Masters in Law in Australia is a 1 years full-time course which provides an in-depth study of the subject and helps in pursuing a legal academic career. It is a leading destination for pursuing higher studies in legal fields which gives it a unique position with one of the best lawyers in the world. Over 39 universities in Australia offer Master of Law.
- Part-time masters degree in law takes approximately 2 years to complete.
- Bachelor of Law or LLB is required for admission in Masters of Law in Australian universities.
- Legal Department is the second highest paying sector in Australia with an average salary of 153,000 AUD per annum.
Why Study Masters in Law in Australia?
Following are some of the reasons for pursuing a Masters in Law in Australia:
- According to QS Rankings 2020 for law, 7 universities of Australia rank in top 100 among universities offering law in the world.
- 13,000 and 5,000 new jobs for Barristers and Solicitors respectively are expected to be created till 2023.
- The number of Barristers in Australia increased from 9,100 in 2014 to 12,000 in 2018. However, Solicitors increased from 65,200 in 2014 to 73,000 in 2017 but dropped to 64,000 in 2018.
After completion of the Masters in Law in Australia program, an international student can stay for 18 months to gather work experience with the help of a Graduate Skilled Temporary Visa.
Top Universities for Masters in Law in Australia
According to QS World Ranking of 2020 for law, the following are the top universities offering a one year Master of Law degree in Australia:
| QS Ranking 2020 | University | Total Program Fees (in AUD) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | University of Melbourne | 44,416 |
| 13 | University of Sydney | 49,000 |
| 14 | University of New South Wales (UNSW) | 43,920 |
| 17 | Australian National University (ANU) | 45,864 |
| 35 | Monash University | 36,000 |
| 39 | University of Queensland | 42,272 |
| 51 – 100 | University of Western Australia | 38,000 |
| 51 – 100 | University of Technology Sydney (UTS) | 45,360 |
| 101 – 150 | Macquarie University | 37,500 |
| 101 – 150 | Griffith University | 23,580 |
Masters in Law in Australia: Highlights
| Course | Master of Law or LLM |
| Duration | Full-time: 1 year; Part-time: 2 years |
| Eligibility | Bachelors in law or LLB |
| Recruitment Domain | Barrister, Solicitor, Judge, Attorney, etc |
| Average Salary | 109,000 AUD |
| Average Tuition Fees | 23,580 AUD – 49,000 AUD |
Admissions Process of Masters in Law in Australia
The sections below provide details of admission like procedure, eligibility, and documents required for an international student applying in Australian universities.
Eligibility for Masters in Law in Australia Admission
- An undergraduate degree equivalent to bachelors in law from Australian universities
- Students with bachelor’s from other fields may also apply if they satisfy the additional criteria
- 2 years of minimum work experience (especially when the student is from a different discipline)
- Proof of English language proficiency
The minimum requirement for admission in top universities of Australia is tabulated below:
| University | Eligibility | Other Criteria | Minimum English Proficiency Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Melbourne | Bachelors of Law (LLB), Juris Doctor or equivalent | 2 Years of work experience | IELTS: 7; TOEFL (PBT): 600; PTE: 65 |
| University of Sydney | LLB or Juris Doctor (JD) | – | IELTS: 7; TOEFL (PBT): 592 |
| University of New South Wales | LLB or Juris Doctor | If credit average is not available then 2 years of work experience | IELTS: 7; TOEFL (PBT): 589 |
| Australian National University | LLB or Juris Doctor with Honours Bachelor in another degree with a minimum 65% | 50% with 2 years experience | TOEFL (PBT): 570; PTE: 64; IELTS: 6.5 |
| Monash University | Bachelor’s Degree | – | TOEFL (PBT): 550; PTE: 58; IELTS: 6.5 |
| University of Queensland | LLB or Junior Doctor | GPA: 4 2 Years of Work Experience | IELTS: 6.5; TOEFL (PBT): 570; PTE: 64 |
| University of Western Australia | LLB, Junior Doctor with at least 60% | Completed 24 points of a graduate diploma in law from this university | TOEFL (PBT): 570; IELTS: 6.5 |
| University of Technology Sydney | Bachelors of Law or JD or Diploma in Law with Graduate Certificate in the discipline of law | – | IELTS: 6.5; TOEFL (PBT): 550; PTE: 79 |
| Macquarie University | Bachelors degree | 2 years of work experience | IELTS: 6.5 |
| Griffith University | Bachelor degree | A graduate certificate in Australian Migration Law and Practice with a minimum 50% | IELTS: 6.5; TOEFL (PBT): 575; PTE: 58 |
Documents Required for Masters in Law in Australia Admission
- Graduation Certificate
- Certificate of IELTS/TOEFL/ PTE scores
- Passport/ Birth Certificate/ Identification Card
- Medical Reports (If any)
- Criminal Records (If any)
- Attested Marksheets and certificates and work experiences letter
- Important telephone numbers and addresses in India and Australia
- Health Insurance details
Visa Process for International Students
Before applying for visa, English language test scores, confirmation of enrolment from the university in Australia and proof of funds must be obtained. Application for Australian student Visa is submitted through Immi Account which is a tool to create, submit, make payments and manage all online visa-related applications in one window.
