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Develop your knowledge of the legal and regulatory frameworks governing your industry.
Graduate Certificate in Legal Studies
Note
The Graduate Certificate in Legal Studies is not a professional legal qualification. Students seeking admission to practice as a lawyer should consider the Juris Doctor (C04236) or the Bachelor of Laws (C10124). Some subjects in the Graduate Certificate in Legal Studies may be credited towards these degrees.
This course is for non-law graduates who are seeking to understand the legal and regulatory frameworks pertinent to their professions. 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.
The course is particularly advantageous for professionals such as accountants, auditors, business development and compliance managers, engineers, architects, financial advisers, IT experts, law enforcement officers, paralegals, policy officers, property developers, and public sector managers, especially those in key government departments such as the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Attorney-General's Department or Treasury.
If you want to qualify as a lawyer, you can apply to transfer into the Juris Doctor program at UTS Law upon completion of three core subjects, and completed subjects will be applied towards the Juris Doctor.
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.
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 foundations of law, contract and tort law.
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 24.
Careers
This course particularly benefits accountants and auditors, business development managers, compliance managers, engineers and architects, financial advisers and planners, IT professionals, law enforcement officers, paralegals, policy officers in the public, private and non-profit sectors, property developers and public sector managers and administrators (especially those who work in Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Attorney-General's Department and Treasury).
Course structure
To view the course structure please visit the UTS Handbook.Additional information
Course duration
The course can be completed in a minimum of a half year of full-time or one year of part-time study.
The course is offered in a variety of attendance patterns, including intensive block attendance and weekly on-campus evening classes.
On campus - WeeklyAdmission 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 bachelor's degree, or higher qualification, or overseas equivalent
OR
- 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.
Supporting documentation to be submitted with the application
For applicants who need to demonstrate capacity to pursue this 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 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 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 studentsVisa 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 bachelor's degree, or higher qualification, or overseas equivalent
OR
- 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.
Supporting documentation to be submitted with the application
For applicants who need to demonstrate capacity to pursue this 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 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
Subjects undertaken within the Juris Doctor (C04236) are recognised within the Graduate Certificate in Legal Studies. Students enrolled in the Juris Doctor may apply to internally transfer to the graduate certificate. Candidates are not awarded the Juris Doctor but subjects undertaken are applied towards the graduate certificate.
Further recognition of prior learning information regarding the Graduate Certificate in Legal Studies is available at postgraduate course information.
Download a course guide
Transfer between UTS courses
Subjects undertaken within the Graduate Certificate in Legal Studies are recognised within the Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies (C07122), Master of Legal Studies (C04264) and the Juris Doctor (C04236). Students enrolled in the graduate certificate may apply to internally transfer to the graduate diploma. Candidates are not awarded the graduate certificate but subjects undertaken are applied towards the graduate diploma.
Students who successfully complete three core subjects in the Graduate Certificate in Legal Studies may apply to internally transfer to the Juris Doctor (C04236). Candidates are not awarded the graduate certificate, but completed subjects are applied towards the Juris Doctor.
UTS: Handbook
See the Graduate Certificate in Legal Studies in the UTS: Handbook for comprehensive course details.
Information for international students
Find out about support services, the Australian education system, accommodation and more to help you get the most out of your study at UTS.
Part of The Faculty of Law
