Monash University Handbook 2011 Postgraduate - Course

The graduate program in international and comparative law provides advanced offerings in this area for graduates in disciplines other than law. The extensive range of units enables students to develop and enhance their knowledge across the breadth of international and comparative law. This course caters for the needs of graduates who want to pursue an international career in law and law-related work. It is especially suited to graduates working in non-government organisations (NGO's), government, and industry who are interested in how the international legal framework impacts upon their work. The graduate program focuses upon both a thorough grounding in the fundamental principles of international and comparative law and its practical application as well as addressing advanced and current issues from both a local and international perspective.

The Master of International and Comparative Law trains students to understand and critically analyse the legal framework pertaining to international private and/or public, including the role of conventions and international organisations in the legal regime. Students will be able to research international developments in the applicable law, including the laws of different countries, and international law and private international conventions, codes and guidelines. In addition, graduates will be able to analyse and formulate policy objectives in the area and demonstrate high level skills in legal writing and research.

12 credit points

The course comprises eight 6-point coursework units or coursework units and a minor thesis.

Students must complete one of the following options:

• a minumum of five coursework units in the area of intenational and comparative law. The remaining three coursework units may be taken from the approved list of law units. Refer to 'Areas of Study'.
• four coursework units with at least one unit in the area of intenational and comparative law and a minor thesis of 25,000-30,000 words on an approved topic in the area.
• six coursework units with at least three units in the area of intenational and comparative law and a minor thesis of 12,000-15,000 words on an approved topic in the area.

In order to qualify to undertake one of the minor thesis options, a student must have achieved a minimum of 70 per cent in each of the coursework units undertaken. Information on the minor thesis option is available at http://www.law.monash.edu.au/current-students/enrol/re-enrol.html

Additional course requirements and recommendation:

• Students with a degree in a discipline other than law will be required to complete the unit LAW7212 Australian legal system.
• Students with a law degree from a non-Australian jurisdiction must complete the unit LAW7436 Introduction to Australian legal process.
• International students are recommended to undertake the unit LAW7285 Legal research and communications.

For further information regarding law units and specialisations visit

http://www.law.monash.edu.au/postgraduate/units-overview.html

Students are advised that not all units may be available in every year.

For information on the current postgraduate law timetable visit http://www.law.monash.edu.au/current-students/t-tables/index.html

Areas of Study

• International and comparative law

Law postgraduate elective units

• Law

Students may exit with a Graduate Diploma in Law (International and Comparative Law) providing all requirements for that award have been met.

Master of International and Comparative Law