Double degree – double opportunity

Raahat Shaik is a final year Bachelor of Media/Law student, recently named Law Student of the Year at the Australian Law Awards and currently representing UNSW at the Centre for Transnational Legal Studies in London.

Her advice to anyone considering a double degree?

“Choose the subjects that genuinely fascinate you, even if the combination seems unusual at first. You will often discover far more overlap than you expected, and each discipline will give you a different way to think, communicate and solve problems.”

We asked Raahat 5 quick questions about her study path.

What inspired you to pursue your double degree?

As a child, I loved telling stories, but as I grew older, I also became more aware of the inequalities shaping people’s lives - and I wanted to do something about them. At school, writing for the student paper and taking part in debating drew me towards journalism and law, but at 17, I could not choose between storytelling and advocacy. Studying both has shown me that I never really had to choose.  

What's been the most rewarding part of studying two disciplines at once?

The most rewarding part has been discovering how much stronger each discipline makes me in the other. Law has sharpened the questions I ask and the way I analyse stories, while journalism has made me a more creative and persuasive advocate. Recently, I was honoured to be named Law Student of the Year at the Australian Law Awards and this was, in large part, due to my deliberate combination of the skills I gained in both of my degrees. 

How do you balance the workload and mindset shifts between the two fields?

A double degree may sound like double the work, but I have found that the variety actually makes the workload easier to manage. I rely heavily on Google Calendar and deliberately schedule studying for media courses when I feel most creative, and law courses when I know I will be most focused. Moving between the two disciplines keeps me engaged and gives me a refreshing change of pace.  

What are your post-graduation plans?

After graduating, I hope to work in policy reform at an NGO. My goal is to combine legal analysis with the communication and storytelling skills I have developed through media to make complex issues accessible and build support for meaningful reform. Ultimately, I want my work to contribute to a fairer and more just world.  

Can you share a highlight of your time at UNSW?

A major highlight has been being selected as one of five UNSW students to study global legal issues at the Centre for Transnational Legal Studies in London. My media experience formed part of my application, so the opportunity showed me that skills developed in one degree can open unexpected doors in the other. Learning alongside students and professors from around the world feels like an exciting next step in bringing my interests in storytelling and global justice together.