There are a limited number of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) available in this course, which are competitive and awarded based on merit. To be considered for a CSP, applicants must:
Indicate their interest in a CSP on their application.
Have attained a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 5.5 out of 7 in their previous studies (note that applicants with a GPA between 5.0 and 5.49 may be assessed for a CSP place depending on availability).
Apply on time in line with CSP deadlines (it is recommended applicants apply early as applications are assessed progressively).
Tailored for non-law graduates, our postgraduate Juris Doctor Master of Intellectual Property is designed for those aiming to become standout professionals in the fields of law and intellectual property.
This course meets the educational requirements for admission as a legal practitioner in NSW. Upon completion of specialised subjects, you may also meet the knowledge requirements for registration as a 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. As leaders in the field, we offer an unparalleled pathway to these dynamic professions.
You’ll emerge with a robust understanding of the principles of law and the Australian legal system, including the protection and registration of intellectual property rights, such as trade marks and patents.
Your learning experience will combine theoretical knowledge with practical skills, delivered by academics, practitioners and industry experts, setting you on the path to a rewarding career in intellectual property law. Plus, you can complete your Practical Legal Training (PLT) at UTS, fulfilling the practical requirements for admission as a lawyer in NSW.
The Juris Doctor (JD) is a graduate law degree that builds on the established reputation of UTS: Law to provide high-calibre, graduate-level education in the theory and practice of the law. It is specifically designed for graduates of disciplines other than law. The Juris Doctor qualifies as an Australian Qualifications Framework level 9 master's degree. The flexible nature of the JD allows students to work while they study and to tailor their workload to suit professional and personal commitments.
This course brings together knowledge and skills across the two areas of intellectual property and law. Students seeking exposure to both areas are able to undertake study in this one integrated course. Upon successful completion of this course students can seek registration as a trade marks attorney and patent attorney in Australia. This course provides students with the academic qualification required for admission to legal practice. Students who undertake additional study in Practical Legal Training (PLT) satisfy the practical requirements to seek admission, together with the academic requirements, to legal practice. UTS offers PLT with the Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice (C11232).
This course provides graduates with an understanding of the principles of the law and the Australian legal system, the registered trade marks system, the protection of unregistered marks and related forms of protection against misleading or unfair trading conduct in Australia.
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Study plan
To view the study plan please visit the UTS Handbook.
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 $1042. The total credit points are 168.
Careers
Career options also include, but are not limited to, lawyer within a private firm, government department or community law centre, patent and trade marks attorney, IP lawyer, IP portfolio manager, policy maker and government regulator in the public or private sector or legal IP specialisation related to students' previous degree or enhanced career options within an existing professional sphere.
Course structure
To view the course structure please visit the UTS Handbook.
Additional information
Course duration
The standard course can be completed in three-and-a-half years of full-time study. There are two intakes a year (in Autumn and Spring sessions).
All subjects within the intellectual property component of the course can be studied by distance, 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.
On campus - Weekly
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
OR
Completed Australian bachelor's degree or Australian master’s degree, or overseas equivalent, with a minimum GPA of 4.5/7
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 minimum GPA of 4.1/7 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 have completed the UTS Master of Intellectual Property are not eligible for admission in this course.
A statutorydeclaration 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 to pursue this 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.
The English proficiency requirement for 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.
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 4.5/7
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 minimum GPA of 4.1/7 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 have completed the UTS Master of Intellectual Property are not eligible for admission in this course.
A statutorydeclaration 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 to pursue this 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.
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 Intellectual Property 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 RPL 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 Juris Doctor Master of Intellectual Property is available at postgraduate course information.
Professional recognition
The Juris Doctor component of the course satisfies the requirements for admission as a lawyer to the Supreme Court of NSW, provided students undertake a PLT program, such as the Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice (C11232).
The intellectual property component of the course meets the educational requirements for registration as a patent attorney and trade marks attorney in Australia and New Zealand with the Australian Government's 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.
This course is not available to international applicants. UTS International has information on all courses available to international applicants wishing to study at UTS.