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UCL (University College London): Laws
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/laws/study/llm-master-laws
UCL LLM top facts
Full-time LLM tuition fees: Home students: £21,200, International students: £32,100
Part-time LLM tuition fees: Home students: £10,600, International students: £16,050
LLM application fee: £90 online, £115 paper application
Postgraduate taught law student cohort: 450
Number of LLM applicants: around 2,000 a year
Eligibility criteria for law graduates: ‘Good 2.1 with evidence of first-class ability’ Bachelor of Laws (LLB), Juris Doctor (JD)
Eligibility criteria for non-law graduates: Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) with a 65% average including one mark over 70%, SQE full-time study with a 65% average including a pass on the first attempt
Minimum IELTS: Overall grade of 7.5 with a minimum of 7 in each of the subtests
Minimum TOEFL: Overall score of 109 with 27/30 in reading and writing and 23/30 in speaking and listening.
UCL Faculty of Laws academic staff: 175
Course start date: September
Course duration: 10 months full time, 2 academic years part time
UCL LLM – an introduction
Each year UCL’s Master of Laws (LLM) program attracts the very best law graduates from around the globe who are keen to learn from top specialists in their field. The international dynamic of the LLM program at UCL allows for a vast talent pool, creating a unique, rewarding and engaging learning environment for students.
Prospective students can choose to study full time over ten months or part time over two academic years.
UCL LLM program content
UCL’s LLM is renowned for the variety of its teaching material which allows students to explore their academic interests with plenty of freedom, providing a unique choice between taking the LLM specialism route or the general LLM route.
Specialism LLM route
Specialisms offered in the LLM program vary from year to year – here are the current options:
- Competition Law
- Corporate Law
- Environmental Law and Policy
- Human Rights Law
- International Banking and Finance Law
- International Commercial Law
- Intellectual Property Law
- Jurisprudence and Legal Theory
- Law and Social Justice
- Litigation and Dispute Resolution
- Maritime Law
- Public Law
General LLM route
UCL’s general LLM boasts a variety of modules in addition to the above and splits these out over two terms.
Term 1 modules include, but are not limited to:
- Access to Justice: Theory & Practice
- Advanced Foundations of Environmental Law
- Aspects of National Security
- Carriage of Goods by Sea
- Commercial Remedies
- Company Law
- International Trade Law
- Law and Policy of Climate Change
Term 2 modules include, but are not limited to:
- Environmental Lawyering
- Cross-Border Mergers and Acquisitions
- Human Rights at Work
- Privacy, Data and Surveillance Law
- Histories of International Law
- International Criminal Law
- Regulation of Financial Markets
- Judges, Courts and Judicial Decision-Making
UCL Faculty of Laws
Established in 1826, UCL’s Faculty of Laws is one of England’s oldest law schools and boasts a rich history. A notable landmark in its history was that it was the first law school in the country to open its doors to female law students, with Eliza Orme being the first female law graduate in 1888. UCL’s founding core value of inclusivity has remained a prominent part of its makeup.
UCL has been a world leader in the study and teaching of law for almost 200 years. Today, UCL’s Faculty of Laws is considered one of the best law schools in the UK if not worldwide, regularly picking up awards in recognition of its consistent high standards.
UK awards
From a UK perspective, some of UCL’s most notable accolades for 2022/23 are:
- Ranked 3rd in The Complete University Guide Subject League Table
- Ranked 4th in The Times Good University Guide for Law
- Ranked 4th in The Guardian's university league table
Global recognition
And from a global perspective, notable accolades for 2022/23 include:
- Ranked 8th in the QS World University Rankings
- Ranked 11th in Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- Ranked 13th QS World University Rankings by Subject
Checkout UCL’s dedicated rankings page, which showcases the accolades they receive annually, for more information on each award.
