The Master of Laws by Thesis (LLM by Thesis) is a research only degree designed for students to develop advanced skills in carrying out independent and sustained research, through the completion of a 40,000 - 50,000 word dissertation.
The minimum entry requirement for an LLM by Thesis is either:
- A four-year Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree. The grade (in line with the University of Melbourne's criteria) for the honours degree must be at least equivalent to an H2A (75%);
- A Bachelor of Laws or its equivalent, or a person with a Bachelor's degree other than in law who is qualified to practice law within the country or origin or residence whose:
- ability to pursue advanced studies for the degree of LLM by Thesis is proven to the satisfaction of the Faculty; and
- candidature is approved by the Faculty.
The applicant’s degree(s) and/or professional experience must demonstrate that their knowledge of the discipline in which they plan to undertake their LLM by Thesis degree is current.
Whilst the primary basis for selection is academic merit, consideration will also be given to the quality of the thesis proposal, research potential and the availability of appropriate supervision within the Faculty. In addition, academic references may be required to assess the applicant’s eligibility.
Applications and supporting documentation should be forwarded to the Research Support Officer, Office for Research (Law). Note: International students must submit their applications through International Admissions. Applications can be submitted at any time throughout the year. Applicants should allow up to six weeks for their applications to be processed.
Applicants for LLM by Thesis candidature will be ranked in the following way:
- Applicants who have qualified for the degree of LLB (Hons) or its equivalent will be preferred to all other applicants. Priority will be awarded on the basis of the grade of honours obtained. Weighting may also be given to work experience in Law since qualifying for the degree;
- Any other applicants will be ranked according to a formula which includes comparative appraisal of academic performance in the course for the first degree in Law and to their subsequent work experience in Law since qualifying for the first degree in Law.
Selection is conditional upon approval of an appropriate thesis proposal and the appointment of a supervisor(s) for the thesis.
When applying for candidature, applicants must submit an outline of their proposed topic. The outline should be of approximately 1,000 words and contain suggested chapter headings as well as the particulars of the proposed subject matter.
Approval of the thesis topic is made by reference to the following factors: the applicant's academic record; in the case of an applicant who is not a native speaker of English, command of that language (including meeting the University’s English Language Requirement); whether the topic suggested can be adequately supervised in this school; whether, in the opinion of this Faculty, the topic suggested is of sufficient intellectual and practical significance to warrant investigation, or further investigation, as the case may be; whether the proposed research and writing of the thesis is likely to be completed during the allowable period of LLM by Thesis candidature.
Prior to submitting an application, the applicant must have identified and made contact with potential supervisors within the Faculty who express a willingness and ability to supervise the research project (evidence of this contact needs to be demonstrated on the application form). The applicant’s thesis proposal, as discussed above, is used to initiate the contact with potential supervisors. The applicant needs to discuss with their potential supervisor or with a representative from the Office for Research, their suitability for candidature, proposed area of study and the availability of appropriate supervision. If the Faculty cannot offer adequate supervision an application cannot be accepted.
The practice of supervisors naturally varies in detail with the individual concerned. The important thing from the candidate's point of view is to achieve a fruitful and satisfactory working relationship of such a kind that the completed thesis, although guided by the supervisor if the candidate so requires, is unquestionably the candidate's own work both as to basic ideas and their detailed development.
The candidate is entirely free to seek discussion and advice elsewhere; and is not bound to accept the advice given.
The LLM by Thesis is available as a research only degree, consisting of the submission of a 40,000 - 50,000 word thesis. The thesis must be submitted to the satisfaction of two (or three if required) external examiners to be chosen from institutions both within Australia and from overseas.
The LLM by Thesis candidate must be an enrolled student in the University of Melbourne and is required to carry out research at the University for a specified period under the direct supervision of one or more members of academic staff in the Faculty.
In addition, candidates are required to attend the compulsory first-year Research Support Programme. Candidates who are unable to attend the required number of classes as part of the first-year Research Support Programme must make an application to the Associate Dean (Research) stating why they should be exempt from this requirement.
An LLM by Thesis is normally expected to take eighteen months full-time or three years part-time. A full-time candidate should plan to complete the program of study and to submit a thesis for examination within the time period set by the Faculty and pro rata for part-time candidates. If necessary, candidates can apply for an extension of six months full-time equivalent.
