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Posted June 30, 2025

Everything you need to know about studying an LLM degree

Everything you need to know about studying law

An LLM or Master of Laws degree program is a postgraduate law degree that enables students to specialise further in law and progress their career in a relevant legal field. An LLM degree can be about general law studies or can be specialised in a specific area of law, for example international law, taxation law, business law or intellectual property law.

Master of Laws are usually studied full time over one year or part time over two years. It is a non-professional qualification, meaning that people can practice law without holding an LLM degree – however it is a great addition to a CV for those interested in working in the legal arena.

What does the abbreviation LLM mean in law?

LLM stands for ‘Legum Magister’, which is Latin for Master of Laws.

Where did the LLM degree originate?

The origins of the LLM degree have been traced back to Columbia University in the USA in 1860, and historically it has been most commonly used across the legal education systems of English-speaking countries.

What are the entry requirements for studying an LLM degree?

To study an LLM degree in the UK, students are usually required to hold a minimum of a 2.1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in law or a related discipline, for example politics, sociology and other relevant humanities degrees.

Students choosing to specialise in a particular field of law may find that their undergraduate degree allows them to do this even if it’s not in law or a related field. For example, those wishing to study an LLM degree in business law may be eligible to study a Master of Laws if they hold a business-related bachelors degree.

Finally, if the candidate has a high 2.2 accompanied by great references and relevant work experience, they may be considered for an LLM degree.

What is the difference between a general LLM and a specialised LLM?

General and specialised LLM degrees are both studied over the same amount of time and are as valuable and highly regarded as each other, both immersing students in the intricacies of the law at postgraduate level and enabling them to gain the same critical thinking and other transferrable skills.

A General LLM degree will feature a broader range of topics, allowing students to cover the basics of legal knowledge and then cherry pick the modules that they are most interested in, allowing them to gain a broad knowledge of the law. An LLM in General Law is for graduates who are interested in pursuing a career in law but aren't quite sure what area they want to specialise in. This is the perfect way to sample different aspects of law at a postgraduate level without fully committing to one specialism.

A specialised LLM degree enables students to focus on one particular area of the law that they are most interested and gain a specialised knowledge in this field. There is a wide range of specialised LLM degrees available to study in the UK, US and beyond including;


Check our LLM subjects section to find out more about the broad range of topics available to study as part of this qualification.

Where can you study an LLM in the UK?

There are many universities and law schools offering LLM degrees in the UK including Russell Group universities, Redbrick universities and even new universities. Here are the details of some of the UK universities offering LLM degrees.

University of Aberdeen School of Law – offering plenty of specialist taught LLM degrees across five legal themes: Commercial & Trade Law; Energy & Natural Resources Law; International Law; Human Rights & Criminal Justice; and Intellectual Property and Information Law. Aberdeen also offers an LLM by Research, as well as four online LLM degree programs – LLM in Energy Transition Law; LLM in Oil and Gas Law; LLM in Dispute Resolution; and LLM in International Trade Law.

University of Birmingham Law School – there are many LLM degree specialism to choose from at Birmingham Law School from traditional pathways to more innovative and developing areas. LLM degrees on offer at Birmingham include LLM in International Law and Security; LLM in Environmental, Societal and Governance Law and Policy; and LLM Law, Data and Technology. Students can also study an LLM in Environment and Energy Law online, or choose to study some of the LLM courses out of Birmingham’s Dubai Campus.

The University of Edinburgh Law School – Edinburgh Law School offers a wide variety of LLM degree programs that are taught on campus, it also offers online LLM degrees, an LLM by Research, and two MSc degrees in law-related fields. The online LLM degrees are LLM in Information Technology Law; LLM in Innovation, Technology and the Law; LLM in Law; LLM in Medical Law and Ethics; and LLM in International Commercial Law and Practice.

Other UK universities offering LLM degree courses include Cardiff University, Queen Mary University of London, the University of Manchester, and Swansea University.

Where can you study an LLM in the US?

Over 120 law schools in the United States offer LLM degrees, including Columbia Law School in New York City, where the Master of Laws program is thought to have originated. Here are the details of some of the US law schools offer LLM degrees.

