PhDLaw
Doctor of Philosophy in Law (Cotutelle)
University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
About this program
The Doctor of Philosophy in Law (Cotutelle) at the University of Sydney Law School prepares candidates for careers in advanced research, policy development, public service, tertiary teaching or professional leadership. Candidates complete a supervised thesis of up to 80,000 words making a substantially original contribution to their field, alongside compulsory legal research coursework units completed within their first two years.
Applicants typically hold a master's degree with a significant research component, or a bachelor's degree with first class honours. Graduates move into academia, policy development, government, and international and civil society organisations.
Cost & duration
English test scores
Verified sydney.edu.au ↗
Career & PR pathway
Occupations this degree typically leads to, and their skilled-migration list status
SolicitorANZSCO 271311
On both MLTSSL and CSOL, but a positive skills assessment is not the same as being able to practise. You must first be admitted to an Australian state legal profession, which for an overseas or JD graduate means passing the assessed academic subjects, completing Practical Legal Training, and being admitted by the state Supreme Court, before the occupation is realistically usable for a visa.
Assessed by VETASSESS
BarristerANZSCO 271111
On both MLTSSL and CSOL, supporting the points-tested 189, 190, and 491 as well as the employer-sponsored 482 and 186. As with Solicitor, a positive skills assessment is not the same as being able to practise: you must be admitted to the bar in an Australian state or territory before the occupation is realistically usable for a visa. Assessed by the state or territory Legal Admissions Authority, not VETASSESS.
Assessed by State or Territory Legal Admissions Authority
List membership changes over time and does not guarantee an invitation. See the skilled occupation lists guide and the points calculator before relying on this for a visa decision.
Admissions
There are three main conditions of admission, namely: (i) academic qualifications (ii) research and publication experience (iii) suitability of the proposed course of study and research If you are not academically qualified to undertake a research degree, you may consider pursuing your research interests through coursework study before progressing to a research degree. The minimum requirement for admission is completion of one of the following degrees: · a bachelor’s degree with first class honours; or · a master’s degree by research; or · a master’s degree by coursework awarded at a High Distinction or Distinction level, and that includes a research component equivalent to 25% of one year of full-time enrolment; or · a qualification deemed equivalent to one of the above degrees, as determined by the Law School Postgraduate Research Education Committee.
More Law programs
Doctor of Legal Science (Research)
Bond University · PhD
Doctor of Philosophy - Business Law & Taxation
UNSW Sydney · PhD
Doctor of Philosophy - Law
University of Melbourne · PhD
Doctor of Philosophy - Law
Curtin University · PhD
Why trust Where To Apply
- Official sources onlyEvery deadline, fee, and requirement traces to a university, government, or admissions-body page.
- Dated and re-checkedEach fact carries the date it was last verified, on a quarterly re-verification cadence.
- IndependentNo university pays for inclusion, a better write-up, or a higher rank. We are not an education agent.
- Named editor, public methodWritten and maintained by a named operator against a published methodology.