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Overview

The Master of Laws by Coursework offers a flexible and specialised opportunity for law and non-law graduates to develop an advanced, integrated and contemporary understanding of one or more areas of legal study, some of which call for cross-disciplinary perspectives, depending entirely on the student's areas of interests. Courses offered … For more content click the Read More button below.

Learning Outcomes

1.
Advanced legal knowledge - LLM graduates will have, and be able to demonstrate: (a) An advanced, integrated and contemporary understanding of one or more areas of legal study, including relevant doctrines and/or theories, international and comparative perspectives and recent developments as relevant to those areas; and (b) Advanced knowledge of research principles and methods applicable to those areas of legal study.
  • Scholars
  • Global citizens
  • Professionals
2.
Independent learning, critical thinking and problem solving - LLM graduates will have, and be able to demonstrate the ability to: (a) Investigate, absorb and critically analyse complex legal, theoretical and/or professional documents and legal academic writing, and to synthesise and apply such sources in evaluating existing debates, analysing and solving existing problems, and confronting new issues and controversies; and (b) Engage in independent, enquiry-based learning with a high degree of personal autonomy, in particular by undertaking independent research and critical, analytical studies on specialised topics relevant to the areas of law studied.
  • Scholars
  • Leaders
3.
Communication and interaction - LLM graduates will have, and be able to demonstrate: (a) The ability to communicate complex legal, theoretical and/or professionally relevant subject matter effectively, both in writing and orally, to diverse audiences; and (b) Skills in working collaboratively, in particular through discussion of legal texts, theoretical propositions, methodologies and legal problems with peers and teaching staff.
  • Scholars
4.
Proven ability to apply knowledge and skills - LLM graduates will have demonstrated their ability to apply their advanced legal knowledge and their analytical and communication skills creatively and with a high degree of autonomy, in a variety of practical and/or theoretical contexts, including by successfully planning and executing at least one independent, substantial research-based project.
  • Scholars
  • Professionals
  • Leaders

Graduate Capabilities

For more information on Graduate Capabilities please click on this link

Program Structure

Students must complete 48 UOC when taken as a standalone program.

The LLM by Coursework may be taken full-time in 3 terms or part-time in a minimum of 4 terms. Students must undertake and satisfactorily complete 8 term-long courses or the equivalent. A total of 48 units of credit (UOC) is required for the award of the degree.

Students may, but are not required to, elect to complete a major sequence of courses, known as a specialisation (see below), which will be recognised on the student testamur.

Postgraduate courses are taught in a variety of formats during the University's formal academic terms. While some are taught for three hours per week over a teaching term, in others the class hours are arranged more intensively to permit students to focus fully on a research project.

Not every course available within the LLM is offered each year.

Foundation Courses

Specialisation Requirements

Cross-Disciplinary Electives

Law Electives

Research Thesis

Research-based Electives12 Units of Credit:

Enrolment Disclaimer

Please note that this Handbook is a comprehensive catalogue of our offerings and includes courses that can be taken to satisfy program requirements irrespective as to their availability for a particular year. Availability of courses is best checked using filters on this site or on the class timetable site.

You are responsible for ensuring that you enrol in courses according to your program requirements and by following the advice of your Program Authority. myUNSW enrolment checks that you have met enrolment requirements such as pre-requisites for individual courses but not that you are enrolling in courses that will count towards your program requirements.

Admission Requirements

Entry Requirements

Minimum Entry Requirements

Limitations on Recognition of Prior Learning

Special Admission Requirements

Other

For more information about admission requirements for various UNSW programs, visit the following website(s):
Domestic Students
International Student

Program Requirements

Progression Requirements

For more information on university policy on progression requirements please visit Academic Progression

Associated Programs

Related Double Degree

Master of Laws - LLM
Master of Business Administration - MBA9225 - Law / Business Administration (Part-time)

Recognition of Achievement

Award with Excellence
Current Students Award with Excellence
For more information, please visit:
The Award with Excellence is awarded in coursework masters programs, including Masters (Extension) but with the exception of Masters (Extended) such as JD and MD, when a Weighted Average Mean (WAM) of at least 80% has been achieved and at least 50% of the requirements of the award are completed at UNSW. All eligible programs will award 'with Excellence' except in special circumstances where approval of Academic Board has been given for a program to opt out.

Additional Information

Enrolment and Progression

A candidate for the degree shall be required to undertake such formal courses and pass such assessment as is prescribed.

FOUNDATION COURSES PE

Students with a degree from any discipline other than law must complete the following two courses (12 UOC) in their first or second term: 

  • LAWS8213 Legal Concepts, Research and Writing 6 UOC
  • LAWS8214 Global Common Law Systems 6 UOC.

Note: Students who have completed a law degree with a non-common law background must complete only LAWS8214 Global Common Law Systems (6 UOC) in their first or second term. Students who have completed a law degree may not
undertake LAWS8213 Legal Concepts Research and Writing as part of their program.

No candidate shall be awarded the degree until the lapse of three academic terms from the date of enrolment in the case of a full-time candidate or four terms in the case of a part-time candidate. The maximum period of candidature shall be six terms from the date of enrolment for a full-time candidate and nine terms for a part-time candidate. In special cases an extension of these times may be granted by the Postgraduate Director.

Program Fees

At UNSW fees are generally charged at course level and therefore dependent upon individual enrolment and other factors such as student's residency status. For generic information on fees and additional expenses of UNSW programs, click on one of the following:

Domestic Students
Commonwealth Supported Students (if applicable)
International Students

Pre-2019 Handbook Editions

Access past handbook editions (2018 and prior)
Pre-2019 Handbook Editions