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Master of Laws

Develop specialised knowledge. Build on your legal skills. Advance your career.

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For personalised assistance with UOW courses, please reach out to our Future Students Team:

Phone: 1300 367 869 (within Australia) or +61 2 4221 3218 (overseas)
Email: future-students@uow.edu.au
Enquiry Form: Submit an enquiry

Our team is available during Australian business hours, 9 am to 5 pm.

For other UOW contact details, click here.

Applicants can apply directly to UOW. You may be required to have scans or electronic copies of the following documents ready to attach to your application:

Academic qualifications relevant to your application
English proficiency evidence (if required)
Evidence of your citizenship, passport, or permanent residency status

Before you apply, please check the UOW course entry requirements, intake dates, and closing dates for your chosen degree.

Need help?

Contact the UOW Future Students Team:

Phone: 1300 367 869 (within Australia) or
+61 2 4221 3218 (overseas)
Email: future-students@uow.edu.au
Enquiry Form: Submit an enquiry

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For more details about this course

Australia: 1300 367 869. International: +61 2 4221 3218

Student ?

Campus ?

Delivery ?

Distance

Duration

1 year full-time, or part-time equivalent

Starts

Autumn 2025
Spring 2025
Autumn 2026
Spring 2026

Code

UOW: 3138

Overview

The Master of Laws provides law graduates with specific knowledge and skills in relation to a specialised area of law and policy. This degree is designed for early or mid-career legally qualified professionals working in a particular area of policy or operational context, or those who intend to pursue a career in a specialised or related field.

During the degree, you will gain knowledge of areas such as jurisdiction, law enforcement, legal regulation and frameworks and learn to analyse the legal, political and operational factors that contribute to the development of the law and policy and devise solutions to gaps in legal and policy frameworks.

You will also be given the opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge learnt by undertaking a specialisation based research project relating to a significant issue of law or law and policy.

The degree consists of areas of law and policy specialisation and the first specialisation available for study under is International Law and Policy issues related to the world's oceans (Maritime).

One of the benefits for students of the Master of Laws is the close links that UOW’s Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS) has established with a range of government agencies, international businesses and non-governmental organisations in Australia, the Indo-Pacific region and globally, including a long-term relationship with the Royal Australian Navy.

See the course handbook for more information.

Fee subsidised places available

UOW is offering Commonwealth supported places (CSPs) for all of our postgraduate coursework degrees in 2025. This means the Australian government will subsidise your tuition fees by up to 75%. To be eligible for this fee subsidy, you must meet the following criteria: Be a domestic student, i.e. an Australian or New Zealand citizen, a permanent resident of Australia or a permanent Australian Humanitarian visa holder.

You can specialise in a major by choosing from the following:

Major	Campus Availability
Law of the Sea	Innovation Campus (On Campus) Online Wollongong (Distance)

Careers

Barrister
Fisheries Policy Advisor
Governmental policy development in areas such as Resource Management, Defence, Foreign Affairs and Maritime Trade
Lawyer
Maritime Policy Advisor

Admissions information

A range of admission options are available for students of all ages and academic backgrounds. The procedures governing admission are defined in UOW's Admissions Procedures, and the UOW College Admissions Policy.

For specific advice or to ask any questions regarding an application, please contact the UOW Future Students Team.

Entry Requirements
Additional information

A recognised Bachelor of Laws Honours degree with an equivalent average mark of 50%, or a Bachelor of Laws degree plus a Graduate Certificate in a relevant area with an equivalent average mark of 50%,
OR
A recognised Bachelor of Laws degree or equivalent legal qualification with an equivalent average mark of 50%, and appropriate professional experience (e.g., the ability to demonstrate a number of years of employment in a legal or maritime-related field, such as naval officers, public servants, or enforcement personnel). Supporting evidence should include a statement of service or an employment reference. Consideration will be given to aspects such as the length and field of professional experience.

Course enquiries can be directed to the ANCORS Postgraduate Coordinator, Ms Ruth Davis, at rdavis@uow.edu.au.

Work and life experience
Admission to UOW is primarily based on your academic qualifications, with work or life experience generally not considered. If you do not meet the academic requirements for this course, we recommend exploring recognized pathway programs, such as those offered by UOW College or the TAFE Tertiary Preparation Certificate (TPC).

For more information, please refer to the UOW Admissions Information page.

Domestic applicants with overseas qualifications
If you have completed or partially completed studies at an approved university or tertiary institution, you may be eligible for entry to UOW. You'll need to provide academic records, and your course must be at least one-sixth complete. Non-English documents must include an official English translation. For more information, contact the UOW Future Students Team.
English language proficiency
All UOW courses are taught in English and require varying levels of proficiency. If English is not your first language, you must meet the University’s English Language Requirements, which differ by course.

Accepted international test results include IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, Cambridge, and OET for specific health-related courses.

Alternatively, you can fulfill the requirement by completing an English course at UOW College.
Workload
Full-Time Study Load

As a full-time student, you can expect to commit around 48 hours of study per week. This includes class time and independent study. You may need to factor more time for examination study and practical work & placements.

Part-Time Study Load

For part-time students, study hours will vary based on the number of units taken, with similar expectations for class and independent study.

For more details on course workloads, please refer to the UOW Handbook.
Record Check
Questions relating to personal record checks for this degree should be referred to the School of Law.
Credit for Prior Learning
If you have completed prior studies or relevant professional experience, you can request course credit or subject exemptions to reduce the duration and cost of your program.

Credit for prior learning evaluates your previous study or work experience related to your chosen subjects.

UOW values lifelong learning and recognizes various types of prior learning, regardless of how or where it was obtained. For more information, refer to UOW's Credit for Prior Learning page.

Course fees table
Campus	Delivery method	Session fee*	Course fee*
Innovation Campus	On Campus	$12576 (2025)	$25152 (2025)
UOW Online Wollongong	Distance	$12576 (2025)	$25152 (2025)
Innovation Campus	On Campus	$12576 (2026)	$25152 (2026)
UOW Online Wollongong	Distance	$12576 (2026)	$25152 (2026)

* Session fees are for one session for the year shown. Total course tuition fees shown are indicative, and are based on normal course length and progression. These fees are subject to change from year to year. However, if you receive an offer to study at UOW, your fees will be fully confirmed at the time of your offer.

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