Law – Postgraduate courses

Coursework programs – General information


Overview Application International students Timetable Attendance Assessment Results Subject exemption Exchange program Concurrent study at another institution Transfer to other postgraduate courses Deferment of enrolment Mandatory continuing legal education (MCLE) Overview The Faculty of Law offers a range of postgraduate coursework programs to suit law graduates and non-law graduates alike. The Faculty prides itself on its unique specialisations, greater flexibility and vocational relevance. General Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma and Master's by coursework programs in Law and Legal Studies and specialised programs in Industrial Property, International Trade Law, Practical Legal Training, Taxation Law, Information Technology Law and Dispute Resolution are offered. The Faculty also offers Australia's first Master's-level professional legal qualification – the Master of Law and Legal Practice. Application Students should note that the number of places available is limited. However, all appropriately qualified persons are encouraged to submit an application. Applications are assessed by the Director of the Postgraduate Program (or nominee), and UTS staff cannot speculate as to an applicant's likelihood of success. Application procedures are detailed at: www.uts.edu.au/study/postgrad Coursework applicants may apply for admission in either the Autumn or Spring semesters. Some courses also allow entrance in Summer session. Autumn semester (March–June) Applications for Autumn semester close at the end of October each year. Applicants are notified about their application in December. Enrolment takes place in February. Spring semester (July–November) Applications for Spring semester close at the end of May each year. Applicants are notified about their application in June and are enrolled in July. Summer session (December–February) Applications for the Summer session close at the end of October each year. Applicants are notified about their application in November. Enrolment takes place in mid-November. International students Applicants who are neither citizens nor permanent residents of Australia should complete a UTS International Student Application form. Completed applications, with originals or certified copies of all supporting documents, should be addressed to the Director, International Office. International applications should be accompanied by the A$50 application fee (non-refundable). International applicants must satisfy the English language proficiency requirements of the University, which require applicants whose entry degree was conducted in a language other than English to satisfy a minimum International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score. For further details contact: International Office PO Box 123 Broadway NSW 2007 Australia telephone +61 3 9627 4816 (international) 1800 774 816 (within Australia) email international.applications@uts.edu.au www.uts.edu.au/international Owing to student visa restrictions imposed by the Australian Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA), international students must enrol on a full-time basis. Timetable A limited number of subjects are timetabled in any one year but most subjects are offered over any two-year cycle. Timetabled subjects are offered subject to sufficient student interest. The current timetable is on display on the noticeboard outside the Law Information Office (CM05B.3.03) and at: http://timetable.uts.edu.au Attendance Most postgraduate courses can be undertaken on a full-time or part-time basis¹. Summer session (1 December 2003 – 6 February 2004) Autumn semester (1 March – 11 June) Spring semester (2 August – 12 November) In most instances classes are held at City campus, Haymarket. However, some classes may be held in the city or in other locations at City campus. The class locations are not available until a few weeks before classes commence. Check the online timetable or the noticeboard opposite the Law Information Office the week before semester commences for room details. A number of different attendance modes are available. The majority of postgraduate subjects are offered within the Autumn and/or Spring semesters. As a guideline, a 6-credit-point subject offered within the Autumn or Spring semesters would normally require attendance of two to three hours each week over a 14week semester. Lectures are usually scheduled in the evenings, commencing no earlier than 5.30p.m. Some postgraduate subjects, such as the Research Project and the Research Paper, do not require formal attendance at the Faculty, and may be completed externally, subject to appropriate academic supervision arrangements. Footnote: 1. Students who are neither permanent residents nor citizens of Australia cannot study on a part-time basis because of visa restrictions. Intensive attendance mode The Faculty offers a number of postgraduate subjects in an intensive attendance mode. The contact hours for intensive subjects are equivalent to those for the standard weekly evening classes, but lectures are held over a concentrated period. For example, a 6-credit-point subject might require students to attend over three or four full days. Students enrolled in intensive subjects may be required to commence preparation in advance of the class. The intensive attendance mode is particularly suited to candidates who wish to fast-track their program of study; for students who intend to spend limited periods of time in Sydney; or for students who are able to attend full-day lectures and complete the subject attendance requirements over a concentrated period. Some courses do not offer subjects in the intensive mode. Distance learning A limited range of subjects is also offered by distance teaching via the Internet¹. In pursuit of 'flexible learning' strategies, UTS has recently adopted the latest web-based (Internet) technology and software for delivery of these subjects to students anywhere in Australia (indeed, anywhere in the world). Students enrolled in distance subjects may receive written learning and reading guides and/or access to the University's online conferencing system (UTSOnline). Students can work at their own pace, both individually and in groups. UTSOnline provides an interactive environment, in which students are encouraged to participate in online discussions. Assessment tasks range from the participation of online workshops to the production of practice files. Students do not require special technical skills to participate in the distance subjects. The software that UTS has adopted is intuitive and simple – basic PC and web-browsing skills are all that is required. Footnote: 1. Currently, only the Master of Industrial Property, Graduate Certificate in Trade Marks Law and Practice and the practical legal training courses are offered entirely by