Stay at the forefront of law
Te Kauhanganui Tātai Ture—the Faculty of Law offers a range of postgraduate study options, from globally recognised degrees to short courses for busy professionals.
Build on your undergraduate studies or work experience with programmes that deepen your knowledge in specialised areas of law.
You’ll have the chance to experience a range of law study areas. You’ll learn from leading academics and legal professionals with specialist expertise—including practising lawyers.
Why Wellington
Studying Law at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington puts you right where the action happens. Our Pipitea Campus sits at the heart of Aotearoa’s legal and political world, just steps from Parliament, the Supreme Court, the High Court, and major law firms.
You’ll learn from world-leading scholars—many of them practising lawyers—who are genuinely invested in your success and teach in-depth courses in their own areas of expertise.
The rankings back it up too. Our Faculty of Law is consistently ranked among the top 100 law schools globally by QS World University Rankings. And we’re ranked number one for Law in Aotearoa New Zealand according to Times Higher Education 2026, Rankings by Subject.
Choose your study path
Pursue a postgraduate qualification based on your previous study and your goals.
- Master of Laws (LLM)—Our main postgraduate pathway for people with a law degree. Study by coursework, coursework plus a dissertation, or a thesis.
- Postgraduate Certificate in Law (PGCertLaw)—For people who want to explore advanced, specialised areas of law. It’s a shorter qualification at the same level as the LLM, and you choose your courses from the LLM schedule.
- Graduate Diploma in Law (GDipLaw)—Open to graduates with any Bachelor’s degree, including law graduates. It’s also a pathway for overseas-qualified lawyers who want to qualify to practise law in New Zealand.
- Graduate Certificate in Law (GCertLaw)—Open to graduates with any Bachelor’s degree. Law graduates can also use it for professional development, or to study a particular area of law.
Single postgraduate courses
Keep your options open by taking a single postgraduate Law course without committing to a full qualification.
You can enrol in a 500-level LAWS course through the University's Certificate of Proficiency option. If you later decide to study for a Master of Laws or Postgraduate Certificate in Law, you can credit your courses towards it.
Our courses and qualifications meet the New Zealand Law Society’s requirements for Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
Practise law in New Zealand with an overseas qualification
If you qualified as a lawyer overseas, you will probably need to complete some law study in New Zealand before you can practise here. The New Zealand Council of Legal Education (NZCLE) assesses your qualifications and tells you what to complete.
Meet the study requirements with the qualification that matches the points NZCLE says you need:
- Graduate Diploma in Law (120 points)
- Graduate Certificate in Law (60 points)
International study options
Our most popular programme among international students is the LLM by coursework.
You should apply as early as possible to allow time to organise a visa and arrange travel and accommodation.
As an international student, you must apply through Te Kahupapa—Wellington University International. All important information can be found on the International section of our website.
Qualification support and advice
We can help you match your interests and career goals with the right course of study.
If you’re a new student, talk to a Future Student Adviser through our enquiry form.
If you’re already studying with us, talk to Tītoko—Student Success.
For the research portion of your study, you’ll need a supervisor to help guide your research. Your programme coordinator will work with you to find the right person.
Study options
Find out how you can study postgraduate Law at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
Study Law by research
Be part of New Zealand's leading centre for academic legal research. Our LLM and PhD by research offer you the chance to deeply explore an area that interests you.
Our staff combine their academic work with practising law—as legal advisers, counsel, and arbitrators—so their research is topical, relevant, and respected all over the world.
Find out more about research study options and the areas in which you could find supervision.
Research in the New Zealand context
The small size of Aotearoa New Zealand’s economy presents unique legal challenges and opportunities. Our country’s location highlights the importance of international trade and commerce.
When considering your research topic, keep in mind some of the key features of the New Zealand legal environment. These include:
- the unique constitutional relationship between Māori and the Crown in the context of a Westminster-style democracy
- the mixed-member proportional representation system of elections
- the interrelationship between tikanga Māori and the general legal system
- our unicameral parliament
- the role of our parliamentary Bill of Rights
- our relationship with Pacific nations and other international actors.
