The Faculty of Law offers Masters of Law (LLM) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) as research higher degrees. Masters study usually takes between one and two years to complete; PhD study usually takes between two and four years to complete.
The Faculty of Law encourages postgraduate students to consider themselves full members of the Faculty, while receiving excellent guidance from the Faculty’s academic staff.
The research activities of the Law Faculty and the progress of research degree students are monitored and supported by Dr Jeremy Prichard in his roles as Graduate Research Coordinator and Associate Dean of Research.
Part of the GRC’s role is to ensure that the research activities of staff and students are undertaken in the best environment possible.
Please click on names to link to individual staff profiles for details of specific areas of research expertise and capacity for postgraduate supervision and supervision for LAW679 Supervised Research Paper within each of these broad research topics.
Admission to the postgraduate program is based upon undergraduate academic performance, specific to topic area chosen, and availability of suitable supervision and resources within the Law Faculty during the period of candidature.
Prospective postgraduate students are requested to submit a preliminary expression of interest so that their suitability can be assessed, in particular whether their research interests match research strengths and resources of the Faculty. Expressions of interest can be submitted electronically to the Graduate Research Coordinator, Dr Jeremy Prichard (Jeremy.Prichard@utas.edu.au). Any such expression of interest should include:
If the student and the proposed topic are suitable, and appropriate supervision arrangements can be made, the applicant will be requested to complete a formal Law Faculty application of candidature (PDF 127KB) which the Graduate Research Coordinator will assess. If the GRC recommends that the applicant be accepted for candidature, the applicant will then be referred to the formal University application process.
The Faculty of Law may also offer its own scholarship funding (a Faculty of Law scholarship), which may be available to Australian citizens, permanent residents, New Zealand citizens and International students. The terms and conditions of, and entitlements under, these scholarships are equivalent to those that govern Australian Postgraduate Awards and Tasmania Graduate Research Scholarships. The availability of Faculty of Law scholarships is dependent on Faculty resources, and its award is determined on a competitive basis. Its award is determined by the Research & Postgraduate Committee, which takes into account:
All domestic students accepted into the Law Faculty's postgraduate program are normally eligible for a place under the Research Training Scheme (RTS). RTS places are exempt from HECS charges or other forms of tuition fees.
The University charges tuition fees to international postgraduate students. These fees are presently in the range of $AUS14,000 per annum. Prospective international candidates should consult the University's International Services website. This website not only specifies the tuition fees, it also:
A range of University scholarships for postgraduate study are available for Australian citizens, permanent residents and New Zealand citizens. Including Australian Postgraduate Awards and Tasmania Graduate Research Scholarships. These scholarships are administered through the University, and information about them (and other scholarships) can be accessed at the Graduate Research website.
For international postgraduate student applicants the University offers a limited number of International Postgraduate Research Scholarships. Again, information about these scholarships can be accessed at the Research website.
There are various other scholarships potentially available, details of which can be found at the following website. JASON (Joint Academic Scholarships Online Network), a search engine that contains information about postgraduate scholarships for domestic and international students, can also be accessed from this site.
The Faculty of Law may also offer its own scholarship funding (a Faculty of Law scholarship), which may be available to Australian citizens, permanent residents, New Zealand citizens and International students. The terms and conditions of, and entitlements under, these scholarships are equivalent to those that govern Australian Postgraduate Awards and Tasmania Graduate Research Scholarships. The availability of Faculty of Law scholarships is dependent on Faculty resources, and its award is determined on a competitive basis. Its award is determined by the Research & Postgraduate Committee, which takes into account:
As a matter of practice, applicants for a Faculty of Law scholarship should first seek other scholarship funding (such as an APA award), a Tasmania Graduate Research Scholarship, an International Postgraduate Research Scholarship and other suitable scholarships before applying for a Faculty of Law scholarship. Details of these scholarships can be accessed at the Graduate Research website.
The application for postgraduate candidature form makes provision for an applicant to apply for a Faculty of Law scholarship.
The Faculty also administers two endowed scholarships, namely Sir Henry Baker Memorial Fellowship and the McDougall Postgraduate Scholarship, the latter of which is open to both domestic and international students. The terms and conditions of these scholarships can be found at the Faculty of Law Scholarships page.
Because of limited Faculty resources, applicants who are unsuccessful in securing scholarship funding outside the Faculty cannot be assured of Law Faculty scholarship funding. Applicants should appreciate that scholarship funding from the Faculty itself is more the exception than the rule.
The Faculty may, in certain circumstances, nonetheless, give a postgraduate student who has not secured a Faculty of Law scholarship some limited financial or in-kind support. This may involve an allowance directed to assisting in travel, accommodation or other incidental expenses. Its availability and amount is determined by the same factors that determine the availability of Faculty of Law scholarships.
In any event, all law postgraduates receive an allocation of approximately $2000 over two years for items directly related to a student's candidature. For instance, texts, faxes, research travel or travel to conferences may be claimed under the postgraduate allowance. Any application for use of money from this allocation by a postgraduate student must be approved by their supervisor before approval by the Head of School.
It should be noted that all law postgraduate students are given free access to computer facilities (and support), printing facilities, telephones, email and inter-library loans, for the purposes of their candidature.
