AU$43,200 (2025 annual)
RMIT’s Juris Doctor program allows you to design your own flexible program of study to meet your personal career aspirations.
As a graduate who is passionate about law and justice, the Juris Doctor (JD) is your entry point to the legal profession or to deepen your understanding of the framework of law. You may also find that career possibilities evolve and open up as you move through the degree.
Through the JD, you will build skills and competency in core areas of legal practice. Under the supervision of expert legal academics and practitioners, you will understand the role of law in society, analyse cases and legislation, and engage in a variety of simulations to develop practical legal skills.
The freedom of learning 100% online means you can study, whenever and wherever you want.
Built with industry partners to ensure you’re job ready. Learn practical skills that align with industry best practice.
Our expert team of support advisors, academic tutors and course coordinators are here to support you.
The Juris Doctor has been designed to create job-ready graduates, with direction and input from a Program Advisory Board. Senior executives from law firms, representatives from the Bar, magistrates and other senior members of the profession provide valuable input to ensure our degree remains relevant to industry.
During your studies, you will build practical legal skills such as mooting and advocacy, research and policy development, communication skills, an understanding of the role of technology, and client interviewing, negotiation and dispute resolution. These are integrated into the study of substantive areas of law.
There is scope to follow your own interests by choosing electives that delve deeper into advocacy, environment law, human rights law, commercial law, legal considerations of artificial intelligence, blockchain and privacy, family law, wills and intellectual property law.
This program is delivered wholly online. Over the duration of your program, you will experience a variety of approaches to teaching and learning.
These include online lectures and guest lectures by legal practitioners, problem solving and case analysis, and moots (mock courts).
You will build legal skills and gain expertise in the critical areas of practice. Under the supervision of members of the legal profession you will engage in a variety of simulations to develop practical legal capabilities.
You will also learn how to conduct research into policy development and law reform and communicate the results in a professional and precise manner.
RMIT offers an extensive range of legal databases that can be accessed online. There you will find the published reports of cases, journal articles and other legal materials. Many recommended textbooks are available through the library as e-books at no additional charge to you. The library also has an extensive range of resources to help you to research and write academically.
Enjoy a supportive environment with peers and leading experts to practice concepts and apply new skills, while having the flexibility to study 100% online so you can study around your work and life commitments. You'll be able to tailor your qualification with a wide range of career electives to focus on in-demand fields so that you can be across all emerging areas in law.
Assessments in the JD will take numerous forms, including formal examinations, assignments, research projects, in-class tests, reflective papers, presentations and moots (mock courts).
24 courses | 3 years full time | 6 years part time.
The knowledge and skills you will acquire throughout this degree and how they can be applied in your career are described in the learning outcomes.
View the learning outcomes for the Juris Doctor Online:
To graduate from the Juris Doctor, you must complete 18 core law subjects (including the Priestley 11) and six elective subjects.
In your first year of study, the core subjects you undertake will explore criminal law, torts, property and company law.
In your second year of study, your core subjects will cover international law, company law and constitutional law.
In your final year, core subjects include the study of evidence, and equity and trusts.
The structure of the Juris Doctor is such that core subjects are completed in the early semesters and the capacity to undertake electives increases as you move through the degree.
Graduates of this degree can change their career direction and enter the legal profession by adding this fully accredited legal qualification to their undergraduate degree.
Juris Doctor graduates have access to a range of law jobs and legal opportunities. These include practising as a solicitor or barrister in the commercial or criminal legal sectors in organisations of all sizes and scales. Legal knowledge is useful in management, industrial relations and policy making professions. Many members of parliament have law degrees.
Alumni work in many fields where knowledge of legal principles and the ability to think deeply and rigorously are essential. These fields include public administration, NGOs, politics and business. Graduates are building a reputation as fully prepared, work-ready legal professionals. Even if you wish to stay within your current career framework, the JD is a master's-level qualification that teaches you the skills of critical thinking and analysis that could open up horizons in your existing career.
Course accreditation or membership offered by professional bodies signals to employers the quality and relevance of RMIT's courses and opens up career pathways and networks.
Professional bodies accredit or recognise courses as meeting professional and academic standards deemed to be essential for a new graduate entering into that profession. An accredited course will either enable the graduate to enter directly into a professional qualifications program or provide the graduate with exemptions or credit towards a post university professional qualification.
Course satisfies the academic requirements for graduates admission to the Australian Legal Profession. (Accredited for course delivery in Melbourne and online.)
The School is compliant with the standards for Australian Law Schools adopted by the Council of Australian Law Deans and assessed by the Australian Law Schools Standards Committee (ALSSC).
You need to satisfy all of the following entry requirements to be considered for entry into this degree.
A limited number of Commonwealth supported place (CSP) are available for this course. To be considered for a CSP you must apply for the Juris Doctor CSP offering through the RMIT Application System. CSP applications may close early if places are exhausted.
Students currently enrolled in a full-fee place in the RMIT Juris Doctor may apply for a CSP in the Juris Doctor upon completing at least one year of full-time equivalent study (96 credit points) and have demonstrated a GPA of 2.0 (out of 4.0).
