About

Overview

The Graduate Diploma in Laws (GDipLaw) allows you to tailor your studies to meet your own professional and personal areas of interest in law.

As a student in the Graduate Diploma in Laws, you’ll study four subjects from the world-renowned Melbourne Law Masters program, which offers students a choice of more than 170 subjects across dozens of specialist legal areas.

Like the Master of Laws (LLM), it’s available only for law graduates and the flexible structure makes it ideal for working professionals looking to develop their expertise in selected areas of the law.

Related offerings

Master of Laws
Single Subject Study in Law

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Admission criteria

To be considered for entry into this course, you must have completed:

A degree in law (LLB, JD or equivalent) leading to admission to practice with a University of Melbourne equivalent score of at least 70, OR
A degree in law (LLB, JD or equivalent) leading to admission to legal practice and at least one year of documented, relevant professional experience.

Professional experience relevant to this course may include roles such as a lawyer, solicitor, advocate, attorney, counsel, barrister, magistrate, or judge’s associate.

Meeting the published entry requirements for this course does not guarantee selection.

Where our admission criteria includes a minimum Weighted Average Mark (WAM) and/or specific subject criteria, these are based on University of Melbourne grades and subjects. If you've studied elsewhere, we'll assess your relevant prior studies and equivalent grades. Your final WAM may be adjusted depending on your previous institution's accreditation, subject grading, and pass marks.

You can use our graduate coursework grade conversion eligibility calculator to get an indication of whether you are eligible for this course based on your previous studies and Weighted Average Mark (WAM).

Calculate your eligibility

English language requirements

All applicants to the University of Melbourne must satisfy the English language requirements. This may be achieved in a number of ways, including recognised previous study taught and assessed entirely in English or an approved English language test. If you are from a non-English speaking background, the required standard of English for this degree is one of the following English proficiency test scores:

English language test score requirements
If you need to undertake an English language test, you must meet one of the scores* below:

IELTS

7.0

with no band less than 6.5
TOEFL

94+

with writing 24; speaking 20; reading 19; listening 20
PEARSON

72+

with written communicative skill of 65 and no other communicative skill below 64
CAMBRIDGE

185+

with no skill less than 176
*Accepted tests: IELTS (Academic English Only); TOEFL Internet-based test; Pearson Test of English Academic; Cambridge English: Advanced/Certificate of Advanced English (CAE). If a test displays N/A, it means it is not accepted for this course.

About selection

When assessing applications, the Selection Committee will consider your previous studies and academic performance.

The Selection Committee may request additional information to clarify any aspect of an application, according to the University’s Academic Board rules regarding selection instruments.

Meeting the published entry requirements for this course does not guarantee selection.

If relevant to your application, the Selection Committee will also consider your professional history.

English Program Requirements

All applicants to the University of Melbourne must satisfy the English language requirements. This may be achieved in a number of ways, including recognised previous study taught and assessed entirely in English or an approved English language test. If you are from a non-English speaking background, the required standard of English for this degree is one of the following English proficiency test scores:

English language test score requirements

If you need to undertake an English language test, you must meet one of the scores* below:

IELTS

7.0

with no band less than 6.5

TOEFL

94+

with writing 24; speaking 20; reading 19; listening 20

PEARSON

72+

with written communicative skill of 65 and no other communicative skill below 64

CAMBRIDGE

185+

with no skill less than 176

*Accepted tests: IELTS (Academic English Only); TOEFL Internet-based test; Pearson Test of English Academic; Cambridge English: Advanced/Certificate of Advanced English (CAE). If a test displays N/A, it means it is not accepted for this course.

Career

The Graduate Diploma in Laws is for those who already hold a degree in law and are looking to develop their expertise.

It’s ideal for professionals wanting to advance their careers by honing their legal and research skills and becoming a specialist in their area of interest. As a student in the Graduate Diploma in Laws, you’ll develop skills in critical analysis and the ability to interpret and transmit your ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Many students who complete four subjects towards the Graduate Diploma in Laws decide to take four more subjects to complete a Master of Laws.

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Fee Information

Tuition Fee

19,261 / year

Application Fee 154