This course is only available by distance mode. International students are not eligible for a student visa to study this course in Australia.
The UTS Master of Intellectual Property is the first course at an Australian university that can provide the entire educational requirements for registration as a registered Trans-Tasman patent attorney in Australia and New Zealand under the Trans-Tasman IP Attorneys Board, as well as registration as an Australian trade marks attorney.
Completely online, this course will guide you through the registered trade marks, patents and designs systems in Australia and New Zealand, focusing on the relevant laws and principles of practice across both jurisdictions, enabling you to advise upon questions of patent, trade mark and design infringement, validity and compliance. You will also be guided through the legal process and professional conduct regulation of trade marks attorneys and Trans-Tasman patent attorneys in Australia and New Zealand.
The course provides for practice- oriented learning facilitated through a mix of theoretical and practical exercises, ensuring you can apply your knowledge effectively in professional contexts. This includes an ability to advise on: the protection of unregistered marks and related forms of protection against misleading or unfair trading conduct in Australia and New Zealand; the patent systems across key jurisdictions, the content and implications of a patent specification and claims, as well as related confidential information and know-how. And for those of you not planning to register as a trade marks or patent attorney, you may also choose from optional subjects, including copyright law, global aspects of intellectual property law, intellectual property and traditional knowledge, intellectual property and human rights and intellectual property commercialisation.
Depending on the subjects taken, you may seek registration as a trade marks attorney or Trans-Tasman patent attorney. Those with a commercial or arts background have the opportunity to move into the management of intellectual property assets. Others may use their newly acquired skills in intellectual property law to influence policy or government regulation.
The unique feature of this course is that it may be undertaken entirely online, removing the need for students to attend face-to-face classes.
This course provides graduates with an understanding of the principles of:
the registered trade mark system in Australia and New Zealand, including the protection of unregistered marks and related forms of protection against misleading or unfair trading conduct in Australia and New Zealand
patents law, patents systems, interpretation and validity of, including the content and implications of a patent specification and claims as well as related confidential information and know-how enabling them to advise upon possible questions of patent infringement, validity and compliance
design law and practice in Australia and New Zealand enabling them to advise upon possible questions of design infringement, validity and compliance
legal process and professional conduct regulation of trade mark attorneys and Trans-Tasman patent attorneys in Australia and New Zealand.
Graduates may also choose from optional subjects, including copyright law, global aspects of intellectual property law, intellectual property and traditional knowledge, intellectual property and human rights and intellectual property commercialisation.
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Course fees
For relevant fee information, please choose from the following:
Local student
International student
For this course, the cost per credit point for 2025 is $1104. The total credit points are 48.
Careers
Depending on the subjects taken, graduates may seek registration as a trade mark attorney and/or Trans-Tasman patent attorney in Australia and New Zealand. Arts administrators or media professionals may enhance career options through building expertise in the commercialisation or management of intellectual property assets. Other career options include patent and trade marks attorney, IP lawyer, IP portfolio manager, policy maker and government regulator.
Course structure
To view the course structure please visit the UTS Handbook.
Additional information
Course duration
The course can be completed in one year of full-time study or two-and-a-half years of part-time study.
All subjects within this course can be studied by distance online, requiring no on-campus attendance. All lectures, tutorials, course materials and assessments are distributed by a combination of web-based technology and electronic media. Students conduct all communication with the lecturer by electronic means. A number of subjects are concurrently offered in traditional face-to-face on-campus format.
Distance
Admission requirements
Admission requirements
To be eligible for admission to this course, applicants must meet the following criteria.
