Degree Partnerships
Melbourne JD students have the option to intermit from their course in their final year to complete an additional degree at a partner university. Melbourne Law School has a growing number of partnerships, each with their own areas of expertise, that allow students to further specialise in their chosen field of interest.
General Information
Successful applicants will depart in their sixth and final semester of the Melbourne JD to complete the one-year program abroad.
Students are responsible for applying, paying for, and obtaining the appropriate visas required.
Students are required to pay the fees for their program directly to the partner university and will be fee exempt for the equivalent component(s) at the University of Melbourne.
Students are liable for all remaining travel/transportation, living expenses, textbooks, passport, visa, and personal expenses associated with the Degree Partnership Program during the academic semester abroad.
Students interested in other (or shorter) programs may refer to International Opportunities.
Eligibility
All applicants must:
- consult with the Academic Programs Coordinator (law-global@unimelb.edu.au) who will provide a Letter of Nomination.
- apply directly to the partner university's program of study
- complete all core and all elective subjects except 3-4 elective subjects (37.5 or 50 points, depending on the chosen program) of the Melbourne JD prior to departing for any Degree Partnership Program.
- commit to adhere to the admissions policies, procedures and standards of each partner university for which they are applying.
- have (and maintain) a 65% average or above, however applicants with an average of 75% or greater are considered competitive. (For Leiden University and the University of Amsterdam, a minimum average of 75% is required.) Applicants may need to provide transcripts at the completion of their fourth semester, as they will provisionally be assessed on three semesters of academic results at the time of application.
Students are advised to seek appropriate course planning advice if they are considering a Degree Partnership Program as early as possible (ideally in the first year of their studies, or as soon as they decide to pursue this opportunity).
Current Degree Partnerships
National University of Singapore
By joining the Master of Laws (LLM) program students will be led by experts in the field in a global conversation about the study and practice of law.
Melbourne Juris Doctor (JD) + NUS Master of Laws (LLM)
New York University
NYU Law’s reputation for academic excellence is grounded in the scholarship of their faculty, which routinely draws accolades from the legal academy and beyond.
Melbourne Juris Doctor (JD) + NYU Master of Laws (LLM)
University of British Columbia's (UBC) Peter A. Allard School of Law
The Peter A. Allard School of Law at UBC is one of the world’s leading centres for legal education and research. Its faculty members engage in research with local, national, and global impact and provide students with some of the most extensive and innovative curricular opportunities of any Canadian law school.
Melbourne Juris Doctor (JD) + UBC Master of Law (LLM)
Melbourne Juris Doctor (JD) + UBC Master of Law, Common Law (LLM CL)
Melbourne Juris Doctor (JD) + UBC Master of Law, Taxation (LLM Tax)
University of Cambridge
The one-year Master of Laws (LLM) offers highly qualified and academically outstanding students the opportunity of pursuing their legal studies at an advanced level in a challenging, but supportive, environment. The course, with its rich historical traditions, attracts students of the highest calibre, from both common law and civil law jurisdictions.
The Master of Corporate Finance (MCL) has been structured to combine academic rigor with a diverse curriculum. It is flexible enough to allow those who seek to focus on corporate issues in their legal studies to tailor their course selection.
Melbourne Juris Doctor (JD) + Cambridge Master of Law (LLM)
Melbourne Juris Doctor (JD) + Cambridge Master of Corporate Law (MCL)
University of Cambridge partnership page
University of Oxford
Many legal practitioners and academics regard the Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) as the best masters-level qualification in the common law world. The University of Oxford prides itself on offering BCL students closer contact and interaction with its scholars than is offered by any other masters program in the world.
The Master of Science in Law and Finance (MSc LF) is a degree offering from the University of Oxford that marries the expertise of the Law Faculty with the financial and commercial acumen of the Saïd Business School in Oxford.
Melbourne Juris Doctor (JD) + Oxford Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL)
Melbourne Juris Doctor (JD) + Oxford MSc in Law and Finance (MSc LF)
University of Oxford partnership page
Shanghai Jiao Tong University
The LLM program offered by the KoGuan School of Law at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, is a graduate-level program specializing in Chinese civil and commercial law. Designed for international law students and legal professionals, this English-language program provides a valuable opportunity to study Chinese law and legal processes and engage in research on Chinese and comparative law.