The Faculty of Laws at UCL
Located at UCL’s Bentham House, the Faculty of Laws is renowned for the high standards it produces year after year, reflected by the significant popularity and recognition its courses attract. The faculty is made up of around 175 staff members who maintain UCL's leading law school status by delivering the finest research-based material in the world. UCL also has a dedicated Professional Services team that provides an array of support services to ensure students get the highest level of teaching while enrolled on the LLM.
An international perspective
UCL attracts significant international interest and boasts of over 18,000 students from outside the UK currently studying there and around 350,000 alums in 190 countries. Its global scope is one of UCL’s founding values, making for a diverse and academically excellent cohort of students.
UCL also has 35% international staff showing its wide-ranging talent pool.
The importance UCL places on its international outreach makes for a unique experience for students and staff alike.
LLM application procedure
Both law and non-law students will only be considered for UCL’s LLM if they have the necessary law qualifications. Those with a law degree must have a ‘good 2:1 with evidence of 1st class ability’ Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or a Juris Doctor (JD) qualification to be eligible. Those whose first degree is not in law must have a 65% average in both their undergraduate and Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) / full-time Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) studies. It is worth checking UCL’s application webpage to learn more about the LLM and its requirements before starting your application.
LLM applications at UCL typically open in October and close the following March, ready for the academic year. For example, 2023/24 study applications opened 17th October 2022 and closed on 31st March 2023.
Those wishing to apply must follow UCL’s application procedure to be considered for a place on the course. After deciding on the specialist or general LLM, students will need to provide the following documentation:
- An electronic copy of your transcript
- A personal statement
- A piece of written work
- One reference
Once an application has been submitted, it goes through UCL’s thorough assessment procedure. The UCL Graduate Admissions team will review the application and check if it is complete. Applications are then sent to the Faculty of Laws for further assessment by the LAWS Graduate Admissions Team, who verify if it meets the program entry requirements. They will recommend whether the offer has been successful or unsuccessful to the UCL Graduate Admissions Team, which processes it in the UCL portal. Students must have their phones on hand throughout this procedure, as UCL may sometimes reach out to students. Successful applicants will only have a certain amount of time to accept their offer (the deposit can be paid later), so students must regularly check up on their application status.
LLM fees and funding
The tuition fee for UK students registered on UCL’s LLM program for 2023/24 is £21,200 for full-time students and £10,600 for part-time students. For international students, full-time fee is £32,100, and part-time is £16,050. UCL students must pay at least a third of their tuition fee before or at enrolment to be fully enrolled on the course or provide a letter of sponsorship indicating to whom the fee will be invoiced. In addition to tuition fees, students will need to carefully consider how they will meet their living expenses, such as accommodation, travel, and food.
LLM fees can seem daunting, but there are numerous methods of funding prospective students can explore, either provided by UCL or externally. Regarding the LLM, UCL Faculty of Law has a variety of scholarships available. The LLM Opportunity Scholarship and LLM Future Scholars’ Award scholarships aim to increase access to UK-based students. The LLM Academic Excellence Scholarship recognises outstanding academic achievement and is open to all.
UCL also has more general scholarships for masters study with their UCL Masters Bursary for UK students and UCL Global Masters Scholarship for international students. External funding sources for UK-based students can be Government Loans through Student Finance. For international students, this can be in the form of US Loans, Canadian Loans, or External Scholarships if these are not applicable. UCL has a useful funding for students on postgraduate taught courses page, which provides some beneficial information.
Other law programs at UCL Laws
Aside from the LLM, UCL Faculty of Laws has several other law courses on offer:
Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (LLB) – this is the most popular option for those at an earlier stage of their legal careers. UCL’s LLB is an intellectually challenging three-year program combining legal theory and practical application.
