Master of Laws (By Research)

VU offers support and guidance from leading legal researchers.

For your masters degree, you’ll complete a major thesis, worthy of publication, under expert supervision.

Our research program maintains strong links with public-sector authorities such as the Department of Justice, as well as private law firms – offering access to real-world scenarios for investigation.

Our governance research program focuses on:

governance and regulation the scholarship of legal education international law courts and justice.

Your thesis will be equal to a combined total of 192 credit points.

You may apply to transfer to our Law PhD, building on your strong legal research skills, and aiming for top academic, government or law-firm positions.

The standard duration of a Masters Degree (Research) is two years of full-time study or part-time equivalent, although in certain circumstances the degree may be completed in eighteen months.

In some cases the student may be required to complete approved coursework units such as laboratory skills or research design as part of the Masters Degree (Research).

Course structure and units

• Research Thesis (Full Time) Unit code BLO9800 Credits48

Or

• Research Thesis (Part Time) Unit code BLO9801 Credits24

Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee you entry into this course. Some courses receive more applications than the number of places available. In this situation we will also assess your education, work and other relevant experience.

If you do not meet the minimum requirements you may be eligible for one of our special admission programs. We also encourage you to explore our study pathways to help you reach your goal.

Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency.

Pathways from VU courses

There are many ways you can start your education journey at VU. Pathways offer an easy transition between courses at different levels, so that you can start with a certificate and progress right through to postgraduate study.

Find out more about pathways and credits.

Credit for skills and past study

If you have completed study with another university or institution and believe you are eligible to receive credit for skills and past study, you can apply for advanced standing.

Applications for advanced standing can be made after a discussion with your course coordinator or academic adviser.

Additional information

(a) Academic achievement and preparation to a level that is sufficient to undertake masters level research demonstrated in any one or more of the following: i. Qualified, at minimum, for a bachelors degree at a standard considered by the University to be sufficiently meritorious (normally Distinction average in the final year); or

ii. Qualified for any other award judged by the University to be of a relevant and appropriate standard and have: •Produced evidence of professional experience; and •Fulfilled any other conditions relating to prerequisite studies which the University may impose.

(b) Demonstrated competency in English sufficient to work at research masters level, through meeting one or more of the following criteria: i. Successful completion of one of the degrees stipulated under a) i) – ii) above with English as the language of instruction and assessment and undertaken in a predominantly English speaking context; or ii. Been taught for two of the past five years at a tertiary institution where English was the primary language of instruction; or iii. Achieved an overall band score of not less than 6.5 in an International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) test with no individual band score below 6.0; or iv. Achieved a score of not less than 92 and no section score less than 22 in the internet-based Teaching of English Foreign Language (TOEFL) test; or v. Documented evidence of English proficiency equivalent to the above.

The course objectives are to produce graduates who have the following knowledge and skills:

1. a body of knowledge that includes the understanding of recent developments in one or more discipline
2. advanced knowledge of research principles and methods applicable to the field of work or learning
3. cognitive skills to demonstrate mastery of theoretical knowledge and to reflect critically on theory and its application
4. cognitive, technical and creative skills to investigate, analyse and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories and to apply established theories to different bodies of knowledge or practice
5. cognitive, technical and creative skills to generate and evaluate complex ideas and concepts at an abstract level
6. cognitive and technical skills to design, use and evaluate research and research method
7. communication and technical skills to present a coherent and sustained argument and to disseminate research results to specialist and non-specialist audience
8. technical and communication skills to design, evaluate, implement, analyse, theorise and disseminate research that makes a contribution to knowledge

This knowledge and these skills will be demonstrated through the planning and execution of a substantial piece of research:

• with creativity and initiative
• with a high level of personal autonomy and accountability, demonstrating expert judgement, adaptability and responsibility as a learner