There are no prerequisite subjects required for entry into this qualification.
A selection task is not required for entry into this qualification.
You must meet the University's minimum English language requirements to be eligible for a place in this program.
You need to satisfy all of the following requirements to be considered for entry into this degree.
You must have successfully completed a qualification recognised by RMIT as equivalent to the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) with a minimum average of 65% (see calculator below).
Equivalent qualifications may also include completion of the RMIT Foundation Studies program or a recognised post secondary diploma in the relevant discipline with the required grades.
Meeting the minimum academic requirements does not guarantee entry. Your application will still need to be assessed and accepted.
There are no prerequisite subjects required for entry into this qualification.
A selection task is not required for entry into this qualification.
To study this course you will need to complete one of the following English proficiency tests:
For detailed information on English language requirements and other proficiency tests recognised by RMIT, visit English language requirements and equivalency information.
Don't meet the English language test scores? Complete an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Advanced Plus at RMIT University Pathways (RMIT UP).
You can gain entry to this masters degree from a range of RMIT undergraduate programs, if you meet the entry requirements.
Australian law degrees are required to include 11 core areas of knowledge - the 'Priestley 11’.
These areas are:
No exemptions from the Priestley 11 are allowed unless the courses concerned are the equivalent courses in another postgraduate law program.
Credit, recognition of prior learning, professional experience and accreditation from a professional body can reduce the duration of your study by acknowledging your earlier, relevant experience.
Credit and exemptions will be assessed consistent with the principles of the RMIT Credit Policy.
Business and Law research programs are offered at Master and Doctoral level.
Upon successful completion of this masters degree, you may be eligible to undertake further studies in related programs at RMIT University, including postgraduate research programs, subject to the program's entrance requirements.
If you are offered a Commonwealth supported place, your tuition fees are subsidised by the Australian Government.
Your share of the fee (student contribution) is set on an annual basis by the government and is determined by the discipline areas (bands) of your individual enrolled courses, not the overall program.
The Australian Government has introduced changes to university funding and student contribution fees under its Job-ready Graduates Package.
The fees in the table below apply to students who commence their program in 2025. Fees for continuing students are available at fees for Commonwealth supported students.
Each course (subject) falls into a band. The band determines the student contribution amount for the course.
Amounts listed in the table below are based on a standard, full-time study load (96 credit points per year) with all courses in the same band. A proportionate fee applies for more or less than the full-time study load or for enrolment in courses (subjects) from a combination of bands.
You can learn how to calculate your exact tuition fees for units from different bands at Fees for Commonwealth supported students.
Student contribution band by course (subject) |
Maximum annual student contribution amount (per EFTSL) in 2025 |
---|---|
Education, Postgraduate Clinical Psychology, English, Mathematics, Statistics, Nursing, Indigenous and Foreign Languages, Agriculture | $4,627 per standard year $578 per standard (12 credit point) course |
Allied Health, Other Health, Built Environment, Computing, Visual and Performing Arts, Professional Pathway Psychology, Professional Pathway Social Work, Engineering, Surveying, Environmental Studies, Science, Pathology | $9,314 per standard year $1,164 per standard (12 credit point) course |
Dentistry, Medicine, Veterinary Science | $13,241 per standard year $1,655 per standard (12 credit point) course |
Law, Accounting, Administration, Economics, Commerce, Communications, Society and Culture | $16,992 per standard year $2,124 per standard (12 credit point) course |
On 1 January 2022, the Government implemented the Student Learning Entitlement (SLE).
For more information about SLE, visit Study Assist.
In addition to tuition fees, you will be charged an annual student services and amenities fee (SSAF) based on your enrolment load, which is used to maintain and enhance services and amenities that improve your experience as an RMIT student. Eligible local students can apply for an SA-HELP loan to defer payment of their SSAF.
For more information about calculating your actual SSAF see Paying SSAF.
Some students may be eligible to apply to defer payment of some or all of their tuition fees via the Commonwealth Government’s FEE-HELP loan scheme.
Visit our HELP loans page for lots of useful information about eligibility, how to apply and payment. You can apply for FEE-HELP once you have enrolled in a program.
HELP loans are not available to international students.
In addition to tuition fees you also need to pay for:
You also need to account for your living expenses. Estimate the cost of living in Melbourne.
In addition to tuition fees, you will be charged an annual student services and amenities fee (SSAF), which is used to maintain and enhance services and amenities that improve your experience as an RMIT student.
The SSAF is calculated based on your enrolment load and the maximum fee for 2025 is $365.
Find out more details about how fees are calculated and the expected annual increase.
Find information on how to apply for a refund as a continuing international student.
RMIT awards more than 2000 scholarships every year to recognise academic achievement and assist students from a variety of backgrounds.
Use our Frequently Asked Questions to learn about the application process and its equity access schemes, find out how to accept or defer your offer or request a leave of absence, discover information about your fees, refunds and scholarships, and explore the various student support and advocacy services, as well as how to find out more about your preferred program, and more.
Acknowledgement of Country
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.
Acknowledgement of Country
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.