Master of Law (Research)

The Master of Law (Research) at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne is a two-year, research-intensive postgraduate degree designed for law graduates seeking to deepen their expertise through independent inquiry. This master's degree focuses on developing advanced legal research skills through the completion of a substantial thesis, supervised by experienced academics, rather than coursework-based study. Students select a legal research topic and work closely with their academic supervisor to design, execute and present original research that contributes meaningfully to the field of law.

Australian master's by research programmes like this generally require candidates to complete the equivalent of full-time study load, credited through a series of milestones such as a research proposal, progress reviews, and the final thesis submission. There are typically no traditional 'units of study' or 'credit points' as in coursework degrees, but students are expected to meet structured research training requirements. The capstone is the completion and examination of a research thesis under university guidelines.

Graduates gain not only subject-matter expertise in their chosen legal field, but also transferable skills in critical analysis, advanced legal reasoning, research design, and the production of scholarly legal writing. These competencies suit aspiring academic researchers, policy developers, or legal professionals aiming to specialise further. The programme is ideal for those considering future doctoral research, or positions where deep analytical and research skills in law give a professional edge.

Being based in Melbourne, students benefit from access to a dynamic legal community and Swinburne's established industry links within the Australian legal and policy sector. International students are required to evidence higher levels of English proficiency (typically IELTS 7.0–7.5 or equivalent for law), and should confirm detailed requirements on the official Swinburne page. While studying, international students have work rights of 48 hours per fortnight and can be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-completion. Always consult the university and official sources for the most current admission criteria and programme structure.

• Legal researcher in universities, think tanks and legal institutes
• Policy adviser in government departments or regulatory agencies
• Academic pathway towards PhD and scholarly teaching roles
• Positions in law reform commissions or advocacy organisations
• Specialist legal consulting within Australian industry sectors
• Roles related to legal publishing and knowledge management