Hey guys,

i am currently trying to figure out what I wanna do after my LLB. As I am not from the UK, it's kinda difficult to figure out which programs are good or not.

I am interested in International law and consider working for international organization. in the goverment sector or the EU. As my LLB focusses on European Law, I think it will be better to do something different. Otherwise I'll be a "limited expert".


What do you think are the best LLM programs in International Law in the UK?

Thanks for the help!

Cambridge is widely recognized for its international law LLM programming. Others have strong programs too, but Cambridge is outstanding.

I have considered Cambridge actually but don't really know if I have an chance to get in. So far I am the best of my class, but who knows what Cambridge is looking for!

What others do you think are good?

No thoughts? Anyone?

All Uni of London colleges (LSE, KCL, QMUL, UCL) offer outstanding international law expertise. UCL is particularly good for public international law.

As international law covers a multitude of areas you need to be a little more specific about what you want to focus on (just about every law school offers some sort of international law course).

You mention human rights in your title - Oxford has specialist part-time international human rights Mst programme (and Nottingham is also excellent in this field).

With regard to human rights it seems that a lot of discussants on this board view (within the UK) Nottingham and Essex as the two strong institutions (a search would probably reveal the posts). I think QUB is also strong.

Hi littledol!

I am interested exactly in the same field as you and I have the same problem regarding the LLM I'm about to choose.

The thing is, rankings are not very safe to rely on in my opinion. Firstly, because the results vary depending on the publisher. Secondly, and most important, because they give you a picture of a course in general, eg. the best faculties in Law generally, and not of the specific area of that course that interests you. For example, Edinburgh is generally more acknowledged than Nottingham, but does indeed Edinburgh's LLM in International Law have a better reputation than the one of Nottingham? I believe this is crucial when making a choice- or am I mistaking?

Personally, the only sure thing is that I am applying to Cambridge- but as you said yourself, this is no sure thing. Could someone else help us out by adding new information? For example, how would you rank UCL, KCL, QMUL, Edinburgh and Nottingham for PIL?And what about Kent?

In fact, is it chiefly the uni's general reputation that matters or do you consider it wiser to choose according to the programme of the course? For example, I have a strong preference for QMUL's and Nottingham's programme because I like the subjects better. But I read everywhere (including the rankings) that UCL and KCL are much more renowned/better and I am in a big dilemma. Or is it afterall not that important if you go to Nottingham instead of UCL?

I'd be grateful for any tips on the subject!

littledoll, if you want PM or mail me, maybe we could exchange some information!

Edinburgh has an excellent LLM in International Law and you may take the course in EU/Int'l Human Rights as one of your subjects. I completed the LLM in international law and now research in international human rights law. Professors Boyle and Gilmore bring a great deal of practical knowlege to the programme. The lecturers are good at helping the LLM students fully integrate into the research community by encouraging them to utilise the many extra-curricular academic opportunities available at Edinburgh. There is also a student led international law discussion group which meets regularly to discuss a wide-range of issues relating to International law.

You definitely can't go wrong by choosing Edinburgh!
Best of luck!

Hello,

I just replied to a similar question on another post, and I copy my reply (to the question Essex or Nottingham?). I am happy to answer any question!

I can respond to this e-mail, because I had exactly the same dilemma two years ago, and I asked the same questions on the same forum...
I finally chose Essex (a bit by luck), and I am not regretting it.

First, because at Essex I found for each module one of the top three scholas in the field. And they are permanent teached: they are not only here for a conference (contrary to most people quoted in Nottingham above), but can be approached anytime. And somehting that was really important for me: all the professors have had very practical experience, and they talk both as scholars and practitioners, which adds, I think, a different touch.

But more than teaching,what I discovered, and to be honest, I did not knoe it before, is that the Human Rights Centre in Essex is without a doubt the most renown in Europe, and very probably in the world. Most of my coursemates had come by Essex because everyone in the field of human rights recommendend them to go to Essex... again, I did not know it, but it was a great surprise. And the Centre organised many conferences, talks, activities, that allow to build practical skills. And students have a lot of freedome to organise their own activitiies, wit the material support of the Centre. If you have an interest in a topic, you have all tools to develop it (organise a conference, invite a speaker, organise a travel...). Last year we organised a trip to human rights insitituions to Europe, we were 50 to go, and I think that it has now become annualised.

This makes a great difference for job purposes. For instance, I think that activities organised during the course and people I met directly helped me to find a job and an internship. And if you work in the human rights field, you quickly realise that Essex graduate are present everywhere, this is the so-called "Essex mafia"... It is said that in Amnesty International only, there are about 40 alumni from Essex...

These are all kind of things that are difficult to know, but it is famous in the human rights field, and people all recommend Essex... I did not have the chance to be so well advised before going to Essex, but I was lucky enough to make the good random choice. Beyondthan academic excellence, I found a family, and a future...

Hope this helps!
Best,
Sylvain