Melbourne JD requirements (CSP and Full Fee)

[Habibti]

Does anyone know the approximate WAM and LSAT score needed for both CSP and full fee places in any particular year for Melbourne JD? Also ive heard the full fee requirement is lower than CSP but is it a dramatic difference or is it just slightly lower (Any approximation would be nice)?

Thanks in advance

[kbanks]

Does anyone know the approximate WAM and LSAT score needed for both CSP and full fee places in any particular year for Melbourne JD? Also ive heard the full fee requirement is lower than CSP but is it a dramatic difference or is it just slightly lower (Any approximation would be nice)?

Thanks in advance

Hey

The WAM and LSAT requirements for the Melbourne JD obviously differ year to year based on the cohort that you are up against.
According to Melbourne, approximately they are looking for a 150-155 LSAT score, and a WAM of the H2B/H2A level, based on the research that I did when I was applying for the JD.

However, a CSP for the JD is not as easy to attain as a CSP is for an undergrad course. There are approximately 300 places given to the JD every year, 100 of which will be CSP, 100 of which will be full fee-paying with a bursary, and 100 full fee-paying.

HOWEVER. Do NOT stress if you don't gain a CSP place, as you can still put the majority of your fees on what is referred to as FEE-HELP, which is a government initiative that works the same way as HEX (you pay it back through your tax). The only difference is, FEE-HELP is capped at $100,000. This means that full fee-paying places (the last 100 they offer) will be out of pocket approximately $16,000, as the JD costs about $116,000 full fee-paying. However, the middle 100 places that they offer, just below the CSP, are what is called 'bursary places' where you gain a scholarship to cover the difference ($16,000) that is spread across the three years, so you're not out of pocket and the entire course is covered by FEE-HELP.

I hope this helps to alleviate your stress a little bit, not getting a CSP for the JD is not the end of the world.
I can't tell you what to expect based on your scores, but for a bit of an indication, I graduated my undergrad with a WAM of 74 and an LSAT of 165, and I'm in the JD with a bursary place (middle 100 spots offered).

But obviously, this changes based on the cohort! And the difference between full fee-paying and CSP places are not dramatically different, which is both good and bad (good if you get in, bad if you just miss out).

Any more questions about the JD, feel free to ask - I did a lot of research to make sure I could fund it before I accepted my place

(P.S. Best decision I ever made, the JD at Melbourne is so tough but so fantastic).

Best,
Karly.