LLM by Thesis students are required to submit a progress report at the 6th month mark (FTE) of candidature. This report asks the student to reflect on their work to date, their supervision and the resources available to them. The responses of both the student and the supervisor/s allow the Faculty to monitor the needs of students and to assist any student who is experiencing difficulties.
In addition, two months before the student’s expected completion date, the Office for Research will send out a completion report for the student and their supervisor/s to complete. If necessary, the student can request an extension of their candidature on this report (see Extensions to Candidature’).
Variations to Candidature
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Leave of absence
Leave of absence is available once a student has completed the equivalent of at least one semester of full-time study (i.e. leave is not normally approved within the first six months of candidature). Students in receipt of a scholarship who are applying for leave must notify the Melbourne Scholarships Office or relevant body. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that their scholarship will be resumed on their return from leave.
Leave of absence may be approved for a period of greater than two weeks and up to a total of twelve months. The period of leave is not counted towards the period of candidature. Leave may be taken in stages or at one time as long as the accumulated period of leave does not extend twelve months. Students requesting additional leave may be asked to discontinue their studies and apply to resume their course at a later date. International students should note that they need to depart Australian within two weeks of commencing leave. Students on leave of absence are not entitled to use University resources and services such as the library, access to supervision, departmental equipment etc. Students must complete an ‘Application for Leave of Absence’ form.
Maternity leave
Students may be granted maternity leave for a period of up to twelve months. This leave should be arranged in advance with a doctor’s certificate attached to an ‘Application for Leave of Absence’ form. Maternity leave is a separate entitlement to other requests for leave of absence and will not diminish the entitlement or compromise a student’s applications for other leave.
Leave to study overseas/away from the University
Leave may be granted to students to study away from the University in order to make use of essential research facilities or materials not available in Melbourne. Candidates need to apply using the ‘Application for Leave to Study Overseas/Away’ form. All applications for leave to study overseas/away must be accompanied by a completed 'Risk Assessment -2D Model' risk assessment form. This form needs to be completed together with the candidate's supervisor who also must authorise the form. Enrolment continues as usual and the submission date does not alter. Periods of more than three months away require the appointment of an external supervisor, located where the candidate will be undertaking the research. If this is impracticable because of the nature of the location, or because of movement between different locations, the supervisor may apply to the Associate Dean (Research) for exemption from this requirement, indicating how the student will maintain contact with the principal supervisor.
Return from leave
All students must advise the Office of Research of their return from leave within five working days of their resumption of study by completing an ‘Advice of Return from Leave’ form.
Change in enrolment status
A student may change between full-time and part-time study during their candidature by completing the ‘Application for Change of Status’ form. This form needs to be completed by the student’s supervisor prior to being forwarded to the Office for Research for approval by the Associate Dean (Research). In assessing the application, the Associate Dean (Research) will need to determine whether the candidate has adequate time available in order to complete the degree within the time allowed. If a student is in receipt of a scholarship, he/she must notify the Melbourne Scholarships Office or the relevant body of their change in status. (Note: These students will need to check the conditions of their scholarship to determine whether it allows the recipient to convert to part-time candidature). International candidates are not able to convert to part-time enrolment status as their student visas require that they have a full-time study load.
Extensions to candidature
Students experiencing difficulty in completing their thesis by the expected completion date can apply for an extension to their candidature. On the completion of the equivalent of 1.5 years full-time, a student can request an extension/s of up to six months full-time equivalent. Further extensions beyond six months will only be granted in exceptional circumstances. Scholarship holders must complete a ‘Scholarship Extension’ form and lodge it with the Melbourne Scholarships Office or notify the relevant body. Students can apply for an extension on the Completion Report (see Duration of candidature). Candidates requiring an extension will need to attach a complete thesis outline (maximum 4 pages), state number of thesis chapters completed and provide a one-page plan of how they propose to complete the thesis within the extension period.
Discontinuation/Withdrawal
A student may discontinue their degree at any time during candidature. Students who need to apply for a leave of absence for a period greater than twelve months may apply to discontinue studies with the option to resume studies at a later date. Students who resume their degree within three years following discontinuation will have the prior period of their enrolment deducted from the maximum period of candidature determined by the Research Training Scheme. Students wishing to discontinue their degree must complete the ‘Application to Withdraw’ form. Any student in receipt of a scholarship must notify the Melbourne Scholarships Office or the relevant body of the date of their discontinuation as any entitlement to payments will cease from the date of discontinuation.
