Loading More Content
The table below features a selection of institutions offering LLM courses. Please note, while we aim to maintain the accuracy of this information, some course providers may not feature. Entry requirements, start dates and fees may be subject to change:
| University | Qualification | Entry Requirements | Fees (Annualy) | Start Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abertay University, Dundee | LLM research degree | 2:1 in relevant subject and/or masters | £4,596 | February, June, October |
| Anglia Ruskin University Anglia Law School | Various options | 2:2 (hons) in a relevant subject | Dependant on course | January, September |
| Aston University, Aston Business School, Birmingham | International Commercial Law | 2:2 (hons) | £11,500 – UK students £21,250 – International students | September |
| Bangor University, Bangor Law School | Various options | 2:2 in relevant subject | Dependant on course | January, September |
| The University of Birmingham | Various options | ‘Good’ honours degree | Full time – £10,530 – UK students Part-time – £5,265 – UK students £24,120 – international students – full-time only | September |
| Birmingham City University School of Law, Birmingham | Various options | Qualifying Law Degree | Full time – £11,300 – UK students Part-time – £1,256 per 20 credits – UK students £16,300 – international students – full-time only | Depends on course |
| Bournemouth University, Poole | International Commercial Law | A Bachelors Honours degree with 2:2 in a required subject (check university website) | Dependant on course | January, September |
| BPP Law School, London | Various options | Law degree (2:2), or… A degree with some legal/regulatory content and relevance to the programme (minimum 2.2), or… Non-law degree (minimum 2.2) and a pass in the GDL/PDGL or CPE; or… Non-law degree (minimum 2.2) and appropriate/relevant professional experience; or… Non-graduates with appropriate professional experience will also be considered | £12,420 (additional charges associated with studies may apply) | January, May, September |
| Bradford University School of Management | Various options | 2:2 or above in any subject, or relevant work experience at graduate level | Dependant on course | January, September |
| Brunel University Law School, Uxbridge | Master of Laws | 2:2 or above | £11,070 – UK students £18,410 – International students | January, September |
| Cardiff University | Various options | 2:1 honours degree in Law or an equivalent international degree or… a university-recognised equivalent academic qualification | £9,200 – UK students £19,450 – International students | September |
| University of Dundee | General Law LLM | Honours degree in Law at lower second class or above | £8,350 – UK students £19,900 – International students | September |
| University of London City | Various options | Upper second-class honours undergraduate degree in law. Applicants with a good undergraduate degree in another subject will also be considered | Full time – £13,540 – UK students Part-time – £6,770 – UK students £18,940 – international students – full-time £9,470 – international students – part-time | January, September |
| Coventry University | Various options | Minimum of a 2:2 undergraduate degree in Law | Full time – £10,600 – UK students £18,250 – international students – full-time | January, September |
| Keele University | Various options | First or second class honours degree (or overseas equivalent) in Law or a related discipline (such as sociology, criminology or politics) | Full time – £8,400 per year – UK students Part-time – £5,880 (year one), £2,250 (year two) – UK students £16,800 – international students – full-time only | September |
| Kingston University | General Law LLM | Honours degree in law 2:2 or above or… a joint honours degree (2:2 or above), where the major component is in law (for example, Accounting and Law or Combined Studies); or a Graduate Diploma in Law (CPE), Legal Practice Course or… Bar Professional Training Course; or… a qualification as a solicitor or barrister. | Full time – £10,900 – UK students Part-time – £5,995 – UK students £15,800 – international students – full-time £8,690 – international students – part-time | September |
| Leeds Beckett University, Leeds | Various options | 2:2 honours degree | Full time – £9,450 – UK and international students | September |
| Leicester De Montfort University Law School | Various options | Undergraduate degree in any subject | Dependant on course | September |
| Liverpool John Moores University | Various options | Minimum 2:2 in a subject such as Law, Criminal Justice, Politics, Finance, Banking or Accounting | Full time – £7,950 (per year) – UK students Part-time – £3,975 (per year) – UK students £16,100 – international students – full-time only | Depends on course |
| London South Bank University, London | Various options | LLB (Hons) Law degree at 2:2/Bachelor degree equivalent to UK Second Class Honours Lower Division or… a non Law degree (2:2) and relevant knowledge and experience. | Dependant on course | September |
| Middlesex University London | Various options | Standard entry requirement consists of a Law degree at 2:2 or Graduate Diploma in Law/CPE | Full time – £10,500 (per year) – UK students Part-time – £70 per credit and £35 per dissertation (per year) – UK students £15,300 – international students – full-time £99 per credit and £49 per dissertation credit – international students – part-time | September, October |