Boston University School of Law – the BU School of Law offers LLM programs suitable for internationally trained and domestic lawyers. The LLMs available to study here are LLM in American Law (General LLM); LLM in Banking and Financial Law; LLM in Intellectual Property and Information law; and LLM in Taxation. BU Law also offers a Two-Year LLM Program that is suitable for students who want a strong foundation in legal skills but whose first language isn’t English.

Harvard University Law School – Harvard Law School has been offering its Master of Laws degree for over 100 years. It’s a one-year LLM degree that annually welcomes a cohort of 180 students from over 60 countries. Over 500 different courses and seminars are available to LLM students at Harvard Law School.

Temple University Beasley School of Law – Temple University in Philadelphia offers an LLM degree for Foreign Trained Lawyers, as well as a good selection of other LLM degrees including LLM in Trial Advocacy; LLM in Taxation; LLM in Transnational Law; and an LLM in Asian Law. Students can also choose to study an Online LLM in International Business Law.

How do you apply for an LLM degree?

Applications for an LLM degree are usually made directly to the individual law schools. Once you have found the LLM degree program that you want to apply to, it’s important to follow the guidelines set out by your chosen institution and ensure you meet their application deadline. Getting onto a Master of Laws will require time and effort – the admissions committees will require various documentation, and this should be properly prepared in advance. The documentation is likely to include:

  • Personal statement
  • Academic references
  • Work references
  • Sample essays
  • Identification document – for example scan of passport or ID card

How much does it cost to study an LLM degree?

The cost of studying for an LLM degree varies widely between law schools, with the more prestigious institutions often demanding higher tuition fees. For international students, online LLM degrees are often significantly cheaper than their on-campus counterparts. US universities tend to have higher tuition fees than UK ones.

LLM tuition fees in the UK

Master of Laws tuition fees in the UK start at around £10,000 for UK students and can be as much as £36,000+ for international students choosing to study on campus.

This table gives an overview of some Master of Laws tuition fees at UK universities.

University

LLM degree

Study Mode

Tuition Fees

Details

University of Aberdeen

General LLM

On Campus

£11,900 for UK students / £23,000 for International students

Full time over one year or part time over two years

University of Aberdeen

LLM in Energy Transition Law

Online

£16,580 for all students

Part time over two years

University of Birmingham

General LLM

On campus

£10,900 for UK students / £27,200 for International students

Full time over one year or part time over two years

University of Birmingham

LLM in Environmental & Energy Law

Online

£17,640 for all students

Part time over two and a half years

Cardiff University

LLM in Human Rights Law

On campus

£10,450 for UK students / £23,700 for International students

Full time over one year

University of Essex

LLM in International Business Law

Online

£12,471 for UK students / £13,409 for International students

Part time over two years

King’s College London

General LLM

On campus

£22,750 for UK students / £35,800 for International students

Full time over one year

 

University of Manchester

LLM in Healthcare Ethics & Law

On campus

£16,000 for UK students / £29,500 for International students

Full time over one year or part time over two years

University of Manchester

LLM in Healthcare Ethics & Law

Online

£14,500 for all students

Part time over two years

LLM tuition fees in the US

LLM degree tuition fees in the United States can vary from around $35,000 to $80,000 for a one-year full-time Master of Laws.

The tuition fees for the 2025-2026 academic year for the Harvard Law School’s LLM program are $80,760. In addition to this, students will need to cover the cost of housing, books, food, health insurance, travel expenses and other living costs – and these are estimated to be around $41,000 in total. Meanwhile, Temple University Beasley School of Law was originally founded with the purpose of making law school more accessible to those from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, therefore the LLM tuition fees here are considerably cheaper than Harvard’s. The Master of Laws tuition costs for the academic year 2024-2025 at Beasley School of Law were $36,000, and the additional living, medical and study expenses that students can expect to pay are estimated to be around $25,500.

Remember, despite these seemingly high costs, a Master of Laws degree is an investment in your future career, likely to result in a much higher salary bracket and a more fulfilling job, making it a worthwhile investment.

Looking for the perfect LLM degree program? Use our LLM course search to find your ideal Master of Laws course.

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Standard Admission Requirements To Study An LLM In The UK

Russell Group Universities With Master Of Laws

Global LLM Study Bursaries

 

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