General LLM

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Birmingham Law School's General LLM gives you the opportunity to decide which areas of law have the most relevance to your future career and to choose modules that most interest you. This is the ideal pathway if you wish to gain Masters-level knowledge and skills without restricting yourself to just one particular branch of law.

This pathway provides one of the widest ranges of options in the UK with over 30 modules available, enabling you to create a unique degree tailored to your future career aspirations.

The General LLM pathway allows you to study modules across the full range of available subjects. This pathway is particularly suitable for those seeking exposure to a range of legal disciplines, giving you expertise across the board and providing the skills and knowledge required for a successful legal career.

Why study this course

• Study at a top global law school - Birmingham Law School is one of the UK’s top 20 law schools (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2019), reflecting our excellence in teaching and our world-leading research
• Module choice - one of the widest ranges of LLM modules available in the UK
• Professional links - opportunities include the annual law fair and visits to leading firms

Modules

You follow a modular programme (180 credits in total), which comprises six taught modules (20 credits each) and a dissertation of 15,000 words (60 credits); the latter to be submitted at the end of the year of study.

Students on the general LLM pathway choose six modules from the range available across all the LLM pathways and write a dissertation on a subject of their choice.

Learning and teaching

Birmingham's LLM pathways have been designed to provide an in-depth analysis of important legal topics. Modules are all 20 credits in value, comprising 10 two-hour seminars to enable students to develop significant expertise in each area of law.

The LLM course lasts 12 months, running from September to September. All LLM pathways follow the same basic structure:

• In part I of the course, you take six 20 credit modules: the range available depends on the pathway you decide to follow. Assessment in those modules, by essay or formal examination, is in May and June.
• In part II of the course, your research and write a 15,000-word dissertation on a selected topic of law under the supervision of a member of staff.

Law School induction

At the start of the course, there is a comprehensive welcome and induction programme designed to help you settle in and gain an understanding of the Birmingham LLM. You will familiarise yourself with the various ways in which we can support you throughout the year to ensure that your LLM course is an exciting and rewarding experience.

Students can register for modules before arrival as well as at the start of the academic year. As part of the induction process, you will get the opportunity to learn more about the various modules available and make choices that correspond to your interests.

Studying part-time

All the LLM pathways may be taken part-time and completed over a period of two years. This mode of study is particularly suitable for barristers and solicitors who wish to combine professional practice with the university-level study, gaining CPD points in the process.

Classes for part-time students on the LLM will be scheduled between 9 am-6 pm and students will typically have between 2-4 hours of teaching each week. Fees are the same as for full-time study but are split over two years.

For students from outside the UK, there will be an opportunity for induction to familiarise themselves with the English legal system, as it forms the basis for the modules on offer. The English for International Students Unit provides a range of support in reading and writing academic English.

Entry requirements

Applicants should have a good Honours degree in law or a degree in another discipline augmented with a pass in the Common Professional Examination.

International students

Academic requirements: we accept a range of qualifications from different countries use our handy guide below to see what qualifications we accept from your country.

English language requirements: for this course, we ask for IELTS 7.0 with no less than 6.5 in any band or PTE with 67 in all four skills. If you are made an offer of a place to study and you do not meet the language requirement, you have the option to enrol on our English for Academic Purposes Presessional course – if you successfully complete the course, you will be able to fulfil the language requirement without retaking a language qualification.

IELTS 7.0 with no less than 6.5 in any band is equivalent to:

• TOEFL: 95 overall with no less than 22 in any band
• Pearson Test of English (PTE): Academic 67 in all four skills
• Cambridge English (exams taken from 2015): Advanced or Proficiency - minimum overall score of 185, with no less than 176 in any component