Academic staff research areas
See a list of our academic staff and the areas where they can offer research supervision.
Consider Construction Law
If you’re a practising lawyer or a professional in the building industry, you might want to specialise in construction law.
Our Master of Construction Law and related qualifications give you expert knowledge of the legal and dispute issues shaping today’s building industry.
Globally ranked
Our Faculty of Law is consistently ranked among the top 100 law schools in the world by QS World University Rankings.
The QS World University Rankings is an annual global publication that gives overall rankings and subject rankings for more than 1,500 universities worldwide.
Future careers
Studying Law builds your skills in communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving. These can give you a competitive edge in a wide range of jobs.
Depending on your study and experience, you might work as a:
- lawyer
- in-house legal counsel
- researcher
- journalist
- policy analyst or specialist adviser
- politician or regulator.
Postgraduate study in Law can also add a legal perspective to your existing qualifications and strengthen your career options.
To work as a lawyer, you will need to study the Bachelor of Laws (LLB).
More career information
Find out more about careers in law.
The government careers website, Tahatū, offers more information about jobs, salaries, and current opportunities.
Scholarships
You may be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies.
We have postgraduate and doctoral scholarships available, as well as specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas. If nothing fits right now, something may suit you later.
We encourage you to apply. It's a straightforward process, and it could make a real difference.
Scholarships for Law
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This Scholarship was established in 2025 to honour Professor Margaret Hyland who held the role of Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research at Victoria University of Wellington from 2018 to 2025.
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This scholarship is open to Law graduates from the Pacific Islands with a first class academic record, who plan to undertake, or are currently undertaking, a Master's degree with the Faculty of Law at Victoria University of Wellington, or a Postgraduate Diploma. Priority will be given to applicants living in the Pacific Islands but Pacific students resident in New Zealand...
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This scholarship is open to applicants intending to enrol in a Master of Laws (LLM) at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington and whose postgraduate research relates to public law, including areas such as constitutional law, human rights, the Treaty of Waitangi, government, comparative public law, Pacific law, and public international law.
Scholarships for international students
We are currently offering a NZ$10,000 VUW Postgraduate International Scholarship to all eligible international students enrolling in a Master’s degree or Postgraduate Diploma programme.
Your scholarship will be processed automatically when your programme application is accepted, and the amount will be deducted from your tuition fees.
Other scholarships
We also have postgraduate and doctoral scholarships available, as well as specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas. If nothing fits right now, something may suit you later.
We encourage you to apply. It's a straightforward process, and it could make a real difference.
Scholarships for Law
-
This scholarship is open to Law graduates from the Pacific Islands with a first class academic record, who plan to undertake, or are currently undertaking, a Master's degree with the Faculty of Law at Victoria University of Wellington, or a Postgraduate Diploma. Priority will be given to applicants living in the Pacific Islands but Pacific students resident in New Zealand...
-
This scholarship is open to applicants intending to enrol in a Master of Laws (LLM) at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington and whose postgraduate research relates to public law, including areas such as constitutional law, human rights, the Treaty of Waitangi, government, comparative public law, Pacific law, and public international law.
Join our postgraduate community
The Postgraduate Students’ Association provides a voice for you on campus and information on studying at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
Postgraduate Students’ Association
MAI ki Pōneke
MAI ki Pōneke are part of an international network of Māori and Indigenous postgraduate students. They provide advice, support, and information to Indigenous postgraduate students of all levels, as well as those thinking about enrolling.
Get help to manage your finances
We can help you:
- budget your money
- manage your student loan or allowance
- work out your accommodation payment schedule.
If you’re facing financial difficulties, we can help you apply for the Hardship Fund.
You may be eligible for government or community support, too.
Apply for a New Zealand study visa
You’ll need to apply for a study visa if you plan to study with us as an international student.
You should apply for your visa after you’ve received your Offer of Place, and before you come to New Zealand.