Master of Laws

Advance your understanding of the law.

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The UNSW Master of Laws (LLM) is a highly regarded and internationally recognised postgraduate course designed to expand your legal knowledge and accelerate your career.

Suitable for legal practitioners and non-law professionals, this flexible degree provides the opportunity to tailor your program to your goals, whether that’s advancing your existing practice or providing entry into a new field. 

 
Faculty
Faculty of Law and Justice
Delivery Mode
Face-to-face (includes blended)
Award
Master of Laws
Commencing Terms
Term 1, Term 2, Term 3
Duration (Full Time)
1 Year(s)

Overview

The UNSW Master of Laws (LLM) is a one-year full-time postgraduate degree that offers you the opportunity to develop an advanced and contemporary understanding of one or more areas of legal study, acquire further expertise and enhance your career prospects.

You can choose from eight specialisation areas that reflect UNSW Law & Justice’s expertise and the latest developments in legal scholarship. Our LLM areas of specialisation include:

Alternatively, you can complete a generalist program and benefit from choosing courses across our specialisations.

Please note this program is not a pathway to legal practice. Students looking for a postgraduate qualification enabling them to practice law should instead consider UNSW's Juris Doctor.

 

Key features

  • Learn up-to-date knowledge and skills. We review our LLM program continuously to ensure the curriculum is tailored to meet the industry's evolving needs and offers the latest legal education innovations.
  • Specialise in one of our eight specialisation areas or generalise to undertake a broad range of courses across our areas of expertise.
  • Benefit from flexible course delivery, with a combination of intensive or weekly classes (including evenings) and a mix of online or in class, to suit various learning preferences and help you balance work and family commitments.
  • Choose from a range of cross-disciplinary electives across UNSW’s faculties, including Business, Medicine, Science, Engineering and Arts, Design & Architecture.
  • Learn from, network and engage with a diverse cohort of students and teachers with interdisciplinary perspectives in their fields.

Why study this degree at UNSW?

World-class Scholarship
Learn from the minds at the forefront of research and industry knowledge at UNSW Law & Justice, ranked 1st in Sydney and 13th in the world*. Access the highest teaching quality among Australia’s research-intensive law faculty within the Group of Eight (Go8) universities.

Exclusive Career Support
Graduate career-ready with UNSW Law & Justice’s in-house careers service, dedicated to our students and alumni. The service includes a jobs board and a range of resources, presentations and workshops to maximise your employability.

Engage with World-recognised Centres
UNSW Law & Justice is home to leading academics in our China International Business and Economic Law (CIBEL) Centre ; Centre for Crime, Law and Justice (CCLJ); Indigenous Law Centre; National Children and Youth Law Centre; Andrew & Renata Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law; and The Allens Hub for Technology, Law & Innovation. Students have opportunities to undertake internships during their LLM program

Global Student Opportunities
Gain global perspectives by studying other countries’ legal systems through overseas electives in China, the USA, Switzerland, India, Vanuatu and Chile.

*QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2023

 
Program Code
9201
CRICOS Code
000733G
Campus
Kensington
Total Units of Credit (UOC)
48
Indicative Enrolments
151

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Entry requirements

The UNSW LLM is open to law and non-law graduates. If you’re applying to the program with a non-law degree or with a law degree from a non-common law country, you’ll need to incorporate compulsory core courses into your program.

To be eligible for the Master of Laws by Coursework, you must have any of the following:

  1. a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) (Honours) degree with a credit average from UNSW Sydney or a qualification considered equivalent from another university or tertiary institution.
  2. a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree with a credit average from UNSW Sydney or a qualification considered equivalent from another university or tertiary institution.
  3. a Juris Doctor degree with a credit average from UNSW Sydney or a qualification considered equivalent from another university or tertiary institution.
  4. a bachelor's degree in social sciences or humanities with a credit average, from UNSW Sydney or a qualification considered equivalent from another university or tertiary institution.
  5. a Juris Doctor degree or a bachelor's degree in laws, Social Sciences or Humanities from UNSW Sydney or a qualification considered equivalent from another university or tertiary institution with a minimum of two years of relevant professional experience;
  6. a bachelor's degree from UNSW Sydney with a credit average or a qualification considered equivalent from another university or tertiary institution and a minimum of two years of relevant professional experience.

For (5) and (6), relevant professional experience could include professional experience in legal and policy issues gained as an officer in local government; consulting on legal and policy issues; an officer/manager or similar for state or federal government agency with responsibility for legal and policy issues; corporate auditing, monitoring or managing legal and policy issues; project management with a legal or policy focus; NGO or international organisation responsible for law or policy reform.

Credit Transfer Policy
If you've completed postgraduate law courses at another tertiary institution or in another UNSW degree, you may be eligible for a credit transfer. Find out more in the Credit Transfer Rules and Regulations.

English language requirements

 

You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on your educational background and citizenship. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.

If you’re completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (e.g. NSW HSC or equivalent), you do not need to provide anything extra to prove your proficiency. Your qualification will be used as evidence of your English proficiency.

If you do need to provide evidence of your English proficiency, this will be indicated in your application. You can prove this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:

If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.

The UNSW LLM is open to law and non-law graduates. If you’re applying to the program with a non-law degree or with a law degree from a non-common law country, you’ll need to incorporate compulsory core courses into your program.

