University College London (UCL)

Applications for the 2022/23 application year are open. The deadline to apply is Thursday 31st March 2022.

The Masters of Law (LLM) programme will enable you to develop expertise in a wide range of specialist subject areas, and benefit from world-class, research-led teaching from leading academics in their field.

UCL offers a general LLM programme which allows you to explore your intellectual interests freely through a variety of taught modules, or you can choose to specialise in a particular area of legal research from the start, for example LLM in Corporate Law.

The programme is 10 months in duration when studying full-time. It is designed to enable you to gain a head start in your career when entering the job market and give you the opportunity to apply for summer legal internships and wider international opportunities. If you are already an experienced legal practitioner it will allow you to return to employment sooner with the greater knowledge and understanding you have acquired. 

Modules and specialisms 

There are a wide range of modules to study across a range of specialisms, outlined below:

• Competition Law
• Corporate Law
• Law and Social Justice
• Environmental Law and Policy
• Human Rights Law
• Intellectual Property Law
• International Banking and Finance Law
• International Commercial Law
• International Law
• Jurisprudence and Legal Theory
• Law and Social Justice
• Legal History
• Litigation and Dispute Resolution
• Maritime Law
• Public Law

The taught modules and specialisms offered on the LLM programme vary from year to year, we recommend visiting the UCL Laws website for full details.

As part of the teaching and assessment throughout the programme, you will be able to practise and enhance your abilities to think critically and analyse legal arguments. The Research Essay completed throughout the programme, will give you the opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of a particular area of law and your research skills, as well as your own capability to structure cogent arguments and write for a legal audience.

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, research exercises and guided self-study and research. Each module is supported by a dedicated webpage containing a syllabus, learning materials, reading lists and assessment information. Taught module assessment may be through unseen examinations, coursework essays, oral presentations or a combination of assessment formats, usually undertaken in term three. The research component is completed at the end of the programme.

To hear about when applications open, receive open day invitations and find out more about becoming part of the fantastic UCL Laws community  Register your interest in studying with us 

UCL Laws is consistently ranked as one of the top law schools nationally and internationally.

Located in central London, a global legal capital, we attract a diverse, international body of students and staff. Our research has real-world impact, shaping legal and judicial policy here in the UK and across the globe. 

For almost 200 years, UCL Faculty of Laws has been one of the leading centres of legal education in the world, and remains committed to the rigorous, multidisciplinary and innovative study of law in all its dimensions. 

Bentham House 

Bentham House is home to UCL Laws and a five minute walk away from UCL main campus. Following a major three-year redevelopment, the Grade II-listed building has been significantly expanded and updated with new teaching and event spaces, as well as a bright, spacious café and social hub which serves as the focal point for life and events in the Faculty. The newly refurbished building also features a dedicated student common room, a specialist study suite for graduate students and a new silent study space.

Situated in Bloomsbury, the academic heart of London, we are fortunate to be surrounded by lots of green space and close by to major landmarks.

Life as a UCL Laws student

Our students are involved in a wide range of activities, from socials and balls, to career events and mentoring. 

As a UCL Laws student, you can get involved with our pro bono initiatives, mooting, client interviewing and negotiation competitions, mentoring opportunities and, if you can find the time, writing for the UCL Laws student magazine, Silk v Brief or for our student-led journal, the UCL Journal of Law and Jurisprudence.

The UCL Graduate Law Society was founded by UCL Laws graduate students with the aim of promoting friendship and networking opportunities among students on the largest graduate programme at UCL. The Society strives to ensure that you maintain long-term contacts beyond your LLM programme.

Read about UCL Laws alumni and what they have gone on to do in their careers. You can also watch videos with our students and alumni on our YouTube channel. 

Applicants are required to have an upper second-class UK Bachelor degree (2.1) with evidence of 1st class ability, or an overseas degree of equivalent standard.

Applicants who are not a national of a country deemed by the UK Home Office to be "majority English speaking" are required to show evidence that they are able to meet the demands of the degree programme. The English langauge requirements are:  IELTS or IELTS Indicator: overall grade of 7.5 with a minimum of 7 in each of the subtests; or TOEFL or TOEFL Special Home Edition: Overall score of 109 with 25/30 in reading and listening and 23/30 in speaking and 27/30 in writing. (Institution code is 9163)

Applicants must provide evidence in their application of motivation, reasoning, analytical ability and communication skills.

Please take a look at the online prospectus for entry requirements and international equivalencies.

Applications for 2022/23 entry are made online via UCL’s online application portal 

You should make one application to the general LLM or one LLM specialism route. There is an application fee of £90.

You will need:

• An electronic copy of your academic transcript and a translated copy (certified) if you are an overseas student from a non-English speaking country.
• English language proficiency results if you are an overseas student
• Personal statement
• A piece of written work
• Two references

Once UCL receives both references the application process begins. It can take up to 35 working days to receive the outcome of your application.

For more detailed information please take a look at UCL Laws website on how to apply. You may find the LLM FAQs helpful.

Tuition fees for UK students on the full-time LLM programme at UCL Laws for 2022-23 is £19,400 and £9,700 for part-time students.

Tuition fees for international students on the full-time LLM programme is £29,400 and £14,700 for part-time students.

Tuition fees cover all elements of your tuition, registration and examination. If applicable, any additional research expenses will be specified on your formal offer of admission. Full details of the tuition fees for each academic year can be found under the Fee schedule pages of the UCL Current Students website.

Tuition fees for subsequent years are subject to increase by up to 5% each year. You should make provision for such increases and this is implicit in accepting the offer of a place at UCL.

You must pay at least a third of your tuition fee before or at enrolment to be fully enrolled, or provide a letter of sponsorship indicating who should be invoiced for your fee.

The Faculty has established a variety of scholarships to increase access for UK-based students who have faced financial hardship.  We also offer an Academic Excellence Scholarship which recognises outstanding academic achievement, and is open to all applicants.

Information regarding scholarships available can be found on the UCL Laws website.  

Read more information on all UCL scholarships and funding.