Master of Laws
A Master of Laws will deepen your legal knowledge and legal research skills.
We offer a range of study options to suit your needs - you can complete the Master of Laws entirely by thesis, entirely by coursework, or through a combination of coursework and research.
One area of focus for our taught postgraduate law programme is advanced criminal law, enabling you to gain further expertise in that area. Other courses focus on human rights law, and indigenous rights and law.
Download programme guides
Minimum entry requirements
- A Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Laws (Honours) or equivalent
- In exceptional circumstances, an applicant who does not meet the requirements above but who has extensive professional or scholarly experience of an appropriate kind, may be considered for admission
- Applicants must demonstrate to the Dean (or representative) an ability to undertake study at postgraduate level in the proposed course of study
International student entry requirements
English language requirements
- IELTS (Academic) 7.0 overall with 7.0 or higher in Writing and Reading, and 6.5 in Listening and Speaking; or equivalent
To qualify for the Master of Laws, you need to complete 120 points, including LAWS901 Legal Research Methodology.
This is a short, zero points, zero tuition fees compulsory course for all new law postgraduate students. You need to complete this course either before or alongside any other law postgraduate courses you're studying at AUT.
You need to complete:
- A thesis of 120 points (around 40,000 words) OR
- A thesis of 90 points (around 30,000 words) and 30 points from additional courses
The thesis question has to be approved before enrolment.
You need to complete:
- A dissertation of 60 points AND
- 60 points from additional courses
We suggest you start by completing the courses. The topic for your dissertation has to be approved.
You need to complete:
- 120 points from courses
Study planner for this programme
Download our study planner to see all the courses offered in 2026 and what your studies could look like in the Master of Laws.
Ready to enrol in your courses?
Find out how you can enrol in the courses and classes for your programme, whether you’ve just joined AUT as a new student or you’re already studying with us. If you’re looking for a course timetable or more info on a specific course use our course search.
Skills you will develop in this postgraduate law degree
The outcomes for graduates of the Master of Laws are outlined in the Graduate Profile below.
Graduate Profile
As part of your Master of Laws you can include a specialisation or focus area.
Specialisations in the Master of Laws
You can complete the 120-point Master of Laws without a specialisation, or you can choose to have a specialisation marked on your degree parchment by having at least 90 points from the courses in the listed specialisations below.
Not all courses are offered each year. Use our study planner to view courses offered in 2025
- LAWS907 International Trade Law (30 points)
- LAWS912 Human Rights and Intellectual Property (30 points)
- LAWS915 Art Law (30 points)
- LAWS916 Employment Law (30 points)
- LAWS918 Corporate Governance (30 points)
- LAWS919 White Collar and Cyber Crime (30 points)
- LAWS927 The International Trust (30 points)
- LAWS928 The Modern Discretionary Trust (30 points)
- LAWS932 Remedies in Private Law (30 points)
- LAWS935 Insolvency and Receivership (30 points)
- LAWS936 Law and Economics (30 points)
- LAWS937 Privacy Law (30 points)
- LAWS946 Commercial Transactions (30 points)
- LAWS957 Franchise Law (30 points)
- LAWS963 Ideas of Property (30 points)
- LAWS964 Arbitration (30 points)
- LAWS966 Corporate Insolvency – Comparative Perspectives (30 points)
- LAWS967 Insurance Law (30 points)
- LAWS968 The Law of Fiduciaries (30 points)
