ANU College of Law Credit Guidelines
Students who have undertaken previous study that is relevant to their current academic program can apply to have course credit or an exemption assessed based on prior learning. Further information including relevant definitions and links to ANU policies and procedures is available on the credit page. University rules, policy and procedure relating to the granting credit is set out in the Coursework Awards Rule, Policy: Recognition of prior and external learning and Procedure: Credit and exemptions .
The amount of credit for law courses completed at other institutions, whether in Australia or overseas, will be determined by the delegate on the basis of information provided by the applicant and any other relevant sources. The quantum of status awarded will depend upon a variety of factors, including, but not limited to the Australian Qualifications Framework (or AQF) level of the program of prior study.
The AQF is the Commonwealth’s regulatory regime for accrediting educational programs. In the context of ANU College of Law programs, the AQF Framework covers: AQF Level 8 programs (LLBHons degrees, Graduate Certificates, Graduate Diplomas); and AQF Level 9 programs (JD and Masters degrees). Specific rules in relation to AQF Levels in the ANU context are set out in the University’s Policy on Academic Programs and Courses Accreditation.
Bachelor of Laws (Honours)
Decisions in relation to credit are made by the LLB Program Director of the ANU College of Law. Credit will only be considered for courses completed within ten years before the first day of the first session that follows acceptance of the offer to the program. These limitations apply to both law and non-law courses.
To obtain an ANU LLBHons degree as a student transferring from another institution, at least 16 of the law courses required for the degree (or 96 units of law courses) must be completed at the ANU. Transferring students whose prior program of study was at AQF Level 8 (LLBHons level) may receive credit/status for up to 48 units of study (eight courses). Students transferring into the LLBHons program from an AQF Level 7 LLB (as opposed to an LLBHons) at another institution are subject to more specific requirements; credit can be given for up to eight compulsory law courses or for up to seven compulsory and one elective completed at AQF Level 7 (for a total, in either case, of 48 units of study). This limit is not negotiable as it reflects the AQF mandated degree requirements for a Level 8 program.
When making decisions in relation to credit, the delegate will only grant credit for courses that are assessed as comparable to ANU College of Law courses by reference to course content, mode of delivery, assessment rigour (including compatibility with the spiralled research skills taught and assessed in ANU compulsory law courses), contact hours and other relevant measures. A relevant measure in relation to the ANU LLBHons program is that eight out of the nine law electives that a student completes must have sufficient emphasis on research to meet AQF Level 8 requirements. To meet this requirement, at least 50% of the final mark for the course must be apportioned to independent research tasks.
Juris Doctor
Decisions in relation to credit are made by the JD Program Director of the ANU College of Law. Credit will only be considered for courses completed within ten years before the first day of the first session that follows acceptance of the offer to the program. These limitations apply to both law and non-law courses.
A student who enrols in the ANU JD degree after transferring from another institution may be eligible for credit/status for the law courses they have undertaken at the other institution. However, an ANU JD can only be awarded if at least 12 JD courses (or 72 units of study) are completed at the ANU.
When making decisions in relation to credit, the delegate will only grant credit for courses that are assessed as comparable to the ANU College of Law course by reference to course content, mode of delivery, assessment rigour, contact hours and other relevant measures. A relevant measure in relation to the JD program is the requirement that no more than 25% of courses making up a Level 9 program can originate in Level 7 or Level 8 programs. Accordingly, no more than six courses taken at LLB or LLBHons level can be credited to a JD program.
Where a student was enrolled in a combined program of law and another discipline, whether at ANU or at another institution, no credit will be given for any law courses that were included in (or counted towards) the completion of the award of the other discipline. A student may not repeat in the JD program a course which is substantially similar to that of a subject passed for the award of another degree or diploma. Where a course is a compulsory part of the ANU JD program, an exemption from that course will normally be granted and the student will be required to undertake another course in lieu of the course for which exemption is granted.
Master of Laws
Decisions in relation to credit and exemption are made by the LLM Program Director of the ANU College of Law. Where credit is granted, the duration of the program may be adjusted accordingly.
