Graduate Diploma in Global Competition and Consumer Law

The Graduate Diploma in Global Competition and Consumer Law is a highly innovative and advanced international course that responds to the proliferation of competition and consumer policies and laws, and their increasingly active enforcement, around the world. Competition and consumer policy and law are a crucial means of driving economic growth, higher living standards and productivity at national and global levels.

This course provides interdisciplinary knowledge and skills through subjects that grapple with the legal, regulatory, economic, political, institutional and ethical facets of competition and consumer policy, law and enforcement. The course focuses substantively on the policies, laws and enforcement experiences of the major jurisdictions in this field, the United States and European Union, but also draws on other jurisdictions - from the Asia Pacific region particularly. Subjects are taught by leading experts, each bringing outstanding pedagogical skills, substantive knowledge and practical skill and experience to instruction in the course.

Using sophisticated interactive technology, facilitating close rich engagement with world-renown experts and a diverse network of peers, the course provides students with advanced specialised expertise and skills to tackle the complex challenges raised by the design and application of competition systems. It is designed for professionals in the private and public sectors who are aspiring to build or advance a career in this field.

The Graduate Diploma in Global Competition and Consumer Law requires completion of four subjects (50 credit points in total). Students who complete the Graduate Diploma have the option of transferring to the LLM (Global Competition and Consumer Law), for law graduates, or Master of Global Competition and Consumer Law, for non-law graduates, which will involve completion of a further four subjects (50 points). Credit will be given towards these masters degrees for the four subjects completed in the Graduate Diploma.

As most students in this course will be full-time professionals, enrolment is being offered on a part-time basis only initially, requiring students to complete one subject per eight week term, over an academic year of four terms. The course will typically be completed therefore in one year.

All subjects are undertaken online providing students with flexibility in where and when they study, while at the same time offering regular opportunities for interaction with their peers and teachers, including in real-time virtual classroom settings.

Students enrolled in the on-campus Graduate Diploma in Competition and Consumer Law in the Melbourne Law Masters program are able to enrol in up to wo subjects in the online program for credit towards their online diploma.

Graduates of the Graduate Diploma in Global Competition and Consumer Law will:

• Have advanced knowledge within a systematic and coherent body of knowledge relating to the global field of competition and consumer law, including the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills in relation to:
  • The economic theories, policies and principles that underpin and influence the policy and law in this field;
  • The legal rules that govern market structures and conduct in major jurisdictions around the world;
  • The design, operation and assessment of institutions that administer competition and/or consumer policy and law
  • Challenges that arise in the enforcement of competition and consumer law from the perspectives of businesses, practitioners, governments and enforcement agencies; and
  • Contemporary international debates on the reform of competition and consumer policy and law;
• Have cognitive, technical and communication skills that enable them to:
  • Analyse critically, evaluate and convey information;
  • Generate ideas and solutions to complex problems from both theoretical and practical perspectives; and
  • Communicate complex knowledge and ideas to a variety of audiences in the global field of competition and consumer law;
• Apply their knowledge and skills to make high level, independent judgments and carry out a range of technically specialised functions at an advanced level in the global field of competition and consumer law, demonstrating autonomy, well-developed judgement, adaptability and responsibility as a practitioner or learner in this field.

Students must complete one core subject and three elective subjects.

Students must complete the subject LAWS90065 Foundations: Competition Law & Economics first, as a prerequisite to all other subjects.

Core subjects

Elective subjects

In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:

• A degree in a relevant discipline; and one year of documented relevant professional experience.

Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection.

In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:

• prior academic performance, and

• the professional experience

The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instruments.

Applicants are required to satisfy the university's English language requirements for graduate courses.

The Melbourne Law Masters welcomes applications from students with disabilities. The inherent academic requirements for study in the Melbourne Law Masters are:

• The ability to use a computer, including read material on screen, to a competent standard;
• The ability to read, analyse and comprehend complex written legal materials and complex interdisciplinary materials;
• The ability to clearly and independently communicate in writing a knowledge and application of legal principles and interdisciplinary materials and to critically evaluate these;
• The ability to clearly and independently communicate orally a knowledge and application of legal principles and interdisciplinary materials and critically evaluate these;
• The ability to work independently and as a part of a group;
• The ability to present orally and in writing legal analysis to a professional standard.

Students who feel their disability will inhibit them from meeting these inherent academic requirements are encouraged to contact Student Equity and Disability Support.

Completion of this course enables a student to proceed to the LLM (Global Competition and Consumer Law) or the Master of Global Competition and Consumer Law.

Students who complete this course will embody graduate attributes of the University of Melbourne.

In particular, graduates of the Graduate Diploma in Global Competition and Consumer Law will have in-depth knowledge of core areas of competition and consumer policy, law and enforcement. They will be critical thinkers with strong reasoning and analytical skills and an advanced capacity to apply their knowledge in a way that addresses major economic and social problems. They will have a strong sense of intellectual integrity, a high standard of professionalism and sophisticated advocacy and communication skills.

Graduates of this course will be engaged with contemporary issues facing their local, national, regional communities - specifically issues associated with designing, implementing and applying economic policies and laws with a market focus and in such a way that is sensitively attuned to the impacts on and perspectives of a wide range of stakeholders from government, industry and the public at large. They will have the potential to be leaders in their field and will actively seek out opportunities to use their expertise in making positive contributions to their profession and their communities.

These graduates will be motivated, self-directed and organised. The opportunities and challenges presented through online learning will ensure that they are able to set goals, manage time and priorities and work effectively, both independently and as a member of a group.

Students who complete this course will develop generic skills as follows:

• Well-developed competencies in legal and economic analysis;
• Problem solving abilities, including through the collection and evaluation of information applying interdisciplinary sources and perspectives;
• Capacity to communicate, orally and in writing;
• Ability to evaluate and synthesise existing knowledge in the area;
• Capacity for critical and independent thought and reflection;
• Capacity for self-directed learning, organisation and time management.