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Thinking of applying to our 10 month LLM programme? Find out how below.
Applications for the September 2024 intake opened on Monday 16th October 2023.
The following information sets out the criteria for applying to the LLM Law programme.
Entry requirements
- Academic requirements and experience
Entrants to the UCL LLM programme must have ‘a good 2.1 with evidence of 1st class ability’ (or equivalent in other jurisdictions), and must provide evidence in their application of motivation, reasoning and analytical ability and communication skills. Please refer to the UCL Graduate Prospectus for international equivalent qualifications.
‘A good 2.1’ shall normally mean an average of at least 65% (or equivalent in other jurisdictions) across all years of study, and ‘evidence of 1st class ability’ shall normally mean at least one 1st class mark (or equivalent in other jurisdictions) over the entire degree.
We may be willing to consider applicants who are close to, but do not meet these quantitative criteria, where space on the programme allows. Such applicants must demonstrate that they excel in motivation, analytical and reasoning ability and communication skills. This needs to be demonstrated across the personal statement and the written work. Applicants with less than an average of 62% (or equivalent in other jurisdictions) across all years of study will not normally be considered under these criteria.
You need a law qualification to be considered for the LLM, i.e. Bachelor of Laws (LLB), Juris Doctor (JD), Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL). In very exceptional circumstances, graduates without a law qualification but with work experience will be considered, although this is a very uncommon route to the programme. In these instances, experience must be relevant and a minimum of five years.
Graduates whose first degree is not in law will be considered for admission if they have an average of 65% across all years of undergraduate study, plus an average of at least 65% plus at least one mark over 70% in the Graduate Diploma in Law recognised by UK professional bodies (achieved or in progress). Alternatively, graduates whose first degree is not in law will be considered if they have an average of 65% across all years of undergraduate study, plus have successful completed studies on a Solicitors Qualifying Examination full time programme of at least 12 months duration, usually resulting in a Masters qualification equivalent to a Merit classification with an average of 65% in all assessments, including a pass in the SQE on first attempt.
- English Language Requirements
If you are not a national of a country deemed by the UK Home Office to be "majority English speaking", you are required to show that your command of the English language is sufficient to meet the demands of the degree programme. The English language level for this programme is: Level 4
Please note that the test result must have been awarded no more than two years prior to the proposed date of enrolment and the required scores must be achieved within a single test.
We accept the following English language proficiency tests:
- IELTS or IELTS Indicator: Overall grade of 7.5 with a minimum of 7 in each of the subtests
- UCL International Pre-Master’s Course: 75% overall, with a minimum of 70% in each of the four elements of the examination
- UCL Pre-Sessional English Course: 75% overall, with a minimum of 70% in each of the subtests
- TOEFL or TOEFL Special Home Edition: Overall score of 109 with 27/30 in reading and writing and 23/30 in speaking and listening. Please note that TOEFL iBT MyBestScore is not acceptable for meeting the English language requirement. UCL's institution code for TOEFL is 9163.
In accordance with UK Visas and Immigration requirements, students who require a Tier 4 (General) Student Visa to enter the UK must meet these English language requirements.
We may also accept the following as evidence of your English language proficiency:
- UCL Laws may also accept evidence of recent substantial academic education in a country that UCL considers to be "majority English-speaking" (usually a minimum of three years, for example, a three year degree course) undertaken no more than the summer two years prior to the proposed date of enrolment. The list of "majority English-speaking" countries can be found on the main UCL English language requirements page.
We do not accept work experience as evidence of English language proficiency for the LLM.
UCL Laws reserves the right, in individual circumstances, to specify an additional language requirement for an applicant. UCL also reserves the right, after acceptance, to require any student to withdraw from UCL if, in the opinion of the relevant teacher, the student’s proficiency in English is inadequate.
UCL Pre-sessional English courses
We would urge you to take a language test in your own country in order to meet the English language condition. If it is not possible for you to complete a language test in your country, you may be able to take a pre-sessional English course at the UCL Centre for Languages and International Education. These courses are very popular, so please check availability and your eligibility for the programmes in advance. Visit the UCL Centre for Languages and International Education website for further details of courses, tuition fees, and how to apply.
