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The University is ranked first in Australia and fifth in the world for graduate employability in the QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2019.
Find out moreWith a broad range of flexible and dynamic career options, science graduates are in high demand across many industries.
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Take part in a unique opportunity to study science, environment and law in a single degree. If you’re a science graduate looking to learn about environmental policy, the Master of Environmental Science and Law integrates diverse disciplines into an outstanding program.
This highly regarded postgraduate program is open to science graduates. The one-and-a-half-year degree lets you study complementary subjects across both environmental science and environmental law. It provides you with the opportunity to extend your scientific knowledge into environmental areas, as well as providing an introduction to the field of environmental law and policy. It also provides the opportunity for you to gain a qualification to complement your environmental experience and to acquire knowledge in areas of policy and management.
The Master of Environmental Science and Law at the University of Sydney is unique. The program brings together subjects that are normally taught separately and that are difficult to study together outside of this program. As a student, you will benefit from an exceptional combination of resources that are at your disposal. The Australian Centre for Climate and Environmental Law, based at the University of Sydney, is well known around the world in this field, and the University’s outstanding research quality in the area of environmental science and management was recently rated 5 out of 5 in the latest Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) rankings (2012).
As a graduate of this program you can expect to leave with a practical and theoretical background in aspects of environmental science and environmental law, which open doors to careers in environmental management and policy development.
Commonwealth Supported Places
Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) are available for this course for eligible domestic students. This means that your course fees are subsidised by the Australian Government and you pay a student contribution amount (SCA). CSP places are limited in number and are allocated based on academic merit.
Study plan
Students follow the study pattern of the core units of study and electives as required. You may undertake the course on a full time or part time basis. You will complete a total of 72 credit points of study.
The Environmental Law and Policy and Legal Reasoning and the Common Law System units are compulsory for all students. Students are able to select environmental science units to suit their specific needs and interests, but these must be completed alongside a research-oriented capstone unit.
The program consists of:
Subject to the availability of suitable projects and supervisors, candidates with a distinction average in 24 credit points may be admitted to the research pathway. For more information, contact the course coordinator. Full time study can be completed over the course of 2 semesters. Your individual study plan will of course depend on the availability of units in a given semester.
Sample course progression
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | |
| Environmental Law and Policy Environmental Science core unit Environmental Law core unit Elective |
Legal Reasoning and the Common Law System Environmental Science core unit Environmental Law core unit Elective |
| Year 2 | |
| Integrated Environmental Practice Environmental Science core unit |
Environmental Law core unit Elective |
For admission to the course, you should have:
A credit average means a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 65. A very limited number of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) may be available to domestic applicants for this course from year to year.
For S1, 2017 commencements, all domestic applicants who apply by 31 January 2017 and are successful for admission into this course are automatically ranked and assessed for CSP by the Faculty of Science on the basis of academic merit. No additional application to the Faculty is required. Only top-ranked applicants will be granted CSP, subject to yearly availability. Late applicants will not be considered for CSP.
Employment opportunities depend largely on your background and the areas in which you have chosen to study, but for the most part you will be best qualified for employment in the area of environmental management and/or policy development, or in private consultancies.
This program does not qualify you as a practicing lawyer, but will have the knowledge and capabilities for jobs where the development of policy and management schedules is required.
Indicative Postgraduate Student Contribution Amount
The student contribution amount for a Commonwealth Supported Place is an indication only of the amount payable in Year 1 for a standard full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). The exact student contribution that you pay will depend on the calendar year in which you undertake your study, and the specific units of study in which you ultimately enrol. For further information about how to calculate your specific total student contribution, please refer to the University's Tuition Fees website.
Annual review and fee increases
Importantly, student contribution amounts are subject to annual review by the University, and will increase each year of your period of study (subject to a Commonwealth specified cap), effective at the start of each calendar year.
Indicative Postgraduate Domestic Tuition Fee
The tuition fee for a domestic postgraduate student is an indication only of the fees payable in Year 1 for a standard full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). Depending on the calendar year in which you undertake your study, and if your study load is more or less than the 1.0 EFTSL, your tuition fee will differ from the indicative amount.
Annual review and fee increase
Importantly, tuition fees are subject to annual review by the University, and will increase each year of your period of study, effective at the start of each calendar year.
Additional incidental costs
For some courses there are incidental costs additional to the student contribution and/or course fee. Some of these incidental costs are significant, for example, course-specific materials, tools, protected clothing and equipment. Further information about these costs is available from https://sydney.edu.au/students/materials-and-equipment.html.
Visa/MasterCard/American Express/JCB surcharge
Please note that a surcharge of 1.53% will apply for payments made by Visa, MasterCard, American Express or JCB. The surcharge is subject to review and may change. Information about payment methods and the surcharge is set out at: http://sydney.edu.au/study/finances-fees-costs/fees-and-loans/paying-your-fees.html.
Potential for inaccuracy
Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to include correct and up to date information here, you are also advised to consult directly with the Student Centre so that they can provide you with specific and up to date information about fees.
Indicative International Tuition Fees for Postgraduate Students
The tuition fee for international postgraduate students is an indication only of the fees payable in Year 1 for a standard full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). Depending on the calendar year in which you undertake your study, and if your study load is more or less than the 1.0 EFTSL, your tuition fee will differ from the indicative amount.
Annual review and fee increases
Importantly, tuition fees are subject to annual review, and will increase each year of your period of study, effective at the start of each calendar year.
Additional incidental costs and health insurance
For some courses there are incidental costs additional to the tuition fees. Some of these incidental costs are significant, for example, course-specific materials, tools, protective clothing, and equipment. Further information about these costs is available from https://sydney.edu.au/students/materials-and-equipment.html. In addition to the fees indicated here for the course of study, International Students studying on an Australian Student Visa must have appropriate health insurance for the duration of their studies on a Student Visa through a government approved provider of the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) scheme. This is a requirement of the Australian Government, unless otherwise exempted by the Government. Further information is available from https://sydney.edu.au/study/finances-fees-costs/living-costs/health-insurance.html.
Visa/MasterCard/American Express/JCB surcharge
Please note that a surcharge of 1.53% will apply for payments made by Visa, MasterCard, American Express or JCB. The surcharge is subject to review and may change. Information about payment methods and the surcharge is set out at: http://sydney.edu.au/study/finances-fees-costs/fees-and-loans/paying-your-fees.html.
Potential for inaccuracy
Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to include correct and up to date information here, you are also advised to consult directly with the Student Centre so that they can provide you with specific and up to date information about fees.
