University of Sydney
Master of Administrative Law and Policy
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 12 months
- Course Type: Master's
Offers an interdisciplinary approach to governance, equipping students with the legal and policy expertise needed to navigate complex regulatory frameworks and public sector decision-making.
Course overview
The Master of Administrative Law and Policy offers the opportunity for public administrators specialising as lawyers or policy analysts to learn together within the disciplines of law, government and social policy.
This course is designed for those who work in the fields of law, economics, government, social work or another relevant discipline and who wish to upgrade their undergraduate qualification(s) for the purposes of career advancement or professional and academic interest.
CSP Subsidised Fees Available
This program has a limited quota of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). The indicative CSP price is calculated based on first year fees for EFT. The actual fee may vary if there are choices in electives or majors.
Key facts
3rd August, 2026
What you will study
To qualify for the award, students must complete 48 credit points comprising one of the following:
- 18 credit points for core units of study and 30 credit points for elective units of study, comprising a minimum of 36 credit points from the Sydney Law School for students without a law background.
- 12 credit points for core units of study and 36 credit points for elective units of study, comprising a minimum of 30 credit points from the Sydney Law School for students with a law background.
Students without a law degree from a common law jurisdiction must undertake Legal Reasoning and the Common Law System prior to, or concurrent with, enrolling in other law units.
- Administrative Law
- Legal Reasoning and the Common Law System
- The Politics of Policy Making
Entry Requirements
Admission to this degree requires one of the following:
- A bachelor's degree with a minimum credit average from the University of Sydney or an equivalent qualification.
- A bachelor's degree from the University of Sydney or an equivalent qualification and evidence of two years of relevant professional experience.
English Language Requirements
You may need to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study this course.
If English is your first language, you may be able to meet the requirements if you have:
- Citizenship or permanent long-term residency (minimum 10 years).
- Completed secondary or higher education (tertiary) studies recognised by the university in an approved English-speaking country.
If English is not your first language, you may be able to prove English proficiency with an approved English skills test taken within two years of commencing the course.
- IELTS score: a minimum result of 7.0 overall and a minimum result of 6.0 in each band.
- TOEFL - IBT score: a minimum result of 96 overall, including a minimum result of 17 in Reading, Listening and Speaking and 19 in Writing.
- Pearson Test of English: a minimum result of 68 overall and a minimum result of 54 in each band.
The university may also consider factors such as previous studies in English. Contact them for more information.
Recognition of Prior Learning
The related study may be credited towards your degree. This may also include relevant work experience for some postgraduate courses. Contact the university for more information.
Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
By completing the Master of Environmental Law, graduates will:
- Apply deep interdisciplinary knowledge of administrative law, adapting to changes in professional practice, policymaking and scholarship.
- Employ relevant research methodologies in administrative law and public policy making, undertaking substantive research-based projects.
- Exercise expert judgement in applying the law to governmental practice, governance in the public sector and its relationship to the private sector.
- Integrate cognitive, technical and creative skills to address and resolve complex legal challenges within administrative law contexts.
- Articulate objective or persuasive conclusions using outstanding written and oral communication methods appropriate to diverse audiences.
- Apply expertise in administrative law and policy autonomously and ethically.
Fees and CSP
Total indicative amount in 2026: Fee information is not yet available (Commonwealth Supported Place)
Total indicative amount in 2026: $40,700 (domestic full-fee paying place)
The indicative amounts to complete this course in 2026 are calculated based on the total credit points (48 credit points).
A student’s fee may vary depending on:
- The number of units studied per term.
- The choice of major or specialisation.
- Choice of units.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
You may also need to pay the student services and amenities fee.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
Commonwealth Supported Places
The Australian Government allocates a certain number of CSPs to the universities each year, which are then distributed to students based on merit.
If you're a Commonwealth Supported Student (CSS), you'll only need to pay a portion of your tuition fees. This is known as the student contribution amount – the balance once the government subsidy is applied. This means your costs are much lower.
Limited CSP spaces are offered to students enrolled in selected postgraduate courses.
Your student contribution amount is:
- Calculated per the unit you're enrolled in.
- Dependent on the study areas they relate to.
- Reviewed and adjusted each year.
HECS-HELP loans are available to CSP students to pay the student contribution amount.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee-paying domestic students.