We do not accept results from any language centre other than UCL. If you do take a pre-sessional English language course elsewhere, you will need to sit/resit one of the tests above in order to meet the English language requirement.
Fees
- Tuition fees
Tuition fees cover all elements of your tuition, registration and examination. If applicable, any additional research expenses will be specified on your formal offer of admission. Full details of the tuition fees for each academic year can be found under the Fee schedule pages of the UCL Current Students website.
You must pay at least a third of your tuition fee before or at enrolment to be fully enrolled, or provide a letter of sponsorship indicating who should be invoiced for your fee.
The published fees are only for the first year of study and the fees in subsequent years may increase to reflect UCL's increased costs in delivering the programme, such as operational costs, market forces and inflation. Any increase in fees for subsequent years of the programme will not exceed 5% per year. You should make provision for such increases and this is implicit in accepting the offer of a place at UCL.
Information on fees for modular/flexible students can be found on the UCL Students Fees and funding page.
Further information relating to tuition fees for all students can be found in the Money section of the UCL Current Students website.
If you have any specific questions about tuition fees, please email fees@ucl.ac.uk.
- Living costs
As well as your tuition fees, you will also need to think about how you are going to meet your living costs – accommodation, food and travel, as well as other costs associated with your studies and everyday life.
Find more information about living costs and managing your money.
Application guidance
- How to apply
UCL uses an online application portal for taught graduate programmes. The portal allows you to check the status of your application, re-send reference requests, update your contact details and receive any decisions on your application.
There is a £90 application fee to apply to the LLM programme for 2024/25. You should only make one application to the LLM programme for the 2024/25 academic year (either to the general LLM or one of the LLM specialism routes). Applications for more than one LLM is not allowed. If you apply for more than one LLM programme, your second application will be withdrawn and you will not be refunded the application fee.
If you want to study an LLM with a specialism, you should apply to the relevant LLM specialism route. If you are unsure at this stage, whether you want to specialise or would like to study a general LLM, then you should apply to the general LLM route - find out more about LLM specialisms.
Please consult information on the application process below. You may also find it useful to review our Frequently Asked Questions before applying.
- When to apply
Applications for 24/25 will open on Monday 16th October 2023 and you can apply via the UCL Graduate Prospectus.
Applicants who require a visa need to apply by 05 April 2024, 5pm UK time.
Applicants who do not require a visa need to apply by 30 August 2024, 5pm UK time.
Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible as we may close early if all places on the programmes are filled.
What you will need to apply
UCL will only consider completed applications. Your application will be considered complete when all documents listed below are submitted. You must submit the following:
- An electronic copy of your academic transcript
- A personal statement (please see more details below)
- A piece of written work (this is different and in addition to the personal statement. Please see more details below)
- One reference (please see more details below)
- Academic Transcripts
Transcripts of qualifications are required. Your academic transcript can be either a scanned version of a paper transcript or a digital copy downloaded from your institution’s secure website. If your transcripts are not written in English, they must be accompanied by a certified English translation. If you are mid-way through your studies then please send transcripts of all marks obtained so far.
- Personal Statement
You should use your personal statement to tell us more about yourself and why you would like to study for a LLM degree at UCL Laws.
The application form allows you to write 3000 characters in the text box. However, the majority of applicants prefer to upload their personal statement as a separate additional document. If you choose to do so, please ensure it is no longer than two sides of A4 in size 12 font and clearly titled 'Personal Statement'.
When we assess your application we would like to learn:
- Why you would like to study Law at graduate level?
- Why you would like to study Law at UCL Laws?
- How your academic and professional background meets the demands of the programme?
- How graduate study can help your professional ambitions?
- What taught modules you are interested in studying as part of your selected LLM specialism or general route?
- Why you have chosen your particular specialism. (if applicable)?
- What field you would like to explore in your Research Essay?
