Course overview
- Description
This course aims to provide students with an understanding of the key international legal frameworks and public international law institutions in a range of areas and also includes units of specialised study.
- Course title
- Master of International Law (coursework)
- Award abbreviation
- MIL
- Course code
- 21520
- Course type
- Master's degree by coursework only
- Status
- Current / 2025
- Administered by
- UWA Law School
- CRICOS code
- 083868E
Course details
- Intake periods
- Throughout the year
- Attendance type
- Full- or part-time (Student visa holders should read Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 for more information.)
- Credit points required
- 48
A standard full-time load is 24 points per semester. - Standard course duration
- 1 year
- Time limit
- 4 years
- Delivery mode
- Internal
- Locations offered
- UWA (Perth)
- Domestic fee type
- Commonwealth supported and/or HECS-HELP
- Available to international students
- Yes. For information on international student fees see 'Student Procedures: Fees'. (Enquiries: https://www.uwa.edu.au/askuwa)
- Course Coordinator(s)
- Fiona McGaughey
- Fees
- Visit the fees calculator.
Prospective students should see the Future Students website for details on admission requirements, intake periods, fees, availability to international students, careers information etc.
Specialisations
Course structure
Key to availability of units:
- S1
- Semester 1
- S2
- Semester 2
- N/A
- not available in 2025 – may be available in 2026 or 2027
- NS
- non-standard teaching period
All units have a value of six points unless otherwise stated.
All students take the two units from this group (12 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | LAWS5165 | Public International Law |
| 3 hours per week |
| NS | LAWS5225 | Theory, Method and Contemporary Issues of International Law | None | 27-28 Feb and 06-07 March, full day intensives |
All students, take unit(s) to a minimum value of 30 points from Group A.
Group A
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NS | LAWS5114 | International Environmental Law | Students must attend all sessions on allocated Tuesdays in April and May - please see timetable for more details. | |
| NS | LAWS5219 | International Criminal Law | Students must attend session across September and October. Refer to the timetable for more information. | |
| NS | LAWS5220 | International Humanitarian Law | None | Sessions will take place from 9am - 5pm on Wednesdays in April and May. Refer to timetable for further details. Students must attend each session. |
| N/A | LAWS5226 | International Human Rights Law | None | This unit will run 5-9 August 2024. Students must attend every day of the intensive period. |
| NS | LAWS5241 | International Dispute Settlement | None | This will run across Tuesdays in July and August 2025 - refer to timetable for more details. |
| S2 | LAWS5255 | Advanced Topics in International Law |
| 3 hours per week |
| S2 | LAWS5577 | Governing the Commons: Oceans, ice and outer space |
| Sessions will run from 9am - 5pm on Wednesdays for six weeks across semester 2. Refer to timetable for more details. Students must attend all sessions. |
| S1, S2 | LAWS5694 | Research Paper I |
| This research unit involves unstructured contact with a supervisor throughout the semester. |
| S1, S2 | LAWS5695 | Research Paper II (12 points) | This research unit involves unstructured contact with a supervisor throughout the semester. | |
| S1, S2 | LAWS5696 | Research Paper III Part 1 |
| This research unit involves unstructured contact with a supervisor throughout the semester. |
| S1, S2 | LAWS5697 | Research Paper III Part 2 |
| This research unit involves unstructured contact with a supervisor throughout the semester. |
Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points:
Group B
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | LAWS5182 | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and the Law | seminars: 3 hours per week | |
| NS | LAWS5251 | International Sales Law |
| This unit will run for full day sessions over 6 weeks on 26 February 2025, 05/12/19/26 March and 02 April. |
| NS | LAWS5296 | Technology Law and Governance | This unit will run from 01-05 September 2025. Students must attend every day of the intensive period. | |
| NS | LAWS5521 | Climate Change Law |
| Students must attend every day of the intensive period 10-11 and 17 April 2025. Refer to the timetable website for further information. |
| NS, S1, S2 | SVLG5001 | McCusker Centre for Citizenship Internship |
| Internship experience: approximately 100 hours; McCusker Centre attendance: approximately 8 hours |
| NS, S1, S2 | WILG5001 | Work Integrated Learning Internship Program |
| Industry experience: 100 hours Online sessions with Unit Coordinator: 1-2 hours |
See also the rules for the course and the Student Rules.
Rules
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 7.0 and no band less than 6.5.
(3) Applicants presenting with the TOEFL iBT require an overall score of at least 100, a minimum 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 minimum 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 B (75%) in the final CELT examination, with no band less than 70%.
Admission requirements
4. To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have—1(a) a Juris Doctor or Bachelor of Laws, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA; or 2(a) (i) a bachelor's degree in a cognate area, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA; and (ii) the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 50 per cent; or 3(a) (i) a bachelor's degree, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA; and (ii) the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 50 per cent; 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) The following courses form part of an articulated sequence:
- 21320 Graduate Diploma in International Law (24 points)
- 21520 Master of International Law (48 points)
(2) A student who withdraws from the Master of International Law course before completing it, but after fulfilling the requirements of a lesser award in the above sequence, may apply for the relevant award.
(3) Credit for units completed in the Graduate Diploma will only be given if the course is not conferred.
Course structure
7.(1) The course consists of units to a total value of 48 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 for graduates enrolled in the Master of International Relations
14. Graduates enrolled in the Master of International Relations may be granted credit of up to 12 points towards the Master of International Law for successful completion of the following units: POLS5661 Theory in International Relations A: Contending Approaches and POLS5662. These Credits will only be given if the Master of International Relations has NOT been conferred. Theory in International Relations B: Explanation and Understanding.
Credit
15. Credit will not be granted for units that were taken in another degree that was conferred.