LLM in Australia for Indian Students: Universities, Eligibility, Fees, Salary & Jobs 2026

Why Study LLM in Australia? 

Short for master of law in Australia, studying an LLM degree can help Indian students gain exposure to a wide range of legal systems, develop expertise in their chosen field, and get better networking opportunities. Besides this, studying LLM in Australia also offers:

1. Top-ranked institutions: Australia is home to some of the top law schools that frequently rank in the top 50 in the world. These provide innovative research and rigorous standards for academics.
2. Wide Range of Course Options: In Australia, there are around 90-100 LLM courses across more than 20 to 25 universities. This offers specialisations in areas like International Law, Human Rights, and Commercial Law and allows students to focus on specific fields that are beyond a general LLB/JD.
3. Better Career Prospects: After completing an LLM in Australia,students can work as a solicitor, in-house counsel, and corporate lawyer, all of whose average salaries can start from AUD 55,000 and go as high as AUD 100,000+.
4. Post Study Work Visa: Indian students can apply for the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) after completing their master of Laws in Australia.This allows them to get up to 18 months to 2 years of Australian work experience.
5. Common Law Foundation: Since the Australian legal system is based on the English common law, it is extremely easy for graduates to transfer their degree to other major common law jurisdictions like the UK, the USA, Canada, and India.

Eligibility Criteria and Requirements to Study LLM in Australia

As an international student who is planning to study in Australia, there are a few eligibility criteria and admission requirements that need to be fulfilled. These LLM requirements in Australia generally depend on the university you are planning to study in and whether you have any prior work experience or not.

Academic Requirements for Indian Students

For Indian students, the LLM requirements in Australia include:

1. Law Background (Law Pathway): Students need to have a Bachelor of Laws (LLB), Juris Doctor (JD), or equivalent professional law degree. Indian students with a 3-year or 5-year LLB are eligible to apply.

2. Non-law Background (Non-Law Pathway): Some Australian universities accept students with no prior law education. But they need to have a degree in a related or cognate discipline like social sciences, humanities, business, or political science. For this, students need to:

• Meet a minimum GPA requirement, usually around 5.0 on a 7-point scale.
• Complete a Graduate Certificate in Law as a bridging course before moving to LLM.

3. GPA Requirements: Most of the top LLM colleges in Australia require students to have a minimum Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of around 60–70% (5.0–5.5 GPA on a 7-point scale) in an undergraduate law degree.

Work Experience

While not always required, there are some top law colleges in Australia which prefer students to have relevant work experience. In most cases, work experience can be used to make up for a low academic grade or meet entry requirements for non-law students.

• Work Experience: Around 2 to 3 years of proven professional experience in a legal setting.
• Relevant roles: Solicitor, barrister, legal counsel, or judge’s associate.

English Proficiency for LLM in Australia

Indian students and non-native English speakers need to prove their English language proficiency to study law in Australia through proficiency tests like:

• IELTS (Academic): 5 to 7.0, with no individual band below 6.0 or 6.5
• TOEFL iBT: 79 to 94
• PTE Academic: 58 to 65

Documents Required

Lastly, to study LLM in Australia, you will need to submit the following documents during your university application process:

• Official Transcripts
• Personal Statement
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Letters of Recommendation (LOR)
• Proof of Funds

Popular Specialisations for Master of Law in Australia

When studying LLM in Australia, you can choose from plenty of Master of Laws specialization selections. In fact, over 20 of the top Australian law colleges provide full-time, part-time or online LLM courses which are increasingly focused on digital transformation, global commercial shifts, and environmental regulation as of 2026.

Note: You can use our course finder tool to find a suitable LLM course in Australia that matches your interests, specialisation, and preferred university.

Top Universities for LLM in Australia

Now that you have decided to study law in Australia, it is time to choose a top law college. For this, you can look at the Group of Eight, aka Go8, universities like the University of Melbourne and University of Queensland (UQ) that have been consistently topping the national and global law school rankings like QS World University Rankings 2026 and Times Higher Education 2026.

Here are the top LLM colleges in Australia, from which you can choose from:

Note: Use our university finder tool to discover the best Australian law schools for your LLM.

Admission Process for Master of Law in Australia

When it comes to the admission process for studying LLM in Australia for Indian students, they need to first meet the academic and English language eligibility requirements. After that, they need to gather all the required documents and then submit an online application, whose process includes the following steps:

1. Research and Select: Start by researching and choosing a specialisation and verifying the specific intake dates of your preferred university.
2. Submit Application: Go to the University’s official admission portal or via authorised education agents. (Note: Many of the top universities offer multiple intakes in Australia.)
3. Application Fees: Pay a mandatory non-refundable application fee, which will be around AUD $100 and $154.
4. Receive Offer: If you get selected, the university will send you either a conditional or unconditional offer letter.
5. Accept Offer & Apply for Student Visa: Lastly, formally accept the offer letter and pay the initial deposit to get Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). You can then apply for an Australian student visa with a CoE.

Intakes in Australia and When to Apply

There are two main intakes for the LLM course in Australia each year. These are February (Semester 1) and July (Semester 2). As an international student, it is best that you apply at least six months before the course start date so that you get enough time for visa approval, admission processing, and travel arrangements.