distance. Assessment While assessment varies from subject to subject, students may be required to do one or more of the following: final examinations, informal examinations, takehome examinations, assignments, research work, class participation, presentation of seminar papers or a viva voce. The written assessment for a 6-credit-point subject will normally total 6,000–7,500 words. Written assignments Written assessment work can be deposited in the assignment box on level 3 of the Faculty of Law (CM05B.3 – beside the Law Information Office) unless otherwise arranged with the lecturer. Note that Faculty policy dictates that written work received by fax or email will not be accepted. While limited extensions of time to submit or present assessment for a postgraduate law subject are available on written request to the Subject Coordinator or the Director of the Postgraduate Program under special circumstances, deadlines must be met to avoid automatic failure¹. All requests for extensions of time to submit assessment must be made well in advance of the deadlines set by the lecturer. Note, an extension past four weeks after the end of semester is not approved until the student receives written approval from the Director of the Postgraduate Program. Essay requirements Essays and other written work should be prepared in accordance with the guidelines laid down in the Faculty of Law's Guide to Essay Writing, which may be obtained from the Faculty of Law Information Office. Footnote: 1. MLLP/GradDipLaw students attempting core law subjects should approach the Subject Coordinator. Results Assessment results are on a display at the Law Information Office approximately four to six weeks after the end of classes. Results are also released on the Internet and on Interactive Voice Response (IVR) telephone: via the web at www.uts.edu.au (under Assessment Notices (Results)) or via the IVR telephone system on 1300 656 887. Subject exemption Students may apply to the Faculty for subject exemptions for a subject or subjects undertaken in other award courses of this University or at other institutions. Subject exemptions may be granted within the Faculty's postgraduate law awards on the basis of equivalent postgraduate subjects undertaken towards completed and uncompleted studies. However, no student shall receive exemption for more than one-quarter of a course of three years' or less full-time duration on the basis of subjects undertaken towards completed postgraduate studies. Also note that no student shall receive exemption, credit or advanced standing that totals more than one-half of a course. An Advanced Standing Application, accompanied by certified copies of academic transcripts and details of the subject content and assessment, must be submitted for each exemption sought. As a general rule, exemptions may be granted for subjects studied less than six years ago – where there have been significant changes in the law within that period, such exemption will not be granted. The granting of exemptions will be at the discretion of the Director of the Postgraduate Program. Students who are seeking exemptions should complete an Advanced Standing Application, which is available from the Law Information Office or online at: www.sau.uts.edu.au/current/forms.html It is recommended that all students seeking an exemption should make an application at the point of application for admission into the course. Inquiries should be directed to the Law Information Office: telephone (02) 9514 3444 fax (02) 9514 3400 email info@law.uts.edu.au Exchange program The Law Faculty participates in the exchange program administered by the Institute of International Studies. Through the program it is possible to undertake three or four law electives overseas. To be eligible for the program, students should have a Credit average or better, and have completed any core subject requirements before going overseas. The number of places is strictly limited and applications must be lodged at least six months prior to intended departure. Once approved for exchange, students are enrolled in one or more of the following subjects: 76801 Exchange Subject 1, 76802 Exchange Subject 2, 76803 Exchange Subject 3, 76804 Exchange Subject 4). Marks achieved in study overseas may be adjusted, and will appear against the above subjects on your UTS transcript. Exchange subject marks will be included in the calculation for Honours. Information and application packs are available from the UTS Institute for International Studies. Further details are available online at: www.iis.uts.edu.au/iexchange Concurrent study at another institution Subject to approval by the Director of the Postgraduate Program, candidates may apply to undertake subjects in postgraduate courses at other universities to apply to their course at UTS. Applications to undertake subjects at overseas universities will also be considered. A Concurrent Study Application, detailing the academic content, attendance and assessment requirements of the subject(s) proposed to be completed, should be submitted to the Law Information Office before applying to the other institution. A Concurrent Study Application is available on request from the UTS Student Info & Admin Centre or the Law Information Office. Transfer to other postgraduate courses Candidates who wish to transfer to other postgraduate degree courses offered by the Faculty of Law must meet the relevant admission criteria (see the admission criteria under the relevant course entry in this handbook). An Internal Course Transfer Application is available on request from the UTS Student Info & Admin Centre, the Law Information Office or online at: www.sau.uts.edu.au/current/forms.html Deferment of enrolment Deferment in the first semester of enrolment in postgraduate courses is not available at UTS. Offers of admission that are not accepted lapse on the date of enrolment. Applicants who do not accept an offer of admission should therefore reapply at the next intake. Leave of Absence Students wishing to withdraw temporarily from a course must lodge an Application for Leave of Absence form. Leave of absence during candidature is not granted for more than two years. Note that leave is not granted for students who have not successfully completed at least one subject in their course. A Leave of Absence form is available on request from the UTS Student Info & Admin Centre, the Law Information Office or online at: www.sau.uts.edu.au/current/forms.html Mandatory continuing legal education (MCLE) Participation in postgraduate study may entitle legal practitioners to MCLE points. If this particular educational activity is relevant to students' immediate or long-term needs in relation to their professional development and practice of the law, they may claim one 'unit' per hour of attendance – refreshment breaks not included. For further details contact the Law Society of NSW.