Postgraduate Research Paper

To be eligible to graduate with distinction, Juris Doctor students must complete 77740 Research Paper as an elective within their degree. 

Students must also comply with the distinction regulations.

What does 77740 Research Paper involve?

  • Undertaking independent research under the guidance and supervision of a supervisor.
  • Writing a 6000 word original piece of work on an approved topic of law.
  • The written work will be in a format appropriate to the topic, for example academic essay, NGO Report, government submission or opinion for counsel.
  • Attending 4 two hours workshops in weeks 1-4, and a week 7 writing workshop held in conjunction with LLB thesis students, which are designed to ensure that students acquire the analysis and research skills required to undertake a substantial piece of writing.
  • Meeting with your supervisor throughout the session on a mutually agreed basis to discuss thesis progress. This gives students the opportunity to check they are on the right track and to ask for advice or feedback.

Eligibility & Rules

JD Students wishing to undertake 77740 Research Paper must:

  • Be on track to have a provisional WAM of 73 across all UTS Law subjects.
  • Not have failed any subject after the first session of study.

Note: While a student is permitted to undertake a Research Paper with a provisional WAM of 73 they must attain a final WAM of no less than 75 to be eligible to graduate with distinction.

Students are required to calculate their provisional WAM using the formulae 'sum of all' (UTS Law subject credit points multiplied by mark) divisible by the 'sum of all law subject credit points'. Students will be required to indicate their calculation on their application form.

See also, the subject access conditions.

Rules and Procedures to graduate with distinction

It is possible for students to gain an award with distinction in the Juris Doctor and the Juris Doctor component of the combined Juris Doctor Master of Business Administration (C04250). An additional year of study is not required. See the rules for the course you are enrolled in, below.

Juris Doctor

To qualify for distinction in the current Juris Doctor (C04236), students must complete 77740 Research Paper as a subject within the degree.

To be eligible to undertake 77740 Research Paper, students must successfully complete not less than 96 credit points within UTS Law degrees, including 70106 Principles of Public International Law or 70107 Principles of Company Law; and attain a minimum weighted average mark of 73.00 across all subjects attempted.

The research subject forms part of the credit points required for degree completion. 77740 Research Paper has requirements that students must comply with in addition to the distinction regulations for the Juris Doctor (below). Further details are available in the online subject description.

Distinction regulations

The distinction regulations for the current Juris Doctor (C04236) are:

1. Awards

1.1 Award of the Juris Doctor degree shall be classified as follows:

  1. degree (with distinction), and
  2. degree.

2. Requirements of distinction

2.1 To qualify for an award of the degree with distinction a student shall:

  1. successfully complete 77740 Research Paper
  2. subject to requirements below, obtain a distinction mark, of no less than 75.00, calculated as a weighted average mark received in all subjects, in accordance with the formula 'sum of all' (UTS law subject credit points multiplied by mark) divisible by the 'sum of all law subject credit points'
  3. not fail any subject after the first session of study
  4. a student's distinction mark shall include the mark obtained by the student in 77740 Research Paper.

2.2 In exceptional circumstances the director (students) may modify or dispense with the requirements of regulation 2.1, subject to appeal to the Faculty Board in Law.

Refer to the honours entry in the UTS: Handbook 2014 for the pre-2015 honours rules and regulations for the Juris Doctor (C04236).

Juris Doctor Master of Business Administration

To qualify for distinction in the Juris Doctor Master of Business Administration (C04250), a student must complete 77740 Research Paper as an option within the Juris Doctor component of the degree.

To be eligible to undertake 77740 Research Paper, students must successfully complete not less than 96 credit points within UTS Law, including 70106 Principles of Public International Law or 70107 Principles of Company Law; and attain a minimum weighted average mark of 73.00 across all subjects attempted.

The research subject forms part of the credit points required for degree completion. 77740 Research Paper has requirements that students must comply with in addition to the distinction regulations for the Juris Doctor component of the Juris Doctor Master of Business Administration (below). Further details are available in the online subject description.

Distinction regulations

The distinction regulations for the Juris Doctor component of Juris Doctor Master of Business Administration (C04250) are:

1. Awards

1.1 Award of the Juris Doctor component of the Juris Doctor Master of Business Administration shall be classified as follows:

  1. degree (with distinction), and
  2. degree.

2. Requirements of distinction

2.1 To qualify for an award of the degree with distinction a student shall:

  1. successfully complete 77740 Research Paper
  2. subject to requirements below, obtain a distinction mark, of no less than 75.00, calculated as a weighted average mark received in all subjects completed in the Juris Doctor
  3. not fail any subject after the first session of study
  4. a student's distinction mark shall include the mark obtained by the student in 77740 Research Paper.

2.2 In exceptional circumstances the director (students) may modify or dispense with the requirements of regulation 2.1, subject to appeal to the Faculty Board in Law.

Refer to the honours entry in the UTS: Handbook 2014 for the pre-2015 honours rules and regulations for the Juris Doctor Master of Business Administration (C04250).