Overview

Our Master of Laws (LLM) programme gives you an in-depth knowledge of law in its international context. You’ll evaluate research and advanced scholarship in areas of legal study such as human rights law, immigration and refugee law, international banking and finance law, and international environmental law.

You’ll learn from School of Law academics with significant research expertise and international legal experience in areas including:

• social justice
• criminal law
• human rights
• energy and environment
• competition law
• intellectual property

You do not need to have studied law at undergraduate level to take the LLM in International Legal Studies. If you have not previously studied law, you will take a two-week Introduction to Law course before the start of the programme to ensure you are familiar with the basic legal institutions and sources of international and English law.

In addition to providing specialist legal knowledge, the LLM will equip you with abilities valued in any profession, such as research, analytical and communication skills. The programme also gives you an insight into how international law shapes global society, and how we operate within it. This means you’ll be equipped to explore a broad range of career opportunities once you graduate.

Learning and assessment

This LLM programme aims to integrate applied and theoretical knowledge with assessment processes that test knowledge, application and analysis of the subject. To this end, the learning, teaching and assessment strategy for this programme has been developed to help you build your knowledge incrementally over the year of study and to develop your research, critical thinking and writing skills.

You will be taught in small groups in an environment focused on you and your development. Your learning will be guided and supported through weekly teaching and learning sessions in which you will take part in a variety of activities.

You will be required to work independently, prepare for all teaching sessions and take all opportunities offered to develop your skills and knowledge, contribute to small group discussions and engage with other activities supported through the Virtual Learning Environment.

Career prospects

Graduates go on to pursue a variety of paths, including careers in business, legal practice, teaching and academia.