Study for your Bachelor of Laws (LLB) at Waikato

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Te Piringa Faculty of Law is dedicated to providing its students with the highest quality, student-focused practical legal education.

We welcome applications from students around the world and all our degree programmes are internationally recognised.

Our strengths lie in international law, indigenous legal issues, environmental law, alternative dispute resolution, intellectual property, law and information technology, human rights, laws of armed conflict, and law and public policy. We have a strong focus on social justice.

Read more about Practicing Law in NZ

Te Piringa - Faculty of Law also offers a Master of Laws degree (LLM). For more information visit here

Why study for an LLB degree in New Zealand?

The LLB will provide a solid foundation for your legal studies and give you a fresh perspective on the law and international legal systems in an increasingly globalised world. Studying in an English-speaking country with a vibrant common law tradition such as New Zealand will enable you to enhance your academic and professional background and open doors anywhere in the world.

Why Waikato?

Choose Waikato to study for an internationally recognised qualification at a world-class law school in a friendly environment close to some of the most stunning scenery in the world.

The University of Waikato Law Faculty (known as Te Piringa - Faculty of Law) is committed to providing students with a challenging and enriching educational experience, in a supportive learning environment.

Our faculty members come from a wide range of nations and cultural backgrounds, creating a truly multicultural environment. Alongside leading scholars from New Zealand, Faculty staff come from Canada, China, Fiji, South Africa, Colombia, Iran, Ireland, the UK and the USA. They regularly advise governments and international organisations on a range of legal issues. Staff are actively engaged in trend-setting research which is published in internationally peer-reviewed publications.

The Faculty also has two research centres: Centre for Environmental Resources and Energy Law (CEREL) and the Maori and Indigenous Governance Centre (MIGC).

We have teaching (exchange programmes, study abroad, double degrees, etc.) and research links with institutions all over the world including in Europe, US and China. These links and our regular programme of international guest lecturers enrich the learning experience at Te Piringa - Faculty of Law.

What is Te Piringa

In the Māori language, Te Piringa means "coming together".

Te Piringa - Faculty of Law has a long-standing and successful relationship with Māori - the indigenous people of New Zealand - and is committed to encouraging the development of a truly indigenous New Zealand jurisprudence.

The Faculty was founded in 1990 on the principles of professionalism, biculturalism and the study of law in the context of social and economic change. We offer a legal education that is relevant for today.

The Waikato LLB

The Bachelor of Laws (LLB) at Te Piringa - Faculty of Law is a four year degree programme, which may be reduced to a three year degree for students who have a degree or prior tertiary study.

As one of New Zealand's most modern  law faculties, an explicit commitment has been made to professionalism and the study of law in its national and international social, political and economic contexts. The development of our students' practical skills in mooting, negotiation, client interviewing and alternative dispute resolution is a key feature of the Waikato Bachelor of Laws programme. We provide excellent academic support and on-going tutoring for international students and recent permanent residents. Students come from many nations to study law at Te Piringa and are readily welcomed into the Law Faculty whānau (family).

The LLB at Waikato offers flexible learning opportunities including full-time and part-time study options. The range of programme options includes:

Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
Bachelor of Laws with Honours (LLB(Hons))

Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws (BA/LLB) with a Single Major
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws (BA/LLB) with a Double Major
Bachelor of Social Sciences/Bachelor of Laws (BSocSc/LLB) with a Single Major
Bachelor of Social Sciences/Bachelor of Laws (BSocSc/LLB) with a Double Major
Bachelor of Science and Technology/Bachelor of Laws (BSc/LLB)
Bachelor of Management Studies/Bachelor of Laws (BMS/LLB)

You can specialise by selecting from a broad range of optional papers.

Explore all our undergraduate papers here.

For more information on our undergraduate programs and papers, see our study options page.

Entry Criteria

The University of Waikato has a direct admission to its LLB programme, which means we select our prospective students by making an offer of a place. Once selected, it is up to you to achieve passing grades of C or above to progress towards the completion of your LLB degree. This means your place in future years is guaranteed, so long as you continue to meet our standards. This is different from many law schools that admit a large number of students in Year 1 with only a small proportion (sometimes as small as 20%) invited to continue studying in Year 2 and subsequent years

We believe our entry policy allows our students to work as colleagues, to share their knowledge and skills throughout their study years, to seek to succeed personally while also helping others to achieve success. This helps to create a very different culture amongst our law students and develops professional support networks for our graduates.

Applying online is the quickest way to provide us with all the information our admissions’ staff need to consider your application.

Alongside the online application form, you would need to provide:

• Academic transcript of your school study results.
  If your transcripts are not in English, you will need to provide a scan of translated and notarized copy of the transcripts. If you are offered a place, you will be required to bring the original documents with you. If you are still at school, you should provide a translated transcript of your progress to date and indicate when you expect to know the results of your current studies. This will allow our admissions’ staff to make an initial assessment of your application.
• Personal statement.
  We would like to learn a little more about you. Your personal statement should tell us about any previous study you have done and/or employment both paid and unpaid, why you want to study law, your interests and hobbies and any other information you think is relevant to your application.
• English language proficiency.
  If English is not your first language, you are required to provide satisfactory evidence of English language proficiency. This generally is in the form of an IELTS (academic) or TOEFL examination score. The following minimum scores are considered to be evidence of such competence:
  • an IELTS Overall score of 6.5 (with at least 6.0 in the Writing band), or
  • a TOEFL score of 600 (with at least 5 on the Test of Written English), or
  • an IBT (Internet Based TOEFL) score of 100 with a Writing score of 22, or
  • a B grade or better at Level 8 in the Certificate of Attainment in English Language.

All other evidence provided by applicants is considered on a case by case basis. However, in individual circumstances, we might accept other means of proof as proficiency of English, which may include completion of tertiary degrees in English. Alternatively, you may choose to take English courses provided at University of Waikato College before enrolling in the LLB Programme.

Tuition Fees

Find more detailed information on tuition fees here.

In addition to your tuition fees and airfare you will need access to additional funds to cover  your living costs; the amount will depend on your spending habits and choice of accommodation.  You will have to make further provisions if you would like to travel while you study in New Zealand.  In general, you will find the cost of living in Hamilton is a lot less expensive than in other major New Zealand cities.

Scholarships

There are scholarships available to International Students. Find more detailed information on scholarships here.

Immigration

Full details of immigration requirements, advice on rights to employment in New Zealand while studying and reporting requirements are all available from Immigration New Zealand.

Location

The University of Waikato is located in Hamilton, New Zealand's fourth largest city, with a population of over 130,000 people. Several world-class surf and swimming beaches are located within an hours drive of Hamilton, and the greater Waikato region plays host to many outdoor activities, such as skiing, rowing, bush walks, hiking and mountain-biking tracks, etc. The Waikato University campus sits on 65 hectares, with thousands of mature trees, three small lakes and huge sports fields.

Find more information about Why study at Waikato.

Housing

There are several on- and off-campus housing options available to you and University accommodation staff can also help you to find rental accommodation close to campus. Find more information about Accommodation.