Master of Laws (Research) (LLMR) - LLR
CRICOS code (International applicants): 078845K
On-campus | Distance education | |
Semester intake: | Semester 1 (March) Semester 2 (July) | Semester 1 (March) Semester 2 (July) |
Campus: | Springfield, Toowoomba | - |
Fees: | Domestic full fee paying place International full fee paying place Research training scheme (RTS) | Domestic full fee paying place International full fee paying place Research training scheme (RTS) |
Standard duration: | 1.5 years full-time, up to 6 years part-time |
Contact us
Future Australian and New Zealand students | Future International students | Current students |
Freecall (within Australia): 1800 269 500 Phone (from outside Australia): +61 7 4631 5315 Email: study@usq.edu.au |
Phone: +61 7 4631 5543 Email: international@usq.edu.au |
Freecall (within Australia): 1800 007 252 Phone (from outside Australia): +61 7 4631 2285 Email usq.support@usq.edu.au |
Program aims
The Master of Laws by Research aims to produce graduates trained in legal research either for academic or professional purposes. The task of the Master of Laws by Research student is to undertake a significant piece of research and report it in a scholarly dissertation. The Master of Laws by Research aims to provide students with opportunities to explore the resolution of particular legal problems using specialist and theoretical knowledge and advanced techniques through conducting research in a specialised area of law, legal theory, comparative law or legal history or by conducting interdisciplinary studies in law
Program objectives
On successful completion of this program students will be able to:
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comprehend and evaluate developments in a chosen area of law and critically examine the relationship between those developments and contemporary theory
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identify, critically assess and apply selected research methodologies in law in terms of their theoretical status and their applicability for resolving contemporary legal and social problems
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undertake, interpret and evaluate legal research using acceptable principles and techniques
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create a scholarly document.
Admission requirements
Candidates for the Master of Laws by Research are required to have a minimum of a three or four year, Australian Qualifications Framework level 7 Bachelor degree in Law or equivalent from a recognised university.
On application, candidates must be able to provide an outline of the dissertation topic they intend to pursue.
Note: Admission to the Master of Laws by Research is dependent upon the Faculty's capacity to supervise the proposed project. Prospective candidates should contact the Faculty of Business, Education, Law and Arts for up-to-date information regarding research areas before preparing their project proposals.
Domestic and International Applicants from a non-English speaking background are required to satisfy .
If you do not meet the English language requirements you may apply to study a 精东传媒app-approved . On successful completion of the English language program, Applicants may be admitted to an Award Program.
Program fees
Domestic full fee paying place
Domestic full fee paying places are funded entirely through
the full fees paid by the student. Full fees vary depending on the
courses that are taken. You are able to calculate the fees for a particular
course via the
Domestic full fee paying students
may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called provided they meet the residency and citizenship
requirements.
Australian citizens, Permanent Humanitarian Visa
holders, Permanent Resident visa holders and New Zealand citizens
who will be resident outside Australia for the duration of their program
pay full tuition fees and are not eligible for .
International full fee paying place
International students pay full fees. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken and whether they are studied on-campus, via distance education/online. You are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the .
Research training scheme (RTS)
All Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and New Zealand citizens commencing a higher degree research program will have their tuition fees paid for by the Australian Federal Government under the Research Training Scheme (RTS). The RTS place entitles a student to a maximum period of four years exemption full time or 8 years part time on tuition fees for a Doctorate program and 2 years exemption full time or 4 years part time for Masters by Research programs. As part of the enrolment process students are required to submit proof of citizenship and transcripts of all previous academic study. It is with this documentation that USQ can determine the eligibility for RTS. Students who are eligible for RTS are:
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those who have not consumed any RTS previously
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those who have already utilised RTS and have successfully completed a research program. Once a student completes a higher degree research program full entitlements of RTS are restored.
