Law & Justice

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

post graduate students smiling
  • Transfer credit will be granted in accordance with the UNSW transfer credit policy.
  • Students can apply for RPL by completing the Recognition of Prior Learning request form.
  • Transfer credit for Law compulsory courses that form part of the Academic Areas of Knowledge1 (also known as the Priestley 11) can only be granted for courses completed as part of an approved Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or a Juris Doctor (JD) program at a recognised Australian tertiary institution.
  • Transfer credit for UNSW Law elective courses can only be granted for courses that were completed as part of an approved Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or Juris Doctor (JD) at a recognised tertiary institution, or Master-level courses undertaken at an approved law school.
  • Appeals against transfer credit decisions will be assessed by the relevant Program Director, or, if the application has already been considered by the Program Director, then by the Deputy Dean.
  • If you have commenced a course for which you are requesting transfer credit and the census date has passed, credit for this course cannot be granted.
    • The maximum number of units that will be granted for transfer credit for both advanced standing and exemptions, is 72 UOC.
    • The maximum number of units that will be granted in transfer credit as advanced standing is 48 UOC.
    • BCCJ students must complete study deemed to be no less than that required of students in full-time attendance in the final year of the program concerned (48 units of credit). The limitations do not apply to credit or exemptions for internal transfer or incomplete UNSW program of study.
    • The maximum number of units that will be granted for credit transfer, both advanced standing and exemptions, is 72 UOC.
    • The maximum number of units that will be granted in credit transfer as advanced standing is 48 UOC.
    • The maximum credit that can be awarded for courses that have been counted towards a partially completed Masters’ program is 24 UOC.
    • The maximum credit that can be awarded for courses that have already been counted towards a completed Masters’ program is 12 UOC.
    • Students who hold a recognised LLB or JD degree from an overseas institution may be granted up to 36 UOC advanced standing in unspecified electives.
    • Students who have studied a recognised LLM from an overseas institution may be granted advanced standing in unspecified electives for up to 24UOC for courses counted towards a partially completed LLM or up to 12UOC for courses that have already been counted towards a completed LLM.
    • Students with an overseas JD or LLB who have completed units of study in public international law, private international law and comparative law at a postgraduate level may, on application, be granted an exemption from Law in the Global Context.
    • Students with an overseas LLB or JD who have completed an equivalent legal theory course may, on application, be granted an exemption from the legal theory core course.
    • The maximum credit that can be awarded for courses that have been counted towards a partially completed program is 50%
    • The maximum credit that can be awarded for courses that have already been counted towards a completed program is 25%
    • Credit to a maximum of 6UOC may be granted for attendance at 18 hours of UNSW Continuing Professional Development (CPD) face-to-face seminars, for which a certificate has been awarded by UNSW Continuing Legal Education, and where the attendee has produced a substantial piece of legal writing (6,000 words) such as an academic paper on atopic approved by the Director of Postgraduate Studies, a submission to government/law reform commission, or contribution to an official report.
    • Credit will not be granted on the basis of a completed Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice or Practical Legal Training studies.
    • Credit may be granted on the basis of other studies on a case-by-case basis subject to the provisions above.
    • Credit on the basis of completed JD program cannot be granted, however, exemption can. Students cannot double-dip, that is, course(s) used for completion of the JD cannot be used again for the LLM. However, students may be exempt from such courses enabling them to take up other electives. In addition, JD students can be exempted from the LLM foundation courses: LAWS8213 and LAWS8214 on the basis of completion of the JD core courses.