- LAWS970 Principles of Intellectual Property (30 points)
- LAWS975 Commercial Criminal Law (30 points)
- LAWS982 Human Rights and Business (30 points)
- LAWS995 Research Project (30 points)
- LAWS987 Dissertation (60 points)
- LAWS998 Thesis (90 points)
- LAWS999 Thesis (120 points)
- LAWS909 Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice (30 points)
- LAWS919 White Collar and Cyber Crime (30 points)
- LAWS921 Criminal Law: Forms of Liability (30 points)
- LAWS923 Current Issues in Criminal Procedure (30 points)
- LAWS924 Current Issues in Sentencing (30 points)
- LAWS925 Criminal Defences (30 points)
- LAWS926 International Criminal Law (30 points)
- LAWS930 Criminal Appeals and Miscarriages of Justice (30 points)
- LAWS947 Maori Legal Issues (30 points)
- LAWS955 Non-Adversarial Justice (30 points)
- LAWS960 International Criminal Procedure (30 points)
- LAWS974 Youth Justice (30 points)
- LAWS975 Commercial Criminal Law (30 points)
- LAWS976 Mental Health and the Law (30 points)
- LAWS977 Health and Safety Law (30 points)
- LAWS978 Law of Evidence (30 points)
- LAWS979 Criminal Procedure (30 points)
- LAWS980 Prison and Parole Law (30 points)
- LAWS981 Advanced Criminal Law: Sentencing Maori (30 points)
- LAWS983 Advanced Ciiminal Law: Homicide (30 points)
- LAWS984 Advanced Criminal Law: Fraud Trials (30 points)
- LAWS985 Statutory Interpretation (30 points)
- LAWS986 Proof of Fact (30 points)
- LAWS995 Research Project (30 points)
- LAWS987 Dissertation (60 points)
- LAWS998 Thesis (90 points)
- LAWS999 Thesis (120 points)
- LAWS912 Human Rights and Intellectual Property (30 points)
- LAWS931 Problems in Patent Law (30 points)
- LAWS936 Law and Economics (30 points)
- LAWS940 Copyright Law (30 points)
- LAWS942 Media Law (30 points)
- LAWS970 Principles of Intellectual Property (30 points)
- LAWS995 Research Project (30 points)
- LAWS987 Dissertation (60 points)
- LAWS998 Thesis (90 points)
- LAWS918 Corporate Governance (30 points)
- LAWS933 Resource Management Law (30 points)
- LAWS941 High Density Living and Co-Ownership (30 points)
- LAWS943 Sale of Land (30 points)
- LAWS963 Ideas of Property (30 points)
- LAWS969 Local Government Law (30 points)
- LAWS995 Research Project (30 points)
- LAWS987 Dissertation (60 points)
- LAWS998 Thesis (90 points)
- LAWS999 Thesis (120 points)
Focus areas in the Master of Laws
You can choose to have a focus area marked on your transcript by completing at least 90 points from the courses in the listed focus areas below.
Not all courses are offered each year. Use our study planner to view courses offered in 2025
- LAWS904 American Politics and Constitutional Law (30 points)
- LAWS905 International Human Rights Law (30 points)
- LAWS906 International Law, State Jurisdiction and Indigenous Rights (30 points)
- LAWS910 Law and Gendered Violence (30 points)
- LAWS911 Human Rights Litigation in New Zealand (30 points)
- LAWS912 Human Rights and Intellectual Property (30 points)
- LAWS926 International Criminal Law (30 points)
- LAWS937 Privacy Law (30 points)
- LAWS939 Social Justice, Law and Society (30 points)
- LAWS962 Current Issues in Human Rights (30 points)
- LAWS972 Law of Democracy (30 points)
- LAWS980 Prison and Parole Law (30 points)
- LAWS982 Human Rights and Business (30 points)
- LAWS988 Law of Armed Conflict (30 points)
- LAWS991 Gender, Sexuality and the Law (30 points)
- LAWS995 Research Project (30 points)
- LAWS987 Dissertation (60 points)
- LAWS999 Thesis (120 points)
- LAWS906 International Law, State Jurisdiction and Indigenous Rights (30 points)
- LAWS912 Human Rights and Intellectual Property (30 points)
- LAWS922 Indigenous Legal Issues (30 points)
- LAWS937 Privacy Law (30 points)
- LAWS947 Maori Legal Issues (30 points)
- LAWS971 Indigenous Private Law (30 points)
- LAWS974 Youth Justice (30 points)
- LAWS992 South Pacific Law (30 points)
