Study Environmental Law

The Master of Environmental Law at the University of Newcastle is designed to equip legal and non-legal professionals with a deeper knowledge of Environmental Law, through a unique, professionally-focused and interdisciplinary program.

Why study with us?

  • Learn from experts from a range of disciplines – learn from distinguished and experienced academics from Australia and overseas in the areas of Law, Environmental and Life Sciences, Business and Architecture and Built Environment.
  • United Nations Certification – we are the only legal postgraduate program in Australia that offers you the opportunity to obtain certification by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and/or the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR). To obtain co-certification, students must complete specific courses on Government Approaches to Disaster Risk Reduction and Sustainable Development and the UN 2030 Development Agenda.
  • Flexible study options – at the University of Newcastle, you can choose to study full-time or part-time to suit your professional and personal needs. Our advanced online learning system gives you the flexibility and support to study anytime.
  • Study at NUspace – NUspace, located in Newcastle’s CBD, provides the optimum environment for you to excel in your studies.
  • Study overseas – broaden your cross-cultural legal knowledge through international study experiences and international legal internships.

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What you will study

The Master of Environmental Law comprises of 8 courses (80 units) which includes 3 core courses (30 units) and 5 directed courses (50 units). Students may choose courses that they are interested in from a range of areas including:

  • Environmental Law
  • Law and Economics of Climate Change
  • International Environmental Law and Policy
  • Sustainable Development and the United Nations 2030 Development Agenda
  • Environmental/Natural Resources Law Clinic
  • Property Law and Planning Legislation
  • Human Rights and Climate Change-Induced Human Displacement
  • Disaster Management Policy/Social Considerations
  • Government and Disaster Risk Reduction
  • Sustainability and Ecosystem Health
  • Applied Natural Resources Management
  • Contemporary Issues in Water Management
  • Business & the Natural Environment
  • Social Enterprises and Co-operative Innovation
  • Mining Law
  • Co-operative Law and Governance
2024 Program Handbook

Refer to the program handbook for details of the complete program structure, course requirements and availability.

View program handbook

My Degree Planner

Use our degree planner to see what your study journey through the Master of Environmental Law might look like.

Prospective student planner Current student planner

Career

Career opportunities

Upon completion of the Master of Environmental Law you will be able to use your specialised knowledge to advance your career and work in various areas including:

  • environmental and resources sectors
  • public policy
  • government sector
  • non-government sector
  • private sector, e.g. sustainability consulting
  • legal practice or advice (for legal professionals only)
  • in-house counsel (for legal professionals only)

A Master of Environmental Law does not qualify you to be admitted to practice law in Australia. If you wish to practice law in Australia, our Juris Doctor (JD) and the embedded Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (GDLP) is designed to equip you with knowledge, clinical experience and the qualifications for admission to legal practice in Australia. JD graduates can apply for entry into the legal profession as solicitors without any further study.

Professional Recognition

Our Master of Environmental Law is the only postgraduate legal program in Australia that offers you the opportunity to obtain certification by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and/or the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR).

To obtain co-certification, students must complete specific courses on Government Approaches to Disaster Risk Reduction and Sustainable Development and the UN 2030 Development Agenda. Please contact the Program Convenor for further information on this opportunity.

Practical Experience

International Study Experience or Legal Externship

Eligible students will have the opportunity to broaden their cross-cultural legal knowledge through participation in organised out-of-country activity, including international study experiences and international legal externships.

For further information regarding the Newcastle International Study Experience and the Newcastle International Clinical Legal Externship please contact the Program Convenor.

Application info

Applying for Master of Environmental Law

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Applications to study are now open. Submit your application now..

Apply to study in Australia

Both students and education agents can submit applications online. This is our preferred way of application. You can save your application after you have started, and come back to it later.

Before you get started

To ensure that the process goes smoothly for you, you should complete the following steps before applying:

  1. Review the program that you wish to apply for. Note the admission criteria, admission instructions, requirements & structure and any additional information listed.
  2. Review the program fees and costs.
  3. Check whether your postgraduate program has a Semester or a Trimester closing date. Please view the application closing date.
  4. If you are from a non-English-speaking background, you need to satisfy the University's English language requirements and ensure that you can provide evidence of your English proficiency if required.

You will be considered for entry based on criteria such as your undergraduate studies and/or equivalent prior learning and/or relevant work experience.

Postgraduate application process

Other things to consider

Make sure you double check the special entry requirements, assumed knowledge or recommended studies for the degree:

Entry into the Master of Environmental Law Program (80 units) will be available to applications who have:

  • an AQF Level 8 Honours Bachelor Degree in a related field such as law, environmental science, environmental resource management, environmental planning, architecture, engineering and surveying, or human and physical geography; or
  • an AQF Level 8 Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma in a related field such as law, environmental science, environmental resource management, environmental planning, architecture, engineering and surveying, or human and physical geography; or
  • an AQF level 7 Bachelor Degree in a related field of law, environmental science, environmental resource management, environmental planning, architecture, engineering and surveying, or human and physical geography; or
  • an AQF Level 7 Bachelor Degree in not in a related field and have at least two years' relevant work experience; or
  • at least seven years relevant work experiences, of which two years should have been in a management position in law, environmental science, environmental resource management, environmental planning, architecture, engineering and surveying, or human and physical geograph, for instance as: a project manager within an environmental discipline; a professional with experience in mentoring, training or supervising the quality of professional work; or as a manager or consultant working in a field related to the environment.

You can look at Uni prep for options to brush up on knowledge before you start.

View University key dates