| The University of Hertfordshire | Various options | First degree in Law (or a subject in a related discipline, such as Business, Political Science or International Relations at a minimum of 2:2) | Contact university admissions | Contact university admissions |
| Northumbria University | Various options | Dependant on course | Dependant on course | September |
| Oxford Brookes Univeristy | Master of Laws | Dependant on course | Dependant on course | September |
| Queen’s University of Belfast | Various options | 2.1 Honours Degree or above or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in Law, Social Sciences, Humanities or a cognate discipline | Northern Ireland (NI) – £6,650 Republic of Ireland (ROI) – £6,650 England, Scotland or Wales – £7,470 EU Other/Outside EU – £18,200 | Check university website |
| SOAS, University of London | Various options | Bachelor of Laws with 2:2 | Full time – £17,000 – UK students £24,650 – international students – full-time | September |
| Swansea University College of Law | Various options | 2:2 honours degree | Full time – £14,000 – UK students £19,900 – international students – full-time | September |
| The College of Legal Practice | LLM in Legal Practice | 2:2 honours degree | Full and part time students -£6,900 | Full-time: March and September start dates Part-time: February and August start dates |
| The University of Law | Various options | Upper second-class Honours Degree in Law | Full time – £10,900 – UK students Part-time – £5,450 – UK students £20,900 – international students – full-time only | September |
| University of Bristol | Various options | Upper second-class Honours Degree in Law | Full time – £10,900 – UK students Part-time – £5,450 – UK students £20,900 – international students – full-time only | September |
| University of Cambridge | General Law LLM | First class honours degree | Full time – £29,102 (includes maintenance fees) – UK students £45,613 (includes maintenance and settling in fees) – international students – full-time only | September |
| University of Derby | LLM (Including Specialist Pathways) | Honours Degree in any subject at least 2.2 classification | Full time – £6,750 UK students £14,700 international students – full-time | September |
| University of Durham | Various options | 2:1 degree (or its equivalent) in law, or in a degree in which law is a major component | Full time – £11,500 UK students £23,500 international students – full-time | September |
| University of East Anglia | Master of Laws | 2.2 or equivalent in law or related degree | Full time – £9,500 UK students £19,800 international students – full-time | Check university website |
| University of Edinburgh | Various options | 2:1 Honours Degree | Contact university admissions | Contact university admissions |
| University of Exeter | Various options | 2:1 Honours Degree in law or Degree with substantial legal component | Full time – £10,000 – UK students Part-time – £5,000 – UK students £20,500 – international students – full-time only | September |
| University of Glasgow | LLM | A 2.1 Honours degree or non-UK equivalent in law or other subject with at least 50% of the credits in law | Full time – £10,000 – UK students Part-time – £1,112 (per 20 credits) – UK students £21,650 – international students – full-time only | Check university website |
| University of Leeds | Various options | Dependant on course | Dependant on course | Dependant on course |
| University of Liverpool | Various options | 2:1 Honours Degree in law or relevant subject | Full time – £9,900 UK students £20,500 international students – full-time | September |
| Birkbeck College School of Law, London | Various options | Second-class honours degree (2:2) or above in law, the humanities or social sciences; other honours degrees will be considered | Part-time UK students – £5,925 (per year) Full-time UK students: £11,850 (per year) Part-time international students – £9,045 (per year) Full-time international students – £18,090 (per year) | October |
| King’s College London (KCL), London | Various options | Minimum high 2:1 undergraduate degree with a final mark of at least 65% or above | Part-time UK students – £9,450 (per year) Full-time UK students: £19,050 (per year) Part-time international students – £14,730 (per year) Full-time international students – £30,150 (per year) | September |
| Queen Mary (QMUL,) University of London | Various options | Depends on course | Depends on course | Depends on course |
| The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) | Various options | Undergraduate degree in law or… a very good degree in another discipline together with very good grades in an appropriate graduate diploma in law | Part-time UK students – £10,464 (per year) Full-time UK students: £20,928 (per year) Part-time international students – £16,752 (per year) Full-time international students – £33,504 (per year) | October |
| University of Manchester | Master of Laws | Bachelor’s Degree with a First or Upper Second (2:1) | Full time – £11,000 UK students £23,000 international students – full-time | September |
| University of Newcastle upon Tyne | Various options | 2:1 Honours Degree, or international equivalent, in law or any other subject | Part-time UK students – £4,800 (per year) Full-time UK students: £9,600 (per year) Full-time international students – £20,400 (per year) | September/October |
| University of Nottingham | Various options | 2:1 (or international equivalent) in law, humanities or social sciences | Contact university admissions | September |
