If you are interested in applying for a research program please decide on the most suitable research program for your needs:

• a bachelor's degree with first class honours or upper second class honours degree, usually in law, from an Australian university;


• a Masters in Law (LLM) with a distinction average (70+%); or


• a qualification equivalent or superior to these as determined by the Program Director.

You must demonstrate an adequate standard of English before you can be accepted for admission. Applicants may be deemed to have satisfied the English language requirements of ANU if they can provide evidence that they meet one of the following principles:

• citizens of Australia or a citizen from particular countries (please see above link for list), whose studies were conducted entirely in English;
• successful completion of prior full-time study in the medium of English for a minimum of 2 years in one of the countries listed on the above web page link. The study must have been completed no more than two years prior to the date of application to the ANU program; or
• successful performance in an acceptable English language test taken within the past two years.

Acceptable language tests

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Academic version, administered internationally by Australian Diplomatic Missions and the British Council, or The American Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) in either the paper, computer or internet based test, and the Test of Written English (TWE) or Essay Writing.

Please note: Although ANU accepts both IELTS and TOEFL certificates, in most countries, when applying for a Student Visa only an IELTS examination certificate will be accepted by Immigration as proof of English ability. Please make enquiries at your nearest Australian Embassy or High Commission for the latest requirements before undertaking an English competency test.

Minimum scores required for applicants are as follows:

IELTS - Overall score of 7.0 with a minimum of 7.0 in writing and 6.0 in all other components.

TOEFL - Paper Based Test: a TOEFL score of at least 650 and a Test of Written English of 5.0.

TOEFL - Computer Based Test: a TOEFL score of at least 280 and a Test of Written English of 5.0.

TOEFL – Internet Based Test: a score of 114 with a minimum of 22 in all four sections.

ANU funds and administers a range of scholarships for graduate research degree programs for international and domestic students. View more about scholarship options and closing dates. 

You should also consult the list of available supervisors at the ANU College of Law or, the ANU Researchers Database  to determine whether one or more academics may be available to supervise you in your area of research.

Contact the HDR Program Director if you are unsure.

The detailed thesis outline must: 

• state the central research question, problem or theory that the proposed research will address;
• clearly explain the proposed topic and its boundaries;
• explain how the research will contribute to the legal literature or legal scholarship;
• include a preliminary review of the literature and a bibliography;
• describe the research strategy and methods;
• provide an outline of the chapters of the thesis; and
• propose a timetable for writing the thesis.
  
  

The thesis outline should be approximately 5 pages in length.  It must be such as to convince a supervisor that the topic is sufficiently developed and refined, and that the thesis can be successfully completed.  Please note:  International students are encouraged to submit research proposals that are not merely surveys of domestic laws.

You are then welcome to contact potential supervisors and/or the ANU College of Law Director of Higher Degree Research (Leighton McDonald) for comment.

Please note: although you are encouraged to contact a potential supervisor, or the Director of Higher Degree Research before submitting an official application for admission, it is no longer a compulsory component of the application process. If you are confident of your application, and you have all the necessary documents for your application (see the following list), then you should proceed with your application for admission. This is especially pertinent if the scholarship closing date is drawing near. You can not be assessed in a scholarship round if you officially apply after the closing date. View more about what to do next.