Graduate Certificate in Legal Studies
Source: https://www.uts.edu.au/courses/graduate-certificate-in-legal-studies Parent: https://www.uts.edu.au/courses/bachelor-of-laws
Study Legal Studies
If you’re ready to level up your career and gain legal insights into your professional field, the UTS Graduate Certificate in Legal Studies is the perfect choice. Offering flexible learning, a wealth of elective options, state-of-the-art facilities and a practical curriculum facilitated by expert staff, this program is designed with your future in mind.
With a greater understanding of the law, you can enhance your job prospects or accelerate your career in any sector, organisation or industry. What’s more, this program offers you a pathway to further studies in either the Graduate Diploma of Legal Studies, the Master of Legal Studies or the Juris Doctor. No matter your professional goals, this program will give you the platform you need for a successful tomorrow.
Part of the Faculty of Law.
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Graduate Certificate in Legal Studies
CODE
UTS: C11264 (version 1)
CRICOS: 095712D
DURATION
0.5 years full time\ 1 year part time
INTAKE question_mark These are dates to consider when applying for your course, including when applications open and close.
Autumn Session 2026\ Spring Session 2026\ Autumn Session 2027\ Spring Session 2027
COURSE FEES question_mark This indicative tuition fee is an estimate for the entire course, based on full-time study each year. Fees are reviewed annually and may change.
Indicative total tuition fee for domestic students\ $21,950.00
LOCATION question_mark Our classes are held at our City Campus, or specialist off-campus locations. Some of our courses are delivered via online (distance) learning.
City campus
What you’ll study
Offered by one of Sydney’s leading law faculties, this program is designed for graduates who possess an undergraduate degree or higher in an area other than law. In this course, you’ll complete three core legal subjects, giving you invaluable insights into the creation, structure, purpose and processes of Australian law.
You’ll also learn about contracts and Australian Constitutional law, giving you highly applicable knowledge useful across all industries and sectors. What’s more, you’ll develop attributes, including critical thinking, ethics and research skills, required for professional legal practice.
Subjects at a glance
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Core subjects
| Subject Code | Subject Name |
|---|---|
| 70102 | Foundations of Law |
| 70211 | Contracts |
| 70616 | Australian Constitutional Law |
See all subjects and majors in the UTS Handbook arrow_right_alt
Typical course program
The outline below shows an example program for the Graduate Certificate of Legal Studies based on a full-time study load. Please note that your exact program may differ based on your unique circumstances, such as your commencement date, subject selections and recognition of prior learning.
- 3 : core Legal Studies subjects
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First year
You’ll undertake three core units to establish a comprehensive foundational knowledge of Australian law and practice. You’ll study the foundations of our legal system, discover the procedures of criminal law and learn how contracts are created and enforced.
First year
You’ll undertake three core units to establish a comprehensive foundational knowledge of Australian law and practice. You’ll study the foundations of our legal system, discover the procedures of criminal law and learn how contracts are created and enforced.
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See typical course program in the UTS Handbook arrow_forward
Course highlights
This six-month program is designed to help you establish a solid understanding of the Australian legal system and how it operates. You’ll also be taught vital professional competencies required to research, analyse and advise on matters of law, preparing you to apply these skills in your career or pursue further legal studies.
- check_circle Ethics and professional responsibility
- check_circle Cultural awareness and Indigenous perspectives
- check_circle Critical, strategic and creative thinking
- check_circle Professional communication
- check_circle Reasoning, research and analysis
Admissions information
Admissions information
Use the buttons to expand or collapse the section.
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Course description
This course is for non-law graduates who are seeking to understand the legal and regulatory frameworks pertinent to their professions. You will gain invaluable insights into how the law impacts your field, equipping you with the knowledge to make informed decisions and manage legal risks.
The course is particularly advantageous for professionals such as accountants, auditors, business development and compliance managers, engineers, architects, financial advisers, IT experts, law enforcement officers, paralegals, policy officers, property developers, and public sector managers, especially those in key government departments such as the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Attorney-General's Department or Treasury.
If you want to qualify as a lawyer, you can apply to transfer into the Juris Doctor program at UTS Law upon completion of three core subjects, and completed subjects will be applied towards the Juris Doctor.
