Key facts

Entry requirements

Entry is based on a bachelor qualification with second-class honours or higher qualification in law, or you have a Masters in Law with admission in a legal practice and full-time relevant professional experience.

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Duration
  • 2 years full-time
  • Up to 4 years part-time
Fees
  • International
  • Research Training Program
View more fees information
CRICOS code
  • 051776G
Start Dates and Campus
Research Period 1Research Period 2
OnlineOfferedOffered
Armidale CampusOfferedOffered
Sydney CampusNot OfferedNot Offered

Course information

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The UNE Master of Laws (Research) provides a program of flexible learning and independent research for high-calibre graduates in Law to make a substantial and original contribution to an academic field of legal knowledge. You will develop advanced skills in how to write for, research, argue and apply the law and build your critical thinking via an advanced program of self-led research and training, with support from our academic team from start to finish.

This course is taught by UNE’s highly experienced staff in the School of Law, Australia’s largest law school outside a capital city. World-class teaching staff, a thriving research culture and unique perspective on regional, rural and remote legal issues will provide you with access to an engaging program of research and specialist skills that employers are looking for.

Build on your expertise, hone your research skills and apply your knowledge regardless of your chosen research pathway.

Why study the Master of Laws (Research) with UNE?

Our Master of Laws (Research) aims to develop and deepen your knowledge and advanced research skills. You will undertake legal research on a significant legal topic in a scholarly dissertation, either for academic or professional purposes. The course will provide you with theoretical knowledge and relevant research methodologies for conducting advanced research in a specialised area of law, including legal theory, corporate law, comparative law, biotechnology and intellectual property law, human rights, international law or legal history or interdisciplinary studies of law and policy.

As part of your study, you will complete a major thesis with supervision and guidance from leading legal researchers.

By focusing on an area of law that engages your interest, you will have the opportunity to investigate, think independently, and develop solutions to legal problems through in-depth study and research. Not only will you develop advanced skills in research methodologies and techniques, you will also gain a solid research foundation for professional practice in your chosen area of law.

You will graduate with a sharpened analytical mind and a range of portable and adaptable skills, ready to take advantage of new professional opportunities in a rapidly changing landscape.

What makes our course different?

The depth and breadth of this course makes it an ideal pathway to refine your skills and develop specialist expertise in legal areas that reflect your interests. You will have the opportunity to:

  • Build a solid foundation in critical thinking and analysis alongside an advanced understanding of research methodology, theory and practice.
  • Be part of UNE's vibrant, research-led School of Law, Australia's largest law school outside a capital city with expertise in legal issues related to regional, remote and rural Australia — not just metropolitan areas.
  • Gain versatile knowledge and skills to apply to new legal careers which are emerging as a result of new technology developments.
  • Develop an advanced knowledge of research principles and methods applicable to your chosen area.
  • Build an expert understanding of your chosen academic field of knowledge, grounded in contemporary developments in education and research.
  • Expand your skills as an independent researcher, working on your own findings to contribute new insights to the legal profession and academic field.
  • Hone your ability to evaluate ideas and make informed judgements on complex issues in law, while expanding your understanding of the social and cultural importance of legal work.
  • Progress to a PhD should you wish to continue your research career.

If you are an Australian or New Zealand student and meet the criteria for entry to the Master of Laws (Research), you may be funded under the Australian Government’s Research Training Program (RTP) and may not incur tuition fees for the duration of the course. If you are an international student, you will incur tuition fees.

Internal funding is available to support research projects and UNE offers a range of scholarships for Higher Degree Research students.

Study online

Most of our students choose to study online across three study periods with 24/7 tutor support* and fit study around work and family commitments. Uniquely, our online students are mostly over 30 and bring valuable experience with them. They form a community of adults juggling the same challenges and priorities and who bring their life and work experience together at UNE in order to become future-fit and better respond to a rapidly changing world.

Study on campus

Many of our students choose to take advantage of the on-campus lifestyle in Armidale, in the beautiful New England region, with access to unparalleled support, accommodation and sporting facilities. These students are often starting their first degree and have left school recently. Through access to academic and career support they get a fantastic start to their careers.

* 24/7 tutor support includes: essay feedback (within 24 hours); live chat 24/7 for generic feedback on academic writing; and subject-specific help at a foundation or first-year level for subjects including mathematics, chemistry, biology, physics, business, accounting, microeconomics, macroeconomics and statistics. There are also a wide range of workshops, resources and courses available in academic skills support to assist you and help you to succeed.

