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University of Sydney

Master of Environmental Law

  • Delivery: Face to Face
  • Study Level: Postgraduate
  • Duration: 12 months
  • Course Type: Master's

Equips students with specialized legal expertise to tackle pressing environmental challenges, shaping policies and regulations that drive sustainable global and local change.

Course overview

Climate and environmental law are among the law’s most rapidly expanding areas of specialisation. It examines legal issues arising from the protection of natural resources, prevention of pollution and planning of urban development and infrastructure.

Whether you’re already working in an environmental field or hope to do so in the future, the Master of Environmental Law is for you. This course is designed to meet the needs of environmental specialists from both Australia and overseas, applicants from a legal and a non-legal backgrounds are welcome.

CSP Subsidised Fees Available

This program has a limited quota of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). The indicative CSP price is calculated based on first year fees for EFT. The actual fee may vary if there are choices in electives or majors.

Key facts

Delivery
Face to Face
Course Type
Master's
Duration
More Information
Can be studied part time
12 months (Full time)
Price Per Unit
$5,162.50
More Information
The estimated per-unit fee is based on the indicative tuition fee per subject.

$2,253.13 (CSP)
More Information
You may be eligible for CSP where the government pays part of your fees.
Campus
Sydney CBD
Intake
22nd February, 2027
2nd August, 2027
Units
More Information
You may be required to complete 0 credit point units throughout your course. The university will confirm this as part of your enrolment.

The unit total reflects the number of units required for course completion, not the total credit point weight. Some units may be double- or triple-weighted, so the number of units you complete may be lower.
8
Fees
More Information
FEE-HELP loans and HECS loans are available to assist domestic students.
FEE-HELP, HECS, CSP

What you will study

For the award of the Master of Environmental Law, students must complete 48 credit points, comprising one of the following:

  • For students without a law background, 12 credit points are required for core units of study and 36 credit points are required for elective units of study.
  • For students with a law background who have not completed any tertiary study in environmental law, six credit points for core units of study and 42 credit points for elective units of study.
  • For students with an environmental law background, 48 credit points of elective units of study.
  • Environmental Law and Policy
  • Legal Reasoning and the Common Law System
  • Environmental Dispute Resolution
  • Law of the Sea
  • International Environmental Law
  • Pollution, Corporate Liability and Governance
  • Judicial Review-P'ciple, Pol and Procedure
  • Asia Pacific Environmental Law
  • Energy and Climate Law
  • Biodiversity Law and Heritage Law
  • Water Law and Climate Change
  • Public Policy
  • Coastal and Marine Law
  • Climate Justice and Disaster Law
  • Law Tropical Forests and Carbon
  • Gender Inequality and Development
  • Environmental Markets
  • International Law and Technology
  • Environ Planning and Impact Assessment Law
  • International Space Law
  • International Sustainable Finance
  • Environmental and Climate Science in Court
  • Environmental Crimes and Law Enforcement
  • International Dispute Resolution
  • Comparative Climate Law
  • Courts, Justice and Development
  • Dispute Resolution in Asia
  • Global Energy and Resources Law
  • Principles of Oil and Gas Law

Entry Requirements

Admission to candidature for the Master of Environmental Law requires one of the following:

  • A bachelor's degree with a credit average (65 per cent) from the University of Sydney or an equivalent qualification.
  • A bachelor's degree from the University of Sydney, or an equivalent qualification; and the applicant provides evidence of two years of relevant professional experience.

English Language Requirements

You may need to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study this course.

If English is your first language, you may be able to meet the requirements if you have:

  • Citizenship or permanent long-term residency (minimum ten years).
  • Completed secondary or higher education (tertiary) studies recognised by the university in an approved English-speaking country.

If English is not your first language, you may be able to prove English proficiency with an approved English skills test taken within two years of commencing the course.

  • IELTS score: a minimum result of 7.0 overall and a minimum result of 6.0 in each band.
  • TOEFL - IBT score: a minimum result of 96 overall, including a minimum result of 17 in Reading, Listening and Speaking and 19 in Writing.
  • Pearson Test of English: a minimum result of 68 overall and a minimum result of 54 in each band.

The university may also consider factors such as previous studies in English. Contact them for more information.

Recognition of Prior Learning

The related study may be credited towards your degree. This may also include relevant work experience for some postgraduate courses. Contact the university for more information.

Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

By completing the Master of Environmental Law, graduates will:

  • Evaluate and apply deep interdisciplinary knowledge in all areas of environmental law while adapting to changes in professional practice and scholarship.
  • Employ research principles and methods in environmental law and policy, executing substantial research-based projects using digital resources, tools and strategies.
  • Exercise expert judgement in critically analysing complex interdisciplinary environmental problems at both domestic and international levels.
  • Integrate scientific, economic, cultural and legal perspectives to define, analyse and address complex environmental challenges while articulating objective or persuasive conclusions using outstanding written and oral communication methods for diverse audiences.
  • Collaborate effectively with an understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ knowledges and perspectives, including the ongoing effects of colonisation and demonstrate a heightened ability to critically reflect upon the cultural specificity of law.
  • Exhibit personal autonomy, accountability and adherence to cultural, ethical and academic standards.
  • Innovate in the development of research-based projects, aiming for publication in peer-reviewed articles.

Fees and CSP

Indicative annual fee in 2027: $18,025 (Commonwealth Supported Place)

Indicative fee per 6-credit-point unit: $2,253.13

Indicative full-course fee: $18,025

Indicative annual fee in 2027: $41,300 (Full-fee paying place)

Indicative fee per 6-credit-point unit: $5,162.50

Indicative full-course fee: $41,300

The average full-course fees shown are calculated based on the 48-credit-point (8-unit) course structure completed over 1 year full-time.

The indicative full-course fees are based on the published 2027 domestic fee estimates. Individual unit prices may vary.

Indicative annual fees are based on your first year of study.

A student's annual fee may vary by:

  • The number of units studied.
  • Choice of units and electives.
  • Credit from previous study or work experience.
  • Eligibility for government-funded loans.

Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.

Commonwealth Supported Places

The Australian Government allocates a certain number of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) to universities each year, which are then distributed to eligible students.

If you're a Commonwealth Supported Student (CSS), you'll only need to pay a portion of your tuition fees. This is known as the student contribution amount – the balance once the government subsidy is applied.

Limited CSP spaces are offered to students enrolled in selected postgraduate courses.

Your student contribution amount is:

  • Calculated according to the units you're enrolled in.
  • Dependent on the study areas of those units.
  • Reviewed and adjusted each year.

Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.

HECS-HELP loans are available to eligible CSP students to pay the student contribution amount.

FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee-paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.