To be eligible for the Master of Laws by Coursework, you must have any of the following:

  1. a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) (Honours) degree with a credit average from UNSW Sydney or a qualification considered equivalent from another university or tertiary institution.
  2. a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree with a credit average from UNSW Sydney or a qualification considered equivalent from another university or tertiary institution.
  3. a Juris Doctor degree with a credit average from UNSW Sydney or a qualification considered equivalent from another university or tertiary institution.
  4. a bachelor's degree in social sciences or humanities with a credit average, from UNSW Sydney or a qualification considered equivalent from another university or tertiary institution.
  5. a Juris Doctor degree or a bachelor's degree in laws, Social Sciences or Humanities from UNSW Sydney or a qualification considered equivalent from another university or tertiary institution with a minimum of two years of relevant professional experience;
  6. a bachelor's degree from UNSW Sydney with a credit average or a qualification considered equivalent from another university or tertiary institution and a minimum of two years of relevant professional experience.

For (5) and (6), relevant professional experience could include professional experience in legal and policy issues gained as an officer in local government; consulting on legal and policy issues; an officer/manager or similar for state or federal government agency with responsibility for legal and policy issues; corporate auditing, monitoring or managing legal and policy issues; project management with a legal or policy focus; NGO or international organisation responsible for law or policy reform.

Credit Transfer Policy
If you've completed postgraduate law courses at another tertiary institution or in another UNSW degree, you may be eligible for a credit transfer. Find out more in the Credit Transfer Rules and Regulations.

English language requirements


You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on whether you are from an English-speaking background or non-English speaking background. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.

If English is not your first language, you’ll need to provide proof of your English proficiency before you can be given an offer to study at UNSW. You can do this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:

If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.

Check the specific English language requirements for this program

Program structure

You can complete the UNSW Master of Laws (LLM) in one year of full-time study or part-time across four or more terms. You’ll choose from eight specialisation areas or complete a generalist program and choose a combination of courses from any of our specialisations. To be awarded an LLM with a specialisation, you must complete at least four courses in your chosen field.

Full program structure

In this degree, you’ll study eight courses (48 units of credit), including the option to undertake:

  • foundation courses, if required
  • a specialisation made up of a four-course sequence or a generalist program
  • cross-disciplinary electives from across UNSW’s faculties
  • a substantial independent legal research project.

If you choose to complete a specialisation (made up of a major sequence of four courses), you’ll receive the name of the specialisation in parentheses after 'Master of Laws' on your testamur.

Leading academics and industry professionals will teach your courses in various formats throughout the UNSW academic calendar's three terms. Some of your classes will run for three hours per week over a teaching term, while in others, courses may arrange the class hours more intensively to allow you to focus entirely on your research project. Courses are offered either online or involve in-person classes. Depending on what courses you choose, it may be possible to complete your LLM fully online.

To help you plan your timetable, you can view the 2023 Postgraduate course offerings for the UNSW Master of Laws as well as the 2024 Postgraduate course offerings. 
Go to the handbook

Future careers

You'll graduate with advanced, integrated and up-to-date legal knowledge that you can apply to a broad range of law and non-law career opportunities.

Law graduates will find this program appealing as it allows them to acquire a new field of legal knowledge for a career change, career advancement or professional development. For non-law graduates, the acquired legal knowledge and skills will help them understand how the law works in their industry.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted through our Apply Online portal. We encourage you to submit your completed application as early as possible to ensure it will be processed in time for your preferred term. Some high-demand programs and Faculties with limited places may have an earlier application deadline or commencement date. Find out more.

Ready to start your application?

Apply now

For most international students, applications are submitted via our Apply Online service. We encourage you to submit your completed application as early as possible to ensure it will be processed in time for your preferred term.

Some high-demand programs with limited places, may have an earlier application deadline or may have an earlier commencement date. For more information visit our international applicant information page.

Ready to start your application?

Apply now

Fees & Scholarships

2023 Indicative First Year Full Fee
$38,255*
2023 Indicative Full Fee to Complete Degree
$38,255*

*Fees are subject to annual review by the University and may increase annually, with the new fees effective from the start of each calendar year. The indicative fees listed here are based on an estimated average and are for tuition only other fees and charges are not included. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year to enrol, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (8 courses per year).

Indicative fees are a guide for comparison only based on current conditions and available data. You should not rely on indicative fees. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.

Indicative fees to complete the program have been calculated based on a percentage increase for every year of the program. Fee increases are assessed annually and may exceed the indicative figures listed here.
2023 Indicative First Year Fee
$44,085*
2023 Indicative Fee to Complete Degree
$44,085*

*Fees are subject to annual review by the University and may increase annually, with the new fees effective from the start of each calendar year. The indicative fees listed here are based on an estimated average and are for tuition only other fees and charges are not included. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year to enrol, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (8 courses per year).

Indicative fees are a guide for comparison only based on current conditions and available data. You should not rely on indicative fees. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.

Indicative fees to complete the program have been calculated based on a percentage increase for every year of the program. Fee increases are assessed annually and may exceed the indicative figures listed here.

Indicative fees to complete the program include tuition plus an estimate of study-related costs of approximately $1,000 per year. To find out more about other costs, visit UNSW International.

Scholarships


At UNSW, we award over $83 million in scholarships each year. We pride ourselves on rewarding excellence and making university accessible to students from all walks of life. Whether you’re a domestic or international student, our range of scholarships, prizes and awards can support your journey.

Featured scholarship

UNSW Scientia PhD Scholarship Scheme

High-achieving students may be able to develop a research interest throughout their masters studies capable of being developed into a PhD research proposal suitable for the annual UNSW Scientia PhD Scholarship scheme.

Featured scholarship

UNSW Law & Justice International Award (PUCA1028)

This award was established to empower the brightest and most passionate international students to achieve their goals through their studies at UNSW Law & Justice.
Explore Scholarships
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