Entry requirements

To be eligible to apply for this course you must meet one of the following entry requirements:

  • You have completed one of the following qualifications in law (or their overseas equivalents):
    • Bachelor Honours (AQF Level 8) with a minimum result of second class honours
    • Master (AQF Level 9)
    • Doctorate (AQF Level 10)
  • You have completed an AQF Level 7 or AQF Level 9 qualification in law leading to admission to legal practice and you have a minimum of two years of full-time (or part-time equivalent) relevant professional experience.

Eligibility for admission is reviewed by the Associate Dean Research (ADR) or delegate.

The Director Graduate Research has final authority for approving admission to research higher degrees.

All admissions are subject to the HDR Admission and Enrolment Policy.

All applicants must meet the English Language Requirements for all Higher Degree by Research candidates (see English Language Requirements higher than the University Minimum Annex).

See our Glossary for help with university terms.

These requirements are in addition to the entry requirements above.

English Language Requirements

When applying you may be required to show how you satisfy the English Language Requirements for this course.

International applicants, please note: You may also need to show evidence of your English language proficiency to the Department of Home Affairs if you are applying for a Student Visa.

Some courses require you to provide documentary evidence, or interviews to support your application. The following documents are required to support your application:

  • Previous qualifications documentation. You must provide a certified/notarised copy of your official transcript(s) and certificate(s) for all previous secondary and tertiary study. You do not need to provide transcripts for any previous study completed at UNE. For information on getting your documents certified/notarised, please refer to our Document Certification Guidelines.
  • Evidence of supervision. You must provide evidence that at least one UNE academic staff member has agreed to support your application/supervise your research. For example, email communication with your proposed supervisor.
  • Research proposal. You must submit a research proposal which you will complete in consultation with your potential supervisor. Your proposal must not be longer than three A4 pages. Please refer to the HDR Application Guidelines for the suggested format.
  • Referee reports. You must nominate two people (preferably external to UNE) who can testify to your academic achievements. You will need to contact your referees prior to lodging your application and request that they complete the online HDR Referee Report form. UNE cannot request these reports on your behalf.
  • Proof of identity and citizenship. All documents provided must be a certified/notarised copy. Australian citizens must provide a birth certificate, passport or citizenship certificate. New Zealand citizens must provide a passport and visa. Australian Permanent Residents must provide a passport and visa, and the date you became a permanent resident. International applicants must provide a passport, and evidence of the country you hold citizenship in; for example, a foreign government identity card.
  • Evidence of English Language Requirements satisfied. If you have completed a UNE-approved English test within the past two years, please provide a copy of the test results with your application.

Advanced Standing is credit or recognition of your previous study, work and/or life experience. This can reduce the cost and length of your studies.

You can apply for Advanced Standing for the unit LLM500 Research Methodology and Theory if you have previously completed this unit (or its equivalent) as part of a completed postgraduate qualification, or through other significant learning which the Head of School considers equivalent. The relevant Associate Dean Research or delegate will assess and approve Advanced Standing as part of your admission to candidature.

Fees and scholarships

How much will it cost?

Estimated fees for your first year of study in this course are:

Fee typeCost
International
$30,200*
Research Training Program
$0*
Estimated amenities fee per year if studying full-time$351
*For more information, visit our Research Training Program page. Please note that International fees are a guide only and will vary depending on the discipline you are applying for. Please visit our Visa and Fees page for more details.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available for both Domestic and International Higher Degree Research (HDR) Students. HDR scholarships can include funding for many things including tuition fees, living allowance stipends, relocation, travel and research specific projects. There are also targeted scholarships for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

HDR Scholarships are confidential and the application process is free. Please visit the HDR scholarships webpage for current scholarship opportunities.

Your career

Career outcomes

By completing the UNE Master of Laws by research program, you can apply your specialised knowledge and skills to a wide range of career opportunities in any business and organisation dealing with legal requirements. Career options include:

  • legal aid agencies, advocacy organisations and commercial law firms
  • government departments
  • banking, finance and commerce
  • business management
  • education
  • policy, research and analysis.
Other career information

The Master of Laws (Research) equips you with a portfolio of contemporary research skills to apply to a wide range of professions and the option to progress to a PhD should you wish to continue your research pathway.