Program structure
The Master of Laws by Research is a 12-unit research program comprising one unit of coursework and three Masters Dissertation courses (comprising eleven units of dissertation altogether). Students must successfully complete the following courses:
Course | Semester of offer Distance/Online |
Semester of offer Toowoomba campus |
Semester of offer Springfield campus |
LAW8001 Legal Research Methodology (one unit) | 1, 2 | 1, 2 | 1, 2 |
(one unit) | 1, 2 | 1, 2 | 1, 2 |
(two units) | 1, 2 | 1, 2 | 1, 2 |
(four units) | 1, 2 | 1, 2 | 1, 2 |
The Associate Dean Research may direct students to undertake other research courses or modules as required by their supervisory team as part of the 12 units.
The dissertation allows students to undertake in-depth, independent investigation in a chosen area of law, legal theory, comparative law or legal history or that involves interdisciplinary studies in law. To successfully complete six Masters Dissertation courses, students will be required to select a topic, develop a proposal, carry out supervised research, and submit a dissertation.
Other program requirements
Students must maintain good standing in this program. Please refer to the .
The Associate Dean Research may direct students to undertake another research course in place of or modules as part of . Students must have candidature for the Master of Laws by Research confirmed after the end of the equivalent of six months fulltime enrolment (4 units) and therefore after successful completion of:
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The courses (1) LAW8001 Legal Research Methodology ; (2) (or another research course if required by the supervisory team) and (3) .
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A dissertation proposal presented in accordance with Higher Degree by Research procedures with a minimum of a nominal grade of C from the Confirmation of Candidature panel.
Exit points
A student enrolled in the Master of Laws by Research who wishes to exit without completing the program, may on the basis of outstanding performance seek to transfer to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program. To be considered for acceptance into the PhD program, students will have:
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completed at least 8 units within the Master of Laws by Research
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a nominal GPA of 6 achieved from:
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a minimum grade of A for the course LAW8001 Legal Research Methodology and where applicable a minimum grade of A for another research course if required by the supervisory team
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a minimum grade of A for their research proposal from the Confirmation of Candidature panel
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achieved subsequent confirmation of Master's candidature by the Office of Research and Higher Degrees.
Note: Candidates will be required to meet the admission requirements of the PhD program and, if they are accepted, will be enrolled as provisional candidates with their status reviewed within 12 months for full-time enrolment or 24 months for part-time enrolment. Students may apply for credit in the PhD program based on the Master of Laws by Research units completed. Students who are eligible to transfer to the PhD after 8 units and take that option will be eligible for the Postgraduate Diploma of Legal Research.
Students who are unable to complete the Master of Laws by Research but have completed 4 units including LAW8001 Legal Research Methodology (or another research course if required by the supervisory team), , and a research proposal with a minimum grade of C from the Confirmation of Candidature panel will be eligible to exit with a Postgraduate Certificate of Legal Research.
Credit
Credit will not normally be granted for the Law Masters Dissertation courses. Claims for credit for previous study should be submitted prior to or at the time of enrolment in a program. Each claim will be assessed on individual merit in line with USQ policy. Credit approved in this program will not automatically apply to other programs offered by USQ.
Recommended enrolment pattern
Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, distance education or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.
Examples of recommended full-time and part-time enrolment patterns are set out in the table below. Students requiring assistance with their enrolment pattern should contact the Faculty of Business, Education, Law and Arts.
Course | Year of program and semester in which course is normally studied | Enrolment requirements | Comments | |||||
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On-campus (ONC) | Distance education (EXT) | Online (ONL) | ||||||
Year | Sem | Year | Sem | Year | Sem | |||
LAW8001 Legal Research Methodology | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 unit | |||
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 unit | ||||
1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | Pre-requisite: | 2 units | |||
1 | 2 | Pre-requisite: | 4 units | |||||
2 | 1 | Pre-requisite: | 4 units | |||||
2 | 1 | Pre-requisite: | 2 units | |||||
2 | 2 | Pre-requisite: | 2 units | |||||
3 | 1 | Pre-requisite: | 2 units | |||||
3 | 2 | Pre-requisite: | 2 units |