The Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies by formal coursework offers the opportunity of study in law for non-law professionals.

Most courses within the program are also available to students enrolled in the Master of Legal Studies (MLS). There is no difference between the Graduate Diploma and the MLS degree in terms of the content and depth with which particular courses are studied. The Graduate Diploma merely requires completion of fewer courses than would be required for an MLS degree. Courses combine a degree of sophistication or technical difficulty in terms of legal content with a substantial consideration of relevant interdisciplinary aspects of the subject matter and a focus on policy. Candidates must complete the core courses prior to enrolment in postgraduate law electives.

Research Thesis Options are not permitted in the Graduate Diploma other than in exceptional circumstances. Candidates wishing to include a Research Thesis course within their program should contact the Coordinator of Postgraduate Education.

Completion of the Graduate Diploma by formal coursework will not lead to a professional qualification of legal practice.

Please contact the Faculty of Law for information.

The Graduate Diploma may be completed in two semesters. Students must undertake and satisfactorily complete four semester-long courses or the equivalent. A total of 32 units of credit are required for the award of the diploma. All courses will not necessarily be available in any one year.

The following compulsory core courses in postgraduate law are mandatory and must be completed prior to enrolment in postgraduate law electives:

A student may apply to the Coordinator of Postgraduate Education for permission to take upto 8 uoc from courses offered at postgraduate level by another UNSW faculty, another university or from courses offered by Atax.

Award of the Degree

1. A Graduate Diploma may be awarded by the Council to a candidate who has satisfactorily completed an approved program of study.

Qualifications

2. (1) A candidate for the Diploma shall have been awarded an appropriate degree of Bachelor from the University of New South Wales or a qualification considered equivalent from another university or tertiary institution, at a level acceptable to the Faculty Education Committee of the Faculty of Law (hereinafter referred to as the Committee).

(2) An applicant who submits evidence of such other academic and professional attainment, as may be approved by the Committee, may be permitted to enrol for the Diploma.

(3) If the Committee is not satisfied with the qualification submitted by an applicant the Committee may require the applicant to undergo such assessment or carry out such work as the Committee may prescribe, before permitting enrolment.

Enrolment and Progression

3. (1) An application to enrol as a candidate for the diploma shall be lodged with the Registrar by the advertised due date. Entry to the program is available in Semester 1 only.

(2) A candidate for the diploma shall be required to undertake the courses, and pass any assessment, prescribed.

(3) The progress of a candidate shall be subject to the approval of the Coordinator of Postgraduate Education and will be reviewed at the end of two semesters by the Committee. As a result of its review the Committee may cancel enrolment or take such other action as it considers appropriate.

(4) The normal duration of the program is two academic semestsers from the date of enrolment in the case of a full-time candidate or four semesters in the case of part-time candidate. In special circumstances a variation of these times may be approved by the Head of School.

For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/fees/FeesMainPage.html