Master of Laws (By Research)

The Master of Laws (Research) is a higher degree by research program awarded for the completion of a 50,000-word thesis. The thesis demonstrates the student's ability to research, analyse and apply information and concepts to a body of legal knowledge or practice, and is supervised by an academic team with expertise relevant to your topic.

Through Bond's dedicated HDR Unit, you will have access to administrative support, specialist advice and research training. You will have your own assigned workspace with lockable storage, IT support, and funding for flights, accommodation and expenses related to conference presentations and fieldwork. You will also be mentored by a Principal Supervisor and one or more Associate Supervisors with expertise in your topic.

In the first third of the program, you will undertake an extensive literature review to develop your research methodology and research questions. You will undergo a Confirmation of Candidature milestone a third of the way through your program with a view to confirming whether your research project meets academic requirements and can be continued to completion and final examination.

Yes, the LLM (Research) is a pathway to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or a Doctor of Legal Science (Research) (SJD) program at Bond or elsewhere. It is a key step on the journey towards an academic career, and can also enhance your prospects of promotion in the private or public sectors, as well as developing essential skills that will benefit you in all areas of practice.

The program is offered with intakes in May 2026, September 2026, January 2027, and May 2027. It is delivered on-campus at the Gold Coast Campus and is available as two years of full-time study or four years of part-time study, providing flexibility to balance professional and personal commitments while studying.