What we offer

The Australian National University was established in 1946 as Australia’s only full-time research university Today, research is still one of its major focuses. The ANU College of Law offers research degrees for exceptional graduates in Australia and overseas and our graduates have gone on to lead successful careers in academia, government and business.

There is a great depth and variety of research expertise at the ANU College of Law. The Centre for Public and International Law has a particular interest in constitutional, administrative, international, human rights and citizenship law. The Australian Centre for Environmental Law hosts work on climate change, water law, and the precautionary principle. The Centre for Commercial Law specialises in corporate and securities law, governance and accountability, competition regulation, property and corporations law. The John Fleming Centre for Advancement of Legal Research has a particular interest in private law. Other areas of research within the ANU College of Law include criminal law, intellectual property law, Asian law, Indigenous legal issues, bioethics, and law and psychology.

Research may be conducted in many areas of law, and we encourage you to contact us to find out more about our staff and to discuss your potential research project and supervision requirements.

Dean's Message

Benefits of studying at the ANU:

• Expert supervision for research projects
• Excellent student facilities, including one of the best law libraries in Australia, office space, IT and general support
• Located in Canberra – where laws are made!
• Visits by world renowned scholars
• Being part of our academic community

Programs

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - The PhD degree requires submission of a thesis of not more than 100,000 words which makes a substantial contribution to learning in the field of law. Each candidate has a supervisory panel of at least three academics. Students are encouraged to participate in the activities of the Law School - this can include teaching where appropriate, for which there are tutorships available. The minimum requirement for admission to an academic program leading to research degree is a degree of bachelor with first class honours or upper second class honours degree, usually in law, from an Australian university or such other qualification (being a qualification that is equivalent or superior to such a degree) as the Delegated Authority determines. A full-time student normally completes in three years. In some circumstances part-time study is permitted with the maximum time for completion being eight years.

Graduate Teaching Fellowships: A limited number of competitive Graduate Teaching Fellowships are available to PhD students for part-time teaching and professional development. Please contact the Law School Office for more information.

Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) - This is a professional doctorate, which combines research with coursework. Approved applicants must complete four courses from the postgraduate range of subjects , except fundamental or GDLP courses, followed by a thesis of 65,000 words. Each candidate has a supervisor and at least one other adviser. Entry requirements are a first class or upper second class honours degree in law or equivalent qualification. Alternatively entry can be gained from the Master of Laws program. The degree will normally be completed in two and a half years of full-time study or equivalent part-time study. For further information please see the Working Rules.

Master of Philosophy (MPhil) - The Master of Philosophy is a research degree requiring the completion of a thesis of no more than 60,000 words. The candidate will have a supervisor and an advisory panel. The minimum requirement for admission to an academic program leading to research degree is a degree of bachelor with first class honours or upper second class honours degree, usually in law, from an Australian university or such other qualification (being a qualification that is equivalent or superior to such a degree) as the Delegated Authority determines. The MPhil can be completed in one year of full-time study or up to a maximum of four years part-time.