Program Overview

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Doctor of Juridical Science

About the course

The Doctor of Juridical Science is a special opportunity to gain distinguished professional recognition for high-quality research. With both a coursework and thesis component, this professional doctorate recognises a distinguished original contribution to professional knowledge. It is a platform for achieving publication of research outputs and can re-launch your professional career or fulfil a personal yearning for scholarly satisfaction.

Quick details

• Status: Available
• Locations:
• Attendance: Full-time, Part-time
• Delivery: On-campus
• Starting dates: The majority of SJD law units are offered intensively throughout the year during the vacation periods and study breaks. View important dates for study break and vacation periods. Units listed in the course rules are not necessarily available every year. It is advisable to check the availability of units before accepting or applying to defer an offer from the University. The list of available option units is updated in November each year.
• Weekly contact time: The estimated time commitment for a standard full-time enrolment is approximately 30 hours per week (or 15 hours part-time), which includes contact hours, personal study and examinations.
• Level of study: Postgraduate
• Course Code: 20810
• CRICOS code: G
• Full time/part time duration: 3 years
• Degrees course is available in: Doctor of Juridical Science

Why study this course?

• Gain distinguished professional recognition for high quality research.
• The coursework component provides for networking opportunities, and enhancing subject expertise and higher skills in legal theory and research methodology.
• The thesis equips you to apply these skills with the guidance of expert supervisors and funding for research activities.

Course structure

Postgraduate research degrees are identified by an intensive research component. Refer to the Handbooks for information on course rules.

Option - Group A

Take unit(s) to the value of 42 points:

• LAWS6109 Dispute Resolution (6)
• LAWS6114 International Environmental Law (6)
• LAWS6118 Family Law (6)
• LAWS6128 Consumer Law (6)
• LAWS6132 Income Taxation Law (6)
• LAWS6150 Intellectual Property Law (6)
• LAWS6152 Media Law (6)
• LAWS6167 Comparative Legal Method (6)
• LAWS6168 Federal Jurisdiction (6)
• LAWS6179 Law of the Sea (6)
• LAWS6181 Health Law and Policy (6)
• LAWS6187 Succession Law (6)
• LAWS6189 Advanced Topics in Private Law (6)
• LAWS6192 Introduction to Roman Private Law (6)
• LAWS6209 Advanced Public Law (6)
• LAWS6215 Theory & Practice of Risk Regulation (6)
• LAWS6219 International Criminal Law (6)
• LAWS6220 International Humanitarian Law (6)
• LAWS6223 Theories of Justice and Punishment (6)
• LAWS6224 Foundations of Public International Law (6)
• LAWS6225 Theory, Method and Contemporary Issues of International Law (6)
• LAWS6226 International Human Rights Law (6)
• LAWS6230 Aviation Law (6)
• LAWS6234 Taxation of Trusts (6)
• LAWS6251 International Sales Law (6)
• LAWS6260 Intersections of Law, Policy and Governance (6)
• LAWS6261 Planning Law (6)
• LAWS6296 Technology Law and Governance (6)
• LAWS6297 The Global Lawyer (6)
• LAWS6298 Human Capital (6)
• LAWS6327 Advanced Evidence and Proof (6)
• LAWS6358 Innovations in Legal Practice Management (6)
• LAWS6360 Employment Law (6)
• LAWS6398 Construction Law (6)
• LAWS6504 Insurance Law (6)
• LAWS6521 Climate Change Law (6)
• LAWS6576 International Commercial Arbitration (6)
• LAWS6577 Space and Satellite Law (6)
• LAWS6589 Energy Regulation: Sustainable Oil and Gas Law (6)
• LAWS6590 Water Resources Law (6)
• LAWS6596 Mergers and Acquisitions (6)
• LAWS6713 Environmental Protection Law (6)
• LAWS6717 Unjust Enrichment and Restitution (6)
• LAWS6726 Mining Law (6)
• LAWS6727 Energy Agreements: Oil and Gas, Alternative Energy and Sustainability (6)
• LAWS6750 Research Paper I (6)
• LAWS6751 Research Paper II (12)
• LAWS6752 Research Paper III Part 1 (6)
• LAWS6753 Research Paper III Part 2 (6)
• LAWS6820 Legislation in Practice (6)

Option - Group B

Take unit(s) to the value of 102 points:

• LAWS6979 Advanced Legal Research Design and Methodology (6)
• LAWS6980 Doctoral Thesis (full-time) (96)
• LAWS6981 Doctoral Thesis (part-time) (96)

Admission requirements

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;
• (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;
• (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.

Research and coursework supplementary form

Applicants to this course are required to submit a completed Research and Coursework Supplementary Form [PDF, 385KB] when applying.

English competency

English is the language of instruction and assessment at UWA and you will need to meet the English language requirements of the University to be eligible for a place.

This course has higher ELC requirements. Applicants presenting with the IELTS Academic require an overall score of at least 7.0 and no band less than 6.5. For more information visit ELC requirements.

Fees and scholarships

Domestic Student Fees

There is no current fee information available for this course. Please visit the fee calculator to browse course fees from a previous year, or other courses.

International Student Fees

Annual course fee

2025

$57,600.00

Onshore international students are charged an annual course fee, charged per credit point at a rate dependent on the course in which the student is enrolled. Annual course fees are calculated based on an annual study load. Check the handbook to confirm the annual study load for your course.

Find out more about international student tuition fees and visit the fee calculator for the relevant course fees.

Fees are subject to annual indexation.

Scholarships

Postgraduate scholarships support UWA's position as one of Australia's leading research-intensive universities and the premier research institution in WA.

Search Scholarships

Research Training Program

Australian citizens, permanent residents and New Zealand citizens are offered a Tuition Fee Offset Scholarship which offsets the requirement to pay a contribution toward the cost of their research courses if UWA provides them with a Research Training Program (RTP) place.

This Tuition Fee Offset Scholarship is applied for up a maximum of four years full-time equivalent study for the Doctor of Philosophy. The RTP is a performance-based funding scheme administered by the Australian Government Department of Education.

Cost of living

There are a few things to consider before applying to study at university. One could be your cost of living. This can depend on factors such as lifestyle, accommodation, tuition fees, medical insurance, textbooks and more. For an indication of expenses and average costs, see our Cost of living page.

Western Australia's premier Law School

The UWA Law School is ranked in the top 150 law schools in the world for Law and Legal Studies (QS 2025). You will join and contribute to 90 years of excellence: we are the first law school established in WA and the fifth oldest in Australia.

Our graduates include a Prime Minister, a Governor of Western Australia, State Ministers, Justices of the Supreme Court of WA, a Young Australian of the Year, Rhodes Scholars, and more.

While we have a long and proud history, we're also a closely-knit, creative and progressive Law School, fostering critical thought, ethical scholarship and practice, a deep connection to our Indigenous past and present, and supportive student culture based upon wellbeing and inclusion.