Credit and exemption are only granted for graduate level courses deemed equivalent by the delegate and will only be granted for courses completed within ten years before the first day of the first session that follows acceptance of the offer to the program. Credit will only be considered for courses in a cognate discipline and will not be granted for more than half of the program’s required units (i.e. 24 units), including cross institutional study. Credit will not be granted for internships or work experience.
Credit may be granted for courses undertaken in the Graduate Certificate of Law or the Graduate Certificate of New Technologies Law at ANU.
Applicants who have completed an Australian undergraduate law degree or Juris Doctor from common law countries/regions listed below are exempted from Law and Legal Institutions (LAWS8586) and are required to complete an additional 6 units from the course list.
- New Zealand
- United Kingdom (Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland)
- Ireland
- Malaysia
- Singapore
- Hong Kong
- India
- Canada
For the purposes of admission, ‘cognate’ is to be defined as any of the following: Accounting, Business And Management, Sales And Marketing, Tourism, Office Studies, Banking, Finance And Related Fields, Management And Commerce, Political Science And Policy Studies, Studies In Human Society, Human Welfare Studies And Services, Behavioural Science, Law, Justice And Law Enforcement, Librarianship, Information Management And Curatorial Studies, Language And Literature, Philosophy And Religious Studies, Economics And Econometrics, Sport And Recreation, Society And Culture.
Graduate Certificate of Law
Decisions in relation to credit and exemption are made by the LLM Program Director of the ANU College of Law. Where credit is granted, the duration of the program may be adjusted accordingly.
Credit is only granted for graduate level courses deemed equivalent by the delegate and will only be granted for courses completed within ten years before the first day of the first session that follows acceptance of the offer to the program. Credit will not be granted for more than half of the program’s required units (i.e. 12 units), including cross institutional study. Credit will not be granted for internships or work experience.
Applicants who have completed an Australian undergraduate law degree or Juris Doctor from common law countries/regions listed below are exempted from Law and Legal Institutions (LAWS8586) and are required to complete an additional 6 units from the course list.
- New Zealand
- United Kingdom (Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland)
- Ireland
- Malaysia
- Singapore
- Hong Kong
- India
- Canada
Master of International Law & Diplomacy
Decisions in relation to credit are made by the ANU College of Law for the Law component and the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs for the Diplomacy component. Where credit is granted, the duration of the program may be adjusted accordingly.
Credit will only be considered for courses completed within seven years before the first day of the first session that follows acceptance of the offer to the program. These limitations apply to both law and non-law courses. A student who enrols in the ANU Master of International Law and Diplomacy after transferring from another institution may be eligible for credit/status for the courses they have undertaken at the other institution.
Students are automatically assessed for credit upon application to the Master of International Law and Diplomacy program so there is no need to submit a separate credit application unless directed to. Applications and enquiries for credit towards the Law component should be directed to enquiries.law@anu.edu.au and enquiries for credit towards the Diplomacy component should be directed to bell.postgrad@anu.edu.au
Applicants who have completed an Australian undergraduate law degree or Juris Doctor from common law countries/regions listed below are exempted from Law and Legal Institutions (LAWS8586) and are required to complete an additional 6 units from the course list.
- New Zealand
- United Kingdom (Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland)
- Ireland
- Malaysia
- Singapore
- Hong Kong
- India
- Canada
Master of Financial Management & Law
Decisions in relation to credit are made by the ANU College of Law for the Law component and the ANU College of Business and Economics for the Financial Management component. Where credit is granted, the duration of the program may be adjusted accordingly.
Credit will only be considered for courses completed within seven years before the first day of the first session that follows acceptance of the offer to the program. These limitations apply to both law and non-law courses. A student who enrols in the ANU Master of Financial Management and Law after transferring from another institution may be eligible for credit/status for the courses they have undertaken at the other institution.
Applicants who have completed an Australian undergraduate law degree or Juris Doctor from common law countries/regions listed below are exempted from Law and Legal Institutions (LAWS8586) and are required to complete an additional 6 units from the course list.
- New Zealand
- United Kingdom (Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland)
- Ireland
- Malaysia
- Singapore
- Hong Kong
- India
- Canada
Applications and enquiries should be directed to enquiries.law@anu.edu.au