The Faculty often recruits postgraduate students as tutors to assist with the undergraduate teaching program. Students interested in participating should make an appointment with or write to the Dean and Head of School, Professor Margaret Otlowski.
Postgraduate students are also sometimes recruited as research assistants on staff research projects or other research activities within the Law Faculty. Students wishing to register their interest for such research assistance should contact Rachel Court: Rachel.Court@utas.edu.au.
Postgraduate students are encouraged to publish their material under the guidance of their supervisors. Currently DEETYA distributes a proportion of funding to the University based on research publications (and the University distributes these funds to departments based on the same criteria).
Funds are distributed based on the production of:
Although these funds will not flow directly to the postgraduate they will offset some of the costs of the Faculty of Law's Postgraduate Program and the publications will contribute to the Law Faculty's overall research performance.
The Board of Graduate Research is responsible for the programs of study and research leading to a research higher degree. The functions of the Board are to advise the Academic Senate on matters relating to graduate research, and to manage graduate research candidature. For example, the Board approves admission to candidature, appoints supervisors, monitors the progress of all candidates, appoints examiners, and determines whether or not candidates should be awarded degrees.
The University’s Graduate Research Office coordinates and manages the administration of graduate research candidature and scholarships, including general enquiries, applications, admission, enrolment, ongoing candidature and examinations. Candidates should contact the Office for help and advice on any matters relating to their candidature or scholarship. Each year members of the Office coordinate the annual review of progress of candidates and the bi-annual survey. More information
The International Students' Office is the channel for admission arrangements for international students and provides various services to students during their candidature.
The Postgraduate Course and Unit Handbook published annually by the University provides useful information about the University and contains contact details for people who can assist on most matters.
Pursuant to the National Health and Medical Council National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans, the University requires strict guidelines be followed for research involving humans (including surveys). Ethical guidelines and forms can be accessed on the Human Reserach Ethics web page.
Further information about postgraduate study at the University of Tasmania can be accessed at the Graduate Reseach website including details about postgraduate services. Prospective postgraduate students might also like to read more information in the postgraduate handbook.
Prospective students can contact the Graduate Research Office or phone + 61 3 6226 8559 ; fax + 61 3 6226 7497.
Please contact the Faculty of Law Graduate Research Coordinator Dr Jeremy Prichard should you require any further information:
Unit Description
Allows students to undertake a sustained piece of research under the supervision of a member of staff. There are no classes as such; teaching takes place through the interaction between the student and staff member. Students select their own research topics in consultation with, and subject to the approval of, a staff member. The research may be on any topic subject to approval and the availability of staff supervision. The word limit is 10,000 words. Under the new degree rules students much complete LAW679 Supervised Research Paper in order to be eligible to graduate with first class honours (This rule applies to students who first enrolled in Contracts/Torts from 2007 onwards). For more information see the Unit Outline
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Enrolment
Students wishing to enrol in this unit must first consult the Unit Coordinator, Dr Olivia Rundle. Students must have a distinction grade average in their Law units (GPA of 6) to be eligible for enrolment in this unit. Details of potential research areas and staff supervisors can be found (here). Any member of academic staff may agree to supervise a student's paper. The supervisor is to be determined in consultation with the relevant staff member and the Unit Coordinator.
Aim
The aim of LAW679 is that students will:
On completion of this unit, students should be able to:
Submission Date
The paper must ordinarily be submitted for assessment no later than the final teaching day in the Faculty of Law (see University Academic Dates) in the relevant semester in which the candidate is enrolled for LAW679 Supervised Research Paper. Variations to this submission date must be approved in writing by both the supervisor and the Faculty of Law Honours Coordinator.
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Assessment
The project will be assessed by an examiner other than the supervisor and chosen by the Faculty of Law Honours Coordinator in consultation with and upon the advice of the supervisor.
If the subject is being undertaken to comply with the requirements for first class honours or as a Master of laws preliminary enrolment, the paper must be assessed by an examiner from outside the Faculty of Law, University of Tasmania.
In all other cases, the examiner may be a member of the Faculty of Law, University of Tasmania, or from outside, at the discretion of the Faculty of Law Honours Coordinator.
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Assessment Criteria
The following criteria will be taken into account in assessing Supervised Research Papers:
Students should submit one hard copy and also submit the paper electonically through the Turnitin Portal on Mylo
Papers should be marked for the attention of the Unit Coodinaror.
The paper must include a completed cover sheet, which must contain your student number (your name is optional) available at the Law School Reception or online. The assignment cover sheet includes a signed statement that the assignment is your own work
In accordance with the Law Faculty Procedures Relating to Written Work all essays are to be typed in at least 12 point font with 1.5 or double line spacing, on A4 paper with a margin of 40mm on the left hand side of each page. For clarification see the Faculty of Law Procedures Relating to Written Work.
Supervised research paper students usually soft bind their hard copy for the examiner's convenience and to present their work professionally.
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Candidates who successfully complete LAW679 Supervised Research Paper should discuss with their supervisor the possibility of submitting a revised version of the paper to the University of Tasmania Law Review or other suitable refereed academic journal to be considered for publication.
Submission of a revised version of the paper for publication is strongly encouraged and if accepted for publication by a journal, will add to a candidate's curriculum vitae. Such publication is also of assistance if a candidate later decides to apply for higher degree study and scholarships. For more information see the Unit Outline.
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