Introduction
Mode of Attendance: Full-time or Part-time
Our LLM (Master of Laws) programme gives students the opportunity to study at our vibrant School of Law with its unique focus on the legal systems and legal challenges of the Global South generally and Asia, Africa and the Middle East in particular. The structure of the LLM allows students to create their own programme of study, choosing from a wide array of modules, including those in comparative law, international law, law and development, commercial and trade law, human rights, environmental law, Islamic law and dispute resolution. In addition, students may be able to undertake modules outside of the School of Law, opening up SOAS’ array of world-leading options in languages, cultures, arts, humanities, politics, economics and finance, and beyond. Students complete the LLM by undertaking a dissertation, developing an extended research project on a topic of their choice. The LLM may be taken full-time over a period of one year, or part-time over a period of two, three or four years.
Why SOAS?
Our LLM (Master of Laws) teaching reflects our research strengths in the laws of Asia, Africa and the Middle East, and in Islamic, international, human rights, commercial and trade, comparative, and environmental law. Much of our teaching concerns the critical study of law and the ways that law can be used to marginalise or to empower individuals and communities. In today’s globalised environment, our teaching also explores the study of the society in which the law operates, and the relationship of law to other structuring forces such as gender, sexuality, race, and economic status. All teachers on modules offered at SOAS are experts in their designated field, and many have years of experience advising governments, international and non-governmental organisations, or in professional practice. Undertaking the LLM at SOAS brings you into the heart of a world-leading, one-of-a-kind law school to study the world’s most pressing legal issues.
Why you?
The LLM (Master of Laws) programme is ideal for LLB graduates or legal professionals who wish to expand their knowledge of, and critical engagement with, law, particularly as it relates to the Global South. You will join international alumni of graduates from the LLM at SOAS, many of whom are now working at the UN, in NGOs, in government, in private practice, in policy work or in academia. Since the LLM may be taken full-time or part-time, many students have been able to successfully combine their studies at SOAS with their existing careers. Our LLM alumni include John Atta Mills (former President of Ghana); David Lammy MP; Sylvester Umaru Onu (Associate Justice, Nigerian Supreme Court); and Francis K. Butagira (Ugandan Ambassador to Germany).
Please note that the LLM is restricted to applicants who hold an LLB. If you do not hold an LLB but are interested in pursuing a master’s degree in law at SOAS, please see details of the MA.
Structure
Students must take modules to a total value of 180, consisting of a dissertation (60 credits) and 120 credits of taught modules. Taught modules are worth either 15 or 30 credits.
Students who wish to graduate with an LLM (Master of Laws) are required to take at least 90 credits from the School of Law (General Law Postgraduate Taught Module List), and a final 30 unit which can either be taken within the School of Law or from the Postgraduate Module Open Option List with the LLM Programme Convenor’s permission. The dissertation topic will be connected to one of the taught LLM modules studied.
Please note: Not all modules listed will be available every year.
Dissertation
Dissertation (12,000 words), on a topic related to the specialism of the degree.
LLM Dissertation in Law
Taught Component
Guided OptionChoose modules from the List of General PGT Law Options below to the value of 90 credits.
and
Choose a module(s) from the List of General PGT Law Options below or from Postgraduate Open Options to the value of 30 credits.
List of Modules (subject to availability)
General Law Options
Gender, Law and Society in The Middle East and North Africa
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Gender, Sexuality and Law: Selected Topics
Gender, Sexuality and Law: Theories and Methodologies
Human Rights and Islamic Law
International Commercial Arbitration
International Human Rights Clinic
International Investment Law
Islamic Law (MA/LLM)
Law and Development in Africa
Law and Society in Southeast Asia
Law and Society in the Middle East and North Africa
Law, Rights & Social Change
Preliminary Law, Legal Reasoning and Legal Methods
International Migration Law
International Refugee Law
Law and Society in South Asia
Mapping International Law in London: International Legal Geography in the Capital of Empire
Law, Environment and Social Justice
Law and Justice in Contemporary China
Climate Change Law and Policy
Colonialism, Empire and International Law
Comparative Constitutional Law
Foundations of International Law
Human Rights of Women
International Criminal Law
International Protection of Human Rights
Justice, Reconciliation and Reconstruction in Post Conflict Societies
Law and Natural Resources
Law and Policy of International Courts and Tribunals
Law and Postcolonial Theory
Islamic Law in Global Financial Markets
Israel, Palestine, and International Law
Multinational Enterprises and The Law
The Law of Armed Conflict
The Law of International Trade and/or Financial Regulation
Water Justice: Rights, Access and Movements (Law)
Intellectual Property Law (PG)
Human Rights of Women
Law and Global Commons
International Environmental Law I
International Environmental Law II
Water and Development: Commodification, Ecology and Globalisation (Law)
Multinational Enterprises and the Law I
Multinational Enterprises and the Law II
Business and Human Rights in the Global Economy
Comparative Company Law
Israel, Palestine and International Law
Palestine, Resistance, and the Law
Alternative Dispute Resolution I
Alternative Dispute Resolution II
International laws on the use of force
Gender, Armed Conflict and International Law
Open Options NoteOpen options will need the approval of deputy PG programme convenor (LLM or MA).
Important notice
The information on the programme page reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session.
Admissions and Applications
You can apply for this course via the online application form.
We aim to assess a complete application and provide a decision within a 5-week time frame. Overseas students who require a Tier 4 visa and wish to join SOAS should bear in mind visa applications can take several weeks, so you should apply as soon as possible.
Consideration of Application
The whole application, including transcript and references, is considered before a decision is reached. You are therefore advised to submit a complete application including references and transcript (where required). An incomplete application will add considerable delays to the decision-making process.
Students will receive an acknowledgement of their application. Each application is carefully considered and although we try and respond as quickly as possible, we do ask that students should expect to receive a response within five weeks of receipt.
Candidates who are available in the United Kingdom may be called for an interview. The absence of academic members of staff (or instance on study leave) may affect the timing of decisions.
Entry Requirements
Minimum upper second class honours degree (or equivalent) in Law. We welcome applications from students who are close to an upper second class honours degree (High 2:2) and who have other relevant qualifications or work experience.
English Language Entry Requirements
You must be able to show that your English is of a high enough standard to successfully engage with and complete your course at SOAS. Please note that we take our English language requirements seriously and failure to meet them exactly may well result in your application to SOAS being rejected. It is not possible to negotiate if your scores are below our required levels, with the expectation that because they are 'close enough' they will be accepted. It is important that you plan appropriately, well in advance, so that your English language test comes in good time and so that you have time to retake the test if necessary. We do not accept reasons of inconvenience or financial hardship for not submitting or retaking an English test.
International students
For EU and International students who need a visa, if unconditional entry scores are achieved we accept qualifications from several countries, as well as a range of international qualifications and tests.
If a Tier 4 entry visa is required then a SELT, such as UKVI IELTS may be needed. For this reason, we recommend all Tier 4 visa students to choose the UKVI IELTS Academic test as the test of first resort.
