Postgraduate Law Frequently Asked Questions
International students
What Australian scholarships can I apply for?
Browse the UQ scholarship database for scholarships currently open to applications for future international students studying postgraduate law.
Introduction to common law
We offer a course designed for students from non-common law backgrounds. This course is compulsory for students from a non-common law background enrolled in the Master of Laws and an elective option for other international students. Learn more about Fundamentals of the Common Law (LAWS7936).
English language support
Free writing support
Current students provide help with written work. During these individual consultations, you can get help with grammar, spelling, sentence structure and Australian legal referencing.
English classes
You can take free English classes for postgraduate law or choose academic English classes that focus on speaking, reading, writing or listening skills.
Domestic students
Course fees
Australian citizens can defer payment of fees through the FEE-HELP scheme. This is the postgraduate equivalent of HECS.
Flexibility
We offer an exceptionally long time to complete our master's programs - up to 10 years - so you can take time off if you need to. Typically, our master's students who work full-time will take 1 or 2 courses per semester.
Research options
You can pursue original research in any of our masters programs through taking a research project course. To undertake a research project, you need to identify a research topic and a supervisor on staff at the school in your first semester or equivalent.
If you have a law degree already, you can take up to 8 research courses in the Master of Laws, our most flexible program. You can seek to use the Master of Laws to address the entry requirements for a Master or Doctor of Philosophy. Find out more about undertaking a PhD or MPhil with UQ Law.
Course credit and transfer
If you have previously completed legal studies at postgraduate level, you may apply for course credit. If you have completed legal studies at undergraduate level you can apply for an exemption from having to repeat a similar core course.
What does credit and exemption mean at UQ?
At UQ, if credit is granted, this will reduce the number of courses/units you need to complete. If you are granted an exemption from a compulsory core course, an elective course must be completed instead, so that you can extend your knowledge-base.
Request credit or exemption online after you have accepted an offer.
Enrolling in one course for academic credit
To gain academic credit, you may apply to enrol as a ‘non-award’ student. Your enrolment is called ‘non-award’ because you are not seeking to be awarded a qualification at this point. As a non-award student, you will be required to do course assessment and will gain academic credit for successfully completing the course. You may seek credit for the course if you enrol in a program in the future.
You may apply to enrol in any courses listed in the master's program as a non-award student. Find out more about enrolling as a non-award student or apply for entry. You will need to meet course entry requirements and pay course fees upfront.
Students enrolled in a Master of Laws program at another Australian university may be eligible to enrol at UQ as a cross-institutional student for credit towards their study. These students must gain the approval from their home institution before applying to enrol for cross-institutional study.