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Master of Laws LLM

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Our LLM course is a respected academic qualification recognised throughout the world and across key legal disciplines. It focuses on our particular areas of expertise and offers a choice of eight specialist pathways or a general LLM qualification. We place particular emphasis on innovative and problem-solving teaching methods as well as comparative and international outlook.


Key benefits

Key information

Application status Open

Duration One year FT, two years PT, September to September.

Study mode Full-time, Part-time

Credit value UK 180/ECTS 90

Programme accreditations Law Society CPD points

Course intake 360 (FT and PT)

Course leaders Professor Tanya Aplin; Professor Takis Tridimas; Professor Alison Jones; Dr Holger Hestermeyer; Professor Ravi Tennekoon; Professor Jonathan Schwarz; Professor Peer Zumbansen

Further details

Course contact for further information

Postgraduate Admissions Team, King’s College London Admissions Office

Tel: +44 (0)20 7848 7000

Fax: +44 (0)20 7848 7200

Course contact form Postgraduate admissions

Awarding institution King's College London

Faculty The Dickson Poon School of Law

Locations

 

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Course detail

Description

Our LLM course is designed for both recent law graduates and established professionals. It will allow you to deepen and broaden your knowledge of law as an academic subject and will help your professional development by enhancing your problem – solving skills in a transnational context. It is designed to maximise your intellectual potential, as well as keeping you grounded by drawing on the real world experiences of staff and other practitioners. You will also benefit from our vibrant intellectual community, student societies and social events, as well as our links with prestigious international law schools.

You will choose to specialise in one of eight different pathways or to choose your own combination of modules for a ‘General LLM’. The specialist pathways are currently:

Under the close guidance of our expert tutors, we will equip you with the legal knowledge and expertise to match your career ambitions. You will gain an internationally recognised qualification that is highly desirable in today’s competitive legal profession.

Course format and assessment

Teaching on the LLM programme is delivered through a combination of lectures and seminars. In modules with smaller numbers of students, there are usually two hours of seminar-style teaching per week. In larger courses (i.e. with more than 40 students enrolled), there will typically be a combination of a two-hour lecture and a number of additional seminars. This means that usually students will have 6 to 10 contact hours a week.

Full-time

  Lectures, seminars & feedback    

  Self-study                      

  6-10 hours

  30-34 hours

Part-time

  Lectures, seminars & feedback    

  Self-study                      

  6-10 hours

  14-16 hours

 

Assessment

The majority of modules are assessed by a two or three-hour exam. Alternatively, some modules are assessed through coursework. In addition to coursework and exams, a percentage of your final mark may be based on, for example, presentations, reaction papers or other assignments.

Regulating Body

King’s College is regulated by the Office for Students.

Structure

Year 1

Course structure

Full-time students who complete the programme in one year will normally take modules totalling 180 credits. Part-time students are recommended to take 80 credits of taught modules in Year 1 and 40-60 credits of taught modules, plus a writing project in Year 2.

Required Modules

All students are required to take one of the following writing projects: 

Dissertation (40 credits) 

10,000 word dissertation whereby you conduct research on an agreed research topic under the supervision of an academic staff member. 

Dissertation (60 credits) 

15,000 word dissertation whereby you conduct research on an agreed research topic under the supervision of an academic staff member. 

10,000 word practice or research module (40 credits) 

The practice or research module is selected from a range of options that may typically include, for example: 

  • Advanced EU Competition Law – Practice Module (CL) 

  • Law and New Modes of Governance in the European Union (EL) 

  • Transnational Digital Enforcement of Intellectual Property (IPIL) 

  • International Investment Law and Policy (IBL/IFL/IDR) 

  • International Tax Law: Transfer Pricing – (TAX) 

Optional Modules

In order to meet the 180 credit requirement, students must select at least 120-140 credits from a range of optional modules. Students who wish to specialise within a certain pathway must ensure that at least 120 credits are taken within that pathway. This can consist of optional modules alone or a combination of optional modules and a writing project, providing its content is relevant to the pathway. Students who select the General LLM are free to choose modules from all pathways.

Examples of modules available with the General LLM:

  • Analytical & Quantitative Methods for Lawyers (40 credits)

More examples of optional modules can be found on the pathway pages:

Entry requirements & how to apply

LLM Entry Requirements
Minimum requirements

High 2:1

(65%)

Undergraduate degree with high 2:1 honours (i.e. overall average of at least 65%) in Law or a degree with at least 70% law content.

