Please note: Applications for 2024 have closed! Applications are currently being considered for commencement in 2025.

Melbourne Law School aims to admit outstanding graduates from a wide variety of countries and to provide them with a world class experience in undertaking a graduate research degree.

Graduate research degree places at Melbourne Law School are very competitive and only approximately 15 applicants are accepted each year.

Applications will be assessed in three rounds for entry into the 2024 program. Applicants may apply for selection in one round only each calendar year.

Round 1

• Completed applications* must be received by the 23rd of February 2024
• We aim to release outcomes by the 20th of May 2024

Round 2

• Completed applications must be received by the 28th of June 2024
• We aim to release outcomes by the 20th of September 2024.

Round 3

• Completed applications must be received by the 4th October 2024
• We aim to release outcomes by the 20th of December 2024.

*Completed applications contain all relevant material and information, including grades from recent studies and the outcome of any submissions of publications or proposals to journals or publishers. Please submit your application at least 2 weeks prior to an admission round deadline to ensure that you can provide any additional documentation requested by the University and to permit your referees to submit their reports as soon as possible prior to the closing date. Incomplete applications may be held over for assessment in the next round.

Application Process:

Step 1: Ensure you meet the minimum entry requirements

All applications for graduate research at Melbourne Law School must comply with the University's Graduate Research Degree Entry Requirements including English language requirements. In addition, selection will be based on factors including:

• Academic record (particularly tertiary grades and class ranking)
• Relevant research experience (e.g. dissertation) and professional experience
• Relevant scholarly publications, if any
• Academic references
• Development of an original research proposal reflecting knowledge and understanding of the relevant field and providing a feasible framework for the thesis
• Availability and support of appropriate supervisors
• Capacity to complete the degree, including residency requirements and hours available to devote to the degree
• Significance and relevance of the graduate research study proposed in relation to the overall career goals or aspirations of the applicant.

Step 2: Complete the Research Proposal Form

Please complete the Research Proposal form, which is available to download here.

Your research proposal will assist the Graduate Research Selection Committee to make a qualitative assessment amongst the many applications received for available places. It will also enable the selection committee to ensure that appropriate expert supervision is available, as well as the resources necessary to facilitate your proposed research.

The selection committee recognises that it is common for research proposals to go through different stages of development, and your proposal is considered indicative, rather than binding, in all details.

Step 3: Submit your application

Once you have completed the Research Proposal form, please attached it to the University of Melbourne Application Form.

(Course code: MR-PHILLAW)
Complete the University of Melbourne Application Form

Supervision

MPhil-Law applicants are not required to find a supervisor prior to submitting an application. As part of the application process, Melbourne Law School assesses the application, research proposal, feasibility of the project, and availability of supervisors. However, applicants may wish to discuss their research interests with a potential supervisor prior to submitting an application. The MLS Staff Research Expertise web page may assist in this.

Referee Reports

The referees you nominate in your application will be contacted directly by the University of Melbourne only upon submission of your application. Please submit your application at least 2 weeks prior to an admission round deadline to ensure that you can provide any additional documentation requested by the University and to permit your referees to submit their reports as soon as possible prior to the closing date. Any delay in the referee report submission by your referees will delay the application assessment process.

Ungraded Master’s thesis

If you have completed, or are competing a master’s thesis, which will not receive a numeric mark on your transcript or your thesis component will not appear on your transcript, you must include this detail in your online application or attach a separate statement to your application which explains this. You must attach a copy of your thesis and examiners’ reports (if relevant).

We recommend that you nominate an academic referee who can comment directly on your thesis. They should provide as much information as possible about your thesis by completing all relevant sections of the academic referee report and may also choose to attach a separate letter.

Scholarship applications

To apply for the Graduate Research Scholarships no separate application is required. You will be automatically considered for these scholarships if you have met the requirements by the application closing date.

For all other scholarships please follow the relevant application instructions and complete the scholarship application section in the online form.

Orientation and Commencement

Melbourne Law School encourages all graduate research candidates to commence in Semester 1, between Monday the 24th of February 2025 and Friday the 28th of February 2025.

All commencing students are invited to Melbourne Law School’s Orientation week activities between Monday the 17th of February 2025 and Friday 21st of February 2025. At these sessions you will meet coordinators and peers from your program and learn about our facilities and services.

All Enquiries

Office for Research
Melbourne Law School
The University of Melbourne

Email: law-research@unimelb.edu.au

Phone: +61 3 8344 8946