| University of Portsmouth | Various options | Second-class Honours Degree or equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications | Part-time UK students – £2,700 (per year) Full-time UK students: £8,100 Part-time international students – £2,700 (per year) Full-time international students – £17,000 | January, September |
| University of Reading | Various options | Contact university admissions | Contact university admissions | Contact university admissions |
| University of Sheffield | Various options | 2:1 Honours Degree, or international equivalent, in law or a subject with a sufficient legal component | Full time – £9,300 UK students £20,400 international students – full-time | September |
| University of Southampton | Master of Laws | 2.1 degree in a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or at least 4 law modules in a bachelor’s degree | Full time – £9,250 UK students £21,000 international students – full-time | September |
| University of Warwick | Various options | Contact university admissions | Contact university admissions | Contact university admissions |
| University of Westminster | Various options | Contact university admissions | Contact university admissions | January, September |
| University of York | Various options | Contact university admissions | Contact university admissions | Contact university admissions |
When you study your LLM with the University of Law (ULaw), you have several options available to you, including the LLM Master of Laws (General) or the LLM Legal Practice Course (SQE 1 & 2). With the ULaw LLM Master of Laws (General), you will have complete flexibility over your choice of modules and your dissertation topic.
The LLM Legal Practice Course enables you to qualify as a solicitor and gain a Master’s degree. With the move to the SQE, there is an SQE LLM option available for those who do not qualify to begin the LPC route. You will also receive four weeks guaranteed Qualifying Work Experience (QWE).
ULaw is one of the longest providers of LLM courses in the UK and they work with over 90 of the top 100 law firms in Britain to ensure that you are fully prepared as a trainee solicitor and ready to transition into your first role.
Choosing the right LLM course for you will depend on a number of factors, including:
The area of law that you want to specialise in will help to determine which LLM provider and LLM degree are the right fit for you. If you are undecided, you can choose to study a general LLM course.
The areas of legal specialism available to you will vary depending on the institution. If you want to study a niche area of law, your options might be limited, but this will help to narrow down your search.
Each LLM programme offered by a university will feature different modules and course structures. It’s important to read course overviews so that you have a good understanding of what’s involved in each programme. You want to make sure that the course you are joining contains the learning outcomes you are looking for.
The cost of each LLM course will also differ greatly, with higher costs to study in bigger cities like London, Birmingham, Liverpool or Manchester. If you plan to relocate to study, you will have to think about accommodation costs and associated living expenses.
Laws firms have historically preferred candidates from leading universities (in the UK, this would constitute the top 25 universities known as the Russell Group), though there are ongoing efforts to improve accessibility into the legal sector. While it is generally preferable to attend a well-reputed university (the higher entry requirements suggest higher attainment, and could help you stand out in a competitive industry), there are rarely specific requirements to have attended specific universities.
It may also be relevant to look at department rankings or a universities reputation for the specific LLM you are pursuing. Some university law departments are highly reputed for certain areas of law, so it’s worth researching more than just where a university appears in a ‘top universities’ table.
There is a wide selection of LLM courses you can choose to study. Below are some of the most popular LLM courses available, but this list is not exhaustive.
Commercial law LLM courses tend to be broken down into different disciplines, including:
Commercial law is a broad legal discipline, with many LLM providers offering courses fully focused on commercial law. However, some LLM programmes give you the opportunity to study one area of commercial law or a combination of the sub-topics.
| Institution | Info |
|---|---|
| University of Bristol | This a one year full-time/two years part-time LLM. Module choices are fairly flexible: European commercial issues, international trade or domestic commerce |
| University of Durham | Does not offer a straight commercial law LLM, but offers the following: LLM international trade and commercial law and LLM European trade and commercial law |
| University of Edinburgh | Core courses include: company law, contract law, European labour law, insolvency law, the law of international trade, principles of corporate finance law, principles of insurance law |
| BPP University | BPP offers several options: LLM in Chinese business and investment law, LLM commercial law, LLM comparative commercial law, LLM international business law |
| New York University | This university offers a Specialised LLM in corporation law, designed primarily for foreign-educated lawyers |
LLM courses in criminal law are very extensive, covering the areas of physical and financial crime. Topics can include:
A key area addressed in most LLM criminal law courses is sentencing and theoretical justifications for punishment. The death penalty is often studied in-depth too.
