My thoughts are the same as Crobat and OzKo on this situation and the ''risks'' involved but it's really up to you.
Accept any law program and then transfer to UNSW Law if that's your ultimate passion; I hear more of people transferring through the external routes with lower marks than you'd expect than internally (iirc, there's less internal transfer positions available?).
Probably not, if we're talking about UNSW. In fact, I've heard stories (which may be true or not true because they might be only rumours) of UNSW accepting zero or very few external transfers into their combined law program in
some years. They only guarantee a minimum of 100 spots for their internal transfer program into combined law - it's very much unknown for external transfers.
However, external transfers do seem more favourable (relatively) if we're talking about USYD combined law.
@OP:
Here are my thoughts for the MACQ/UTS combined law option.
Advantage
- Not only do you have the option of an external transfer to USYD/UNSW combined law, you'll be at least doing a combined law program somewhere if it doesn't go as planned as mentioned.
Disadvantage
- Credit recognition might become problematic after an external transfer (for example, 2 of your subjects at UTS/MACQ might not be recognised by UNSW or USYD - this means you might be ''behind'' in your degree). However, there's always the options of summer school/overloading to ensure you finish your degree ''on time'' and if it comes to it, one extra semester isn't the end of the world.
If you do take the external transfer route, I can tell you that you'll probably get more credits recognised if you're going from MACQ to UNSW compared to from UTS to UNSW.
I don't know why people take the risk of doing a degree which they don't want to do just to be eligible for an internal transfer.
Unless you're extremely confident that you'll do well in 1st year (seriously, one can never know what might happen), basically this.
An UNSW internal transfer to combined law requires a WAM of approximately 80~
80 WAM is ''doable'' but it's not easy either.
Yes, there are success stories of internal transfers into combined law but some people make it sound as if it's guaranteed or something when advising people on their situation.
If you're fine with doing Commerce, as a single degree, in the worse case scenario - by all means go for the internal transfer option. However, if you're really set on doing commerce/law on the other hand and want maximum ''safety'', you should consider Crobat's suggestion.
I guess there's also the Juris Doctor alternative if the internal transfer option doesn't work out but it's up to you.