LLM: Frequently asked questions

 Applications open in October for the following academic year.

We set no deadline in advance as we operate a system of rolling admissions, which means that we close to new applications when the programme is full. We therefore strongly recommend that you apply as soon as possible.

You apply to the programme via the online application system.

see How To Apply.

Contact information can be found at the link below.

see Graduate Admissions. 

Please see the Application pages of the LSE website. 

The minimum entry requirement to the LLM Programme is a UK 2:1 or equivalent degree in law (LLB or equivalent) or a conversion degree.

Each application is considered on its own merits. In evaluating an application, the selectors take into consideration an applicant's grades and class rank, letters of reference, the coherence of an applicant's proposed programme of study and any significant professional accomplishments.

see Graduate Admissions.

see Country and Regional Specific information.

Students without a law background may apply to the LLM programme, but they need to demonstrate a high level of professional or academic experience in areas closely related to the subjects they wish to study. Recent graduates who have neither studied law nor passed a "conversion" course are only admitted in exceptional circumstances. 

Common Professional Examination/Graduate Diploma in Law (CPE/GDL) courses, commonly known as "law conversion courses", enable non-law graduates and in some instances, non-graduates to complete the foundations of legal knowledge required by the academic stage of training. (Note that these courses are not offered at LSE).

Minimum English language requirement for law

• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) with a minimum score of 630 in the written test, 267 in the computer based test or 109 in the internet based test (with a minimum of 27 in writing, 24 in listening, 25 in reading and 22 in speaking)
  
  or 
   

• IELTS (International English Language Testing System) with a minimum overall score of 7.5 (with a minimum of 7.0 in the listening, writing and reading elements and 6.5 in the speaking element).

See English Language Requirements.
 

See How to Pay Fees. 

See Funding.

Yes. The programme can be taken part-time over two or four years.

• Students studying for the LLM over two years take two full units each year (four courses is equal to two full units);

• Students studying for the LLM over four years (extended part-time) take one full unit each year (two courses is equal to one full unit). 
   

No, this is not an option.

To satisfy the LLM Programme Regulations students are required to complete four units. All courses on the LLM programme are half units therefore students will take eight half units. All students take the compulsory LL4F9 Legal Research and Writing Skills course and select seven other courses from a wide range of LLM courses.

see LLM Programme Regulations.

Students who take courses that fall predominately within one specialist area can request to have their specialism included in the name of their degree. The list of specialisms and the courses that are within those specialist areas can be found at the link below.

see Specialisms.

To qualify for a specialism you will need to take four courses from within that specialist area.

Courses are assessed in one of three ways:

• Examinations - the majority of LLM courses are assessed via written two-hour exam in the main examination period (May/June).

• Essays - some LLM courses are assessed via an 8,000 word essay or similar to be submitted in May.

• Dissertation - the compulsory LLM course Legal Research and Writing course is assessed via a 10,000 word dissertation to be submitted in August. 

Further information can be found in the LLM Student Handbook which all students will receive at Orientation in September.

Brief course guides can be viewed at the following link. (Note that these are the current academic year guides).

See Course Guides.

Courses are normally taught in seminar groups, meeting for two hours each week. However, there are some - usually larger - courses which are taught by a combination of lectures and a smaller number of smaller follow-up classes.

The LLM programme is a full-time 12 month programme. The programme can also be taken on a part-time basis - 24 months part-time or 48 months extended part-time. 

See Student Services - Registration. 

See Term Dates.  

Orientation week usually begins the Monday before the start of the Autumn Term. Registration is usually the Friday before orientation.

See Student Services - Welcome.

The LLM programme is sufficiently flexible to make it appropriate for many different career paths. It allows prospective law teachers to develop expertise in a wide range of subjects or in a particular specialised area; it enables practitioners to cultivate expertise in new fields; it provides a basis for a career in the city of London or other financial centres; and it offers relevant education and training for those entering the foreign service of their governments, working for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or preparing for many other professions.

For more information see LSE graduate destinations.