The Melbourne Model

[sxcalexc]

Hi, I'm aiming to complete my VCE in 08. I thought it would be a good time to start deciphering my course options while the pressure of school is off. At the moment I seem to be interested in a career in law. I figured that 99 for Monash (a university in a close vicinity to myself) would be very hard to achieve and I need to have some solid backup preferences. How does the undergraduate system at Melbourne uni work? Are there any ideal undergraduate courses for an aspiring Law graduate? Also, how hard is it to get into law from an undergraduate course? Sorry for my lack of knowledge and any help is greatly appreciated.

Also if this transition from undergraduate to post-graduate is so seamless, wouldn't this be a much easier way to get into law?

[ninwa]

How does the undergraduate system at Melbourne uni work?

They've followed the US system with their new melbourne model. There are only 6 undergraduate degrees: arts, music, commerce, science, environments (dunno what that is exactly) and biomedicine. You must do one of them and when you graduate, in your case, you'd apply for their graduate law degree.

I'm not sure about "ideal" undergrad courses for law - I would say arts or commerce are possibly the most relevant.
 
Sorry I dunno exactly how hard it is to get into law, but it would be very competitive, you'd have to have pretty brilliant results in your undergrad degree ....


EDIT: this should help you: http://www.futurestudents.unimelb.edu.au/courses/melbmodel/

[sxcalexc]

Thankyou for the prompt response ninwa I'm thinking I might aim for science if I choose this path as I think it will appeal to me most (more interesting subjects tbh).

[costargh]

The undergraduate system at Melbourne works such that students undertake a "general" degree. Once the Melbourne Model is fully implemented there will be 6 degrees to choose from.
Arts
Science
Commerce
Biomedicine
Environments
Music

There are still some other undergrad courses available because the Melbourne Model isnt fully implemented yet but once it is fully implemented there will only be 6 undergraduate courses to choose from.
Courses such as Law will be moved to postgraduate studies.
If you wish to study an undergraduate degree at Melbourne and then apply to study the Juris Doctor then you will need at least 6 years of study (3 years for undergrad degree and 3 for Juris Doctor).

As for an ideal undergraduate course to lead up to the Juris Doctor, I guess Commerce or Arts would probably be the most common once the system is underway.
Something like 50% of Juris Doctor positions will be CSP so you risk studying 3 years of an undergrad degree and
1. Not being accepted into the Juris Doctor
2. Being accepted on a full-fee place

For this reason a large amount of potential law students have chosen to study at Monash because the Law degree at Monash has been retained at undergraduate level while the Melbourne law degree has been moved to a post graduate level.

To be considred for a position in the Juris Doctor you must also sit the LSAT test.
http://coursesearch.unimelb.edu.au/coursedetail.aspx?cid=884&er=1&ctype=1


Ultimately I guess there are no guarentees but if you are really determined then you have a chance of studying the Juris Doctor if you persevere.
Alternatively you can go to another institution where the ENTER isn't so high, and you will be able to study law at an undergraduate level (also less time frame required to complete the course and be qualified to practise as a lawyer).

Hope that helps

[Eriny]

I read that the Melbourne JD will have something like 100 places, which isn't very many. Half of them will be full fee too. It's definitely an option if you think you'll do well in your undergraduate degree. But, there are other options too. Monash has a JD program, and I'm pretty sure other unis do as well. For undergrad courses, Law at LaTrobe requires a mid-high 90s ENTER, and it is a little lower at Deakin. It's even less if you go further out.

[sxcalexc]

Hmm I see.. 100 places isn't many :< Looks like I'll have to consider this carefully. Either way I'll have to work my ass off this year lol

[costargh]

If it helps

Deakin in Burwood (I think its Burwood lol) has a Cleary-In ENTER requirement of around 93.75
La Trobe in Bundoora has a Clearly-In ENTER requirement of about 97
Victoria Uni in the City has a Clearly-In ENTER requirement of 86.75 or something like that.

You never know what you might want to do in a years time. Maybe you'll want to do Science or maybe you'll want to do Commerce. It's good to have goals but remember not to block out any other possible course opportunities.
I used to want to study Law but now I'd prefer to study Commerce.
So whatever you get just remember to choose something that interests you.
=)

[sxcalexc]

If it helps

Deakin in Burwood (I think its Burwood lol) has a Cleary-In ENTER requirement of around 93.75
La Trobe in Bundoora has a Clearly-In ENTER requirement of about 97
Victoria Uni in the City has a Clearly-In ENTER requirement of 86.75 or something like that.

You never know what you might want to do in a years time. Maybe you'll want to do Science or maybe you'll want to do Commerce. It's good to have goals but remember not to block out any other possible course opportunities.
I used to want to study Law but now I'd prefer to study Commerce.
So whatever you get just remember to choose something that interests you.
=)

Thx for the advice, yes, i have time to consider my options. My interests are broad, so I'll have to sort that one out myself.
Hats off to all for the advice. I have one last question (sorry) If i complete an undergraduate course at Melbourne will I then be able to enter a postgraduate course elsewhere? And will it be any easier?

[Eriny]

They say that they treat results from any group of 8 uni to be equivilant to their own grading system. I.e. HD's at Monash=H1's a Melbourne for admission purposes. But the only 2 group of 8 unis in Vic are Melbourne and Monash... I'm not sure how they treat grades from Deakin or LaTrobe or something, you'd probably need to get a better than average LSAT score.

[costargh]

Thx for the advice, yes, i have time to consider my options. My interests are broad, so I'll have to sort that one out myself.
Hats off to all for the advice. I have one last question (sorry) If i complete an undergraduate course at Melbourne will I then be able to enter a postgraduate course elsewhere? And will it be any easier?

Yep. Completing an undergrad course @ Melbourne would allow you to study elsewhere and complete a postgrad course. But from the looks of things it looks like the Melbourne Model is heavily promoting the idea of completing an undergrad degree @ Melbourne and continuing on and choosing from a variety of postgrad degrees also @ Melbourne.
What postgrad degree did you have in mind at a different institute?
I'm not sure if it would be any easier =S

[sxcalexc]

I don't know, I just threw it out there .

[nak]

If i were to do Science at melb this year instead of Bachelor of Engineering, how many places is available for masters of engineering after the completion of science and would it be very competitive still even though there is still the option of Bachelor of Engineering still available (which i am currently in).

[costargh]

Why would you want to do a Bachelor of Science and then postgrad Engineering? Someone else said something about that in another thread. I don't understand what the pros are of doing that if your planning on a career in engineering.

[ninwa]

Exactly - you're not guaranteed a place in the Masters of Engineering unless you got 99.90+ for your ENTER. Why take that risk when you can just go straight into engineering??

[nak]

lucky me then cos im in BE instead of BSc i guess i made the right decisions

But i don't think they look at your ENTER for masters but more about your academic results in uni.