Introduction
Our world-class, flexible Postgraduate Laws programmes are designed to meet a diverse range of needs. With 32 specialisations and 65 courses, you can either build a broad range of skills or specialise in a specific field.
Students accepted to the Postgraduate Laws programmes start at three points of entry, namely at PGCert, PGDip or LLM. Your point of entry is determined by your entry qualifications but does not set your exit award. It is your choice to leave the programme with a PGCert, PGDip or an LLM - or all three!
You can collect all three qualifications as you wish, provided you complete within a maximum of five years.
All students are eligible for a PGCert award upon completion of five modules.
Upon completion of a total of ten modules (five towards a PGCert plus an additional five), you are eligible for a PGDip award.
Upon completion of a total of sixteen modules (five towards a PGCert plus five towards a PGDip plus an additional six), you are eligible for an LLM award.
How you study
The programme is offered online and is fully supported by a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). You study at a time and pace that suits you (subject to course-specific deadlines) using the study materials provided, and revision forums from academic staff.
Study materials
You have access to study materials developed by academics from Queen Mary, University of London (QMUL) and University College London (UCL). These include a Postgraduate Laws Handbook with practical information; Programme Regulations, Study Guides written for your chosen modules; a comprehensive skills guide; and past exam papers, examiners' commentaries and sample scripts, which give you valuable insights into how to perform well in exams.
Online support
You have access to:
The Student Portal with the University's 'Ask a Question' contact form, and an interactive student induction to prepare you for study.
A University of London email account.
The Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) with an induction module, a library literacy module, course materials, introductory videocasts for each course, the Director's vlog and the 'Ask Me Anything' Director's forum for academic queries.
The Student Café, where you can share perspectives with fellow students from all over the world.
The Online Library with a dedicated Law Librarian holds thousands of journal articles which you can access free of charge. Access more than 10 legal databases, including Lexis/Nexis, Westlaw and other valued materials.
The Introduction to English Common Law MOOC, available through Coursera.
Senate House Library provides free reference access for all registered distance and flexible learning students.
Time commitment
You will need to spend about 120 hours on each module (or 1,920 hours for the full LLM). Approximately 40 to 50 hours per module are linked to assessment activity such as self-assessment exercises found in the study guides and preparation for taking the exam.
To complete the full LLM in two years, you will need to study for roughly 20 hours per week throughout the two years. It is up to you how you schedule your studies, depending on your work and personal commitments.
Assessment
Modules are assessed by a 45-minute unseen written exam, which you can sit in May or October. You can sit your exams at any of our approved centres around the world.
You don't have to sit exams in every session. As long as you finish within your five-year registration period, you can plan your exams as you choose.
