LL.M. in Chinese Law

LL.M. in Chinese Law

The LL.M. (Master of Laws) program in Chinese Law is a graduate law program offered by the KoGuan School of Law Shanghai Jiao Tong University, one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in China. The program has a focus on Chinese civil and commercial law and offers foreign law students and legal professionals an excellent opportunity to study Chinese law and legal processes and engage in Chinese and comparative law research.

The two-year program contains one year of the school curriculum and one year of independent research and thesis writing. All of the LL.M. courses (see the Curriculum) are taught in English and specifically tailored for international students. The courses will be taught not only by our regular faculty but also by experts from public and private practice. An academic advisor will be assigned to each student to supervise his/her research and LL.M. thesis writing. We encourage students to write a publishable thesis.

Our Faculty

KoGuan School of Law has been ranked among the top 10 law schools in the nation. Our faculty are known for their academic excellence as well as the commitment to students. Our distinguished faculty and administrative staff have also established strong ties to various governmental departments and agencies, courts, law firms, multinational corporations, and other important institutions in the Shanghai metropolitan area and beyond. This secures our students a variety of extracurricular offerings on a not-for-credit basis, such as study visits and internship opportunities. The Program will offer you both unique insights into the Chinese legal system and exciting practical experience in Shanghai and China.

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Our Students

The LL.M. Program is interested in attracting intellectually curious and thoughtful students from a variety of legal systems and with various career plans. As an intellectually and culturally diverse program, we welcome students from around the world. The diversity of the participants in the LL.M. program will contribute significantly to the educational experience of all our students at KoGuan School of Law. International students can forge lifelong friendships with KoGuan law students, faculty and alumni, and establish a part of a global network of KoGuan Law graduates.

Degree Requirements

Students are required to complete a minimum of 30 coursework credits (16 compulsory coursework credits) and write a degree thesis under the supervision of a faculty member.

To qualify for the LL.M. degree, students must:

1. Successfully complete at least 30 coursework credits.
2. Successfully complete independent research and write an LL.M. thesis under the supervision of a KoGuan Law faculty member within a year.
3. Carry a total of no fewer than 14 coursework credits per semester.
4. Spend at least two semesters in residence.

For the year of independent research and LL.M. thesis writing, students are not required to stay in Shanghai.

Curriculum

The LL.M. Program requires a minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate course work. For a list of the courses offered for LL.M. students, please see Curriculum in English. Currently, at least seven courses are offered for each semester subject to the availability of the teaching staff.

List of Lectures

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Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for admission to the LL.M. program, an applicant must have a bachelor's degree. We particularly look for applicants with the following qualifications:

1. Non-Chinese citizen;
2. Complete a bachelor's degree or equivalent in China or a foreign country;
3. Being enrolled in a law or law-related program;
4. Being qualified to practice law in a jurisdiction outside Mainland China;
5. Valid TOEFL(≥90), or academic IELTS(≥6) report.

(Native English speaker or the applicants with a bachelor or master's degree in native English nations can be waived from this requirement.)

Admission Procedure

Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis beginning in September (the fall semester). The LL.M. Admissions Committee reviews the whole application package carefully and selects qualified applicants who would best benefit from and contribute to the LL.M. Program. The Committee makes decisions on individual applications as quickly as possible.

In evaluating applications, the Committee takes into consideration factors including but not limited to the following:

1. Academic work, such as grades, class ranking, scholarly publications;
2. Letters of recommendation;
3. Professional and personal accomplishments;
4. Previous legal experience or careers in law teaching and research, government service, the judiciary, international governmental organizations, NGOs and private practice;
5. Proficiency in the English language.

Important Dates and Deadlines

• March 31th: Deadline for scholarship application*
• May 31st: Deadline for self-support application*
• Early June: Admission notification*
• Early September: Fall semester starts*

How to Apply

Step 1: Complete the online application

• http://isc.sjtu.edu.cn
• Print, sign and attach a 2-inch photo on the application form from the online application system.

Step 2: Pay the Application Fee

The application fee is CNY 800 or USD 130, non-refundable and non-transferable. Payment must be made using CNY or USD

Step 3: Submit the Application Documents

• Application form from the online application system;
• Degree certificates. Must be original or notarized(Chinese or English notaries are both acceptable)
  (students who have not yet graduated should provide an official letter from your university stating the expected graduation date.);
• Official transcripts. Must be original or notarized(Chinese or English notaries are both acceptable);
• Language certificate and score report;
• A copy of Passport;
• Two passport-size photos;
• Two recommendation letters from associate professors or scholars with higher academic titles. Must include the referees 'phone number and email address;
• Remittance notice. Specify your name and payment details.

Scholarships

We provide various types of scholarships for applicants, which based on the excellence of students.