- What are the pre-requisites for entry in to Law?
- What subjects should I choose at High School if I want to do Law?
- What courses can I enter?
- How long will my course take?
- What is the cut-off for entry in to Law?
- Can I defer my place in Law?
- How do I apply for a place?
- If I do not get a place in Law at UWA can I transfer in at a later date?
- What credit from prior study would I be eligible for?
- I am applying for entry to Law direct from secondary school. Can I enrol in a single degree course?
- Can I study law externally?
- Is part-time study possible?
- What can I do with my Law degree?
- Juris Doctor (JD) commences in 2013
What are the pre-requisites for entry in to Law?
All courses at UWA require English language competence. Law does not have any additional pre-requisites. However, if you enter a combined course you will have to meet any pre-requisites for the other course.
What subjects should I choose at High School if I want to do Law?
Provided that you pass an approved English subject (English, English Literature, ESL) and meet any pre-requisites for the course you wish to combine with Law, it does not matter what subjects you do. Preference is not given to students with a particular combination of subjects – you should do what you enjoy and/or will get the best results in, as selection is solely based on academic merit.
What courses can I enter?
Category A (direct from secondary school): Students entering the Law School direct from secondary school must enrol in a combined course with one of the following: Arts, Arts (Asian Studies), Arts (Communication Studies), Economics, Commerce, Science, Health Science, Engineering or Music.
Category B (graduate entry): Students who have at least a Bachelor’s degree in any other discipline, enrol in a single degree course for the Bachelor of Laws.
Category C (other): Other students, who are neither school leavers nor graduates, will enrol in either a single or combined course.
How long will my course take?
Many students in combined courses choose to overload (i.e. enrol in more than a standard full-time enrolment.) Students wishing to overload may complete a combined course in 5 years (or 6 years in the case of Engineering or Health Science.) Students enrolling in a standard full-time load can finish most courses in 5.5 years (7.25 years for Engineering or Health Science.) Students who wish to complete the course part-time, or a combination of full- and part-time, have a maximum of 12 years to finish the course.
Students in the graduate entry course may overload and complete in 3 years or enrol in a standard full-time load and complete in 3.75 years. Part-time students or those completing with a combination of full- and part-time enrolments have a maximum of 10 years to complete their course.
Students who enrol in a single degree course via Category C entry can complete in 4 years as a full-time student and have up to 10 years to complete.
The law school has developed pathways for each undergraduate course offered. These pathways are suggestions only and are based on completion in the minimum time frames
What is the cut-off for entry in to Law?
The cut-off will vary from year to year depending upon the number of places available and the calibre of students applying for entry. The cut-off for Category A entry in 2009 was 96.30. For those entering via Category B and C a Distinction or 70% average is usually competitive but selection depends on the field in any given year. Students entering via Category C will also be considered based partly upon their TER (ATAR) or equivalent.
Can I defer my place in Law?
Yes, you may defer for 12 months. Information on this will be contained in the offer package you receive from the University.
How do I apply for a place?
Applications open early August each year and the first round of applications close at the end of September. Applications can be accepted until the end of November, but they incur a late fee. Applications are made through the Tertiary Institutions Service Centre (TISC). Please check the TISC website (see TISC Calendar) for important dates during the application period.
School leavers apply under Category A; those with a degree apply under Category B and all others apply under Category C.
If I do not get a place in Law at UWA can I transfer in at a later date?
If you are unsuccessful in gaining a place in Law, you may wish to accept a place in another course at UWA or in a course at another institution. You may then apply for entry in a later year through either Category B (if you complete the other course) or through Category C (if you do not complete the other course). However it is not simply a matter of transfer– applications must go through TISC and you will again compete for a place based on your results.
What credit from prior study would I be eligible for?
Any decision about credit for prior relevant study would be made after you have been offered and accept a place. Our policy on credit provides further detail.
I am applying for entry to Law direct from secondary school. Can I enrol in a single degree course?
No, you must enrol in a combined course
Can I study law externally?
It is not possible to study law at UWA by external enrolment, as UWA is not a distance education provider.
Is part-time study possible?
Part-time enrolment is permitted in all of the courses offered by the Law School. There are time limits within which the course must be completed. Students enrolled in a single LLB course must complete within ten years from the beginning of the year in which the first unit is credited to their course. The time limit for completion of a combined degree course is twelve years. Formal class contact hours are usually between 2 and 3 hours per week in each subject. However a good deal of independent work is also required, primarily in reading legislation, cases and legal commentaries.
