UWA Handbook 2025

Applicability of the Student Rules, policies and procedures

1.(1) The Student Rules apply to students in this course.

(2) The policy, policy statements and guidance documents and student procedures apply, except as otherwise indicated in the rules for this course.

Academic Conduct Essentials and Communication and Research Skills modules

2.(1) A student who enrols in this course for the first time irrespective of whether they have previously been enrolled in another course of the University, must undertake the Academic Conduct Essentials module (the ACE module) and the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module).

(2) A student must successfully complete the ACE module within the first teaching period of their enrolment. Failure to complete the module within this timeframe will result in the student's unit results from this teaching period being withheld. These results will continue to be withheld until students avail themselves of a subsequent opportunity to achieve a passing grade in the ACE module. In the event that students complete units in subsequent teaching periods without completing the ACE module, these results will similarly be withheld. Students will not be permitted to submit late review or appeal applications regarding results which have been withheld for this reason and which they were unable to access in the normally permitted review period.

English Language competency requirements

3.(1) To be considered eligible for consideration for admission to this course an applicant must satisfy the University's English language competence requirement as set out in the University Policy on Admission: Coursework, except as otherwise indicated in the rules for this course.

(2) Applicants presenting with the IELTS Academic require an overall score of at least 7.5 and no band less than 7.0.

(3) Applicants presenting with the TOEFL iBT require an overall score of at least 106, a miminum score of 28 in the Speaking section, and no other sub-score less than 26.

(4) Applicants presenting with the TOEFL Paper Based score require an overall score of at least 580 and a miminum score of 5.0 in the Essay Rating / Test of Written English (TWE).

(5) Applicants presenting with the Pearson Test of English (PTE) (Academic) require an overall score of at least 70 and no sub-score less than 70.

(6) Applicants presenting with the UWA Centre for English Language Teaching (CELT) Bridging Course require a minimum grade of Grade A (85%) in the final CELT examination, with no band less than 80%.

Admission requirements

4.(1) To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have—

(a) a bachelor's degree, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA;

and;

(b) the equivalent of a UWA grade point average (GPA) of at least 5.5*.

(2) To be considered for admission to this course an Indigenous applicant must have—

(a) met the general admission requirements under 4.(1);

or

(b)

(i) a bachelor's degree via the UWA Indigenous Direct Pathway; and

(ii) the equivalent of a UWA grade point average (GPA) of at least 5.0*;

or

(c)

(i) a bachelor's degree, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA; and

(ii) a School of Indigenous Studies' Law Admission Test and interview

(3) To be considered for admission to this course via the Equity and Diversity Pathway an applicant must have—

(a)

(i) held a protection, refugee or humanitarian visa within seven years prior to applying for admission to this course; or

(ii) experienced significant personal, medical, social, educational, cultural or financial disadvantage or hardship, including any disadvantage or hardship resulting from an applicant's sexual orientation or gender identity that has had an effect on their prior academic studies;

and

(b) a bachelor's degree, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA;

and

(c) the equivalent of a UWA grade point average (GPA) of at least 5.0.

(4) To be considered for admission to this course via the alternative experience pathway an applicant must have—

(a)

(i) a bachelor's degree, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA; and

(ii) demonstrate competency for legal studies derived from a minimum of five years' unpaid or paid work, study or other experience, since completion of the undergraduate degree in (i); and

(iii) completed the equivalent of one year full time in a UWA undergraduate course with a minimum GPA of 5.5 undertaken within the past two years;

or

(b)

(i) a bachelor's degree, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA; and

(ii) the equivalent of a UWA grade point average (GPA) of at least 5.0; and

(iii) demonstrate competency for legal studies derived from a minimum of five years' unpaid or paid work, study or other experience since completion of the undergraduate degree in (i); and

(iv) personal statement; and

(v) interview.

(5) To be considered for transfer to this course an applicant must—

(a) have been enrolled in a recognised Juris Doctor course at another Australian University; and

(b) have successfully completed at least one full semester (or equivalent part time study) in that Juris Doctor;

and

(c) have achieved the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 60 per cent in that Juris Doctor course.

*All completed tertiary studies will be used when calculating the WAM and GPA.

Admission ranking and selection

5. Where relevant, admission will be awarded to the highest ranked applicants or applicants selected based on—

(a) for indigenous applicants under Rule 4(2) (b), or (c):

(i) the admission requirements under Rule 4(2) (b), or (c);

and

(ii) the indigenous student quota of up to 20 per year;

(b) for applicants in the Equity and Diversity Pathway:

(i) the admission requirements under 4.(3) (a), (b) and (c); and

(ii) the Equity and Diversity Pathway quota of 20 per year;

or

(c) for applicants who do not have a place in a Direct Pathway into this course and are not transferring from another Juris Doctor course:

(i) the admission requirements under Rule 4(1); and

(ii) the intake quota for that year.

Articulations and exit awards

6. This course does not form part of an articulated sequence.

Course structure

7.(1) The course consists of units to a total value of 144 points.

(2) Units must be selected in accordance with the course structure, as set out in these rules.

Satisfactory progress

8. To make satisfactory progress a student must pass units to a point value greater than half the total value of units in which they remain enrolled after the final date for withdrawal without academic penalty.

9. A student who has not achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module) when their progress status is assessed will not have made satisfactory progress even if they have met the other requirements for satisfactory progress in Rule 8.

Progress status

10.(1) A student who makes satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 8 is assigned the status of 'Good Standing'.

(2) Unless the relevant board determines otherwise because of exceptional circumstances—

(a) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the first time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'On Probation';

(b) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the second time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'Suspended';

(c) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the third time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'Excluded'.

11. A student who does not make satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 9 is assigned the progress status of 'On Probation', unless they have been assigned a progress status of 'Suspended' or 'Excluded' for failure to meet other satisfactory progress requirements in Rule 8.

Award with distinction

12. To be awarded the degree with distinction a student must achieve a course weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 80 per cent which is calculated based on—

(a) all units above Level 3 attempted as part of the course that are awarded a final percentage mark;

(b) all relevant units above Level 3 undertaken in articulating courses of this University that are awarded a final percentage mark;

and

(c) all units above Level 3 completed at this University that are credited to the master's degree course.

Deferrals

13. Applicants awarded admission to the course are entitled to a deferral of up to 12 months, as per the University Policy on: Admissions (Coursework).

Additional rules

Credit

14.(1) Subject to (2), the Faculty may grant credit for previously completed Law units if they were completed—

(a) as part of a postgraduate Law course recognised by the Faculty as equivalent to the Juris Doctor course of this University;

and

(b) not more than five years prior to admission to the Juris Doctor course of this University.

(2) Credit granted will not exceed 72 points.

(3) A student who completes the Bachelor of Civil Law degree at the University of Oxford will be granted credit for two option units.

Minimum study load

15. The minimum study load for the Juris Doctor is two units until the first 72 points has been completed.

Deferral for commencing students

16. Deferral for commencing students, other than those holding an Direct Pathway place, will be granted for one year only.

Approved leave

17. Approved leave in this course will not be granted to any student until the student has successfully completed LAWS4101 Foundations of Law and Lawyering.