Postgraduate Laws LLM University of London

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.

You can achieve your LLM even without a prior degree, via three entry points, namely the Postgraduate Certificate, the Postgraduate Diploma, and the LLM. Wherever you start, you can pick up three specialist awards with or without specialisation. For each of the three awards, you can select from 68 courses and achieve a general award, or an award from our 32 specialisations.

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.

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(Opens in new window) 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(Opens in new window) 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 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.

The Postgraduate Laws programmes provide you with many of the key attributes required by law firms – advanced, specialist legal training and the ability to work in a multinational legal environment. Our graduates regularly advance to high-level positions in a variety of sectors, including banking, financial services, financial regulation, human rights agencies, NGOs and public service.

Many professional associations and Bar Councils also accept our qualifications towards professional development quotas. For example, in England and Wales, the Solicitors’ Regulation Authority accredits our programmes (including individual modules taken on a standalone basis) towards Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours.

Each course is divided into four modules (each assessed separately). Often we recommend the order to take modules to help you study the course effectively.

To complete the qualifications, you must take the following number of courses and modules within five years:

• PGCert – Five modules from up to four courses.
• PGDip – 10 modules from up to four courses.
• Master of Laws (LLM) – 16 modules from four courses.