Postgraduate research
Lead the future of legal and criminological knowledge under the guidance of one of the world’s top law faculties.
аIJʹÙÍø Faculty of Law & Justice is a global leader in legal and criminological education and research. We're inspired by the principles of justice to make a difference in this world and these principles are reflected in the research that our postgraduate research candidates undertake.
In undertaking a research degree at аIJʹÙÍø Law & Justice you will work alongside some of the world’s leading academics in a faculty with an international reputation for research excellence. In the most recent research rankings, in the 2025 QS international rankings аIJʹÙÍø Law & Justice was ranked the highest law faculty in Australia and 12th in the world.
Through our postgraduate research degrees, you’ll benefit from the support and guidance of supervisors who are experts in their fields, globally focused and socially engaged. Ð°IJʹÙÍø Law & Justice has a collegial and dynamic research culture that is inclusive and strives for excellence in the pursuit of impactful research.
Why postgraduate research at аIJʹÙÍø Law & Justice?
- a comprehensive research training program is available to all postgraduate research candidates
- an active and engaged postgraduate research candidate committee leading a vibrant and engaged research community
- regular seminars, workshops, lectures and conferences where you are encouraged to join in discussion with academic staff
- international research candidate welcome, community events and on-going support
- English language enhancement to help you improve your communication skills in English
- opportunities for financial support for field work, conference attendance including internationally
- opportunities to participate in the faculty heat of the international Three Minute Thesis competition
- opportunities for career development towards your post-doctoral career whether it is in academia, industry, government or the not for profit sector.
Discover our impact
Our researchers are informing and influencing public debate, policy and law reform, driving innovations in legal and business practice and enhancing access to justice. We are making a difference by engaging with the wider community to find solutions to real-world problems.
Paving the way for your success
With access to innovative facilities and world-class supervisors at the forefront of their fields, you'll develop research and professional skills, as well as a broad intellectual sophistication. Our research training will equip you with skills and knowledge to help you thrive across a broad range of organisations, including academia, the legal profession, government, NGOs or inter-governmental agencies.
As part of the PhD and LLM by Research degree, you will study research theory and methods and complete a research thesis that makes a substantial and original contribution to knowledge in your chosen area of law, criminology or related discipline. As part of the MPhil, your research training will be complemented with coursework, helping to build in-depth skills in your subject area and in relevant research methods.
You will also receive training in communicating the ideas, approaches and argument of your thesis. This is for post-doctoral career opportunities and success. It is also for the oral examination which forms the second leg of your PhD assessment along with the evaluation of your written thesis. An oral examination has now become a staple form of higher degree research assessment in the leading universities of the world, of which the Law & Justice faculty at аIJʹÙÍø is one.
In all of our research degrees you will undertake a research project in your chosen area of law, criminology or a related discipline, culminating in submission of a research thesis. In all of our research programs you will enjoy a collegiate and dynamic research culture at аIJʹÙÍø Law & Justice, an internationally renowned faculty.
Study with us
аIJʹÙÍø Law & Justice offers three postgraduate research programs:
Faculty scholarships
аIJʹÙÍø offers a range of prestigious scholarships available to domestic and international students pursuing higher degree research.
