Master of Law (Research) (942AA.1)

Research your chosen area of law at UC

If you are a graduate who wishes to advance your skills, interests, capacities and career by undertaking a substantial research project in the field of law, then look no further than the Master of Law (Research). During your time with us, you will develop advanced legal research and writing skills by producing a dissertation which will make an original contribution to research literature in your chosen area of study.
You’ll graduate having created an impressive body of work and will be ready to move onto the next stage of your legal or academic career. As a Higher Degree by Research (HDR), this course is covered under the Australian Government's Research Training Program (RTP) funding model, which provides a fee offset for domestic students for the standard duration of the course.

Study a Master of Law (Research) at UC and you will:

• develop knowledge and skills in research methodology and research methods
• acquire high-level writing and analysis skills
• prepare a substantial dissertation which adds to existing knowledge and forms an in-depth investigation and analysis of a particular legal issue.

Work Integrated Learning

Work Integrated Learning (WIL) is a key component of this postgraduate course and in your dissertation, you will be encouraged to use your existing employment knowledge to undertake new academic research in the study of a professional problem in the field of law, engaging regularly with industry over the course of your studies.

Career opportunities

• Sessional academic
• Research officer
• Research fellow
• Lawyer*
• Solicitor*
• Barrister*
• Judge*
• Magistrate*
• Registrar
• Company director
• Public servant
• Policy adviser
• Parliamentary counsel
• Legislative drafter
• Law reform officer
• Senior analyst
• Strategic adviser
• Business consultant
• International diplomat
• Director of sustainability

*Subject to satisfactory undergraduate law degree and successful completion of a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, which qualifies you for admission to practice as a lawyer.

Course-specific information

Before a candidate is admitted to the Master of Law (Research) program, the University must be satisfied that it is able to supervise the candidate's proposed dissertation, and that the candidate satisfies the following admission requirements:

1. holds a bachelor’s degree with above average performance (or qualifications deemed to be equivalent) in the relevant discipline (usually in law)
2. provides evidence of capacity and aptitude to undertake legal research at a master’s level.

Students whose initial qualifications are in a field other than law are invited to discuss their possible candidature with the course convener.

There are non-standard English language requirements for this course. To be eligible you must have an academic IELTS or equivalent of 6.5 with no band score below 6.0. Students who have undertaken all their education in an English-speaking country (as defined on the University of Canberra website) are deemed to have met our English language proficiency requirements.

Domestic students who are accepted on this course are provided for under the Australian Government's Research Training Program (RTP) funding model, which provides a fee offset for the standard duration of the course. Once your RTP entitlement is consumed, you will be charged the annual fee rate that applied at the start of your degree. Further information on fees for Higher Degree by Research (HDR) students can be found here.