- Visa application fee ie. 413 AUD, it can be paid online through MasterCard, VISA, American Express etc
- A student may opt for Subclass 500 Student Visa or Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate Visa according to his need.
- Temporary Graduate Visa allows the student to stay for 2 years after completing his education to gain work experience.
- For Higher Education Sector Student Visa, the processing time is around a month and the acceptance rate is around 23%
- The validity of Student Visa is for the duration of the course only.
Incomplete documents, choosing a course not related to previous academic studies, the financial inability of the student, low marks in English proficiency tests, health issues are some of the reasons for visa refusal.
Cost of Studying Masters in Law in Australia
Australia is a comparatively less expensive country when planning to study abroad. The sections below discuss the costs of studying Masters in Law in Australia.
Pre-arrival Expenses
The costs of the study begin way before physically landing on its shores. Below are some of the costs that one has to endure before reaching there, like visa fees, registration fees of tests required to study in Australia and some more:
| Items | Costs (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Visa Application Fees | 413 |
| IELTS fees | 240 |
| TOEFL fees | 180 |
| Flight fare | 530 |
Post arrival Expenses
The Government of Australia states that one must prove to have 14,600 AUD for living costs per year. If the person has a partner then 5100 AUD is added and if the person has a child then 2200 AUD is added per child.
Along with these, the person must prove to have funds to travel by air and also bring every family member along with him. The studying in Australia guidelines states that any person should have a budget of 60-317 AUD per week.
Tuition fees of Masters in law in Australia
Australia has universities that are costly but also have universities that are less pocket pinching. Some universities have tuition fees that go beyond 50,000 AUD, but some universities are also present that are offering the same course at a price that is as low as 23,000 AUD. 
Cost of Living in Australia
The cost of travel and accommodation in Australia is reasonable. Sydney is 18% cheaper than London and 28% cheaper than in New York City. Sydney is the most expensive city in Australia.
| Items | Monthly Cost (in AUD) |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | 1000 |
| Groceries and Eating out | 80-280 |
| Gas and Electricity | 25-100 |
| Phone and Internet | 14-40 |
| Public Transport | 11-40 |
| Car | 108-187 |
| Entertainment | 57-108 |
Funding for Studying Masters in Law in Australia
A whole range of scholarship programs for international students in Australia is available that helps with the expenses. Most of them are academic in nature. All universities offer scholarships that are unique to the University, some of them, are:
| Scholarship | University Name | Award (AUD) | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Postgraduate Coursework Award | Melbourne University | 25-100% Fee remission | December 31 |
| Sydney Scholars India Scholarship Program | University of Sydney | Up to 50,000 | May 31 |
| International Scientia Coursework Scholarship | University of New South Wales | Full tuition fee | March 31 |
| ANU College of Law International Excellence Scholarship | Australian National University | 10,000 | Open all year round |
| Legal Entrepreneur Scholarship | University of Technology Sydney | 5,000 and work placement | September 9 |
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