Course details

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 module

2.(1) Except as stated in (2), 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).

(2) A student who has previously achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the ACE module is not required to repeat the module.

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 7.0 and no band less than 6.5.

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

(a) the Bachelor of Laws with first or upper second class honours; or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA;

or

(b) (i) a Juris Doctor or Master of Laws, including a 12 point research project, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA; and

(ii) the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 70 per cent;

or

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

(ii) evidence of adequate research preparation as recognised by UWA; and

(iii) at least two years of relevant professional experience.

Admission ranking and selection

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

Articulations and exit awards

6.(1) This course has the following exit award:

• 20500 Master of Laws (48 points)

(2) A student who withdraws from the Doctor of Juridical Science course before completing it, but after completing the requirements of a UWA Master of Laws, with a minimum WAM of 65%, may apply to the Faculty to be awarded the Master of Laws.

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.(1) To make satisfactory progress in the course—

(a) a student enrolled in units from Group A must pass units to a value of at least half the total value of units in which they remain enrolled after the final date for withdrawal without academic penalty;

and

(b) students must achieve an overall average mark of at least 70 per cent in the units from Group A to be permitted to enrol in the research component units in Group B.

(2) a student enrolled in the research component of the course must satisfy the Faculty through relevant reports that their progress has been appropriate.

9. A student who has not achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the ACE 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. Unless the Faculty determines otherwise in exceptional circumstances, a student who fails to achieve an overall average mark of 70 per cent in the units taken from Group A is assigned the progress status of 'Excluded' by the Faculty.

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. This rule is not applicable to this course.

Additional rules

Research proposal

13.(1) A student must provide a research proposal in the form prescribed by the Faculty

(a) at the time of enrolling for the doctoral thesis;

or

(b) in the case of a student who has completed a Doctor of Juridical Science (Preliminary) course or who wishes to transfer from Master of Laws candidature, at the time of application for admission to the Doctor of Juridical Science course.

(2) The supervisor must forward the research proposal with their comments through the Graduate Research Coordinator for approval.

Thesis length

14. The thesis must be 50,000 to 60,000 words in length excluding tables, footnotes, endnotes and appendices.

Progress reports

15.(1) A student who has commenced work on the thesis must provide an annual progress report to the supervisor no later than 15 October each year.

(2) The supervisor must forward the research proposal with their comments through the Graduate Research Co-ordinator to the Graduate Research School for approval.