Key facts
Duration
0.5 year full-time or part-time equivalent
Locations
OnlineCourse overview
This course is designed to allow overseas trained lawyers and law graduates to meet the academic areas of knowledge for the Legal Profession Uniform Admission Rules.*
Choose online study from a top 3 law school in the state of Victoria and gain a rigorous introduction to Australian law. Units incorporate a policy focus that enhances your versatility and you will gain local insight from a graduate-level cohort.
Completing units drawn from our fully online Juris Doctor, you can complete your requirements before arriving in Australia, with flexibility to work around time differences and career commitments.
With highly committed teaching from practising lawyers and leading researchers, localise your practical skills and theoretical foundations and smooth your transition into the Australian legal profession and further career opportunities in government, business and community organisations.
*See Schedule 1 of https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/sl-2015-0240
Current Deakin students
To access your official course details for the year you started your degree, please visit the handbook
- Award granted
- Graduate Certificate of Australian Law
- Year
2027 course information
- Deakin code
- M523
- Level
- Postgraduate (Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma)
- Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition
The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8
Start studying in November
Start your studies in Deakin's Trimester 3 (November) intake and begin building your future sooner. Join Melbourne's #1 university for international student graduate employment and benefit from industry-led learning, advanced facilities and strong student support. You can also apply now for our 2027 Trimester 1 (March) and Trimester 2 (July) intakes.
Course structure
To complete the Graduate Certificate of Australian Law, you must pass 4 credit points. This includes:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first study period
- 1 credit point of the compulsory core unit
- 3 credit points of course electives units
Most units are equal to one credit point
All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
To be completed in the first trimester of study:-
Three units from:
Intakes by location
The availability of a course varies across locations and intakes. This means that a course offered in Trimester 1 may not be offered in the same location for Trimester 2 or 3. Check each intake for up-to-date information on when and where you can commence your studies.
- Start date: July
- Available at:
Online
- Start date: November
- Available at:
Online (part-time only)
- Start date: March
- Available at:
Online
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing placements.
Workload
You can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include lectures, seminars, online interactions, or professional experiences for Work Integrated Learning (WIL) units. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.
Participation requirements
Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.
Work experience
This course does not require students to complete compulsory work integrated learning units.
Entry requirements
Selection is based on a holistic consideration of your academic merit, work experience, likelihood of success, availability of places, participation requirements, regulatory requirements, and individual circumstances. You will need to meet the minimum academic and English language proficiency requirements or higher to be considered for selection, but this does not guarantee admission.
A combination of qualifications and experience may be deemed equivalent to minimum academic requirements.
To be considered for admission to this degree you will need to meet the following criteria:
- Has obtained a foreign lawyer assessment letter by an Australian Legal Admissions Board (i.e. an Australian Admitting Authority) that outlines academic law units that the holder is required to take to be admitted to practice in Australia.
To meet the English language proficiency requirements of this course, you will need to demonstrate at least one of the following:
- bachelor degree from a recognised English-speaking country
- ELTS overall score of 7.0 (with no band less than 6.5) or equivalent
- other evidence of English language proficiency (learn more about other ways to satisfy the requirements)
Learn more about Deakin courses and how we compare to other universities when it comes to the quality of our teaching and learning.
Not sure if you can get into Deakin postgraduate study? Postgraduate study doesn't have to be a balancing act; we provide flexible course entry and exit options based on your desired career outcomes and the time you're able to commit to your study.
Recognition of prior learning
Recognition for Prior Learning (RPL) can be provided on a case-by-case basis based on the previous qualifications and work experience of students as evaluated by the Course Director. RPLs cannot be provided for units that an admission authority has required a student to take. This is compliant with the Faculty of Business and Law RPL Framework and Recognition for Prior Learning policy and procedure.
Fees and scholarships
Fee information
Estimated tuition fee - full-fee paying place
$19,000 AUD
Learn more about fees and your options for paying.
The estimated tuition fee above is based on a typical enrolment of 4 credit points undertaken within the same academic year and is provided as a guide only. Your tuition fees are determined by your course and unit enrolment. Your tuition fees will vary depending on your study load, the course duration, and any approved recognition of prior learning.
Scholarship options
We want to help you excel at Deakin. Our scholarships recognise your dedication and achievements, providing financial support that can ease the cost of living and studying. With less pressure, you’ll have more freedom to focus on what matters most – your education and future success.
Apply now
Apply directly to Deakin
Applications can be made directly to the University through StudyLink Connect - Deakin University's International Student Application Service.
We recommend engaging with a Deakin Authorised Agent who can assist you with the process and submit the application.
Career outcomes
If the Admitting Authority requires you to take practical legal training (PLT) for admission to practise, Deakin recommends Leo Cussen Centre for Law as its preferred provider.
Qualified legal practitioners can work as solicitors in many areas, including commercial, criminal, family, property, and environmental law. Further opportunities include:
- Barristers, including public prosecutors
- In-house counsel and corporate legal advisers
- Government and regulatory lawyers
- Policy officers or policy advisers
- Community or human rights lawyers (e.g. in CLCs or NGOs)
- Academics
- Industrial relations or employment law specialists
- Legal technology and compliance consultants
- Public administrators
- Risk and governance managers
- Management consultants or analysts.
Deakin's graduate learning outcomes describe the knowledge and capabilities graduates can demonstrate at the completion of their course. These outcomes mean that regardless of the Deakin course you undertake, you can rest assured your degree will teach you the skills and professional attributes that employers value. They'll set you up to learn and work effectively in the future.
| Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|
| Develop and apply advanced and integrated understandings of the Australian legal system in the particular areas of knowledge required by Australian legal admissions bodies. |
| Develop and apply effective communication skills for Australian legal audiences. |
| Not explicitly addressed as a learning outcome in this award |
| Apply sophisticated critical thinking capacities and exercise intellectual independence to identify and articulate complex legal issues across various Australian contexts. |
| Apply legal reasoning and research to understand and analyse legal problems, to identify possible responses, and to make reasoned and appropriate choices to generate and justify legal solutions across various Australian contexts. |
| Not explicitly addressed as a learning outcome in this award |
| Not explicitly addressed as a learning outcome in this award |
| Not explicitly addressed as a learning outcome in this award |
Approved by Faculty Board February 2026
*Deakin references data from a range of government, higher education and reputable media sources. Learn more about our achievements on our University rankings page, or explore our sources page for supporting references.
