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PhDRecommended
PhD of Laws
The Australian National University
- Canberra, Australia
- 4 years
- English
- On campus
- PhD
About the program
A four-year degree focused almost entirely on law, With advocacy and legal skills training.
Program highlights
- Internship available: no
- Placement support: yes
- Work during study: yes
- Post-study work rights (3 years): yes
- PR pathway friendly: no
What you will learn
- Learners studying Laws can develop the ability to interpret relevant legal or policy concepts
- Evaluate evidence and arguments and communicate structured
- Ethically informed analysis. These are indicative learning goals
- Not a confirmed list of the university's assessed course outcomes.
Career outcomes
- Solicitor (Law Society FE-1 exams)
- Barrister (King's Inns entrance exams)
- Journalism
- Policy development
- Business and finance
- Management consulting
- NGO sector
Curriculum
- Four years of 60 credits each
- Concentrating on law throughout. Students take the core modules needed for professional legal training plus optional modules
- With modules developing legal writing and advocacy. Law and Technology modules run in years two and three.
Entry requirements
Academic
- Hold an Australian bachelor degree with at least second-class honours or international equivalent
- or another qualification with a significant research component; Secure appropriate supervisory support and satisfy English language requirements.
Accepted academic background
Honours bachelor degree, research master's degree, or other qualification with a significant research component
Language tests
- IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each skill
- TOEFL iBT 81 overall with Reading 16 Writing 19 Listening 16 Speaking 19
- PTE Academic 64 overall with 60 in each skill
- Cambridge C1 Advanced 169 overall subject to program-specific higher requirements
Documents you’ll need
- Academic transcripts
- Graduation certificates
- Research proposal or expression of interest where required
- Referee reports
- Supervisor/college endorsement where required
- English-language evidence
- Passport/identity documentation
How to apply
- Check the exact ANU program requirements
- prepare academic and English-language documents
- submit the international application through the ANU/UAC route shown on the official program page. HDR applicants should first identify a supervisor and follow college-specific pre-application requirements.
Other costs
| Tuition per year | $35,520 AUD |
|---|---|
| Application fee | $150 AUD |
| Deposit | $20,000 AUD |
Program details
| Campus | Acton Campus |
|---|---|
| Faculty or school | ANU College of Law, Governance and Policy |
| Department | ANU Law School |
| Teaching language | English |
| Credit value | 192 |
| Study pace | Standard |
| Post-study stay | 3 years |
| Scholarship note | ANU scholarships are available subject to eligibility; HDR applicants are automatically considered for relevant research scholarships when applying within scholarship deadlines. |
Intakes and deadlines
Program starts
February 2026
Apply by
15 Dec 2026
31 days leftProgram starts
July 2026
Apply by
15 May 2027
182 days left
Frequently asked questions
The program takes 4 years.
The next deadline is 15 Dec 2026. Apply early, because some programs close when places fill up.
Tuition is $35,520 AUD per year. The application fee is $150 AUD. The deposit is $20,000 AUD. The estimated living cost is $36,000 AUD.
Accepted language tests: IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each skill, TOEFL iBT 81 overall with Reading 16 Writing 19 Listening 16 Speaking 19, PTE Academic 64 overall with 60 in each skill, Cambridge C1 Advanced 169 overall subject to program-specific higher requirements.