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This program is currently undergoing internal reaccreditation. This may result in changes to the program for 2022.

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Program aims

The Master of Laws (by coursework) is designed for Australian and overseas law graduates. Students will be able to both broaden and deepen their knowledge of the law and enhance their independent critical thinking and research skills. The program enables students to achieve a high standard of professional writing and research relevant to contemporary issues in law and practice. The program includes specialisations that allow for students to concentrate deeply on one or two fields of law, and develop expertise, knowledge and skills.

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Program objectives

On successful completion of this program students will be able to:

1. evaluate developments in chosen areas of law, and critically examine the relationship between those developments and contemporary theory or practice

2. demonstrate advanced knowledge of the impact of globalisation or other legal systems on the substance, theory and practice of Australian law

3. undertake, interpret and evaluate legal research using advanced legal research methodologies and techniques

4. articulate advanced knowledge of law in written or oral presentations.

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Australian Qualifications Framework

The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is a single national, comprehensive system of qualifications offered by higher education institutions (including universities), vocational education and training institutions and secondary schools. Each AQF qualification has a set of descriptors which define the type and complexity of knowledge, skills and application of knowledge and skills that a graduate who has been awarded that qualification has attained, and the typical volume of learning associated with that qualification type.

This program is at AQF Qualification Level 09. Graduates at this level will have specialised knowledge and skills for research, and/or professional practice and/or further learning.

The full set of levels criteria and qualification type descriptors can be found by visiting .

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Admission requirements

To be eligible for admission, applicants must satisfy the following requirements:

• Completion of an Australian university Bachelor of Laws degree, Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree, Juris Doctor degree, or equivalent.

• English Language Proficiency requirements for Category 3.

Applicants who do not hold a law degree but have an equivalent qualification approved by a legal profession admissions board are also eligible to apply for entry. Students with qualifications not designed and accredited to lead to legal practice are not eligible to apply. Advanced standing may be available to students with a four-year Bachelor of Laws degree, Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree or a Juris Doctor degree.

All students are required to satisfy the applicable .

If students do not meet the English language requirements they may apply to study a ¾«¶«´«Ã½app-approved . On successful completion of the English language program, students may be admitted to an award program.

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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. Students 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. Students are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the .

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Program structure

The Master of Laws consists of 12 courses, each of one unit, and has the following structure:

• core (4 units) – 1 foundation core course and three from a specified list

• 8 units (students must complete at least one 4-unit named specialisation and either a second named specialisation or any other four courses from the program).

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Required time limits

Students have a maximum of 6 years to complete this program.

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Core courses

Specific specialisations

In this section:

• Commercial Law
• Comparative Law
• International Law
• Public Law
• Sustainable Development Law

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Commercial Law

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Comparative Law

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International Law

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Public Law

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Sustainable Development Law

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IT requirements

For information technology requirements please refer to the .

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Other program requirements

Students must maintain good standing in this program. .

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Exit points

A student who chooses not to complete, or who does not maintain good standing in this program, will be permitted to exit with a lesser qualification as set out below, provided that they have met the requirements of that program:

• a student who successfully completes four units of the Master of Laws program, comprising LAW8001 Legal Research Methodology and three units from the core may, upon application, exit with a Graduate Certificate of Laws (GCLW)

• a student who successfully completes eight units of the Master of Laws program, comprising LAW8001 Legal Research Methodology and three units from the core, plus four units from one specialisation may, upon application, exit with a Graduate Diploma of Laws (GDLW).

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Credit

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.

Credit may be granted on the basis of equivalent courses undertaken at postgraduate level. In order for credit to be granted, the claim must meet the following specific requirements:

• the course passed was taken at least at Masters or equivalent level

• the course was passed within 5 years prior to the application (courses up to 10 years old may be considered if evidence is provided that the applicant has been employed in that field)

• the course passed is equivalent in objectives, content and weightings to a course prescribed in the Master of Laws, or alternatively

• where the student has taken out an award from a recognised tertiary institution and is claiming credit on the basis of courses completed to meet the requirements of that program, the maximum credit on the basis of such courses shall be no greater than 6 courses for the Master of Laws

• credit approved in this program will not automatically apply to other programs offered by the ¾«¶«´«Ã½app of Southern Queensland.

Note: Where credit is granted, maximum and minimum duration will be adjusted in the same proportion as the credit, for example, where the maximum of 50 per cent credit is granted, maximum and minimum duration will be reduced by one-half.

Recommended enrolment pattern

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Recommended enrolment pattern

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external 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.