- Written Work
In addition to your personal statement, you will be required to provide a piece of written work. You should upload this as an 'additional document' under the Education tab on the application portal, entitled 'written work'.
Requirements are:
- Write 750 words on a topic of contemporary relevance in your area of legal interest (Referencing and footnotes are not included in your word count).
- Your written work should demonstrate your reasoning and analytical ability and communication skills.
Note that a random sample of submitted written work will be put through plagiarism detection software by our admissions team.
- Reference
Your application must be supported by one reference from someone who is able to comment upon your suitability for the programme. If possible, the reference should be from a recent teacher or tutor who is acquainted with your academic ability, research and writing skills.
The referee will need to complete the reference via the secure link that will be emailed to them from the portal once you have submitted your application. We strongly advise that before you submit your application, you should contact your referee to advise them that they will be sent a reference request from UCL, and to ensure that you have a valid email address for your referee. Referees have two weeks (from the application closing date) to submit their reference. Applications missing their reference after the deadline will be withdrawn. Where the reference is received after the application deadline, the application will only be considered if there are places left on the programme.
If you are applying online, your reference MUST be submitted via the online reference request system. You application will not be complete or considered for the programme until a reference has been received via the reference request system.
International students
- Students requiring a student visa for a second Masters level programme in the UK
If you have previously had permission to study in the UK on a Tier 4 or student visa for a programme at degree level or above, UCL can only assign a CAS for the LLM programme if it represents academic progress from your previous studies. In order to consider you for admission to the LLM programme at UCL, the Visa Compliance Team will require you to complete an Academic Progression Justification Form before an official offer can be issued to you.
UCL may consider assigning a CAS to allow you to study at the same academic level as previously as long as you are able to demonstrate that:
- The new programme is related to the previous programme for which you were given a student visa (meaning that it is either connected to the previous programme, part of the same subject group or involves deeper specialisation); OR
- Your previous and new programme combined, support your career aspirations
The Academic Progression Justification Form will only be sent to you once your application has been considered by the Faculty of Laws. You do not need to do anything about this unless you are contacted by the Visa Compliance Team following the submission of your application.
- Student taking a second LLM programme in the UK
The Faculty of Laws requires that your module choices on the LLM programme at UCL be substantially different from modules you have studied before. For example, if you have previously studied Intellectual Property modules on an LLM elsewhere in the UK, you will be prohibited from selecting further Intellectual Property modules at UCL.
If you are in any doubt over the progression regulations and/or Faculty of Laws regulations regarding choice of different modules to previous study, you should contact us before you make your final module choices.These regulations apply regardless of whether you were required to make a statement regarding your proposed course of study as part of the application process. UCL will verify module choices against previous qualifications.
Assessing your application
Successful applicants will be sent a formal offer of admission signed by the UCL Academic Registrar. This letter will indicate whether the offer is unconditional or subject to the fulfilment of specific conditions. It will also be available to view on your online application portal.
UCL has a tuition fee deposit requirement for LLM offer holders to secure their place on the programme and you will be informed in your offer letter of your tuition fee deposit deadline. Further information about the fee deposit can be found on the UCL tuition fees information page.
Upon receiving your complete application, it will go through the following process:
- UCL Central Admissions team will review your application and assess if it is complete. You may be contacted at this stage to supply further documentation.
- If your application is complete, UCL Central Admissions will refer your application to the Laws Graduate Office. Your application will then be assessed by the Faculty of Laws to see whether you meet the entry requirements set out on the website. If a document is missing we will contact you to ask you to upload it. Your application will not be assessed until all documents are supplied.
- Following our assessment of your application, we will either recommend an offer or a rejection and refer your application back to the Central Admissions team.
- The Central Admissions team will then make your offer or rejection and you will receive notification of this via the portal.
You should check your online application portal and email account regularly for any updates or communications regarding your application.
To help us to provide an efficient service to all applicants, please do not contact the Laws Graduate Office seeking a decision on your application unless 10 working weeks have passed since receiving an acknowledgment email confirming that your application is complete. After this time you can contact the LLM Admissions team, quoting your application ID number in your email.