Graduate Diploma in Law
Course details
| NZQF Level | 7 |
|---|
About the course
Explore topical legal issues, refresh your existing legal knowledge, or gain the academic foundation to use your overseas legal knowledge here in New Zealand.
1 December is the limited-entry deadline for students starting this qualification in Trimester 1 of the following year. If places remain available, we’ll consider late applications—so applying on time gives you the best chance of securing your place.
Meet your specific study needs
The GDipLaw is a flexible 120-point qualification that you can adapt to meet your own study goals. It is an excellent choice for tertiary graduates from related disciplines, for legal professionals, or for international lawyers who are seeking a New Zealand qualification for legal accreditation.
Non-law graduates
If you don’t have a background in law but need some legal knowledge for your work, the GDipLaw gives you the flexibility to focus on specific legal areas and build a framework for understanding legal processes.
New Zealand lawyers
If you’re a practising legal professional in New Zealand, the GDipLaw gives you the opportunity to explore specialised subjects or refresh your existing knowledge in a field.
Overseas lawyers
If you’re a qualified legal practitioner from overseas who wants to practise law in New Zealand, the GDipLaw can help you to meet the accreditation requirements of the New Zealand Council of Legal Education (NZCLE).
If this is your goal, you need to provide an NZCLE assessment when you enrol for the GDipLaw. Our Student Success team can help you with individual enrolment advice. For more information on the NZCLE requirements and how you can get your overseas qualification assessed, see the NZCLE website.
Limited entry for 200- and 300-level courses
Almost all Law courses have limited entry—that is, they have a limit on the number of students they can accept. You need to apply by 1 December for all 200- and 300-level Law courses you wish to study in Trimester 1 or Trimester 2.
Late enrolments
We may still accept your course enrolments after the application deadline. But capacity is limited and preference will be given to people who have applied on time. In your course enrolment application, you can provide alternatives to your first-choice courses.
If you have applied for this programme after 1 December and would like to know more about our course enrolment processes, get in touch with our Student Success team.
Focus on an area of interest
Within the 120-point GDipLaw, you can take almost any of our 200- to 500-level LAWS courses—the only exceptions are the thesis course (LAWS 591) and the dissertation course (LAWS 592). At least 75 points must be at 300-level or above.
Choose from courses covering a wide range of contemporary topics in New Zealand law. Here is a sample of some of the courses you could take:
- LAWS 213—Public Law (30 points)
- LAWS 214—Criminal Law (30 points)
- LAWS 301—Property Law (30 points)
- LAWS 307—Sentencing and Penal Policy (15 points)
- LAWS 312—Equity, Trusts and Succession (15 points)
- LAWS 313—Ngā Tikanga Ture Māori / Māori Law (15 points)
- LAWS 318—Resource Management Law (15 points)
- LAWS 342—International Environmental Law (15 points)
- LAWS 353—Intellectual Property (15 points)
- LAWS 385—Data Privacy (15 points)
- LAWS 438—Fraud and Corruption in an International Context (10 points)
- LAWS 528—Contemporary Issues in Public International Law: Human Rights, Climate Change (40 points)
- LAWS 530—New Zealand and Australian Copyright and Designs Law (20 points)
- LAWS 532—Law and Technology (20 points)
- LAWS 535—Restorative Justice (20 points)
- LAWS 536—Trade Marks and Unfair Competition (20 points)
- LAWS 537—Patent Law (20 points)
- LAWS 547—Financial Markets Regulation (20 points).
Why Wellington
Our Faculty of Law sits in the heart of the capital city, surrounded by the courts, Parliament, and government agencies. If you’re interested in law and policy, Wellington is the ideal place to engage with topical issues, gain expertise in a specific field, or upskill to enhance your employment prospects.
Workload and duration
Depending on your choice of courses, you can complete the GDipLaw in two consecutive trimesters of full-time study. Expect a workload of 40 to 45 hours a week if you’re studying full time.
Domestic part-time students taking two courses per trimester will need to do around 20 to 23 hours of work a week. If you’re studying part time, you’ll need to complete the GDipLaw within three years.
You can estimate your workload by adding up the number of [points] you’ll be doing. One point is roughly equal to 10 to 12 hours of work.
Support for students
Victoria University of Wellington is a welcoming place with great student support. There are all sorts of resources and support available to help you make the best of your time at university.
All students can join VUWSA—your student representative organisation on campus. VUWSA assigns a postgraduate executive to help meet the needs of postgraduate students.
Scholarships
While there are no specific scholarships for GDipLaw students, you may qualify for one of many general scholarships the University offers.
Search our scholarships based on your level of study, subject area, and background.
Entry requirements
Domestic entry requirements
Bachelor’s degree.
English language requirements
You may also be required to demonstrate your proficiency in English.
About the provider
Victoria University of Wellington, full name Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, was founded in 1897 and is one of New Zealand’s largest and most prestigious universities. The University is located in the heart of New Zealand’s vibrant capital city and its three city campuses are all within easy walking distance of one another, as well as local attractions, shopping districts, and cafés.
The University’s central location gives students access to a
variety of national organisations in the areas of business, government,
politics, culture and heritage, the arts and filmmaking industry, as well as
the science and technology communities. Wellington is a compact city where
students can easily explore nature trails, beaches, galleries, museums, and
events. It is multicultural, safe, friendly, and has a reputation for great
food and coffee—it regularly ranks as one of the world’s most liveable cities.
Victoria University of Wellington at a glance
- Top 1% of the world's universities for research quality and teaching
- 170+ subjects
- 20 undergraduate programmes and 180 postgraduate programmes
- 40+ research institutes and 4 libraries
- 3,000 of our 17,000 students are international students, from 120+ countries
- 130+ clubs and societies
- 5+ stars from the latest QS Stars Rating of Excellence
- #1 in New Zealand for research intensity (in the latest assessment of the Performance-Based Research Fund)
- Wellington School of Business and Government is one of an elite group of commerce faculties worldwide that hold the Triple Crown of international accreditations of EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA
- Top 2% of the world’s universities (QS World University Rankings 2026)
- Top 100 in the world in 7 subjects (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025)
Graduate outcomes*
- Of the graduates who responded that they are currently working full time, 91% were employed prior to or within 6 months of degree completion.
- 67% were in full-time employment.
*Based on those who completed the 2023–2024 Graduate Destinations Survey.
Entry requirements
To study at Victoria University of Wellington, international students need:
- a good command of the English language
- a good record of academic achievement.
Entry requirements are provided under each programme. The University considers each student’s academic and English-language background when assessing applications. If a student doesn’t meet entry requirements, our team can help them meet their study goals.
If a student doesn’t meet the entry requirements for:
- English language - Students can apply for our English for Academic Purposes programme
- Undergraduate study - Students can apply for our Foundation Studies programme
- Postgraduate study - Students can talk to us to help build a pathway to their degree
The University offers complete support for students through a range of wellbeing and learning services. These include a specialised international team that is dedicated to supporting students during their studies, which helps international students meet new friends and settle into university and Wellington life.
Some of the support services include:
- dedicated international student orientation and events
- a free arrival meeting service at the airport
- the International Buddy Programme, where you get paired with a ‘buddy’ from the get-go
Students can make the most of the many opportunities to get
involved in different communities, embrace new experiences, and develop skills
for their future careers. The university encourages all students to develop
strong global citizenship skills through their studies and extracurricular
programmes such as the Kitea
Impact Programme, which is also free to join.