UTS course code: C02027
Testamur title: Doctor of Juridical Science
Abbreviation: SJD
Course fee: $250 per cp (coursework component)¹ (local); $8,000 per semester (international)
Total credit points: 48

Footnote:
1. The Dissertation component is offered under a variety of fee structures. Applicants are advised to contact the Faculty or the University Graduate School for further details.

Overview
Admission requirements
Attendance
Course duration
Course structure
Rules and regulations

Overview

The Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) program offered by the Faculty of Law was the first professional doctorate of its kind in Australia. It combines coursework elective subjects and original research culminating in a Doctoral thesis. The thesis must have a legal focus and analysis representing an original investigation, criticism or review of a field of legal research, of a standard suitable for publication. While the SJD thesis may be shorter than a PhD, taking account of the coursework component, it is to be noted that the thesis itself will be expected to exhibit the same level of originality, criticism and intellectual rigour normally associated with the PhD.

Topics which principally involve non-legal techniques (such as sample surveys) or the application of non-legal categories (e.g. principles of explanation of other disciplines such as those of psychology or sociology) would not qualify. In such cases, students would be counselled to pursue the PhD.

The SJD program counters the isolation experienced by many PhD candidates by providing a combination of coursework and research. The Faculty expects candidates to develop their Doctoral topic through the coursework component of the SJD, and allows candidates to benefit from contact with other postgraduate candidates and the academic staff of the Faculty.

For details regarding the Faculty's key research areas and strengths, application procedures, fees and scholarships, infrastructure support for research students and developing a research proposal, see Research degrees – General information.

Admission requirements

For admission to the SJD, applicants require:

• a Master of Laws degree, or
• a Bachelor of Laws degree with First Class Honours or Second Class Honours (Division 1).

Details of eligibility for admission are set out in the UTS Rules for Doctoral Degree Students published in the UTS: Calendar and online at:

www.uts.edu.au/div/publications/policies/rules/3.5.html

Eligibility for admission is not a guarantee that an application will be accepted. Support for the project, availability of supervision, availability of places, and the applicant's overall abilities and experience are all taken into account.

All postgraduate research students are expected to be proficient in English comprehension and expression. Applicants, whose education was in a language other than English will be required to provide evidence of English language proficiency.

Attendance

Doctoral degree candidature may be undertaken on a full-time or part-time basis. There are no attendance requirements once the coursework component is completed and the work may be carried out either on University premises, at a site external to the University, or some combination of both. Candidates are required to make contact with their supervisor(s) at least once a month, to discuss the research being undertaken. Candidates must comply with the University Graduate School Board's Code of Practice for Supervisors and Doctoral Candidates available from the University Graduate School or online at:

www.gradschool.uts.edu.au/policies/index.html

Course duration

The course can be completed in:

• a minimum of four semesters (two years) for a full-time student or six semesters (three years) for a part-time student.

Course structure

The course comprises:

• coursework elective subjects totalling 48 credit points (all coursework elective subjects must be completed before the thesis is commenced); and
• a thesis of approximately 50,000–70,000 words in length.

The Faculty recommends that SJD candidates spend no longer than one-third of the maximum time allowed on the coursework elective subject component and no less than two-thirds of the maximum time allowed on the thesis component.

Electives

Candidates in the SJD undertake electives totalling 48 credit points that provide the basis of the research for their thesis topic. For a complete list of the SJD coursework elective subjects see under the Master of Laws by coursework entry.

The current SJD coursework elective subject timetable is on display on the noticeboard outside the Law Information Office (CM05B.3.03) and online at:

http://timetable.uts.edu.au

Timetabled subjects are offered subject to sufficient student interest.

Progress reports

Both the candidate and the candidate's principal supervisor are required to submit progress reports at the end of each semester. The candidate's supervisor and the Faculty are asked to indicate whether progress has been satisfactory. Note that the progress reports are considered at the time of the Doctoral Assessment.

Further details are available online at:

www.gradschool.uts.edu.au/current/candidature

Doctoral Assessment

Within the first year of candidacy for full-time students, or the first two years of candidacy for part-time students, candidates have to complete a formalised Doctoral Assessment. The objectives of the Assessment are to ensure that: the candidate has gained the prerequisite knowledge and skills to allow successful and timely completion of the proposed research program; and the candidate's progress is consistent with completion of the research program in the prescribed time and demonstrates potential to complete the work to standard.

A student who does not satisfy the requirements for the Assessment will not be permitted to proceed with his or her candidature unless, with the approval of the Academic Board, they are invited to reattempt the Assessment.

Further information about the Assessment can be found online at:

www.gradschool.uts.edu.au/current/candidature

Oral Presentation

Approximately two months before the submission of the thesis for examination, the candidate must make an Oral Presentation of the thesis (the format is similar to that of the Assessment). Contact the Director of the Faculty's Postgraduate Program for further explanation.

The Oral Presentaion is conducted in accordance with University Rule 3.5.10.6 as stated in the UTS: Calendar or at:

www.uts.edu.au/div/publications/policies/rules/3.5.html

Submission of thesis

Candidates must lodge a Notification of Intent to Submit a Thesis with the University Graduate School at least two months before submitting their thesis for examination. Information about the requirements on the presentation and format of the thesis will be forwarded to candidates when this form is lodged. The form is available from the University Graduate School or online under 'Examination' at:

www.gradschool.uts.edu.au/policies/index.html

Examination of thesis

The thesis is examined by three examiners, of which at least two are external to the University and who are experts in the area of research addressed in the thesis. Guidelines for presentation and submission of the thesis are available from the University Graduate School or online at:

www.gradschool.uts.edu.au/current/candidature

Rules and regulations

Candidates are encouraged to read the Rules of the University, especially in relation to the course they are enrolled in. The Rules are published annually in the UTS: Calendar. The Calendar is available in the UTS Library and is also online at:

www.uts.edu.au/div/publications/policies/rules/contents.html

It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that all course requirements are met. The Faculty's staff are available to answer any inquiries students may have regarding the Rules of the University.