- LAWS995 Research Project (30 points)
- LAWS987 Dissertation (60 points)
- LAWS999 Thesis (120 points)
- LAWS902 Climate Change Law (30 points)
- LAWS905 International Human Rights Law (30 points)
- LAWS906 International Law, State Jurisdiction and Indigenous Rights (30 points)
- LAWS907 International Trade Law (30 points)
- LAWS911 Human Rights Litigation in New Zealand (30 points)
- LAWS912 Human Rights and Intellectual Property (30 points)
- LAWS926 International Criminal Law (30 points)
- LAWS937 Privacy Law (30 points)
- LAWS938 International Environmental Law (30 points)
- LAWS958 Private International Law (30 points)
- LAWS960 International Criminal Procedure (30 points)
- LAWS982 Human Rights and Business (30 points)
- LAWS988 Law of Armed Conflict (30 points)
- LAWS995 Research Project (30 points)
- LAWS987 Dissertation (60 points)
- LAWS999 Thesis (120 points)
- LAWS936 Law and Economics (30 points)
- LAWS937 Privacy Law (30 points)
- LAWS939 Social Justice, Law and Society
- LAWS973 Justice (30 points)
- LAWS991 Gender, Sexuality and the Law (30 points)
- LAWS992 South Pacific Law (30 points)
- LAWS995 Research Project (30 points)
- LAWS987 Dissertation (60 points)
- LAWS999 Thesis (120 points)
- LAWS903 Advanced Private Law (30 points)
- LAWS912 Human Rights and Intellectual Property (30 points)
- LAWS915 Art Law (30 points)
- LAWS916 Employment Law (30 points)
- LAWS918 Corporate Governance (30 points)
- LAWS932 Remedies in Private Law (30 points)
- LAWS935 Insolvency and Receivership (30 points)
- LAWS936 Law and Economics (30 points)
- LAWS940 Copyright Law (30 points)
- LAWS941 High Density Living and Co-Ownership (30 points)
- LAWS942 Media Law (30 points)
- LAWS946 Commercial Transactions (30 points)
- LAWS957 Franchise Law (30 points)
- LAWS958 Private International Law (30 points)
- LAWS963 Ideas of Property (30 points)
- LAWS966 Corporate Insolvency – Comparative Perspectives (30 points)
- LAWS967 Insurance Law (30 points)
- LAWS968 The Law of Fiduciaries (30 points)
- LAWS970 Principles of Intellectual Property (30 points)
- LAWS971 Indigenous Private Law (30 points)
- LAWS995 Research Project (30 points)
- LAWS987 Dissertation (60 points)
- LAWS999 Thesis (120 points)
- LAWS902 Climate Change Law (30 points)
- LAWS904 American Politics and Constitutional Law (30 points)
- LAWS905 International Human Rights Law (30 points)
- LAWS906 International Law, State Jurisdiction and Indigenous Rights (30 points)
- LAWS911 Human Rights Litigation in New Zealand (30 points)
- LAWS912 Human Rights and Intellectual Property (30 points)
- LAWS933 Resource Management Law (30 points)
- LAWS937 Privacy Law (30 points)
- LAWS947 Maori Legal Issues (30 points)
- LAWS962 Current Issues in Human Rights (30 points)
- LAWS969 Local Government Law (30 points)
- LAWS972 Law of Democracy (30 points)
- LAWS980 Prison and Parole Law (30 points)
- LAWS982 Human Rights and Business (30 points)
- LAWS985 Statutory Interpretation (30 points)
- LAWS992 South Pacific Law (30 points)
- LAWS995 Research Project (30 points)
- LAWS987 Dissertation (60 points)
- LAWS999 Thesis (120 points)
($10,630 tuition fees + $1,221.60 student services levy)
($40,600 tuition fees + $1,221.60 student services levy)
- Fees shown are based on a full-time workload for the points indicated next to the fee. The exact fee charged will depend on which courses you select at the time of enrolment.
- Fees are subject to change year to year. If you are planning for study beyond the current year, fees may vary from those stated.
- There may also be other fees and charges you need to pay.
- International students' tuition fees reflect the full cost of tuition. Domestic students' tuition fees are less due to a proportion of the tuition fees being funded by the New Zealand Government.
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.