Master of Laws (Research)

The Master of Laws (Research) provides an opportunity for graduates to develop their research skills, deepen their knowledge in some area of the law and undertake original research. The degree is awarded to candidates who demonstrate competence in research, an understanding of research methods and an ability to make an original contribution to knowledge.

This course is suitable for students who have completed a coursework degree and wish to deepen their knowledge in a particular legal area by means of research. Students develop critical and analytical skills and advanced research skills to enable in-depth exploration of their chosen area. This degree is valuable for those wishing to pursue a career in research.

Make an enquiry

Research at UTS Law - Our Academics

1 minute 44 seconds

[Music playing]

David Carter: My research focuses on criminal law and health care.

Anais Tobalagba: The accountability and due diligence obligations for mining companies that are involved in violence against women.

Sacha Molitorisz: Ethics is my focus, but also the law and media.

Thalia Anthony: Criminal justice, particularly the impacts on indigenous people.

Laurie Berg: Justice claims of temporary migrant workers in Australia.

Honni van Rijswijk: Having the opportunity to write at the cutting edge of interdisciplinary research requires a faculty that is more adventurous in its outlook than the normal law faculty.

Thalia Anthony: UTS is really strong in terms of the stand it takes on social justice.

Anais Tobalagba: The reason I decided to come to UTS, and in particular the Faculty of Law, is the focus of UTS in innovation. My research is quite innovative, in a way, because it’s a very new branch of international law.

David Carter: The impact of my research is really about trying to lessen the negative impacts of health care on the lives of Australians and other elsewhere, and so the impact that I’m looking for is to make sure that we reduce the number of health care-related harm, reduce the number of deaths and that we increase the support for doctors, patients and others in tackling this really huge problem.

Sacha Molitorisz: In the Faculty of Law here, one of the specific goals there is you might have impact on law and policy, and you might impact governments, people in positions where they can change government policies.

Course fees

For relevant fee information, please choose from the following:

Local student

Research Training Program

The majority of domestic students who are offered entry to a graduate research degree will have the cost of their tuition fees covered by the Australian Government’s Research Training Program (RTP) Fees Offset Scholarship. If you are granted an RTP Fee Offset Scholarship you are not required to pay tuition fees for up to the maximum period of time allowable to complete your study.

Recipients of an RTP Fee Offset Scholarship should however still expect to pay the ongoing costs of being part of an academic environment and conducting research. In addition to ongoing costs, you may also be required to pay a Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).

Scholarships

In addition, research scholarships up to the value of $40,000 are available to support living expenses for domestic students to study master's by research and doctoral programs at UTS.

Tuition fee calculations

Tuition fees and RTP Fee Offset Scholarship amounts are incurred pro-rata based on the number of days a student is enrolled in each research degree session and whether the student is enrolled after the research census date.

UTS Alumni save 10%: alumni.uts.edu.au/advantage

International student

Tuition fees for international students vary between courses and range from A$19,840 to A$34,080 per year. Tuition fees for postgraduate research degrees are charged pro-rata based on the number of days a student is enrolled in each research degree session and whether the student is enrolled after the research census date.

Tuition fees for international postgraduate research students can be found using fees search.

Tuition fees must be paid in advance each session and are subject to annual increase. Fees for future year(s) published in fees search, whilst unlikely to change, are estimates only. UTS makes every effort to provide up to date future year(s) fee estimates and to limit any changes, however, UTS reserves the right to vary fees for future year(s) at any time.

For this course, the cost per session for 2025 is $20100. The expected number of sessions are 4.

All international students should familiarise themselves with the following documents:

Protocol on refund of fees for international students - contains the refund of fees information for international students.
Tuition Protection Service - designed to ensure that students receive the tuition they have paid for

In addition to tuition fees, students may be required to pay a Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF). Textbooks and other course materials will also result in additional costs.

UTS Alumni save 10%: alumni.uts.edu.au/advantage

For further information on costs related to your study at UTS, visit the international students' tuition fees information page.

Careers

Career options include positions in universities, undertaking research, contributions to public policy, or other academic work, including teaching, interest groups and legal publishing.

Course structure

Course structure explained

Students are required to submit a thesis of approximately 40,000–60,000 words. As part of this course, students must also complete the subject 77697 Higher Degree Research Seminar.

The candidate is required to undertake all assessments as part of the faculty's Doctoral Framework two-stage program. In the first stage candidates must complete a formal candidature assessment and in the second candidates must complete a progress confirmation, to ensure their progress is consistent with completion of the research program in the prescribed time and that they demonstrate potential to complete the work to standard.

Information regarding UTS: Law's key research areas and strengths, and the research interests of staff members, is available at postgraduate research degrees.

Course completion requirements

Requirement	Credit Points
77698 Thesis (Law)	0
77697 Higher Degree Research Seminar	8
Total	0

Additional information

Course duration

The maximum course duration is two years of full-time or four years of part-time study. Students can complete the course in less than the maximum time.

The work may be carried out either on university premises or at a site external to the university, or some combination of both. Candidates are required to make contact with their supervisor(s) at least once a month to discuss the progress of the research being undertaken.

Full time, Part time

Admission requirements

Admission requirements

Applicants must have completed a UTS recognised bachelor's degree, or an equivalent or higher qualification, or submitted other evidence of general and professional qualifications that demonstrates potential to pursue graduate research studies.

Previous qualifications must be in a relevant discipline, usually with honours or a distinction average.

The English proficiency requirement for international students or local applicants with international qualifications is: IELTS Academic: 7.0 overall with a writing score of 7.0; or TOEFL iBT: 94-101 overall with a writing score of 27; or PTE: 65-72 overall with a writing score of 65; or C1A/C2P: 185-190 overall with a writing score of 185.

Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.

International students

Visa requirement: To obtain a student visa to study in Australia, international students must enrol full time and on campus. Australian student visa regulations also require international students studying on student visas to complete the course within the standard full-time duration. Students can extend their courses only in exceptional circumstances.

Inherent requirements

Inherent requirements are academic and non-academic requirements that are essential to the successful completion of a course. For more information about inherent requirements and where prospective and current students can get assistance and advice regarding these, see the UTS Inherent requirements page.

Prospective and current students should carefully read the Inherent Requirements Statement below and consider whether they might experience challenges in successfully completing this course.

UTS will make reasonable adjustments to teaching and learning, assessment, professional experiences, course related work experience and other course activities to facilitate maximum participation by students with disabilities, carer responsibilities, and religious or cultural obligations in their courses.

For course specific information see the Faculty of Law Inherent (Essential) Requirements Statement.

Scholarships and prizes

Scholarships

For Law students

Only for international students

For all domestic students

Only for Aboriginal Australian or Torres Strait Islander students

Prizes and awards

For Law students

Download a course guide

Law course guides

Transfer between UTS courses

Candidates in the Master of Laws (Research) who wish to transfer to the PhD but do not meet the PhD admission requirements can apply to transfer. Transfer applicants must have completed a minimum of one year's study and have reached a standard equivalent to that of a bachelor's degree with first or second class honours (division 1). Candidates applying to transfer must also demonstrate, with the support of their supervisor(s), that their topic has doctoral scope.