Melbourne Juris Doctor (JD) + SJTU Master of Laws (LLM)
Boston College
Boston College Law School is a highly ranked institution, renowned for the quality of its faculty, students, and curriculum. Its LLM program has a small cohort size allowing students to benefit from tailored academic and career guidance, including a dedicated full-time faculty mentor in their chose field of interest.
Melbourne Juris Doctor (JD) + BC Master of Laws (LLM)
Boston College partnership page
National Taiwan University
The College of Law of National Taiwan University (NTU) is Taiwan’s top law school. It is a leading institution in legal education offering a research-intensive LLM program. Both English and Chinese language subjects are available, and student may elect to write the thesis in English.
This degree partnership involves mutual credit recognition from both institutions, essentially enabling a Melbourne JD student to obtain the Melbourne JD and the NTU LLM (that otherwise require 2 years of study) with an additional 6 months of study.
Melbourne Juris Doctor (JD) + NTU Master of Laws (LLM)
Peking University
Peking University Law School is one of China’s leading law schools, recognized for its high academic standards, competitive admissions, and distinguished alumni. Its LLM in Chinese Law is conducted in English, and provides international students with a comprehensive understanding of Chinese law and legal practice.
Melbourne Juris Doctor (JD) + PKU Master of Laws (LLM) in Chinese Law
Peking University partnership page
Leiden University
Leiden Law School, ranked among the top ten law schools in Europe, is one of the continent’s oldest and most prestigious law faculties. It is renowned for its international outlook and excellence in legal scholarship. Its LLM programs offer a broad and rigorous foundation in international and European Law.
Melbourne Juris Doctor (JD) + Leiden University Masters of Law (LLM)
University of Amsterdam
The Amsterdam Law School, ranked among the top ten law schools in Europe, is known for its progressive approach to legal education and research, fostering innovation and critical inquiry to strengthen legal institutions, address social challenges, and promote a more just and equitable society.
Melbourne Juris Doctor (JD) + University of Amsterdam Master of Law
University of Amsterdam partnership page
Awarding Credit Upon Completion
Upon completion of the overseas program, students must ensure their overseas transcript is sent to the Academic Programs Coordinator (law-global@unimelb.edu.au) so credit from the program can be applied as Advanced Standing to the students Melbourne JD. The generic study abroad subject will then be removed as a placeholder from the student's record.
The result(s) gained at the host institution will not be recorded on the student's University of Melbourne transcript and will not affect the student's Weighted Average Mark (WAM). Students are advised to retain a copy of their overseas transcripts to demonstrate the obtained result(s).
Scholarships and funding
Opportunities may be available from the following:
Centrelink
Students requiring a letter for Centrelink confirming their participation in the overseas program must contact the Academic Programs Coordinator at law-global@unimelb.edu.au no less than 3 weeks before departure. Failure to do so may result in loss of payments such as Austudy, Youth Allowance and Disability Support Pension.
Insurance
Participating students may be eligible for free University of Melbourne travel insurance.
Graduation and Final Rankings
Melbourne Law School students who undertake international opportunities in the final semester of their course will often have to delay their graduation. Melbourne Law School advises students not to make any plans to attend a graduation ceremony until they have received a formal invitation to graduate.
Final rankings can only be calculated after all transcripts have been received and the student has graduated from their Melbourne Law School program.
Please note, however, Advanced Standing received from undertaking an overseas program is not included in final rankings.
Admission to Practice
Students seeking Admission to Practice in Victoria are required by the Board of Examiners to provide a Student Conduct Report (SCR) from each university in which they have been enrolled, including those based overseas, for each completed course.
Students should firstly approach their host institution's program contact to request the SCR. If the host institution is unsure of the wording to use in the SCR, students may provide them with a template (DOC).
- In the event an SCR request has been made and rejected (for whatever reason) students will need to provide evidence of the original request and the host institution's response.
- In the event an SCR request has been made to which no response has been received, students will need to provide evidence of the original request and a follow-up request.
Enquiries
For enquiries regarding international opportunities at Melbourne Law School, please contact the Global Engagement Coordinator via law-global@unimelb.edu.au or book a consultation.