Sydney Law School - University of Sydney

The University

The Quadrangle

Inaugurated in 1851, the University of Sydney is Australia's first University. Its international reputation is based on oustanding teaching, excellence in research and active engagement as a community leader. It has 11 national campuses and it includes 13 faculties, 15 administrative units and over 150 research centres and institutes. It is Australia's leading research university and continues to receive the most funding in new grants from the Australian Research Council (ARC). Owing to such excellence in research, the University of Sydney provides teaching programs that reflect cutting-edge scholarship. Its total student population is 46,000, almost 20 per cent of which are international students representing more than 80 countries. More than 14,000 students are engaged in postgraduate studies, including research by higher degree.

The Law School

With a reputation built on 150 years of history, The Sydney Law School is also Australia's first, having been inaugurated in 1855. It has had a tremendous impact on the Australian judiciary, politics and business. At the postgraduate level, areas of study have been progressively strengthened to encompass an enormous range of specialisations. It was the first Law School in Australia to introduce the Doctor of Juridical Studies (SJD), a unique degree that offers advanced study in law through both coursework and dissertation. The Sydney Law School's Master of Laws (LLM) program is one of the most reputable law coursework programs in Australia. Candidates may choose from the entire range of approximately 130 units on offer in our postgraduate area each year. Over two-thirds of our units are offered on an intensive basis, permitting candidates to complete classes in a matter of days.

We are conveniently located in the heart of Sydney’s Central Business District. This enables working professionals to attend classes and maintain direct contact with the Law School with a matter of ease. It is also within reasonable walking distance of Sydney’s major tourist attractions providing students with ample opportunity to partake in the life of the City.

The Program

Our postgraduate coursework program has many exclusive features. It is the largest postgraduate program in Australia, with both our coursework and research offerings attracting the largest number of students and delivering the most units of study. In addition to our intensive units, we offer a number of units on a semester length basis, thereby creating a flexible method with which to tailor your LLM program.

Lawyers have the opportunity to share classes with non-lawyers, with our specialist coursework offerings in Health Law, Environmental Law, International Law and Labour Law attracting specialists in those fields for instance. This permits a dynamic and interactive environment in which to study. When you come to Sydney you also have the opportunity to partake in limited cross-institutional study, be it at another Law School in Sydney or one interstate. This enables candidates from overseas to study exactly what they want when in Australia based on what’s available at the time.

There are many pathways to the LLM at Sydney including:

Complete your LLM in Sydney...

You can complete your entire LLM program in Australia's largest and most famous city. The Sydney Law School's postgraduate coursework program is one of Australia's largest with over 130 units of study taught each year. Sydney caters to approximately 15 areas of specialisation in law, with units taught by our very own experts as well as overseas visitors and leading members of the legal profession. Units are taught intensively or over an entire semester. If you're a full-time student it's possible to complete your LLM in one year by finishing eight units of study.

Complete your LLM in Europe...

The Sydney Law School offers a Master of Laws (LLM) program in Europe. Classes take place at the Australian Centre Europe in Berlin and Robinson College in Cambridge, UK. Units are taught intensively, over four successive days. Upon completion, students must then complete the assessment. Several subjects are offered each year and each unit may count towards programs other than the LLM. You can count one, some or all of your units towards a Sydney LLM by attending classes in Europe.

Complete your LLM in Sydney & Europe...

You may prefer to combine study in Europe with that in Sydney. You can decide to complete half your units in Europe and half in Sydney, for instance. Alternatively you may like to complete most in Europe or some in Sydney. The choice is yours and your unit selection will determine your location. You may even find that you wish to finish your LLM in Sydney in order to attend your graduation ceremony at the University.

Complete a single unit to count towards an LLM...

You do not have to commit to entire program straight away. You may like to sample a unit of study, be it in Europe or Sydney. With a maximum time to completion of six years, you can start off with just the one unit and then you may wish to delay your study until another unit of interest is taught. So long as you complete the assessment, that unit will count towards an award course such as a Graduate Diploma or Masters.

Complete the Graduate Diploma in Law and then upgrade to the LLM...

You may like to start out with a Graduate Diploma, which consists of four units of study. With approval you can then upgrade to a Masters. Many of our students commence with a Graduate Diploma in Law (GradDipLaw) and then decide to enhance their qualifications by transferring to the LLM. With only four units of study remaining to qualify, it's a decision worth considering.