Course outcomes

The Master of Laws (Research) aims to enable candidates to develop and deepen their knowledge and advanced research skills through undertaking legal research on a significant legal topic in a scholarly dissertation, either for academic or professional purposes. The course also aims to provide candidates with theoretical knowledge and relevant advanced research methodologies for conducting advanced research in a specialised area of law, including legal theory, corporate law, comparative law, biotechnology and intellectual property law, human rights, international law or legal history or interdisciplinary studies of law and policy.
  1. demonstrate advanced skills in research analysis and the written or oral communication of complex ideas;
  2. demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of legal theories in a chosen area of law or interdisciplinary studies in law and critical examination of the relationship between those theories and contemporary legal and social problems;
  3. demonstrate advanced knowledge of, and an ability to apply, selected methodological approaches to legal research in order to identify and critically analyse complex legal and policy problems;
  4. apply higher-level legal writing, research and communication skills in order to apply the results of their specialised knowledge effectively for resolving contemporary legal and social problems; and
  5. demonstrate an advanced ability to undertake, interpret and develop a legal research project using appropriate principles and research techniques in order to produce a scholarly dissertation.
Knowledge of a Discipline

Students are presented with appropriate teaching and assessment experiences to enable them to develop and demonstrate comprehensive knowledge in a chosen area of law or an area involving the interdisciplinary study of law. Students are taught and encouraged to take a global perspective in evaluating the law, legal theories and related public policy.

Communication Skills

Students are taught and trained to demonstrate high-level scholarly written and oral communication skills which must be demonstrated in the final dissertation. The foundational unit has been designed to facilitate student interaction and collarboration with their peers and for them to practise the skills of communicating effectively and confidently both orally and in writing.

Problem Solving

The primary focus of any legal and interdisciplinary research is on seeking legal and practical solutions to complex legal and social problems. This is assessed through the written dissertation.

Information Literacy

Students are assessed on their ability to use advanced legal research methods through assessment of their dissertation.

Ethical Conduct and Social Responsibility

Students are encouraged throughout the course to reflect critically on the impact of the law on society. The foundational unit on research methodology and theory requires reflection on the requirements of ethical research, and this is reinforced through supervision at an individual level.

Lifelong Learning

The skills acquired and developed through research and problem solving will provide the students with self-motivated learning and research techniques for their future challenges.

Independence and Collaboration

While students in this course are predominantly working independently, they are introduced to the collegial nature of research through their participation in the foundational unit on research methodology and theory. Students in this unit are encouraged to work in collaboration with their peers, engaging empathetically and insightfully with them, to achieve agreed outcomes.

A five-star experience

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Five Stars,
18 Years in a Row

UNE is the only public uni in Australia awarded 18 straight years of five stars for Overall Experience

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No.1 in NSW for
Student Experience

QILT (government-endorsed) ranks UNE as the top public NSW uni for Student Experience

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Five Stars for
Teaching Quality

UNE rates among the top 20 per cent of universities in Australia for Teaching Quality

Good Universities Guide 2024
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Studying online

At UNE we know it takes more than just being online to be a great online university. It takes time and experience. We pioneered distance education for working adults back in the 1950s, so we’ve been doing this longer than any other Australian university.

We understand the challenges faced by busy adults studying at home. We know that a vital part of online study is your engagement with the learning community. Communication with your classmates, teaching staff and university support staff will enhance your study experience and ensure that your skills extend beyond the subject matter. UNE’s teaching staff are experts in their field which is why UNE consistently receives five stars from students for teaching quality, support and overall experience.*

*The Good Universities Guide

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Why study with us?

UNE student Breezy Altmann studies on her laptop while commuting by train

The advantage of online study is that I can be flexible and adjust this schedule if circumstances change and other commitments arise.

Breezy Altmann

How to apply

Applying to UNE is quick and easy. You can apply for this course at any time — there are no closing dates for applications.

If you would like to apply for a scholarship, closing dates do apply and are specific to each individual scholarship. Please see the HDR Scholarships webpage for further information.

Preparing to apply

The documents you will need to include in your application depend on:

  • Your chosen HDR program
  • Your personal circumstances

Please review the course rules and entry requirements above before you apply. If you have any questions or need help with your application please contact the Graduate Research School team.

Important Notice for Prospective Students

For accurate, up-to-date details on entry requirements, course structure, and other essential information, please consult the UNE Student Handbook before applying or enrolling. The Handbook provides comprehensive guidance to assist in your decision-making process. We apologise for any inconvenience.