Master of Legal Studies

Admissions information

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• Course description arrow_forward_ios

  The Master of Legal Studies is for non-law graduates who are seeking to develop their understanding of law and the legal system in Australia. This course is particularly useful if you work in professions such as accounting, auditing and compliance, business development, financial advising or property development.

  This course will not qualify you to become a lawyer, but you will gain invaluable insights into how the law impacts your field, equipping you with the knowledge to make informed decisions and manage legal risks.

  If you want to become a lawyer, you can apply to transfer to the Juris Doctor at UTS Law upon completion of three core subjects, and the completed subjects will be applied towards the Juris Doctor.

  This course is also for overseas qualified lawyers who wish to practise law in NSW. You apply to the external accrediting authority, the Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB), for an assessment of your existing legal qualification. This assessment will list the core Australian Law subjects you need to complete to meet the academic requirements for admission as a lawyer in NSW. We offer all core Australian law subjects in this course.

  You will study a range of subjects across core areas of the legal system, including contracts, criminal law, company law, and constitutional law, and you will have the option to specialise in areas of law that are relevant to your field of work or your interests.

  You will learn from experienced academics, practitioners and industry experts. You will enjoy a flexible learning environment that allows you to balance work or other commitments with subjects offered in a variety of delivery modes, including collaborative face-to-face seminars, online, evening classes and intensives. As a valued member of our postgraduate community, you will have access to a range of facilities, including our exclusive UTS Law postgraduate student lounge that provides a dedicated study and relaxation space for our postgraduate students.

  A postgraduate qualification in legal studies opens career opportunities in a range of vocations including business, government, law enforcement, non-profit sector and administration. You will graduate with the skills and practical experience needed to create real-world change and become a leader in your profession.

  Students come from a wide variety of professional backgrounds, such as insurance, human resources, banking, finance and education, and work in roles where knowledge of the legal landscape is critical to their work. Course content includes criminal, ethics, contract, tort and constitutional law. Students can also use their elective choices to build specialist legal expertise in areas such as compliance and intellectual property law.

• Important dates arrow_forward_ios

  Find out more about application dates relating to this course

• Scholarships and prizes arrow_forward_ios

  Discover our scholarships for undergraduate, postgraduate and research students. Our scholarships celebrate diversity and academic excellence. Use the scholarship search tool to find the right scholarship for you.

  Scholarships for domestic students

  Scholarships for international students

• Course duration arrow_forward_ios

  The course can be completed in a minimum of two years of full-time or four years of part-time study. Subjects may also be available in Summer session, allowing accelerated progression.

  The course features a variety of attendance patterns, including intensive block attendance and weekly on-campus evening classes.

• Admission requirements arrow_forward_ios

  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

  OR

  • Completed Australian bachelor's degree or Australian master’s degree, or overseas equivalent, with a minimum GPA of 3.8/7

  OR

  • Completed Australian graduate certificate or Australian graduate diploma, or overseas equivalent, with a minimum GPA of 5/7

  OR

  • Completed Australian bachelor's degree or Australian master’s degree, or overseas equivalent, with a GPA between 3.30/7 and 3.79/7 AND Capacity to study the course demonstrated through relevant professional experience

  The qualification must be in a field of study other than law or, if the qualification is in a legal field of study, it shall not be an academic qualification for legal practice.

  Applicants who do not meet the criteria above should consider applying for C07122 Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies or C11264 Graduate Certificate in Legal Studies.

  Supporting documentation to be submitted with the application

  For applicants who need to demonstrate capacity to pursue the course:

  • Curriculum Vitae AND Statement of service in one of the following formats:
    • A 'Statement of Service' provided by the employer
    • A completed 'UTS statement of service’ signed by the employer
    • A statutory declaration confirming work experience (for Australian Residents only)
    • 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)
  • Personal statement outlining relevant professional experience and reasons for pursuing the course.
  • Relevant work-related references

  For Applicants seeking credit recognition for core law subjects in overseas legal qualification

  • Written assessment from the NSW Legal Profession Admissions Board (LPAB) indicating which subjects need to be completed to meet the requirements for admission as a Legal Practitioner.

  Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.

• Domestic course fees arrow_forward_ios

  2025 Indicative tuition fees for domestic students

  As a postgraduate student, you'll be responsible for covering your own tuition fees.

  2025 Tuition Fee

  • Indicative first-year tuition fee:  $42,010.00
  • Indicative total tuition fee:  $85,910.45

  You can choose to pay your fees upfront per session, or if you’re eligible, you can defer them using a government FEE-HELP loan. This loan helps you cover all or part of your tuition fees. Keep in mind that applications for this loan are specific to each course.

  Additional Costs 

  Your tuition fees do not include:

  • The Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF), which supports student services and activities. If eligible, you can defer this fee using SA-HELP.
  • Textbooks, materials, and other course-related costs.
  • Any applicable payment processing fees (e.g., credit card surcharges).

  Important Information 

  • Fees are shown in Australian Dollars (AUD).
  • The indicative tuition fees above are based on full-time study (1 year = 48 credit points).
  • Your actual fees depend on the year you enrol, your study load and the subjects you choose. Some subjects fall into different student contribution bands.
  • You can calculate your student contribution based on the amounts listed in the student contribution table

  Alumni Advantage Program 

  As a UTS graduate, you can enjoy a 10% discount on your course fees. Just apply for the course you're interested in, and if you're accepted, the discount will automatically be applied to your enrolment invoice. Learn more about the Alumni Advantage Program. 

  If you have any questions about course fees, please feel free to make an enquiry.
 

• Inherent requirements arrow_forward_ios

  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 arrow_forward_ios

  Students who successfully complete Master of International Commercial and Business Law (C04432) or the Master of International Commercial and Business Law Master of Business Administration (C04433) may apply for 24cp of elective credit to be applied to the Juris Doctor (C04236), the Master of Legal Studies (C04264), or Master of Laws (C04143).

  General and course-specific recognition of prior learning information regarding the Master of Legal Studies is available at postgraduate course information.

• Transfer between UTS courses arrow_forward_ios

  Subjects undertaken within the Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies (C07122) are recognised within the Master of Legal Studies. Students enrolled in the graduate diploma may apply to internally transfer to the master's program. Candidates are not awarded the graduate diploma but subjects undertaken are applied towards the master's.

  Subjects undertaken within the Juris Doctor (C04236) are recognised within the Master of Legal Studies. Students enrolled in the Juris Doctor may apply to internally transfer to the master's program. Candidates are not awarded the Juris Doctor but subjects undertaken are applied towards the master's.

  Students who successfully complete three core subjects in the Master of Legal Studies may apply to internally transfer to the Juris Doctor (C04236). Candidates are not awarded the master’s, but completed subjects are applied towards the Juris Doctor (C04236).