Master of Legal Studies
University of Technology Sydney (UTS)
Type of institution: University/Higher Education Institution
Level: Postgraduate
CRICOS: 00099F
The UTS: Law Legal Studies program meets the growing market need for non-law graduates working in the public and private sectors to have a thorough understanding of the legal and regulatory framework in which they operate. This includes an understanding of foundational legal concepts such as contract law and tort law, methods of legal research and theory, as well as the opportunity to develop expertise in specialist legal areas such as compliance and intellectual property law. The Master of Legal Studies attracts students from a wide variety of backgrounds interested in expanding their skills to include an understanding of the legal framework, including professionals from the insurance, human resources, banking and finance industries, managers and administrators, and HSC legal studies teachers. The program 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, Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, the Attorney-General's Department and Treasury).
Designed for
Non-lawyers keen to undertake legal study
Structure
The course requires completion of core subjects (48 credit points), including one compulsory introductory subject and a choice of five further foundation subjects, plus a further eight option subjects (48 credit points). Core subjects are timetabled in Autumn and Spring sessions and option subjects are regularly timetabled but not all option subjects listed are offered in any one session. The UTS Timetable Planner enables current and future UTS students to view subject timetables. General and course-specific credit recognition information regarding the Master of Legal Studies is available at postgraduate course information.
Subjects
- Foundations of law
- Criminal law and procedure
- Ethics law and justice
- Torts
- Australian constitutional law
- Contracts
- Real property
Standard entry requirements
- Applicants must have completed a UTS recognised bachelor's degree, or an equivalent or higher qualification, or submitted other evidence of general and professional qualifications that demonstrates potential to pursue graduate studies. An applicant's bachelor's degree must be in a discipline other than law. Admission is at the discretion of the associate dean (education). The English proficiency requirement for international students or local applicants with international qualifications is: Academic IELTS: 6.5 overall with a writing score of 6.0
- Or TOEFL: paper based: 550-583 overall with TWE of 4.5, internet based: 79-93 overall with a writing score of 21
- Or AE5: Pass
- Or PTE: 58-64
- Or CAE: 176-184.
Study pathways
General and course-specific credit recognition information regarding the Master of Legal Studies is available at postgraduate course information. Subjects undertaken within the Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies are recognised within the Master of Legal Studies. Students enrolled in the graduate diploma may apply to internally transfer to the master's program. Candidates are not awarded the graduate diploma but subjects undertaken are applied towards the master's. Subjects undertaken within the Juris Doctor are recognised within the Master of Legal Studies. Students enrolled in the Juris Doctor may apply to internally transfer to the master's program. Candidates are not awarded the Juris Doctor but subjects undertaken are applied towards the master's.
Further information
The Master of Legal Studies is not a professional legal qualification. Applicants seeking to be admitted to practice should refer to the Juris Doctor or the Bachelor of Laws. Students may apply for some subjects undertaken within the Master of Legal Studies to be credited towards these degrees. Visa 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.
