How to get into the University of Sydney’s Law School

Written by Icon | May 12, 2025 8:59:39 AM

Excerpt

The university application process can be complex and overwhelming, especially for international students seeking admission to competitive programs like Law at top-tier institutions such as the University of Sydney. At Icon Education, our team is committed to assisting students throughout the university application process.

What does the Sydney Law School look for?

Undergraduate route

The University of Sydney offers the Bachelor of Laws (LLB), a professional law degree. It has multiple degree options such as the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Laws.

Applicants seeking admission into the LLB programme are highly competitive, and typically present academic profiles of the following:

Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR)	Minimally 95.50 points total.
International Baccalaureate	Minimally 38 points total.
Singapore GCE A-Levels	Minimally 370 points total, with the aggregate score taken from the sum of all H2 subjects taken in the same year, with at most 1 subject taken from the previous or next academic year. If more than 3 H2 subjects are taken, only the best 3 will be considered. Applicants must have at least 3 H2 subjects. The aggregate can be increased to a maximum of 4 H2 subjects or its equivalent, with 1 contest-based subject and GP at H1/ Knowledge and Inquiry at H2, with H3 subjects ranked the same as H2 subjects. Project Work and Mother Tongue are not considered. The point system is as follows: A=120, B=100, C=80, D=60, E=40, and half the value for H1 subjects.
Scholastic Admissions Test (SAT) with completed high school transcript	Minimally 1360 points total.

For applicants hailing from a non-English speaking background, they need to provide English proficiency test scores:

IELTS	Overall score of minimally 7.5, with no individual band score falling below 7.0.
TOEFL iBT	Overall score of minimally 105, with scores that do not fall below 23 in the Reading, Listening and Speaking components, and 25 in the Writing component.
Pearson Test of English (Academic)	Overall score of minimally 76, with scores that do not fall below 68 for each band.

Undergraduate route

For graduate applicants, you can opt for the Juris Doctor (JD) and Master of Laws (LLM) degree programmes, alongside other specialist masters options. The JD is open for graduates from non-law degrees or those holding international law degrees, while the LLM is specifically designed for applicants holding an undergraduate law degree or a JD.

Admission into the JD programme is based on an assessment of completed tertiary study results. Applicants are ranked by merit in comparison to the applying cohort, and offers are issued based on this ranking. There are no published cut-off scores.

Admission into the LLM programme requires applicants to be LLB or JD holders from the University of Sydney scoring a credit average of 65%, or an international equivalent.

If your first language is not English, you must submit scores from an English language proficiency exam, which look like the following:

IELTS

JD: Overall score of minimally 7.5, with no individual band score falling below 7.0.

LLM: Overall score of minimally 7.0, with no individual band score falling below 6.0.

TOEFL iBT

JD: Overall score of minimally 105, with scores that do not fall below 23 in the Reading, Listening and Speaking components, and 25 in the Writing component.

LLM: Overall score of minimally 96, with scores that do not fall below 17 in the Reading, Listening and Speaking components, and 19 in the Writing component.

Pearson Test of English (Academic)

JD: Overall score of minimally 76, with scores that do not fall below 68 for each band.

LLM: Overall score of minimally 68, with scores that do not fall below 54 for each band.

Tips to enhance your application

Applicants need to distinguish themselves to improve their chances of admission in these popular programmes. Below are some tips to consider for your application:

Admission to law school is highly competitive, with the University of Sydney placing a particularly strong emphasis on your previous academic performance. While exceptional grades are essential, having done coursework in relevant fields such as politics or social sciences can further strengthen your application and demonstrate your grasp on skills valued in law, showcasing your preparedness to undertake legal studies.
A career in law requires lifelong dedication. To understand your alignment with the field and determine if it is the right path for you, find opportunities to participate in advocacy, activism, or legal research related to social justice, environmental concerns, or human rights. These experiences will also demonstrate your commitment to making a positive impact through the legal profession.
Follow the application requirements closely, and ensure that you provide all requested documentation and materials before the deadline.

We hope these tips help you with structuring your Law application. For more personalised guidance and support, do feel free to reach out to our team at Icon Education. We wish you the best of luck!

Additional resources

https://www.icon-plus.com/articles/panel-with-four-lawyers

https://www.icon-plus.com/articles/discovering-your-passions-a-guide-to-building-your-ideal-future/

https://www.icon-plus.com/articles/grad-school-guide

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