Applicants must have one of the following:
Completed Australian doctorate, or overseas equivalent, in any field of study
OR
Completed Australian bachelor's degree or Australian master’s degree, or overseas equivalent, in any field of study with a minimum GPA of 4/7
OR
Completed Australian bachelor's degree or Australian master’s degree, or overseas equivalent, in any field of study AND Capacity to study the course demonstrated through relevant professional experience
Supporting documentation to be submitted with the application
For applicants required to demonstrate capacity to pursue the course:
Curriculum Vitae AND Statement of service in one of the following formats:
An official letter from the applicant’s accountant or solicitor on their company letterhead confirming the applicant’s work experience or engagement with the business, duration of operations, and the nature of the business
A business certificate of registration in original language and English (e.g. provision of ASIC documentation or ABN or similar documentation for Australian Businesses)
Relevant work-related references
Personal statement outlining relevant professional experience and reasons for pursuing this course.
The English proficiency requirement for international students or local applicants with international qualifications is: IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall with a writing score of 6.0; or TOEFL iBT: 79-93 overall with a writing score of 21; or AE5: Pass; or PTE: 58-64 with a writing score of 50; or C1A/C2P: 176-184 with a writing score of 169.
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.
To be eligible for admission to this course, applicants must meet the following criteria.
Applicants must have one of the following:
Completed Australian doctorate, or overseas equivalent, in any field of study
OR
Completed Australian bachelor's degree or Australian master’s degree, or overseas equivalent, in any field of study with a minimum GPA of 4/7
OR
Completed Australian bachelor's degree or Australian master’s degree, or overseas equivalent, in any field of study AND Capacity to study the course demonstrated through relevant professional experience
Supporting documentation to be submitted with the application
For applicants required to demonstrate capacity to pursue the course:
Curriculum Vitae AND Statement of service in one of the following formats:
An official letter from the applicant’s accountant or solicitor on their company letterhead confirming the applicant’s work experience or engagement with the business, duration of operations, and the nature of the business
A business certificate of registration in original language and English (e.g. provision of ASIC documentation or ABN or similar documentation for Australian Businesses)
Relevant work-related references
Personal statement outlining relevant professional experience and reasons for pursuing this course.
Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.
Inherent requirements
Inherent requirements are academic and non-academic requirements that are essential for successfully completing a course at UTS. You can find the inherent requirements for your course via the inherent requirements directory.
Recognition of prior learning
Recognition of prior learning in the UTS Intellectual Property courses is generally not granted for subjects not primarily directed to Australian or New Zealand law.
Exemption may be granted from 77905 Preparing for Intellectual Property Practice for:
completion of a dedicated intellectual property subject in the last six years, and
completion of a degree leading to practise as a legal practitioner, and
a current Australian Practising Certificate.
The Trans-Tasman IP Attorneys Board (TTIPAB) – the body that registers Australian and New Zealand Trade Marks and Patent Attorneys – may not recognise subject exemptions recognised by UTS students in the UTS Intellectual Property courses. Students intending to seek registration from the TTIPAB should seek recognition of prior learning from the TTIPAB directly, and are advised to do this prior to seeking recognition of prior learning towards the UTS Intellectual Property courses.
Subjects undertaken within the Graduate Certificate in Trade Mark Law and Practice (C11130), Graduate Certificate in Intellectual Property (C11229) and Graduate Diploma in Intellectual Property (C06099) are recognised within the Juris Doctor Graduate Certificate in Trade Mark Law and Practice.
More detailed information (including application, credit point limits, time limits, appeal of decision, record of precedent) about recognition of prior learning in the Master of Intellectual Property is available at postgraduate course information.
Professional recognition
The educational requirements for registration as a patent attorney and trade marks attorney in Australia and New Zealand with the Trans-Tasman IP Attorneys Board for Patent and Trade Marks Attorneys can be fulfilled by completing all eight accredited subjects in this course.
Prospective students should check with the Trans-Tasman IP Attorneys Board for specific subjects required to be completed for registration.
Subjects undertaken within the Graduate Certificate in Trade Mark Law and Practice (C11130), Graduate Certificate in Intellectual Property (C11229) and Graduate Diploma in Intellectual Property (C06099) are recognised within the Master of Intellectual Property. Students enrolled in either graduate certificate may apply to internally transfer to the master's program. Candidates are not awarded the graduate certificate but subjects undertaken are applied towards the master's program.