Why Study/Key Benefits

• The Graduate Diploma in Laws (GradDipLaws) is designed to build on previous undergraduate study and broaden a student's legal knowledge through advanced 300-level Law courses.
• It is particularly relevant for:
  • Graduates who already hold an LLB or equivalent.
  • International law graduates who want to understand New Zealand law.
  • Internationally qualified legal practitioners seeking to satisfy academic requirements identified for admission in New Zealand.
• Students can select from a wide range of legal areas, including commercial law, employment law, media law, environmental law, intellectual property, international law, criminal justice and legal ethics.
• The programme can provide a route toward meeting the academic requirements for applying to practise as a barrister and solicitor in New Zealand, subject to assessment and other requirements of the New Zealand Council of Legal Education (NZCLE).
• UC Law emphasises critical thinking, legal analysis, research, writing and practical understanding of legal issues

Programme Structure and Subjects/Topics

The programme is flexible rather than having a fixed set of compulsory subjects.

• 120 points total.
• Eight 300-level Law courses.
• Normally each selected course is 15 points.
• The programme of study must be approved by the Executive Dean of Law or delegate.
• There are no compulsory majors/minors/endorsements under the GradDipLaws regulations.

Disciplines/Specialisations

There are no formal majors, minors or endorsements in the Graduate Diploma in Laws.

However, students can develop an informal area of focus through their elective choices, such as:

• Commercial and corporate law
• Employment law
• Family and child law
• Criminal law and criminal justice
• International law
• International trade and investment law
• Environmental and disaster law
• Intellectual property law
• Media law
• Property and land law
• Human rights and public law
• Legal ethics
• Litigation, evidence and trial advocacy
• Immigration and refugee law
• Law and medicine
• Maori/tikanga-related legal studies
• Legal research and professional practice.

Programme Highlights

• 120-point postgraduate/graduate Law qualification.
• One-year full-time completion option.
• February and July starts.
• Eight elective 300-level Law courses.
• Flexible subject selection.
• No formal major, minor or endorsement.
• Particularly useful for international law graduates whose NZCLE assessment requires additional New Zealand Law study.
• Can cover eight 300-level Law courses identified by UC as meeting the relevant academic requirement for international students seeking to apply to practise as a barrister and solicitor in New Zealand.
• Current course options provide exposure to emerging fields such as fintech, international investment, environmental/disaster law, intellectual property and contemporary employment law.
• UC Law also provides opportunities for practical and experiential learning through courses such as Legal Internship and Trial Advocacy, although eligibility and availability depend on course requirements.

Career Outcomes

Potential outcomes include:

• Legal practice in New Zealand, subject to completing all NZCLE and professional admission requirements.
• Barrister/solicitor pathway.
• Legal adviser or legal analyst roles.
• Government and public-sector legal work.
• Corporate/commercial legal roles.
• Employment and workplace relations.
• Compliance and regulatory work.
• International trade and investment.
• Environmental and resource-related legal work.
• Media and technology law.
• Legal research and policy.
• NGO and public-interest organisations.

Latest Updates/Special Requirements

• The current GradDipLaws regulations came into force on 1 January 2025, and the qualification was first offered in 2025.
• The current qualification has a 48-month maximum completion period.
• There are no Honours, Distinction or Merit awards for this qualification.
• The programme requires Executive Dean of Law/delegate approval of the student's programme of study.
• Course availability changes by year. The 2026 catalogue contains courses that are not offered in 2026, so applicants should not assume every course listed historically will be available in their intake.
• Some courses have specific prerequisites or co-requisites. This is particularly important for international students whose previous Law qualification may not contain the exact UC prerequisites.
• For overseas Law graduates, NZCLE assessment is an important separate step. NZCLE currently states that overseas graduates and practitioners seeking admission must apply for assessment of their overseas qualification.
• NZCLE also has specific rules concerning qualifications that become more than 10 years old and possible additional tikanga M?ori requirements after 1 January 2027.
• NZCLE's current 2026 overseas assessment fees are NZ$1,755 for an overseas law graduate application lodged outside New Zealand and NZ$2,118 for an overseas practitioner application lodged outside New Zealand, before considering any applicable NZ-based/GST amounts. These are NZCLE fees, not UC tuition fees.

International Student Visa Requirements

For an international student physically studying the GradDipLaws in New Zealand, the relevant visa is normally the New Zealand Fee Paying Student Visa.

Current Immigration New Zealand requirements include:

• Offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Evidence of sufficient funds to pay tuition fees or evidence of an applicable scholarship.
• Evidence of sufficient living funds.
• Acceptable medical/travel insurance.
• Good health and character.
• Genuine intention to study in New Zealand.
• Evidence that the student can leave New Zealand at the end of their stay.
• Online application.
• Current visa cost starts from NZD $850.
• Maximum visa duration can be up to 4 years, although the actual duration normally relates to the period of study paid for and other circumstances.
• Immigration New Zealand currently states that 80% of applications are processed within 8 weeks.