Competition for places on LLM criminal law courses is fierce. They are incredibly popular and offered by most UK LLM providers. There are a wide range of module combinations available, allowing you to study a criminal law LLM more generally or focus on a specialised area.
| Institution | Info |
|---|---|
| University of Oxford | Here, you can study an MSc in criminology and criminal justice Optional modules include: sentencing, public and private policy, prisons, politics of crime control, crime and the family, transnational justice and the death penalty |
| University of Birmingham | You can do an LLM in criminal law and criminal justice modules include: criminal evidence and proof, international and European legal reponses to terrorism, restorative justice, socio-legal theory and transnational criminal law |
| LSE | LSE offers an LLM Masters of Law in which a student can focus their modules on criminology and criminal justice. Options include mental health law: the criminal context, explaining punishment, security and criminal law, financial crime and International criminal law |
| University of Luxembourg | This degree focuses on regulation and enforcement within the EU, European criminal law and criminal procedure, corporate criminal law and compliance as and Judicial cooperation and European law enforcement agencies |
| University of Toronto | Modules in this course include: crime & punishment, criminal procedure, evidence law, financial crimes and corporate compliance and sentencing and penal policy |
A handful of universities offer LLM programmes in energy and environmental law. These courses focus on building knowledge and skills to consult on current energy and environmental issues and how the two intersect.
LLM courses in energy and environmental law are often compiled by legal specialists operating within the industry sector. Courses tend to cover the legal, political and economic issues associated with energy and environmental law at the national, regional and in particular, the international level.
LLM immigration law courses are highly specialised, often involving the study of legal cases covering issues such as:
LLM degrees in immigration law can also branch out into the study of international relations, with a particular focus on the United Nations’ International Covenant on Political Rights. You may focus on the immigration laws of specific countries too.
| Institution | Info |
|---|---|
| University of Oxford | One of the best LLM programmes (as an MSc) in which a candidate can specialise through the immigration law modules |
| Queen Mary University of London | This immigration law LLM offers modules which concern immigration law from a domestic, comparative, European and international perspective |
| University of Kent | this university’s LLM in Human Rights has a heavy focus on the rights of refugees |
| Manchester Metropolitan University | Offers and LLM Masters of Laws but there are many modules which focus on immigration law, particularly business immigration topics |
| Washington College of Law | LLM in Law and Government – which has a specialisation in Immigration Law and Policy This includes modules on Immigration and Naturalization, Asylum and Refugee Law, Immigration Law Enforcement, Trafficking in Persons and Human Rights |
| Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights | Core courses of the LLM here include: International Humanitarian Law, International Human Rights Law and International Refugee Law |
| Radboud University | Offers an LLM in Human Rights and Migration, specialising in European law |
An LLM in sports law is relatively niche. There are only a handful of LLM providers in the UK and Ireland offering this type of law masters degree. If you want to work in sports regulation and/or governance, a sports law LLM is for you. This type of degree could potentially lead to a career as:
| Institution | Info |
|---|---|
| Leicester De Montfort University | This university offers an online fully flexible LLM in Sports Law and Practice. There is also an accelerated programme |
| Nottingham Trent University | This institution offers a distance-learning LLM in sports law in practice |
| Sheffield Hallam University | Sheffield offers a part-time LLM in international sports law |
| University of London | This uni is ranked as offering the best LLM sports law course globally. Topics covered include Intellectual property and sport such as branding and sponsorship in sports as well as broadcasting rights and ticketing restrictions |
| University of Miami School of Law | Here, you can study a part-time LLM in entertainment, arts and sports law. The sports law element covers International sports law, modules look at representing professional and pre-professional athletes as well as the wider representation of the professional sports franchise |
| Pepperdine University School of Law | Pepperdine offers a very flexible LLM in entertainment, media and sports Law |
Loading More Content