You will learn from experienced academics, practitioners and industry experts. You will enjoy a flexible learning environment that allows you to balance work or other commitments with subjects offered in a variety of delivery modes, including collaborative face-to-face seminars, online, evening classes and intensives. As a valued member of our postgraduate community, you will have access to a range of facilities, including our exclusive UTS Law postgraduate student lounge that provides a dedicated study and relaxation space for our postgraduate students.
Students come from a wide variety of professional backgrounds, such as insurance, human resources, banking, finance and education, and work in roles where knowledge of the legal landscape is critical to their work. Course content includes foundations of law, contract and tort law. - ### Important dates
Find out more about application dates relating to this course - ### Scholarships and prizes
Discover our scholarships for undergraduate, postgraduate and research students. Our scholarships celebrate diversity and academic excellence. Use the scholarship search tool to find the right scholarship for you.
Scholarships for domestic students
Scholarships for international students - ### Course duration
The course can be completed in a minimum of a half year of full-time or one year of part-time study.
The course is offered in a variety of attendance patterns, including intensive block attendance and weekly on-campus evening classes. - ### Admission requirements
To be eligible for admission to this course, applicants must meet the following criteria.
Applicants must have one of the following:
- Completed Australian bachelor's degree, or higher qualification, or overseas equivalent
OR
- Capacity to study the course demonstrated through a minimum of 2 years' full-time, or equivalent part-time, relevant professional work experience
The qualification must be in a field of study other than law or, if the qualification is in a legal field of study, it shall not be an academic qualification for legal practice.
Supporting documentation to be submitted with the application
For applicants who need to demonstrate capacity to pursue this course:
- Curriculum VitaeAND Statement of service in one of the following formats:
- A 'Statement of Service' provided by the employer
- A completed 'UTS statement of service' signed by the employer
- A statutorydeclarationconfirming professional work experience (for Australian Residents only)
- An official letter from the applicant's accountant or solicitor on their company letterhead confirming the applicant's professional work experience or engagement with the business, duration of operations, and the nature of the business
- A business certificate of registration in original language and English (e.g. provision of ASIC documentation or ABN or similar documentation for Australian Businesses)
- Personal statement (approximately 300 words) outlining relevant professional work experience and reasons to pursue this course.
For Applicants seeking credit recognition for core law subjects in overseas legal qualification
- Written assessment from the NSW Legal Profession Admissions Board (LPAB) indicating which subjects need to be completed to meet the requirements for admission as a Legal Practitioner.
Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.
English language requirements
IELTS Academic: overall 6.5, writing 6.0 TOEFL iBT: overall 79, writing 21 UTS College AE5: Pass Pearson PTE: overall 58, writing 50 Cambridge C1A/C2P: overall 176, writing 169 - ### Domestic course fees
2026 Indicative tuition fees for domestic students
As a postgraduate student, you'll be responsible for covering your own tuition fees.
2026 Tuition Fee
- Indicative first-year tuition fee: $21,950.00
- Indicative total tuition fee: $21,950.00
You can choose to pay your fees upfront per session, or if you’re eligible, you can defer them using a government FEE-HELP loan. This loan helps you cover all or part of your tuition fees. Keep in mind that applications for this loan are specific to each course.
Additional Costs
Your tuition fees do not include:
- The Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF), which supports student services and activities. If eligible, you can defer this fee using SA-HELP.
- Textbooks, materials, and other course-related costs.
- Any applicable payment processing fees (e.g., credit card surcharges).
Important Information
- Fees are shown in Australian Dollars (AUD).
- The indicative tuition fees above are based on full-time study (1 year = 48 credit points).
- Your actual fees depend on the year you enrol, your study load and the subjects you choose. Some subjects fall into different student contribution bands.
- You can calculate your student contribution based on the amounts listed in the student contribution table
Alumni Advantage Program
As a UTS graduate, you can enjoy a 10% discount on your course fees. Just apply for the course you're interested in, and if you're accepted, the discount will automatically be applied to your enrolment invoice. Learn more about the Alumni Advantage Program.
If you have any questions about course fees, please feel free to make an enquiry.
Information for Masters by Research students: Government-funded scholarship places available
As a recipient of the Australian Government’s Research Training Program (RTP) Fees Offset Scholarship, you do not have to pay tuition fees for up to the maximum period of candidature. However, even with this scholarship, you should expect ongoing costs that aren’t covered, like travel, training, and professional development. These costs can vary for each person, so it’s important to plan accordingly. Additionally, scholarships are available to help with your living expenses.
