The degree of Master of Laws (LLM) may be undertaken either by coursework (program 9200 - one year full-time study) or by research (program 2440 - a program of research over a period of at least three semesters of full-time study leading to the preparation of a thesis).

Please contact the Faculty of Law for information.

Please contact the Faculty of Law for information.

1. The degree of Master of Laws by Research may be awarded by the Council on the recommendation of the Higher Degree Committee of the Faculty of Law (hereinafter referred to as the Committee) to a candidate who has demonstrated ability to undertake research by the submission of a thesis embodying the results of an original investigation.

Qualifications

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

(2) In exceptional cases an applicant who submits evidence of such other academic and professional qualifications as may be approved by the Committee may be permitted to enrol for the degree.

(3) When the Committee is not satisfied with the qualifications submitted by an applicant the Committee may require the applicant, before being permitted to enrol, to undergo such examination or carry out such work as the Committee may prescribe.

Enrolment and Progression

3. (1) An application to enrol as a candidate for the degree shall be made online at: http://research.unsw.edu.au/how-apply-postgraduate-research-study-program.

(2) In every case before making the offer of a place the Committee shall be satisfied that initial agreement has been reached between the School and the applicant on the topic area, supervision arrangements, provision of adequate facilities and any coursework to be prescribed and that these are in accordance with the provisions of the guidelines for promoting postgraduate study within the University.

(3) The candidate shall be enrolled as either a full-time or part-time student.

(4) A candidate shall be required to undertake an original investigation on an approved topic. The candidate may also be required to undergo such examination and perform such other work as may be prescribed by the Committee.

(5) The research shall be supervised by a supervisor and co-supervisor who are members of the academic staff of the School, or under other appropriate supervision arrangements approved by the Committee.

(6) Full-time and part-time candidates for the degree shall submit, within one or two semesters of enrolment respectively, a substantial piece of written work forming part of or relating to the approved topic. If this work is unsatisfactory or not forthcoming, the Committee will review the candidate's enrolment. In any case, the progress of a candidate shall be reviewed annually by the Committee following a report by the candidate, the supervisor/s and the Director of Postgraduate Research, and as a result of such review the Committee may cancel enrolment or take such other action as it considers appropriate.

(7) No candidate shall be granted the degree until the lapse of three academic semesters in the case of a full-time candidate or four academic semesters in the case of a part-time candidate from the date of enrolment.

(8) The candidate may undertake the research as an internal student, ie at a campus or other research facility with which the University is associated.

(9) An internal candidate will normally carry out the research on a campus or at a teaching or research facility of the University except that the Committee may permit a candidate to spend a period in the field, within another institution or elsewhere away from the University provided that the work can be supervised in a manner satisfactory to the Committee. In such instances the Committee shall be satisfied that the location and period of time away from the University are necessary to the research program.

Thesis

4. (1) On completing the program of study a candidate shall submit a thesis embodying the results of the original investigation. The thesis normally would not exceed 60,000 words.

(2) The candidate shall give in writing two months notice of intention to submit the thesis.

(3) The thesis shall present an account of the candidate's own research. In special cases work done conjointly with other persons may be accepted, provided the Committee is satisfied about the extent of the candidate's part in the joint research.

(4) Three copies of the thesis shall be presented in a form which complies with the requirements of the University for the preparation and submission of higher degree theses.

(5) It shall be understood that the University retains the three copies of the thesis submitted for examination and is free to allow the thesis to be consulted or borrowed. Subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act, 1968, the University may issue the thesis in whole or in part, in photostat or microfilm or other copying medium.

Examination

5. (1) There shall be not fewer than two external examiners of the thesis, appointed by the Committee.

(2) At the conclusion of the examination each examiner shall submit to the Committee a concise report on the merits of the thesis and shall recommend to the Committee that:

(a) the thesis merits the award of the degree; or

(b) the thesis merits the award of the degree subject to minor corrections as listed being made to the satisfaction of the Head of School; or

(c) the thesis requires further work on matters detailed in the examiner's report. Should performance in this further work be to the satisfaction of the Faculty Research Committee, the thesis would merit the award of the degree; or

(d) the thesis does not merit the award of the degree in its present form and further work as described in the examiner's report is required. The revised thesis should be subject to re-examination; or

(e) the thesis does not merit the award of the degree and does not demonstrate that resubmission would be likely to achieve that merit.

(3) If the performance at the further examination recommended under (2)(c) above is not to the satisfaction of the Committee, the Committee may permit the candidate to re-present the same thesis and submit to a further oral, practical or written examination within a period specified by it but not exceeding eighteen months.

(4) The Committee shall, after consideration of the examiners' reports and the reports of any oral or written or practical examination, recommend whether or not the candidate may be awarded the degree. If it is decided that the candidate be not awarded the degree the Committee shall determine whether or not the candidate may resubmit the thesis after a further period of study and/or research.

Fees

6. A candidate shall pay such fees as may be determined from time to time by the Council.

For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  UNSW Fee Website.