Why Study/Key Benefits

The Master of Law (Research) provides an opportunity to undertake supervised, independent research in a chosen legal research area at Swinburne University of Technology.

The programme is particularly suited to students who want to develop advanced research capabilities and potentially progress to doctoral research or pursue research-oriented professional careers. Swinburne identifies the following skills as part of the programme:

• Independent thinking
• Critical thinking
• Decision-making
• Logical thought and rationality
• Communication
• Project management
• Data analysis

Programme Structure and Subjects/Topics

This is a thesis-based research degree rather than a conventional coursework master's.

Students undertake a substantial independent research project under academic supervision. The principal academic output is a research thesis of approximately 50,000–60,000 words. The thesis is the sole form of assessment for the degree.

Research activities include:

• Research topic development
• Literature and background research
• Research design and investigation
• Data collection and/or analysis where relevant to the project
• Independent research
• Thesis development and writing
• Research presentations
• Preparation for publication where appropriate.

Students also have access to research training sessions covering topics such as:

• Thesis writing
• Publishing
• Presenting research.

Progress reviews are used to monitor candidature and provide feedback. Swinburne currently identifies the following indicative stages:

• Preconfirmation review: around 3 months
• Confirmation of candidature review: approximately 9–12 months
• Draft thesis review: approximately 33–36 months, with follow-up approximately 3 months before thesis submission.

Disciplines/Specialisations

The Master of Law (Research) allows students to undertake supervised research in a related legal discipline of their choice, subject to Swinburne's available research expertise and supervisor availability.

Current research areas identified by Swinburne include:

• Technology in legal contexts
• Innovation
• Technology and intellectual property
• Copyright and trade marks law
• Innovation and technology in legal services
• Artificial intelligence and law.

Programme Highlights

Key features of the Master of Law (Research) include:

• Higher degree by research.
• 2 years full-time or 4 years part-time.
• Hawthorn campus.
• CRICOS code 096402K.
• Supervised independent legal research.
• Major thesis of approximately 50,000–60,000 words.
• Research training in thesis writing, publishing and presenting.
• Opportunity to develop independent research and project-management skills.
• Potential preparation for further doctoral research.
• Research opportunities connected with technology, intellectual property, innovation, copyright, trade marks, legal technology and artificial intelligence and law.

Career Outcomes

Swinburne identifies the following potential career opportunities:

• Academic
• Researcher
• Government consultant
• Entrepreneur
• Business development
• Analyst – policy, market or quantitative.

International Student Visa Requirements

The relevant visa for an international student undertaking this onshore CRICOS programme is the Australian Student visa, subclass 500.

The course's CRICOS code is 096402K.

Key requirements generally include:

• Valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for a registered course.
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), unless an exemption applies.
• Genuine Student requirement.
• English-language evidence where required.
• Satisfying health requirements.
• Satisfying character requirements.
• Financial-capacity evidence where required by the Department's document checklist.
• Australian Values Statement for applicants aged 18 or over.
• Compliance with all Student visa conditions.