Important details: The RTP Fees Offset Scholarship covers your tuition fees, but please note that it doesn’t include additional costs related to studying or conducting research. Additional fees for domestic students. For more information visit Research student fees. - ### Inherent requirements
Inherent requirements are academic and non-academic requirements that are essential for successfully completing a course at UTS. You can find the inherent requirements for your course via the inherent requirements directory. - ### Recognition of prior learning
Subjects undertaken within the Juris Doctor (C04236) are recognised within the Graduate Certificate in Legal Studies. Students enrolled in the Juris Doctor may apply to internally transfer to the graduate certificate. Candidates are not awarded the Juris Doctor but subjects undertaken are applied towards the graduate certificate.
Further recognition of prior learning information regarding the Graduate Certificate in Legal Studies is available at postgraduate course information. - ### Transfer between UTS courses
Subjects undertaken within the Graduate Certificate in Legal Studies are recognised within the Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies (C07122), Master of Legal Studies (C04264) and the Juris Doctor (C04236). Students enrolled in the graduate certificate may apply to internally transfer to the graduate diploma. Candidates are not awarded the graduate certificate but subjects undertaken are applied towards the graduate diploma.
Students who successfully complete three core subjects in the Graduate Certificate in Legal Studies may apply to internally transfer to the Juris Doctor (C04236). Candidates are not awarded the graduate certificate, but completed subjects are applied towards the Juris Doctor. - ### Important notes
The Graduate Certificate in Legal Studies is not a professional legal qualification. Students seeking admission to practise as a lawyer should consider the Juris Doctor (C04236) or the Bachelor of Laws (C10124). Some subjects in the Graduate Certificate in Legal Studies may be credited towards these degrees.
Find more Law courses
Entry schemes and pathways
### Recognition of prior learning (RPL)
At UTS, we understand the dedication it takes to reach your current position – forging a path through prior study, work, and diverse learning experiences.
### Jumbunna Admission Program
If you're Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, Jumbunna is an alternative application process for our courses that emphasises diverse pathways to success.
### Changing from another postgraduate course
You can apply for our courses using your previous study. You may even be eligible for recognition of prior learning, so you won’t need to repeat subjects.
Careers
Your future career
On completing this program, you’ll have a comprehensive foundational understanding of the Australian legal system, its roles and responsibilities within our society. \ \ With this, you’ll be ready to apply your knowledge to your current role and industry, using your skills to support your organisation and promote your own career. Alternatively, you’ll be able to transfer your subjects to another UTS law degree, where you can continue honing your expertise to launch a rewarding, fulfilling future in the exciting world of law.
Career options
- check_circle Accountant
- check_circle Business Development Manager
- check_circle Compliance Manager
- check_circle Engineer
- check_circle Financial Advisor
- check_circle IT Manager
- check_circle Law Enforcement Officer
- check_circle Paralegal
- check_circle Policy Officer
“UTS is the perfect place to study and get to know Sydney better. Being in the city would bring me closer to work opportunities, with many top-tier law firms located in the city.”
Thomas Boban
Juris Doctor
Where you’ll study
Our world-class facilities support your future-focused learning and high-impact research. They enable effective partnerships with industry and provide services to our community.
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Hone your advocacy skills and legal acumen at our meticulously designed Moot Court, designed to mirror the real-life courtroom experience of the NSW Supreme and District Courts.
Access state-of-the-art learning spaces, such as our exclusive Postgraduate Study Lounge designed for knowledge sharing, collaboration and focused study.
Enjoy city views from our semi-enclosed and naturally ventilated Winter Garden balconies with feature planting.
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Why UTS?
Why study Law at UTS
With a Law degree at UTS you'll gain work-ready skills and learn how to ethically use law and new technologies to create positive social change.
Employers value our graduates for their problem-solving, collaborative skills and lateral thinking. Our degrees are flexible, with content developed in consultation with industry. We offer practical learning opportunities, including in-house legal counsel, legal centres and firms, and summer clerkship programs.
Top 10
7 university in Australia.
Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026
#7
in Australia for law & legal studies.
QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025
#7
in Australia for most employable graduates.
Times Higher Education graduate employability rankings 2025
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