For the 2026 academic year, you can follow the LLM in Australia applications schedule below:

How Long Offers Take?

After submitting your complete application for Master of law, the universities usually take 4–8 weeks to process it and issue an offer letter. As for the offer letter, you can get either of the two types of offers. These are:

• Conditional Offer: This is issued if you need to submit final transcripts, English test results, or other documents.
• Unconditional Offer: This is issued once all requirements are met.

When to Apply for a Visa?

You can apply for the Australian Student Visa (Subclass 500) as soon as you get your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from the university to study law in Australia. However, you can keep the following things in mind:

1. February 2026 Intake:

• University Application Deadline: Typically, around January 31, 2026 (though earlier for some institutions).
• Visa Application: Should ideally be submitted by November or December 2025.

2. July 2026 Intake:

• University Application Deadline: Typically, around May 31, 2026.
• Visa Application: Should ideally be submitted by March or April 2026

Visa Requirement for Indian Students

As soon as you get your offer letter and CoE, you can apply for the Australian student visa, aka Subclass 500. This is the official visa that every student who is planning to pursue a full-time course registered on CRICOS (Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students) needs to get.

To study LLM in Australia, you need to meet the following requirements:

• Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE): You need to have a valid CoE from an Australian university which is registered in CRICOS.
• Financial Proof: You also need to show financial proof of AUD $29,710 to cover your living expenses for one year.
• English Language Requirement: While most of the Australian universities ask for an IELTS score of 6.5–7.0 for an LLM program. But for the student visa, the minimum required score by the government is 6.0.
• Genuine Student (GS) Requirement: From 2024, this replaced the old GTE rule. You must answer questions in your visa application to show your main purpose is studying in Australia.
• Health Insurance: Lastly, you also need to have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for your entire stay in Australia.

Note: The visa processing time for Indian students is usually around 4–12 weeks. But this majorly depends on multiple factors, like application completeness and documentation.

Cost of Studying Master in Law in Australia for Indian Students

Below is a breakdown of the total cost of studying an LLM in Australia for Indian students. Take a look:

Scholarships to Study LLM in Australia

Many private organisations and universities provide scholarships to international students to make LLM in Australia fees more accessible. Below is a list of a few:

Career Opportunities after Master of Law in Australia

Besides high-quality education, Australia also provides great post-study opportunities. In fact, as per recent data, there has been 11.7% projected employment growth by 2030 for solicitors in Australia. Moreover, an LLM degree from Australia is recognised globally, which helps graduates in finding work internationally as well.

After completing an LLM in Australia, you can go for the following career paths:

Can International Students Work as Lawyers in Australia?

After finishing an LLM in Australia, Indian students can get a Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) to work in Australia for up to 18 months.

1. Eligibility to Practice Law: Note that completing your master of law in Australia does not automatically make you eligible to practice as a solicitor or barrister in Australia. And to work as a registered lawyer, you will need to complete the Practical Legal Training (PLT) program and be admitted to the Supreme Court of an Australian state or territory.
2. Work Options on Subclass 485 Visa: With the visa, you can work in legal firms, corporate legal departments, NGOs, government agencies, or consultancy roles. You can also gain experience in related fields such as compliance, contracts, dispute resolution, and policy advisory.

Conclusion

Summing up, for Indian students, studying an LLM in Australia in 2026 can provide them with top-quality education, good career and salary opportunities, and a legal system similar to what they studied at home. With high-quality education, top universities, and great post-work opportunities, Australia has a lot to offer. If you need any assistance with the application process, Visa protocols, English proficiency test, or more, you can connect with our study abroad consultants. They will give you personalised guidance to make your dream of education abroad a reality.

FAQs:

1. Is an LLM in Australia Worth It for Indian Students?

Doing an LLM in Australia is worthwhile for Indian students because Australia is home to some of the top universities in the world. It also offers high-quality education, a diverse range of specialisation options, post-study work opportunities, and exposure to international and common law systems, which can help in enhancing global career prospects.

2. Can Indian Law Graduates Practice Law in Australia After LLM?

Yes, Indian law graduates can practice in Australia after doing an LLM, but the process is difficult. You need to get your Indian LLB and LLM assessed by the state legal authority. You may have to study some extra subjects, complete Practical Legal Training (PLT), and work under supervision for 18–24 months. After that, you can apply for admission and get a practising certificate to work as a lawyer in Australia.

3. LLM vs JD in Australia – Which Is Better?

The right choice depends on your background. A JD is for people who want to become lawyers in Australia but do not have a law degree yet. An LLM is for people who already have a law degree and want to gain specialised knowledge. International lawyers usually do not need a full JD and may only need to study a few required subjects, sometimes through a conversion LLM.

4. Can I Pursue an LLM in Australia Without Work Experience?

Pursuing an LLM in Australia without work experience is possible, as many universities don’t require work experience for admission. Usually, a recognised undergraduate law degree is enough. However, there are some LLM programs that are focused on corporate law or dispute resolution, which might require students to have relevant work experience.

5. Do I need an IELTS Score to study an LLM in Australia?

In many cases, international students need to submit a valid IELTS score to study an LLM in Australia. However, it is not a mandatory requirement. If you are a non-native English speaker, then you can prove your English language proficiency through other proficiency tests like PTE Academic and TOEFL.