Course summary
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is for candidates who have either an excellent research background in law or equivalent high-level professional experience in a law-related field.
The qualification will provide you with the opportunity to pursue in-depth research in a specific area of law. You are expected to develop a research thesis that leads to an original and significant contribution to knowledge in that field.
The UOW School of Law is distinguished by a strong commitment to interdisciplinary approaches and ‘real-world’ relevance, and the academic staff have an established reputation for innovative, applied and intersectional legal research focused on social justice.
In addition to the standard pathway to a PhD in Law, the School of Law offers two alternative pathways:
- Thesis by Compilation: consists of journal articles and book chapters that have been researched, compiled and written during the course of the PhD degree.
- Thesis by Publication: consists of previously peer-reviewed published works not more than 10 years old.
The Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS) PhD program involves original research related to the oceans, leading to a dissertation which should make a significant contribution to a field of knowledge.
For information regarding the University's research activity, research strengths, scholarships and services, visit UOW's Research and Innovation website. For specific information relating to research being undertaken within the Faculty of Business and Law, visit the Faculty's research pages.
Course information
Study area
Law, Research
Campus
Wollongong, Innovation Campus
Course Code
220
-
Duration
4 years full-time or part-time equivalent
Delivery
On Campus
Cricos
087640D
UAC Code
-
Admission, Key dates, and Fees
A range of admission options are available for students of all ages and academic backgrounds. The procedures governing admission are defined in UOW's Admissions Procedures, and the UOW College Admissions Policy.
For any specific advice or questions regarding an application, please contact the Future Students Team.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Honours degree with 2nd class Division 1 or higher; Research Masters with at least ⅔ of the degree comprising a thesis. UOW Masters of Research with WAM70+; Coursework Masters with a substantial thesis and WAM75+ or GPA 3.2 out of 4. Other forms of research experience will also be considered.
Special Admission Requirements
All applicants for research degrees must submit a written (preferably typed) proposal as part of their application. This proposal should:
- commence with a statement detailing any previous research or project experience you have undertaken, including if possible a copy of the abstract of such work;
- contain, in no more than one additional page, a clearly focussed research proposal for the study you would wish to undertake throughout your registration in the course; and
- conclude with a statement of your motivation for wanting to undertake the research course.
Students are advised to make contact with a potential supervisor to discuss their project prior to applying for admission.
FEES
CAMPUS | DELIVERY METHOD | SESSION FEE* | COURSE FEE* |
|---|---|---|---|
Innovation Campus, Wollongong | On Campus | $16,296 (2025) | $130,368 (2025) |
Most postgraduate research degrees are covered by the Federal Government's Research Training Program (RTP).
If you receive an offer with an RTP place, you do not need to pay the cost of tuition while you are studying as long as you are within your time limits for course completion.
* Session fees are for one session for the year shown. Total course tuition fees shown are indicative, and are based on normal course length and progression.
These fees are subject to change from year to year. However, if you receive an offer to study at UOW, your fees will be fully confirmed at the time of your offer.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Honours degree with 2nd class Division 1 or higher; Research Masters with at least ⅔ of the degree comprising a thesis. UOW Masters of Research with WAM70+; Coursework Masters with a substantial thesis and WAM75+ or GPA 3.2 out of 4. Other forms of research experience will also be considered.
Special Admission Requirements
All applicants for research degrees must submit a written (preferably typed) proposal as part of their application. This proposal should:
- commence with a statement detailing any previous research or project experience you have undertaken, including if possible a copy of the abstract of such work;
- contain, in no more than one additional page, a clearly focussed research proposal for the study you would wish to undertake throughout your registration in the course; and
- conclude with a statement of your motivation for wanting to undertake the research course.
Students are advised to make contact with a potential supervisor to discuss their project prior to applying for admission.
ENGLISH REQUIREMENTS
The following level of English is required to gain admission to this program:
| English Test |
Overall Score |
Reading |
Writing |
Listening |
Speaking |
| IELTS Academic |
7.0 |
6.5 |
6.5 |
6.5 |
6.5 |
| TOEFL (Internet-based) |
98 |
22 |
22 |
19 |
19 |
UOW College: English for Tertiary Studies: Distinction (weighted average mark of 75 overall and minimum 50 in Academic Reading and Writing)
Other qualifications may also be considered. Full details can be found on our English Language Requirements website.
FEES
Tuition fees are reviewed annually: fees payable are dependent on the year of commencement and are subject to increase during the period of study.