Exceptionally, you may be considered where a comparable academic level has been achieved through other graduate studies (such as a Graduate Diploma in Law) and where work or experience (at least three years legal work experience) has made you a suitable candidate for the LLM.

Please note: Meeting the minimum requirements for your application to be considered does not guarantee an offer as applications for this programme are very competitive.

In order to meet the academic entry requirements for this programme you should have a minimum high 2:1 undergraduate degree with a final mark of at least 65% or above in the UK marking scheme. If you are still studying you should be achieving an average of at least 65% or above in the UK marking scheme.
International requirements   Visit our admissions webpages to view our International entry requirements.
English Language requirements Band B Visit our admissions webpages to view our English language entry requirements.

 

Application procedure

Applications must be made online using King’s online application portal apply.kcl.ac.uk and a non-refundable application fee of £100 applies.

All applications must be made to the generic Master of Laws (LLM) programme. If accepted, and once you have enrolled onto the LLM programme, you will have the opportunity to choose one of our specialist LLMs. At the start of the semester you will have the opportunity to attend taster lectures and to speak to programme/module leaders before you make a decision on whether to do a specialist or tailored LLM.

Personal statement and supporting information

You will be asked to submit the following documents in order for your application to be considered:

LLM checklist
Personal Statement Yes

A personal statement is required. This can be entered directly into the online application form (maximum 4,000 characters) or uploaded as an attachment to the online application form (maximum 2 pages).
Previous Academic Study Yes A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained. If you have already completed your degree, copies of your official degree certificate will also be required. Applicants with academic documents issued in a language other than English, will need to submit both the original and official translation of their documents.
References No Please note:  due to competition for places on the LLM programme the Department do not require references.  Submitted references will not be taken into account during assessment.
Other Optional Applicants may also wish to include a CV (Resume) or evidence of professional registration as part of their application.

Application closing date

 We recommend that you submit your application as soon as possible. Our first application deadline is the 31 March 2020. After this date, applications will remain open if places are available, but programmes will be closed as soon as they are full. For programmes with spaces remaining, no further applications will be accepted from non-EU (Overseas) nationals after 31 July 2020 or from UK/EU nationals after 28 August 2020.

 Please note you will not be eligible for an application fee refund if you apply after the first application deadline and places are filled before the final deadlines above and we are unable to process more offers.

 

Help and support

If you don't have a suitable qualification for direct entry to a UK university, or if English isn't your first language, our academic preparation courses can help you get ready for study in the UK.

Preparation courses

Fees and funding

  • Full time Home/EU fees: £17,310 per year (2020/21)
  • Full time overseas fees: £27,390 per year (2020/21)
  • Part time Home/EU fees: £8,655 per year (2020/21)
  • Part time overseas fees: £13,695 per year (2020/21)

Students starting their programme in 2020/21 who are eligible to pay EU fees will pay the same rate of tuition fees as UK students. This will apply for the duration of their programme, but may be subject to change by the UK Government for subsequent cohorts from 2021/22.

These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.

Deposit

When you receive an offer for this course you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. The deposit will be credited towards your total fee payment.

The UK/EU deposit is £500.

The INTERNATIONAL deposit is £2,000. 

  • If you receive an offer on or before 31 March 2020, payment is due by 30 April 2020.
  • If you receive an offer between 1 April 2020 and 30 June 2020, payment is due within one month of receiving the offer.
  • If you receive an offer between 1 July 2020 and 31 July 2020, payment is due within two weeks of receiving the offer.
  • If you receive an offer on or after 1 August 2020, payment is due within 2 days of receiving the offer.

    If you are a current King’s student in receipt of the King's Living Bursary you are not required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the programme. Please note, this will not change the total fees payable for your chosen programme.

Additional costs/expenses

In addition to your tuition fees, you can also expect to pay for: 

  • Books if you choose to buy your own copies 
  • Clothing for optional course related events and competitions 
  • Library fees and fines 
  • Personal photocopies and/or binding costs
  • Printing course handouts 
  • Transcription costs
  • Society membership fees 
  • Stationery 
  • Travel costs for travel to and around London and between campuses
  • Graduation costs 

Please visit our web pages on fees and funding for more information.

For scholarship information please click here. 

Financial help and support

Visit the fees and funding webpages to find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans and other financial help available at King's.

Testimonials

Rodolphe

Rodolphe

I chose King's College London because I wanted to study at a top university. It offers a world-class education as you are taught by renowned teachers in fantastic facilities and this explains its international reputation.

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