The Faculty

Our level of academic staff expertise is well respected. Not only are many leaders in their fields, but we also draw on a number of leading international experts to deliver our programs. From the very beginning, the Sydney Law School has strived to match academic excellence with close professional links. As part of a bequest by John Henry Challis to the University in 1880, chairs in Law and Jurisprudence were founded, in addition to - reflecting the Faculty's ongoing commitment to placing law within a global perspective - a chair in International Law. Over the last century, these foundations have been extended. There are now 18 Chairs and over 70 full-time academic staff, as well as 60 adjunct members of the Faculty and 40 general staff. Starting with 14 students, it now has approximately 1,700 undergraduate and 1,500 postgraduate students.

Our staff are not only highly experienced and receptive to the needs and interests of our students, but are also international leaders in their fields of study. Some of our academic staff that are recognised as experts both here and overseas include:

Professor Richard Vann – Taxation
Professor Margaret Allars – Administrative Law
Professor Terry Carney – Mental Health Law
Professor Jennifer Hill – Corporate, Securities & Finance Law
Professor Patrick Parkinson – Family Law
Professor Hilary Astor – Dispute Resolution
Professor Mark Findlay – Criminal Law
Professor Patricia Apps – Law & Economics
Professor Ben Boer – Environmental Law
Professor Reg Graycar – Law and Gender
Associate Professor Helen Irving - Constitutional Law
Associate Professor Alex Ziegert – Jurisprudence
Associate Professor Mary Crock – Migration Law
Associate Professor Belinda Bennett – Medical Law

Entry Requirements

An undergraduate degree in law or equivalent at an appropriate level is sufficient for entry. The Sydney LLM requires eight units of study for completion. Full-time candidates usually take one year to complete the LLM, with a maximum time of three years. Credit may be available for units completed towards an equivalent degree at another law school.

Application Procedure

For information on the application procedure please visit the International Office website - www.usyd.edu.au/internationaloffice

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you will need to demonstrate English language proficiency before admission. The following scores apply:

1. IELTS overall band score of 7.0, with no less than 6.0 in any component.

2. TOEFL
Paper Test: 600 plus Test of Written English (TWE) = 4.5
Computer-based TOEFL (CBT) = 250 plus a score of 4.5 in the Essay writing component
Internet-based TOEFL (IBT) = 100 with a minimum of 21 in the Writing section
Scores more than two years old cannot be accepted.

Tuition and Fees

The fee for the Master of Laws (LLM) at Sydney is A$23,040 per year in 2007.

Location

Sydney as a destination has many benefits. It is one of the world’s most beautiful harbour cities, with the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House scenic icons recognised across the world. It is also home to some of Australia’s most famous beaches that include not only Bondi Beach but Sydney’s well-loved beaches on the northern and southern peninsulas. Bronte Beach, Coogee Beach and Manly Beach also provide a very popular alternative.

Sydney has a thriving nightlife not just in its city centre but around its various suburbs. There’s a vast array of pubs, clubs, bars, cafes and restaurants to choose from that reflect the multicultural status of this fine city. While Sydney is still a young city, there’s a multitude of superb scenery and remarkable architecture to enjoy that outlines Sydney and Australia’s unique history.

Sydney is also conveniently located to many of Australia’s finest National Parks, as well as many smaller national parks and state forests, offering visitors a superb environment for bushwalking, picnics and soft adventure activities, all within easy reach of the city centre. For information on Sydney as a city, visit www.sydneyaustralia.com

Accommodation

The University Accommodation Service will help students to find accommodation close to campus. It is also possible to reserve temporary accommodation when you first arrive to allow you time to find a place to live and attend orientation sessions. Please visit the website - www.usyd.edu.au/stuserv/accommodation/

Summer Program

While the Sydney Law School does not offer any units of study as part of the University of Sydney Summer School, a number of intensive units of study are run during the summer break between December and February each year.

Pre-LLM Course

We encourage all of our international students to attend an optional bridging program that is held a few days prior to commencement of semester. International students are given a brief overview of the Australian legal framework and the common law system. The Program also provides an opportunity for new students to meet each other socially, and with the academic and administrative staff of the Law School.