UCL has a wide range of programs on offer for undergraduates in addition to the standard law degree – these are:
- LLB Law with French Law
- LLB Law with German Law
- LLB Law with Hispanic Law
- Law with Another Legal System (Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong)
- LLB Bachelor of Laws (UCL) and LLB Bachelor of Laws (HKU)
- LLB Dual Degree English and German Law with Universität zu Köln
- Dual LLB/Juris Doctor (JD) with Columbia University, New York
Doctoral (MPhil/PhD) – this is the ideal route for those students who are passionate about original research and making a difference in their field of study. PhD programs at UCL have around 50-60 research students at any one time. Researchers at UCL are supervised by the very best legal minds in their field and have access to the very best material. UCL faculty of Laws was rated the top law school for research quality in the Research Excellence Framework 2021 results.
UCL Law Society
UCL’s Law Society is a popular choice for LLM students who are looking for a lively and engaging experience. The award-winning society has been in existence for over 70 years and is made up of a supportive community of students. Pro Bono is a core part of UCL Laws, with a range of projects available for students to get involved in, focussing on essential areas, such as Human Rights and Access to Justice.
UCL’s Law Society is also home to a variety of sports clubs which cater to everyone – the most popular teams include netball, football and running. Sports teams are designed to run alongside students’ schedules and are a great way to keep active and meet like-minded people while you carry out your studies.rts
UCL overview
Established in 1826, UCL became the first institution in London to admit students regardless of religion and also a pioneer of providing university-level education for women. UCL’s founding core values set it apart from other prominent institutions at the time and still makes it a unique place to study today.
UCL has been a world-leading institution for almost 200 years, and this is reflected by the quality of students that have passed through its doors. The university has produced exceptional inventors, composers, musicians, athletes and poets, to name just a few. To date, 30 UCL alumni have even gone on to become Nobel Prize winners, and no doubt this figure will continue to rise.
Upon UCL’s establishment, its iconic Main Building began construction in 1827, designed by renowned architect William Wilkins. The Wilkins’ Building, as it is known today, is UCL’s oldest and most widely recognisable pieces of architecture. It has gone through several refurbishments since construction, with the most recent in 2005 significantly improving public access. Its historical significance to London has made it a popular tourist destination.
UCL’s historic campus is in Bloomsbury, central London, but today UCL has branched out to more than 230 buildings across the UK, showing its significance and scale. Its founding core values of inclusiveness and internationality is reflected in the impressive architecture UCL boasts, as well as its significant museums and collections which are drawn from around the globe. Among its most notable museums and collections are:
- UCL Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology – home to an estimated 80,000 objects making it one of the world's most significant collections of Egyptian and Sudanese archaeology.
- UCL Grant Museum of Zoology & Comparative Anatomy – established in 1827 by Robert Edmond Grant, it is the only remaining university zoological collection in London and houses around 32,000 specimens.
- UCL Art Collections – founded in 1847, contains over 10,000 objects dating back as far as 1490.
Student life at UCL
UCL is credited as one of the first institutions in England to establish its own students’ union, which dates to 1893. Today, UCL’s students’ union comprises over 360 clubs and societies for its members, including sports, politics, music, drama and film. UCL students looking to join a club or society are spoiled for choice. Aside from clubs and societies, students can also immerse themselves in volunteering and part-time work through the students‘ union.
UCL is committed to providing the very best services for their students. There are a host of things for students to do at UCL’s campus; their designated campus life page is a valuable resource for prospective and current students looking to get the most out of their studies at UCL.
The city of London
UCL is located at the heart of one of the world's oldest and most widely recognisable cities.
London is a great place to live and study – a fact that was recognised in the recently published World’s Best Cities Report published by tourism consultancy Resonance which ranks 100 cities worldwide based on six categories – place, product, programming, people, prosperity and promotion.
Being a cultural, financial and legal hub, London is the ideal place to study your LLM program. Plus, its fantastic sights, events and activities make it the perfect location for extracurricular activities.
Contact information
UCL Faculty of Laws
Bentham House
4-8 Endsleigh Gardens
London
WC1H 0EG
Email: llm-admissions@ucl.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3108 8400
Available courses
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