Law

If you are interested in a specific field in business but also want a background in law, the specialised BCom with Law degree is a good option.

Overview

The Bachelor of Commerce with Law (BCom) is a full-time 3 year degree.

If you want to practise law, you need at least an LLB degree. While it is possible to enter an LLB at first-year undergraduate level, you are encouraged to complete a BCom or BA degree first, preferably with law as one of your majors. This gives you a feeling for general law subjects before you commit to studying law. It also develops your knowledge and skills in other disciplines, which will be useful when you practise law.

If you want to work in corporate law, either for a law firm or in the legal department of large organisations, you should do a BCom(Law) with a second major in Finance, Management, Accounting, Taxation, or any other BCom major.

However, if you want to work in human rights law, family law, constitutional law, or international law, you should begin your legal studies with a BA(Law) and pair this with courses like politics, sociology, economics, or languages.

Both the BCom(Law) and BA(Law) routes into the LLB include introductory and core LLB courses, taken over three years, which will be your majors.

You can then complete your LLB degree over two years, with credits accrued during the undergraduate degree awarded towards your LLB.

Career Opportunities

A law degree equips you for many exciting careers in the legal profession, in industry and commerce, or in government and the diplomatic corps. Other areas include:

  • Professional counselling
  • Negotiation and conflict resolution
  • Legal officer
  • Legal, risk and compliance consultant
  • Compliance officer
  • Legal advisor

Curriculum

First-year
  • Introduction to Law
  • Law of Persons
  • Economics IA (Microeconomics)
  • Economics IB (Macroeconomics)

OR

  • Economic Theory IA (Microeconomics for Economists)
  • Economic Theory IB (Macroeconomics for Economists)

AND

  • Computational Mathematics I
  • Business Statistics I
  • Fundamentals of Information Systems

OR

  • Information Systems IA
Second-year
  • Family Law
  • Constitutional Law
  • Constitutional Law: Bill of Rights

A total of 72 credits must be taken from the following courses:
At least 48 credits must make up the second year level of your second major.

  • Corporate Finance II
  • Investment II
  • Principles of Management IIA
  • Principles of Management IIB (Entrepreneurship)
  • Economics IIA
  • Economics IIB
  • Consumer Behaviour
  • Principles of Marketing
  • Integrated Marketing Communications
  • Retail Management
  • Human Resources IIA
  • Human Resources IIB (Labour relations)
  • Insurance and Risk Management IIA
  • Insurance and Risk Management IIB
  • Information Systems IIA
  • Information Systems IIB
Third-year
  • Criminal Law
  • Delict
  • Jurisprudence

A total of 72 credits must be taken from the following courses provided you have done the equivalent in the second year of study:

  • Investment and Corporate Finance III
  • Operations Management
  • Project Management
  • Innovation and Intrapreneurship Management
  • Strategic Management
  • Economic Science III

OR

  • Economic Theory III

OR

  • Applied Development Economics III
  • Insurance and Risk Management III
  • Marketing IIIA
  • Marketing IIIB
  • Compensation and Benefits
  • Human Resources and Individual Performance
  • Human Resources and Organisational Performance
  • Organisational Theory
  • Management and Application of Information Systems
  • Information Systems Development Project

Entry Requirements

APS 43+
English Home Language OR First Additional Language Level 5
Mathematics Level 5

Wait-listing

Applicants with an APS of 35-42, as well as English Level 6 and Mathematics Level 6, will be wait-listed subject to place availability.

University Application Process

  • The Student Enrolment Centre at Wits handles all student applications.
  • Please click here for an overview of the application process. 
  • Check the admission requirements for your degree. Check if any additional selection requirements apply. 
  • Submit your application, required documentation and application fee before the closing date.
  • Once you have applied, an admissions consultant will be assigned to your application.
  • Applicants can monitor the progress of their applications via the Self Service Portal.
  • If you are an international applicant and/or have a foreign qualification, please click here.

Compliance with the minimum requirements does not guarantee a place at the University. The University has a specific number of places for first year undergraduates, approved by the Department of Higher Education and Training. Final selection is made subject to the availability of places, academic results and other entry requirements where applicable.

University Fees and Funding

Click here to see the current average tuition fees for the first year of study. The Fees website also provides information about the payment of fees and closing dates for fees payments. Once you have applied you will be able to access the fees estimator on the student self-service portal. 

The Financial aid office provides information on student funding and scholarships. University-funded Scholarships include Vice-Chancellor's Scholarships, University Entrance Scholarships, Equality Scholarships, Sports Scholarships and National Olympiad winner awards. For information about NSFAS funding, please visit the NSFAS website. External bursaries portal: The Bursaries South Africa website provides a comprehensive list of bursaries in South Africa.

Wits Plus applicants: terms of payment are in accordance with University regulations, and students are not eligible for University bursaries/NSFAS or residential accommodation.