Additional Fees:
In addition to tuition, there are other fees and costs you will need to consider, including but not limited to:
For more details on fees and other costs, please visit Fees and Assistance.
CAMPUS | DELIVERY METHOD | SESSION FEE* | COURSE FEE* |
|---|---|---|---|
Wollongong | On Campus | $17,616 (2025) | $140,928 (2025) |
Innovation Campus | On Campus | $17,616 (2025) | $140,928 (2025) |
* Session fees are for one session for the year shown. Total course tuition fees shown are indicative, and are based on normal course length and progression.
These fees are subject to change from year to year. The fees outlined in your Letter of Offer of Admission to the University are correct at the point of offer, but are indicative and subject to change without notice. The indicative total course tuition fee is an estimate, based on normal course length and progression and current course fees.
Admission Profile
INDICATIVE ENROLMENT
STUDENT PROFILE
This table shows the breakdown of the applicant background of the student group at UOW for this course. It provides data on students that commenced undergraduate study and continued study beyond the census date at UOW in 2023.
Applicant background |
2023 intake |
2023 intake (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Higher education study Students who have studied a University course, or completed a bridging or enabling course. |
- |
- |
| Vocational education & training study Students who have undertaken vocational education or training since leaving school. |
- |
- |
| Work & life experience Students admitted on the basis of previous achievement other than higher education study, vocational education & training, or recent secondary education. |
- |
- |
|
Recent secondary education |
||
| ATAR Only Students admitted only on the basis of ATAR including any applied adjustment factors. |
- |
- |
| ATAR plus additional criteria Students who were admitted on the basis of both ATAR and additional criteria (e.g. an audition or individual subject results). |
- |
- |
| Other criteria only (non-ATAR) These students were admitted on the basis of other criteria where ATAR was not a factor (e.g. UOW Early Admission). |
- |
- |
| International students All other students. |
- |
- |
| All students |
- |
- |
N/A: Data not available for this item
N/P: Not published (hidden to prevent calculation of other numbers less than 5)
ATAR PROFILE
This table relates to all students selected on the basis of ATAR alone or ATAR in combination with adjustment factors. For more information on adjustment factors commonly available to applicants, see ‘ATAR-based admission’.
|
ATAR profile of ATAR-based offers in 2023 |
ATAR The unadjusted, raw ATARs for students offered a place wholly or partly on the basis of ATAR. | Selection Rank The ATARs of the same student group, including the impact of adjustment factors. |
|---|---|---|
| Highest rank to receive an offer |
- |
- |
| Median rank to receive an offer |
- |
- |
| Lowest rank to receive an offer |
- |
- |
N/A: Data not available for this item
N/P: Not published (less than 5 ATAR-based offers made)
More Information
For more information about UOW admission pathways, see UOW Admission Information.
Key Dates
SESSION | CAMPUS | SESSION DETAILS |
|---|---|---|
2025 Autumn | Wollongong | Orientation: 24 - 27 February 2025 Applications Close
*Applications must be complete with all required documentation. |
2025 Spring | Wollongong | Orientation: 14 July 2025 Applications Close
*Applications must be complete with all required documentation. |
Course Structure
(Current year structure - subject to change)
Course HandbookWhy choose this course
The Doctor of Philosophy (Law) is available through either the UOW School of Law or The Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS).
The UOW School of Law currently hosts 20 HDR students and is one of Australia's leaders in postgraduate legal research, with strengths in:
- Criminal law
- Comparative law in the Asia-Pacific
- Human rights law
- International economic and business law
- Intersectional research into law and society
- Ocean resources and security
- Social justice
Having one of the lowest ratios of students to staff of any Australian law school, it includes qualified staff from Australian and overseas universities, and from the legal profession, whose expertise covers a wide range of specialist areas of law.
Graduates of our Doctoral programs are engaged in influential positions in courts, government agencies, private firms and universities throughout Australia, the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and beyond.
The Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS) is Australia’s only multidisciplinary university-based centre dedicated to research, education and training in ocean law, maritime security and natural marine resource management.
ANCORS is one of UOW’s 11 research strengths and is one of the primary drivers for the Sustaining Coastal and Marine Zones challenge in the University’s Global Challenges program for multi-faculty interdisciplinary research.
The Centre currently hosts over 30 HDR students from 16 countries, researching a broad range of topics across both disciplinary divides and the core strengths of ANCORS expertise.
ANCORS research interests include:
- ocean law
- oceans policy and management
- maritime strategy and security
- fisheries governance and management
- marine environmental law
- maritime boundary delimitation
- public international law of shipping
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