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 7.0 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, or

(d) (i) completed 24 points of a Master of Laws (LLM) at UWA or elsewhere, including a 12 points research paper;

(ii) the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 70 percent on completed LLM units; and

(iii) a mark of at least 70 percent in the 12 points research paper.

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 School 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. 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. Unless the GRS 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 GRS.

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.

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

Research proposal

14.(1) A student, other than one transferring from a Master of Laws, must provide a research proposal to the Graduate Research School for approval, through the Head of School and supervisor(s), within six months from the date of first enrolment for the course if enrolment is full-time, nine months part-time or the equivalent if the enrolment is part-time or a mixture of full- and part-time.

(2) A student who wishes to transfer from Master of Laws candidature must provide a research proposal for approval at the time of application for admission to the Doctor of Juridical Science.

Progress reports

15.(1) A student must provide an annual progress report, through the Head of School and supervisor(s), in accordance with procedures determined by the Board of the Graduate Research School.

(2) The report provided by the student must be forwarded by the Head of School to the Board of the Graduate Research School with a recommendation on whether the student should be permitted to re-enrol.

Credit

16. A student admitted into the Doctor of Juridical Science via clause 4(d) will be credited with 18 points of SJD coursework from their Master of Laws studies.

Academic Conduct and Research Integrity unit

17.(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 and Research Integrity unit (the ACRI module) and complete within the first six months from the date of commencement in the course.

(2) A student who has not achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the ACRI 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 the rules for this course.

(3) A student who does not make satisfactory progress in terms of (2) is assigned the progress status of 'On Probation'.

Confirmation of Candidature

18.(1) Confirmation of candidature is subject to the student completing certain agreed requirements within an agreed timeline.

(2) The requirements to be completed by the student and the timeline within which they must be completed must be agreed in writing by the student and their supervisors and the Head of School.

(3) A student must include an outline of the agreed requirements with the research proposal submitted in accordance with Rule 14, and the requirements are approved with the Research Proposal

(4) Students who have been enrolled full-time must normally have completed all agreed requirements by the date for submission of the first annual progress report.

(5) Students who have been enrolled part-time must normally have completed all agreed requirements at least by the date for submission of the second annual progress report.

(6) If the student completes all agreed requirements satisfactorily by the agreed time, candidature is confirmed by the Board.

(7) If the student does not complete all agreed requirements satisfactorily by the agreed time, candidature is terminated by the Board unless—

(a) the student is granted an extension of time in accordance with (8);

or

(b) the student has been permitted to downgrade candidature to the Master of Laws

(8) The Board, in consultation with the relevant head(s) of school(s), may grant the student an extension of three months full-time equivalent in which to complete the agreed tasks.

(9) A student who has been granted an extension of time in accordance with (8) is required to submit an interim report certifying that the agreed tasks have been completed.

(10) If a student who has been granted an extension of time in accordance with (8) completes the agreed tasks satisfactorily by the end of the period of extension, candidature is confirmed.

(11) If a student who has been granted an extension of time in accordance with (8) does not complete the agreed tasks by the end of the period of extension and, in the opinion of the Board,

there are no exceptional circumstances, the Board, in consultation with the Head(s) of School, terminates the candidature.

Terms used:

19. the Board: means the Board of the Graduate Research School and includes any position to which the Board has delegated authority for a particular function.

Head of School: means a person appointed or acting in that capacity or the Graduate Research Coordinator of the school, Graduate Research Coordinators being designated academics who have been approved by the head of school and the Board to act on behalf of the head of school on matters pertaining to Higher Degrees by Research;