Candidates should aim to write a thesis of between 40,000 to 50,000 words. The word limit is exclusive of words in tables, maps, bibliographies and appendices. Footnotes are included as part of the word limit. Appendices must be limited to supporting material genuinely subsidiary to the main argument of the thesis.
Candidates may write up to 50,000 words without special permission from the Chairperson of Examiners. In exceptional circumstances, an application can be made to the Chairperson of Examiners to submit theses longer than 50,000 words. The application must be made prior to submission of the thesis. It must include the justification for the request, the expected length of the thesis and be supported by the supervisor, who must also certify that the proposed examiners do not object to examining a longer thesis.
Candidates are expected to follow the citation format as outlined in the Australian Guide to Legal Citation, published by the Melbourne University Law Review. The thesis should adhere to the following:
- International Standard Paper Size A4 (297 x 210mm) should be used.
- Pages should be numbered consecutively and clearly.
- The typing should be 1.5 spaced and presented in a clear and legible font (i.e. size 11 or 12) and would normally be expected to be double-sided.
- Left and right margins should be no less than 30mm. Care should be taken with page numbers to allow for page trimming when the thesis is bound.
- Folding diagrams or charts should be arranged so as to open to the top and right.
- A thesis produced on archival quality (i.e.acid-free) paper is required for one of the final bound copies, but not for the examination copies.
- Before producing final copies of a thesis for submission, the candidate should ensure that all the spelling, grammar, punctuation and choice of language are of a Masters standard and the bibliography is complete and exact.
The thesis should be ordered as follows: title page, abstract, declaration, acknowledgements, table of contents, list of tables, figures and illustrations (if more than ten items), main text, bibliography, appendices.
Three copies of the thesis must be submitted to the Research Support Officer, Office for Research (Law). Candidates are advised to submit in the first instance three copies using temporary binding (e.g. thermal binding) to facilitate the incorporations of amendments which might be required by the examiners. The thermal binding method must be used with covers strong enough to resist damage by bending or knocking. Twin-ring, spring-back and spiral binders are not acceptable, as theses bound in these ways frequently do not survive travel through the post. Once the examination is complete and amendments (if any) are made, two copies of the thesis must be permanently bound (for deposit in the Baillieu Library and the Legal Resource Centre) prior to finalisation of the result.
Two examiners will be appointed who are, or have been within the last five years, associated with a university, institution of higher learning or a research institution. Both examiners must be external. You may name individuals who you do not wish to examine your thesis. Such requests should be submitted in writing to the Chairperson of Examiners. However, the identity of the examiners must remain confidential until notification of the final result and only then can the identity of the examiners be revealed, provided the examiners agree.
The Office for Research requests both examiners to submit a detailed written report and to recommend whether the thesis should be passed or whether further amendments need to be made and to what extent. Once the examiners’ reports are received by the Office for Research, they are forwarded to the Chairperson of Examiners who will make the final decision on the result. Once the Chairperson of Examiners has considered the reports and makes a recommendation on the result of the examination, the Office for Research formally notifies the candidate in writing of his/her examination result. The degree is awarded outright or conditional on making certain amendments, either to the satisfaction of the examiner/s or the Chairperson of Examiners. A candidate will not be awarded a result at this time if they are required to rewrite and resubmit their amended thesis for re-examination.
The examination cannot be finalised until any minor amendments (as required) are made to the satisfaction of the examiner or the Chairperson of Examiners and the two permanently bound copies have been submitted.
Students can expect the examination process to take between three and six months in the first instance, and longer if a rewrite and resubmission is required.
Final Submission of Thesis
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On completion of the examination, two copies of the thesis in permanent binding, incorporating any necessary amendments or revisions, must be submitted to the Office for Research (Law). One copy must be produced on archival quality (i.e. acid-free) paper with the words “Produced on archival quality paper” printed on the foot of the title page.
The name of the author, the title (abbreviated if necessary), the degree and the year of the initial submission (or, in the case of re-writes, the year of re-submission) must be printed on the spine.
The copy of the thesis printed on archival quality paper will be deposited in the Baillieu Library and the second copy will be held in the Legal Resource Centre.
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