76008 Jurisprudence
|
|
|
78039 Wickedness and Vice
|
|
|
76902 Law and Literature
|
|
|
76012 Criminology
|
|
|
76092 Advanced Property
|
|
|
76068 Indigenous Peoples and the Law
|
|
Year 5
Autumn session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
Select 24 credit points of options
|
24cp
|
Spring session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
65313 Forensic Intelligence
|
6cp
|
|
65314 Complex Cases
|
6cp
|
|
65318 Forensic Genotyping Technologies
|
6cp
|
|
Select 6 credit points from the following:
|
6cp
|
|
91138 Investigation of Human Remains
|
|
|
65320 Forensic Genetics
|
|
|
91140 Bionanotechnology
|
|
|
91330 Epidemiology and Public Health Microbiology
|
|
|
91400 Human Anatomy and Physiology
|
|
Chemistry major, Autumn commencing, full time
Year 1
Autumn session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
70102 Foundations of Law
|
8cp
|
|
70103 Ethics Law and Justice
|
6cp
|
|
65242 Principles of Forensic Science
|
6cp
|
|
65111 Chemistry 1
|
6cp
|
Spring session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
65312 Forensic Imaging
|
6cp
|
|
70311 Torts
|
8cp
|
|
70114 Criminal Law and Procedure
|
8cp
|
|
65212 Chemistry 2
|
6cp
|
Year 2
Autumn session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
70211 Contracts
|
8cp
|
|
65342 Crime Scene Investigation
|
6cp
|
|
65202 Organic Chemistry 1
|
6cp
|
|
33190 Mathematical Modelling for Science
|
6cp
|
Spring session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
70616 Australian Constitutional Law
|
8cp
|
|
70104 Civil Practice
|
6cp
|
|
35255 Forensic Statistics
|
6cp
|
|
70109 Evidence
|
6cp
|
Year 3
Autumn session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
70327 Introduction to Property and Commercial Law
|
6cp
|
|
65316 Criminalistics
|
6cp
|
|
65306 Analytical Chemistry 1
|
6cp
|
|
70617 Administrative Law
|
8cp
|
Spring session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
70317 Real Property
|
8cp
|
|
70517 Equity and Trusts
|
8cp
|
|
65508 Organic Chemistry 2
|
6cp
|
Year 4
Autumn session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
71116 Remedies
|
6cp
|
|
70417 Corporate Law
|
8cp
|
|
Select 6 credit points of options
|
6cp
|
Spring session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
65409 Analytical Chemistry 2
|
6cp
|
|
65544 Chemical Criminalistics
|
6cp
|
|
70108 Public International Law
|
6cp
|
|
Select 6 credit points from the following:
|
6cp
|
|
76081 Gender and Law
|
|
|
76057 Judgment and the Rule of Law
|
|
|
76033 Animal Law and Policy in Australia
|
|
|
76008 Jurisprudence
|
|
|
78039 Wickedness and Vice
|
|
|
76902 Law and Literature
|
|
|
76012 Criminology
|
|
|
76092 Advanced Property
|
|
|
76068 Indigenous Peoples and the Law
|
|
Year 5
Autumn session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
Select 24 credit points of options
|
24cp
|
Spring session
|
course
|
credit
|
|
65313 Forensic Intelligence
|
6cp
|
|
65314 Complex Cases
|
6cp
|
|
Select 6 credit points from the following:
|
6cp
|
|
65643 Chemistry and Pharmacology of Recreational Drugs
|
|
|
65644 Fire and Explosion Investigation
|
|
|
65411 Inorganic Chemistry 1
|
|
|
65001 Medicinal Chemistry
|
|
|
68070 Introduction to Materials
|
|
|
91400 Human Anatomy and Physiology
|
|
Applicants must have completed an Australian Year 12 qualification, Australian Qualifications Framework Diploma, or equivalent Australian or overseas qualification at the required level.
The English proficiency requirement for international students or local applicants with international qualifications is: Academic IELTS: 6.5 overall with a writing score of 6.0; or TOEFL: paper based: 550-583 overall with TWE of 4.5, internet based: 79-93 overall with a writing score of 21; or AE5: Pass; or PTE: 58-64; or CAE: 176-184.
Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.
International students
Visa requirement: To obtain a student visa to study in Australia, international students must enrol full time and on campus. Australian student visa regulations also require international students studying on student visas to complete the course within the standard full-time duration. Students can extend their courses only in exceptional circumstances.
